In Tamil Nadu, land is commonly measured using a mix of traditional units (like Ground, Cent, Kuzhi, etc.) and metric units (like square meters and hectares). While the metric system is used officially in land records and documentation, traditional units are still widely used in real estate transactions and by the general public. Tamil Nadu uses a mix of imperial units, metric units, and traditional local systems when it comes to measuring land. Whether you're buying a plot in Chennai or farmland in a village, understanding these units is crucial for accurate transactions and legal documentation.

Land Measurement Units Common in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu uses a mix of imperial, metric, and traditional units. The most commonly used are:

1. Square Foot  (Sq.Ft)

• Most commonly used unit in urban areas (cities like Chennai, Coimbatore, Trichy).

• Used for flats, villas, plots, and commercial property.

• Often seen in advertisements and real estate brochures.

• 1 Sq.Ft = 0.0929 Sq.Meter

 Example:
A 2BHK apartment may measure 950 Sq.Ft
A residential plot could be 2,400 Sq.Ft (1 ground)

2. Cent 

• Widely used in suburban and rural areas of Tamil Nadu.

• 1 Cent = 435.6 Sq.Ft

• Popular in residential plot sales, especially outside major cities.

• Also used for agricultural land.

 Example:
A 5 cent plot = 2,178 Sq.Ft
A 10 cent plot = 4,356 Sq.Ft (good size for an individual house)

3. Ground 

• A traditional unit unique to Tamil Nadu (especially in Chennai real estate).

• 1 Ground = 2,400 Sq.Ft

• Still used in plot advertisements and resale property discussions.

• Helps buyers easily estimate land size for bungalows or villas.

 Example:
A villa advertised as “2 Grounds” means 4,800 Sq.Ft land area.

4. Acre 

• Used for large plots of land – both agricultural and residential layouts.

• 1 Acre = 43,560 Sq.Ft

• 1 Acre = 100 Cents

• 1 Acre = approx. 18.15 Grounds

Used by developers when buying farmland or creating large housing communities.

5. Square Meter  (Sq.M)

• The official metric unit used in government records and CMDA/DTCP approvals.

• Found in planning permissions, layout approvals, and building blueprints.

• 1 Sq.M = 10.764 Sq.Ft

 Example:
A plot of 100 Sq.M = 1,076.4 Sq.Ft

6. Kuzhi  – Traditional Rural Unit

• Used in some villages in Tamil Nadu, especially older land records.

• 1 Kuzhi ≈ 144 to 150 Sq.Ft (not standardized)

• Still heard in verbal transactions and traditional documentation.

 Note: Not used in modern legal registrations.

7. Hectare  (ha)

• Used by the government and agricultural department.

• 1 Hectare = 10,000 Sq.M = 2.47 Acres

• Mainly used in land acquisition, revenue surveys, or agricultural records.

Conversion Table (Tamil Nadu Focus)

Tips for Buyers & Builders in Tamil Nadu

•  Always check the land area in Sq.Ft in your patta, chitta, EC and sale deed.

•  For legal clarity, convert all traditional units into Sq.Ft during registration.

•  In rural deals, be cautious with traditional units like Kuzhi, and get them converted by a certified surveyor.

•  Layout approvals will often use Sq.M, so keep a calculator or ask your builder for conversion.

Where The Land Measurement Used: 

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