Bigha vs. Acre — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 27, 2023
Bigha is a traditional unit of land measurement in South Asia, varying regionally, while Acre is a standardized unit equal to 43,560 square feet in the US and UK. Both measure land area but differ in size and regional usage.
Difference Between Bigha and Acre
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
The term "Bigha" is indigenous to South Asia, especially India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. It has historical roots and varies in size across regions. On the other hand, "Acre" is a unit of measurement with origins in medieval England and is now standardized internationally.
While Bigha continues to be used in rural areas and in the legal context of some South Asian countries, Acre is a widely recognized and standardized unit, especially in countries like the US and UK.
The size of a Bigha differs from one region to another, making its conversion to other units, including the Acre, non-uniform. Conversely, an Acre is consistently defined, simplifying its conversion to other units.
For land transactions in certain parts of South Asia, mentioning the area in Bighas is common. In contrast, real estate and agricultural transactions in countries like the US typically use Acres.
Bigha might not be well-understood outside of South Asia. Acre, being an international unit, has broader recognition and is understood in many parts of the world.
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Comparison Chart
Origin
South Asia (India, Nepal, Bangladesh)
Medieval England
Standardization
Varies regionally
Standardized at 43,560 sq. ft.
Usage Region
Predominantly South Asia
Internationally, especially US and UK
Conversion Complexity
Varies due to regional differences
Consistent, making conversions easier
Recognition
Mainly in South Asia
Widely recognized globally
Compare with Definitions
Bigha
A traditional unit of land measurement used in South Asia.
They bought a plot of land measuring two Bighas.
Acre
Historically, the amount of land tillable by one man in one day.
Centuries ago, an Acre was defined based on work capacity.
Bigha
Often converted to other units for broader understanding.
Can you tell me the area of this plot in both Bighas and Acres?
Acre
Common in real estate, agriculture, and land-related contexts.
She inherited a hundred Acres of woodland from her grandfather.
Bigha
A non-standardized area unit varying across regions.
In this region, a Bigha is smaller than in the neighboring state.
Acre
A unit readily converted to other area measurements.
This property spans over 10 Acres, which equals 4 hectares.
Bigha
Reflects regional and historical dimensions of land measurement.
The concept of Bigha has evolved over centuries in India.
Acre
A standardized measurement used in the US, UK, and globally.
The land for sale measures two Acres.
Bigha
Commonly used in rural and agricultural contexts.
The farmer owns five Bighas of fertile land.
Acre
The acre is a unit of land area used in the imperial and US customary systems. It is traditionally defined as the area of one chain by one furlong (66 by 660 feet), which is exactly equal to 10 square chains, 1⁄640 of a square mile, or 43,560 square feet, and approximately 4,047 m2, or about 40% of a hectare.
Bigha
The bigha (also formerly beegah) is a traditional unit of measurement of area of a land, commonly used in India (including Uttarakhand, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, Gujarat and Rajasthan but not in southern states of India), Bangladesh and Nepal. There is no "standard" size of bigha.
Acre
A unit of area in the US Customary System, used in land and sea floor measurement and equal to 160 square rods, 4,840 square yards, or 43,560 square feet. See Table at measurement.
Bigha
(India) A measure of land in India, varying from a third of an acre to an acre.
Acre
Acres Property in the form of land; estate.
Bigha
A measure of land in India, varying from a third of an acre to an acre.
Acre
(Archaic) A field or plot of arable land.
Acre
Often acres A wide expanse, as of land or other matter
"acres of textureless carpeting" (Anne Tyler).
Acre
An English unit of land area (symbol: a. or ac.) originally denoting a day's ploughing for a yoke of oxen, now standardized as 4,840 square yards or 4,046.86 square meters.
Acre
An area of 10,240 square yards or 4 quarters.
Acre
Any of various similar units of area in other systems.
Acre
A wide expanse.
I like my new house - there’s acres of space!
Acre
A large quantity.
Acre
(obsolete) A field.
Acre
(obsolete) The acre's breadth by the length, English units of length equal to the statute dimensions of the acre: 22 yds (≈20 m) by 220 yds (≈200 m).
Acre
(obsolete) A duel fought between individual Scots and Englishmen in the borderlands.
Acre
Any field of arable or pasture land.
Acre
A piece of land, containing 160 square rods, or 4,840 square yards, or 43,560 square feet. This is the English statute acre. That of the United States is the same. The Scotch acre was about 1.26 of the English, and the Irish 1.62 of the English.
I like that ancient Saxon phrase, which callsThe burial ground, God's acre.
Acre
A unit of area (4840 square yards) used in English-speaking countries
Acre
A territory of western Brazil bordering on Bolivia and Peru
Acre
A town and port in northwestern Israel in the eastern Mediterranean
Acre
A unit of land area equal to 43,560 square feet.
The park covers an area of 50 Acres.
Common Curiosities
Why is the Acre more standardized than the Bigha?
Acre has origins in medieval England and has been standardized over time, while Bigha's size varies based on historical and regional factors in South Asia.
What is a Bigha?
Bigha is a traditional unit of land measurement used predominantly in South Asia.
How does a Bigha compare to an Acre?
The size of a Bigha varies regionally, whereas an Acre is standardized at 43,560 square feet.
How many Bighas are there in one Acre?
This varies based on the regional definition of Bigha. It's essential to know the specific regional conversion.
Is an Acre always 43,560 square feet?
Yes, in countries like the US and UK, an Acre is consistently defined as 43,560 square feet.
Are both Bigha and Acre used for agricultural purposes?
Yes, both units are commonly employed in agricultural contexts in their respective regions.
Is Bigha still commonly used?
Yes, especially in rural areas of South Asian countries like India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
Is the Bigha recognized internationally?
No, Bigha is primarily recognized in South Asia, while Acre has global recognition.
Can Bigha be converted to other land measurement units?
Yes, but it's crucial to know the specific size of a Bigha in the concerned region for accurate conversion.
Is the Acre used outside of the US and UK?
Yes, the Acre is recognized in various countries, though some might also use other units like hectares.
Why is the Acre so widely recognized?
Due to its international standardization and use in many countries, especially in the West.
Are there countries where both Bigha and Acre are understood?
In countries like India, professionals and locals might understand both, but Acre has broader global recognition.
Why does the size of a Bigha vary?
Historical, regional, and cultural factors have led to the non-standardization of the Bigha across South Asia.
Can I use Bigha and Acre interchangeably?
Not directly. It's essential to convert from one to the other, considering the specific regional size of the Bigha.
Which is larger, a Bigha or an Acre?
This depends on the regional definition of a Bigha. In some places, a Bigha may be larger than an Acre, while in others, it might be smaller.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
