Area Converter — Square Feet, Metres, Kathas, Bighas & Acres
Learn how to convert between square feet, square metres, kathas, bighas, decimals, acres, and hectares — with real examples for land buying, construction, and farming in Bangladesh.
By sadiqbd · June 6, 2026
Area units are more varied than most people realise
You probably know square metres and square feet. But area measurement has a surprisingly large vocabulary depending on where you are and what you're measuring. Land in South Asia gets described in bighas, kathas, and decimals. Agricultural plots use acres and hectares. Floor plans in Bangladesh use square feet; international engineering specs use square metres; large-scale maps use square kilometres.
The moment you're comparing a plot size quoted in kathas against one quoted in square feet, or trying to understand an international real estate listing, you need a conversion. An area converter handles all of these in one place.
The Most Common Area Units
Metric units
- Square millimetre (mm²) — very small surfaces; material thickness, PCB traces
- Square centimetre (cm²) — small areas; paper size, fabric swatches
- Square metre (m²) — the standard metric unit; room sizes, apartment floor plans
- Hectare (ha) — 10,000 m²; agricultural land, parks
- Square kilometre (km²) — large geographic areas; city size, districts
Imperial/US units
- Square inch (in²) — small surfaces; screen size, tile dimensions
- Square foot (ft²) — rooms and buildings; the standard in Bangladesh construction
- Square yard (yd²) — flooring, fabric; common in US retail
- Acre — 4,047 m²; farmland, large plots
- Square mile — large territories; ~2.59 km²
South Asian land units
- Katha — varies by region; in Bangladesh, 1 katha = 720 square feet
- Bigha — varies significantly by region; in Bangladesh, 1 bigha = 20 kathas = 14,400 square feet ≈ 0.134 hectares
- Decimal — 1/100 of an acre = 435.6 square feet; widely used in Bangladesh land records
- Satak — same as decimal in Bangladesh usage
- Kani — traditional unit; 1 kani = 120 decimals in some regions
Key Conversion Reference
| Unit | Equivalent in m² |
|---|---|
| 1 square foot | 0.0929 m² |
| 1 acre | 4,047 m² |
| 1 hectare | 10,000 m² |
| 1 katha (Bangladesh) | 66.89 m² (720 sq ft) |
| 1 bigha (Bangladesh) | 1,337.8 m² (14,400 sq ft) |
| 1 decimal/satak | 40.47 m² (435.6 sq ft) |
How to Use the Area Converter on sadiqbd.com
- Enter the area value — the number you want to convert.
- Select the source unit — square feet, square metres, kathas, bighas, acres, hectares, or any supported unit.
- Select the target unit — the unit you need.
- Read the result — the converted area appears immediately.
Real-World Examples
Buying a flat in Dhaka
A flat is listed as 1,250 square feet. The developer's brochure also mentions 116.13 square metres. Are these consistent?
1,250 sq ft × 0.0929 = 116.13 m² ✓
They match. When comparing multiple listings — some quoted in square feet, some in square metres — the converter keeps you on an even footing.
Agricultural land measurement
A farmer's land record shows 3 bighas and 5 kathas. How many square metres is that?
3 bighas = 3 × 1,337.8 = 4,013.4 m² 5 kathas = 5 × 66.89 = 334.45 m² Total = 4,347.85 m²
In decimals: 4,347.85 ÷ 40.47 ≈ 107.4 decimals
Useful when a land registry document uses decimals but a buyer thinks in bighas, or when valuation is done per decimal.
Comparing land prices per unit
Plot A: 5 kathas at ৳25,00,000 → price per katha: ৳5,00,000 Plot B: 0.05 acres at ৳28,00,000 → convert: 0.05 acres × 4,047 = 202.35 m² = 3.02 kathas → price per katha: ৳9,27,152
Plot A is dramatically cheaper per katha. The converter makes this comparison possible before you put any money down.
Interior design: square metres to square feet
An imported tile is priced per square metre. A Bangladeshi contractor quotes work in square feet. The bathroom is 80 square feet.
80 sq ft ÷ 10.764 = 7.43 m² of tiles needed
At ৳850/m², tile cost = 7.43 × 850 = ৳6,316
Regional Variations Worth Knowing
Katha and bigha vary by state and country. In West Bengal, 1 katha = 720 sq ft (same as Bangladesh). In Bihar, 1 katha ≈ 1,361 sq ft. In Nepal, it's different again. Always confirm which regional standard applies when dealing with land records from different areas.
Decimal vs. satak. In Bangladesh land records, decimal and satak are used interchangeably — both equal 1/100 of an acre (435.6 sq ft). You'll see both terms in official documents depending on the region and era of the record.
"Cottah" is a spelling variant of katha. Some older land documents and real estate listings spell it "cottah" — same unit.
Tips for Working With Area Measurements
Always confirm the local standard for traditional units. Before using any katha or bigha conversion, verify whether the document uses the local standard for your specific district. Discrepancies exist.
Double-check converted areas before signing documents. A conversion error on a land purchase is expensive. Run the numbers yourself and compare against what the seller or agent states.
Use square metres for international comparisons. If you're comparing real estate prices across countries — Bangladesh, Singapore, UK — convert everything to m² first. It's the universal standard for property internationally.
Carpet area vs. built-up area vs. super built-up area. In South Asian real estate, the square footage of a flat quoted by developers often includes common areas (super built-up). The carpet area (usable floor space) is typically 25–35% less. The area converter tells you the unit conversion; the type of area quoted is a separate question to ask the developer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many square feet in one katha in Bangladesh? 1 katha = 720 square feet in Bangladesh. This is the standard used in land records and real estate across the country, though always verify for older documents that may use regional variants.
How many decimals in one bigha? 1 bigha = 20 kathas = 33.33 decimals (since 1 decimal = 435.6 sq ft and 1 katha = 720 sq ft, so 1 bigha = 14,400 sq ft ÷ 435.6 = 33.06 decimals). Some sources round to 33 decimals.
What is 1 acre in square feet? 1 acre = 43,560 square feet = 100 decimals = approximately 60.5 kathas (Bangladesh standard).
How do I convert square metres to square feet? Multiply by 10.764. So 100 m² = 1,076.4 sq ft. Or divide square feet by 10.764 to get square metres.
Is the area converter free? Yes — completely free, no sign-up, unlimited conversions.
Area measurement is one of those topics where the variety of units in active use is genuinely wide — especially in South Asia, where metric, imperial, and traditional units coexist in land records, construction, and everyday conversation. The converter handles all of them in one place.
Try the Area Converter free at sadiqbd.com — instant conversion between square feet, metres, kathas, bighas, acres, and more.
