Understanding property measurements in Lahore is one of the most important (and most overlooked) steps before buying a plot or an apartment. Many buyers compare deals using the “labels” used in marketing, but in practice those labels can mean different areas. In Lahore, marla and kanal standards can vary, and in apartments, the real confusion is between net area and gross area. Getting this right protects your purchase price comparison and also your long-term cost of ownership.
This guide starts with plots and then explains apartment net versus gross area, with simple calculation tables you can use.
Plot size in Lahore
Marla and kanal standards
Plot sizes in Lahore are usually discussed in marla and kanal, but marla is not always uniform. In Pakistan, a commonly referenced standard is 1 marla = 272.25 sq ft, and 1 kanal = 20 marla. However, in Lahore, many market participants use 1 marla = 225 sq ft in everyday practice.
A quick caution: “marla” is not always uniform Lahore commonly uses 225 sq ft, while many other cities use 272.25 sq ft, so always interpret sizes within the local market standard.
Another market nuance is that some societies and listings also use “category labels” such as a kanal category that may be marketed as 18 marla in that specific scheme. The main point is that plot labels are local market language, and the meaning can change by locality and by scheme.
Plot area conversion (225 vs 272.25 marla)
| Plot label | If 1 marla is 225 sq ft | If 1 marla is 272.25 sq ft |
| 5 marla plot | 1,125 sq ft | 1,361.25 sq ft |
| 10 marla plot | 2,250 sq ft | 2,722.5 sq ft |
| 1 kanal plot (20 marla) | 4,500 sq ft | 5,445 sq ft |
| “Kanal category” (18 marla) | 4,050 sq ft | 4,900.5 sq ft |
Apartment size in Lahore
Net area vs gross area
| Net area | Gross area | Difference (gross minus net) | Net as percent of gross |
| 1,000 sq ft | 1,400 sq ft | 400 sq ft | 71.40% |
When buying an apartment, the most important question is not only “how many square feet,” but which square feet. Many projects quote gross area, while buyers actually need to understand net area.
Net area is the usable internal space you live in. Gross area is a broader number that may include wall thickness and an allocation of shared/common areas, depending on the developer’s method.
This is why a buyer can be told they are purchasing a 1,400 sq ft apartment, but the usable internal space can feel closer to 1,000 sq ft net. This is not magic. It is measurement method. A practical market rule of thumb you will commonly encounter is that 1,400 sq ft gross can translate to around 1,000 sq ft net, depending on layout and how gross is defined.
Net and gross area differences
| Topic | Net area | Gross area |
| What it means | Usable space inside your apartment | Broader area figure including walls and shared allocations |
| What you actually use | This is your real living space | You do not live in corridors or common areas |
| Best for comparing value | Yes | Not on its own |
| Why it can mislead | It cannot be inflated | It can look bigger without giving more usable space |
Why gross area can cost you more long-term
Gross area affects more than the purchase brochure. In many buildings, maintenance and service charges are calculated per square foot on the billed area shown in schedules. If you are billed on 1,400 sq ft gross while your usable space is 1,000 sq ft net, you may pay maintenance for the extra billed area every month for years. Over time, that can feel like paying around 30 to 40 percent more without getting extra usable space, depending on how the building bills and what is included.
Why buying on net area is smarter
It is always prudent to evaluate an apartment on net area, because net area reflects the usable home you actually get. Gross area can be relevant for technical measurement, but for a buyer comparing value, net area tells the truth.
That is also why Sheranwala Developers is offering net-area-based luxury apartments at Mayfair Residencia, planned as the home to Pakistan’s first Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham, so purchasers can judge value based on real usable space rather than inflated comparisons.
For details, please call 03-111-228-228.
FAQs
1. How are plot sizes measured in Lahore?
Plot sizes in Lahore are usually expressed in marla and kanal, but marla measurements can vary depending on the housing society or local standards.
2. Does a 10 marla plot always have the same size in square feet?
No. A 10 marla plot can represent different square footage in different areas of Lahore, depending on how marla is defined by the developer or society.
3. What is the difference between net area and gross area in apartments?
Net area refers to usable living space inside the apartment, while gross area includes shared spaces such as corridors, staircases, and lobbies
4. How much usable space does a 1,400 sq ft apartment usually provide?
In many projects, a 1,400 sq ft gross apartment may offer around 1,000 sq ft of net usable space, depending on building design and common areas.
5. Why is buying an apartment on a net-area basis better for buyers?
Buying on a clear net-area basis helps protect long-term value and can reduce future cost surprises, such as higher maintenance charges calculated on gross area.