Thai Land Size Units
In Thailand, land is typically measured in units of Wah, Ngan and Rai. These units are land measurements based on the traditional units of measurement that have been used in the country for centuries. They are still widely used today, particularly in rural areas, although the metric system is also used in some cases, like a square meter.
1 Wah is equal to 2 meters. It is often represented using the symbol “วา” or abbreviated as “w” or “wa.
1 Talang Wah (Talang being “squared”) is equal to 4 square meters (4 sqm).
1 Ngan is equal to 100 square meters, or about 1/15 of a Rai. It is represented using the symbol “งาน” or abbreviated as “ng” or “n.”
1 Rai is equal to approximately 1,600 square meters, or 0.4 acres. It is represented using the symbol “ไร่” or abbreviated as “r.”
So, conversions from Thai measurement units are:
- 1 wah = 2 meters
- 1 square wah = 1 talang = 4 sq. meters
- 1 ngan = 100 sq. wah = 400 sq. m
- 1 rai = 4 ngan = 1600 sq. m = 0.4 acre
And reverse conversions are:
- 1 hectare = 6.25 rai = 10,000 sq. m
- 1 acre = 2.47 rai = 43,560 sq. ft
You can also use the following conversion table:
| SQ. WAH | SQ. FT. | SQ. M. | NGAN | RAI | ACRE(S) | HECTARE(S) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 43 | 4 | ||||
| 100 | 4,305 | 400 | 1 | 0.25 | 0.10 | 0.04 |
| 400 | 17,222 | 1,600 | 4 | 1 | 0.40 | 0.16 |
| 800 | 34,444 | 3,200 | 8 | 2 | 0.80 | 0.32 |
| 1,200 | 51,667 | 4,800 | 12 | 3 | 1,20 | 0.48 |
| 1,600 | 68,888 | 6,400 | 16 | 4 | 1.60 | 0.64 |
| 2,000 | 86,111 | 8,000 | 20 | 5 | 2.00 | 0.80 |
| 2,400 | 103,333 | 9,600 | 24 | 6 | 2.40 | 0.96 |
| 2,400 | 103,333 | 9,600 | 24 | 6 | 2.40 | 0.96 |
| 2,800 | 120,555 | 11,200 | 28 | 7 | 2.80 | 1.12 |
| 3,200 | 137,777 | 12,800 | 32 | 8 | 3.20 | 1.28 |
| 3,600 | 155,000 | 14,400 | 36 | 9 | 3.60 | 1.44 |
| 4,000 | 172,222 | 16,000 | 40 | 10 | 4.00 | 1.60 |
| 32,000 | 80 | 20 | 8 | 1.60 | ||
| 48,000 | 120 | 30 | 12 | 4.80 | ||
| 64,000 | 160 | 40 | 16 | 6.40 | ||
| 80,000 | 200 | 50 | 20 | 8.00 | ||
| 96,000 | 240 | 60 | 24 | 9.60 | ||
| 112,000 | 280 | 70 | 28 | 11.20 | ||
| 128,000 | 320 | 80 | 32 | 12.80 | ||
| 144,000 | 360 | 80 | 32 | 12.80 | ||
| 160,000 | 400 | 100 | 40 | 16.00 |
Short Format to display land size
In Thailand, people have a fondness for shortening various things, and land sizes are no exception. The units Wah, Ngan, and Rai are frequently dropped. Therefore, a land plot size of 1 Rai, 2 Ngan, and 3 Wah would be displayed as 1-2-3.
It’s essential to note that the shortened format consistently comprises three sections.
Consequently, when a land plot is less than 1 Ngan, leading zeroes are added for Rai and Ngan. For instance, if the plot is just 280 Wah, it’s displayed as 0-0-280.
Final note
It is important to note that land measurement in Thailand can be a complex process, as it involves factors such as the shape and slope of the land, the presence of buildings or other structures, and the type of land use. Land measurements are typically carried out by professional surveyors or engineers, who use specialized equipment and techniques to accurately determine the size and boundaries of a piece of land.
