Rai, Ngan and Square Wah to Square Metres: Thai Land Size Explained
Figures reviewed 14 October 2026
The conversions
| Thai unit | Square metres | Square feet | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 square wah (tarang wah) | 4 m² | 43.06 ft² | |
| 1 ngan | 400 m² (100 sq wah) | 4,306 ft² | |
| 1 rai | 1,600 m² (4 ngan) | 17,222 ft² | 0.395 acres · 0.16 ha |
The other way round:
1 acre ≈ 2.53 rai
1 hectare = 6.25 rai
1,000 m² = 0.625 rai, or 2 ngan 50 sq wah
Reading a land size like "2-1-50"
Thai title deeds and listings often write land size as three numbers in the order rai – ngan – square wah.
2-1-50 means 2 rai, 1 ngan and 50 square wah:
2 rai = 3,200 m²
1 ngan = 400 m²
50 square wah = 200 m²
Total = 3,800 m² (about 0.94 acres)
A plot listed as 0-0-60 is 60 square wah, or 240 m², which is a typical townhouse or small house plot.
Comparing land prices
Land is usually priced per square wah, while condos are priced per square metre. To compare the two, divide the price per square wah by 4.
Example: land at 50,000 THB per square wah = 12,500 THB per m².
Price per rai: multiply the price per square wah by 400. At 50,000 THB/sq wah, that's 20 million THB per rai.
Watch the units in listings
Unclear abbreviations: some English listings write "wah" or "sq.w." without making clear they mean square wah. 1 wah alone is a length of 2 metres, not an area.
House size vs land size: a house's built-up area is normally in m², while the land it sits on is in square wah. Check which figure an advert is quoting.
Rounding: numbers on online maps can be rounded. The title deed's figure is the one that counts.
Rules on foreign ownership of land are a separate legal matter that this guide doesn't cover. Get independent legal advice before any purchase.
FAQ
How many square metres is 100 square wah? 400 m², which is exactly 1 ngan.
How do I work out how much soil or gravel to buy for a plot? Area alone isn't enough. You need the depth too. Area in m² × depth in metres = cubic metres.