Land-area units and conversions
last updated 2026-07-21
Tamil Nadu land is measured in a mix of units — cent, ground, are, acre and square feet. 1 cent is 435.6 sq ft, 1 ground is 2,400 sq ft, 1 are is about 1,076 sq ft, and 1 acre is 43,560 sq ft (100 cents). Convert everything to a common unit before comparing a reserve to local ₹/sq ft rates.
The common units
| Unit | In square feet | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 square metre | 10.76 sq ft | Metric; used in notices and FMB |
| 1 square yard (gaj) | 9 sq ft | |
| 1 cent | 435.6 sq ft | One-hundredth of an acre — common across Tamil Nadu |
| 1 ground | 2,400 sq ft | Common in Chennai (≈ 5.5 cents) |
| 1 are | 1,076.4 sq ft | = 100 sq m |
| 1 acre | 43,560 sq ft | = 100 cents |
| 1 hectare | 1,07,639 sq ft | = 100 ares = 2.47 acres |
Why the unit matters
A reserve price only tells you something once you put it on a per-square-foot basis and compare it to local rates. If a notice quotes the extent in cents or grounds and you compare it to a ₹/sq ft rate without converting, the comparison is meaningless — and the errors are large (a ground is 2,400 sq ft, a cent is 435.6). Older documents may also use traditional units that vary by locality, so confirm the exact unit the notice means.
The bank-auction angle
Auction notices routinely state extents in cent, ground or are, especially for land. Converting to a single unit is the first step before you judge whether a reserve is genuinely below the local market — the reserve-vs-rate check that decides whether a lot is worth bidding on. AuctionScope reads the extent a notice states so you are comparing like with like; if a unit is ambiguous, confirm it against the record.
Frequently asked questions
How many square feet is one cent?
One cent is 435.6 square feet — one-hundredth of an acre. An acre is 43,560 square feet, or 100 cents.
How big is a ground in Tamil Nadu?
A ground is 2,400 square feet, a unit common in Chennai — roughly 5.5 cents. Convert it to square feet before comparing a price per square foot.
Why do I need to convert units before comparing prices?
Because a reserve only means something per square foot. Comparing a cent- or ground-based extent to a ₹/sq ft rate without converting gives a wildly wrong answer, since the units differ by hundreds or thousands of square feet.
Related terms
Sources
Rates, fees and procedures change — confirm the current position on the official portals below before you act.