Understanding Nepali land units
Nepal measures land in two traditional systems, and anyone buying, selling or inheriting property meets both. The hill regions (including Kathmandu Valley) use the Ropani system: 1 Ropani = 16 Aana, 1 Aana = 4 Paisa, 1 Paisa = 4 Daam. The Terai uses the Bigha system: 1 Bigha = 20 Kattha, 1 Kattha = 20 Dhur. Official documents, meanwhile, increasingly quote square meters — and construction quotes come in square feet. This converter speaks all of them at once.
The standard values used
- 1 Ropani = 5,476 sq. ft. = 508.74 m² (≈ 74 × 74 ft)
- 1 Aana = 342.25 sq. ft. = 31.80 m² — the unit most Kathmandu land prices are quoted in
- 1 Paisa = 85.56 sq. ft.; 1 Daam = 21.39 sq. ft.
- 1 Bigha = 72,900 sq. ft. = 6,772.6 m² ≈ 13.3 Ropani
- 1 Kattha = 3,645 sq. ft. = 338.6 m²; 1 Dhur = 182.25 sq. ft.
How to convert
- Enter what you know — a Ropani-Aana figure from a lalpurja, a Bigha-Kattha figure, or a square-foot area from a plan.
- Press the matching Convert button.
- Read the area in every unit at once, plus the proper mixed-unit breakdown in both systems (e.g. "0 Ropani, 12 Aana, 2 Paisa" for a typical house plot).
These are the standard survey conversion values used across Nepal. For legal transactions, the measurements on the official napi (survey) documents always govern — use this tool to understand and cross-check, and a licensed surveyor for the final word.
Frequently asked questions
How many square feet is 1 ropani?
1 ropani = 5,476 square feet = 508.74 square meters, and it divides into 16 aana. 1 aana = 342.25 sq. ft. — the unit most Kathmandu Valley land prices are quoted per.
How many square feet is 1 kattha?
In Nepal's standard survey values, 1 kattha = 3,645 sq. ft. (338.6 m²). Twenty kattha make 1 bigha (72,900 sq. ft.), and 1 kattha divides into 20 dhur of 182.25 sq. ft. each.
Which system does my district use?
Hill districts including Kathmandu Valley use ropani-aana-paisa-daam; Terai districts use bigha-kattha-dhur. Official documents may quote square meters as well — this converter shows all of them simultaneously.
Can I rely on this for a land transaction?
The tool uses Nepal's standard survey conversion values and is ideal for understanding and cross-checking figures. For a legal transaction, the official napi (survey) measurement always governs — verify final numbers with the survey office or a licensed surveyor.