{"id":279,"date":"2023-06-17T13:41:12","date_gmt":"2023-06-17T06:41:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/measurements-in-thailand\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T15:20:41","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T08:20:41","slug":"measurements-in-thailand","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/fr\/measurements-in-thailand\/","title":{"rendered":"Mesures en Tha\u00eflande"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The metric system was officially introduced by a law passed on 17 December 1923 as Measurements in Thailand. However, old Thai units are still in common use, especially for measurements in Thailand of land which is often quoted using the traditional Thai system of wha, ngaan and rai. In the provinces, old-times will occasionally use the traditional Thai system of weights and measurements. Here are some conversions:<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Thai system<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Metric System<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 square wha<\/td>\n<td>4 square meters<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 ngan (100 square wha)<\/td>\n<td>400 square meters<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 rai (4 ngan) (1 sq cen)<\/td>\n<td>1600 square meters<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 baht<\/td>\n<td>15.16 grams<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 tamlung (4 Baht)<\/td>\n<td>60 grams<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 chang (20 tamlung)<\/td>\n<td>1.2 kg<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 haap (50 chang)<\/td>\n<td>60 kg<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 niu<\/td>\n<td>2 cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 kheup (12 niu)<\/td>\n<td>25 cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 sawk (2 kheup)<\/td>\n<td>50 cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 waa (4 sawk)<\/td>\n<td>2 meters<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 sen (20 waa)<\/td>\n<td>40 meters<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 yoht (400 sen)<\/td>\n<td>16 km<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 kwien<\/td>\n<td>2,000 liters<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 ban<\/td>\n<td>1,000 liters (2 ban=1 kwien)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 sat<\/td>\n<td>20 liters (50 sat=1 ban)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 tannan<\/td>\n<td>1 liter (20 tannan=1 sat)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\">\n<h2>Table of Contents<\/h2>\n<nav>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#1-traditional-measurements-in-thailand\">1. Traditional Measurements in Thailand<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#2-metric-system\">2. Metric System<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#3-everyday-measurements-in-thailand\">3. Everyday Measurements in Thailand<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#4-practical-tips\">4. Practical Tips about Measurements in Thailand<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faqs-about-measurements-in-thailand\">FAQS about Measurements in Thailand<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#faq-question-1755940401675\">How many square meters in 1 rai in Thailand (rai\u2013ngan\u2013square wah conversion)?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faq-question-1755940403971\">Rai to acres and hectares: what\u2019s the fastest way to convert Thai land size?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faq-question-1755940405191\">What is a \u201csquare wah\u201d (talang\/tarang wah), and why is it on Thai title deeds?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faq-question-1755940454846\">How are distances and speed limits shown in Thailand (metric vs imperial)?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faq-question-1755940455640\">How are utilities billed\u2014electricity, water, gas, and internet speeds?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faq-question-1755940491583\">Construction &amp; real estate in Thailand: floor area vs land area explained<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faq-question-1755940498191\">Everyday measurements expats ask about (temperature, fuel, food, gold)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-traditional-measurements-in-thailand\">1. Traditional Measurements in Thailand<\/h2>\n<p>In the past, Thailand adhered to a system deeply rooted in age-old customs, a tradition that persists in rural regions or within specific industries. You see it often with<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/how-to-read-title-deed-in-thailand\/\"> title deeds in Thailand<\/a>. This historical framework may still be evident today, offering a glimpse into the country&#8217;s rich cultural heritage and practices.<\/p>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Wa (\u0e27\u0e32)<\/strong>: One wa equals 2 meters. It&#8217;s commonly used for measuring land. For instance, you might hear about a plot being so many wa wide.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ngan (\u0e07\u0e32\u0e19)<\/strong>: One ngan is 400 square meters. Land measurements in Thailand often include ngan, especially when discussing property size.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Rai (\u0e44\u0e23\u0e48)<\/strong>: One rai equals 1,600 square meters, or about 0.4 acres. It&#8217;s the standard unit for larger land areas, such as farmland.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-metric-system\">2. Metric System<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Measurements-in-Thailand.png\" alt=\"Measurements in Thailand\" class=\"wp-image-11024 tlo-responsive-img\" style=\"width:400px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Thailand now uses the metric system for measurements, following global standards to stay consistent and compatible with international norms. It is used for:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Length<\/strong>: Meters and kilometers are standard for distance.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Weight<\/strong>: Grams and kilograms are used for weight. If you&#8217;re at a market, you&#8217;ll often buy fruits and vegetables by the kilogram.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Volume<\/strong>: Liters and milliliters are the norm for liquids. Gas stations sell fuel by the liter, and you\u2019ll buy bottled water in liters.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-everyday-measurements-in-thailand\">3. Everyday Measurements in Thailand<\/h2>\n<p>Throughout your daily routines, it&#8217;s common to come across a blend of various systems, each contributing its unique characteristics and functionalities to the overall landscape of your experiences.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In Thailand, <strong>land and property<\/strong> are measured using traditional units such as rai, ngan, and wa, as well as square meters. Rai, ngan, and wa are commonly used units of measurement for real estate in Thailand. Additionally, square meters are also used to measure land and property in the country.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Shopping<\/strong>: Grocery stores and markets use kilograms for produce and grams for smaller items like spices.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Construction<\/strong>: Builders often use meters and centimeters for measurements but might refer to traditional units for land size.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-practical-tips\">4. Practical Tips about Measurements in Thailand<\/h2>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Conversion<\/strong>: Familiarize yourself with basic conversions. For example, 1 wa equals 2 meters, 1 rai equals 1,600 square meters, and so on.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ask for Clarity<\/strong>: When in doubt, ask for measurements in the system you\u2019re most comfortable with. Most locals are familiar with both and can help translate.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Legal Documents<\/strong>: Ensure all legal documents, especially those related to property, clearly state measurements in both traditional and metric units to avoid any misunderstandings.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faqs-about-measurements-in-thailand\">FAQS about Measurements in Thailand<\/h2>\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1755940401675\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">How many square meters in 1 rai in Thailand (rai\u2013ngan\u2013square wah conversion)?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n<p>Thailand uses a traditional land system where 1 rai = 4 ngan and 1 ngan = 100 square wah (also written talang\/tarang wah). A square wah is 2 m \u00d7 2 m = 4 m\u00b2, so 1 ngan = 400 m\u00b2 and 1 rai = 1,600 m\u00b2. Quick formula: <strong>m\u00b2 = (rai \u00d7 1,600) + (ngan \u00d7 400) + (square wah \u00d7 4)<\/strong>. Example: 2\u20131\u201350 (rai\u2013ngan\u2013wah) = (2 \u00d7 1,600) + (1 \u00d7 400) + (50 \u00d7 4) = <strong>3,800 m\u00b2<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1755940403971\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Rai to acres and hectares: what\u2019s the fastest way to convert Thai land size?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n<p>For rough mental math, remember these anchors: <strong>1 rai \u2248 0.395 acre<\/strong>, <strong>1 acre \u2248 2.529 rai<\/strong>, and <strong>1 hectare (ha) = 6.25 rai<\/strong>. Conversions: acres = rai \u00d7 0.395; rai = acres \u00d7 2.529; rai = hectares \u00d7 6.25; hectares = rai \u00f7 6.25. Example: 5 rai \u2248 5 \u00d7 0.395 = <strong>1.98 acres<\/strong> (about 0.80 ha). Or 1 acre \u2248 <strong>2 rai, 2 ngan, 11.7 sq wah<\/strong> (because 1 acre \u2248 4,046.86 m\u00b2).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1755940405191\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">What is a \u201csquare wah\u201d (talang\/tarang wah), and why is it on Thai title deeds?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n<p>A <strong>square wah (\u0e15\u0e23.\u0e27. \/ talang wah)<\/strong> is an area unit equal to <strong>4 m\u00b2<\/strong>. You\u2019ll see it on Chanote and Nor Sor 3 Gor land title deeds and in property listings because it breaks plots into easy-to-read sizes (100 sq wah = 1 ngan; 400 sq wah = 1 rai). Memory tip: <strong>25 square wah = 100 m\u00b2<\/strong>, and <strong>100 square wah = 400 m\u00b2<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1755940454846\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">How are distances and speed limits shown in Thailand (metric vs imperial)?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n<p>Road distances and speed limits use the <strong>metric system<\/strong>: kilometers (km) and kilometers per hour (km\/h). Highway markers (\u201ckilometer stones\u201d) and navigation apps display km, while fuel efficiency is typically in L\/100 km or km\/L. Imperial units are rare on roads, though you may still see <strong>inches<\/strong> used for things like TV screen sizes or pipe diameters in retail.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1755940455640\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">How are utilities billed\u2014electricity, water, gas, and internet speeds?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n<p>Electricity bills charge per <strong>unit (kilowatt-hour, kWh)<\/strong>, water is billed per <strong>cubic meter (m\u00b3)<\/strong>, and cooking gas is sold either by <strong>kilogram (LPG cylinders)<\/strong> or by <strong>liter<\/strong> at service stations. Residential internet plans advertise speeds in <strong>Mbps\/Gbps<\/strong>, and mobile data packages list <strong>GB<\/strong> allowances. If you\u2019re budgeting a condo or house, check the kWh rate, monthly service fees, and any minimum charges per m\u00b3 of water.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1755940491583\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Construction &amp; real estate in Thailand: floor area vs land area explained<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n<p><strong>Land area<\/strong> is typically in <strong>rai\u2013ngan\u2013square wah<\/strong>, while <strong>building\/floor area<\/strong> is in <strong>square meters (m\u00b2)<\/strong>\u2014plans, BOQs, rebar sizes (mm), and ceiling heights all use metric. Listings sometimes mix them (e.g., \u201c60 sq wah land with 180 m\u00b2 usable area\u201d). Air-conditioners are commonly sized in <strong>BTU<\/strong> (e.g., 12,000 BTU for a bedroom), while electrical loads and wiring remain in <strong>watts\/amps\/volts<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1755940498191\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Everyday measurements expats ask about (temperature, fuel, food, gold)<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n<p>Daily life is metric: <strong>\u00b0C<\/strong> for weather, <strong>kg\/g<\/strong> for groceries, <strong>liter<\/strong> for fuel (including Gasohol E20\/E85), and <strong>mL<\/strong> for drinks (330 mL cans, 500 mL bottles). Thai recipes often use <strong>\u0e0a\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e19\u0e42\u0e15\u0e4a\u0e30 (tablespoon \u2248 15 mL)<\/strong> and <strong>\u0e0a\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e19\u0e0a\u0e32 (teaspoon \u2248 5 mL)<\/strong>. In jewelry shops, <strong>Thai gold<\/strong> is sold by the <strong>baht weight<\/strong>, roughly <strong>\u2248 15.2 g per baht<\/strong> (a <strong>salung<\/strong> is a quarter baht, \u2248 3.8 g), while purity for Thai gold jewelry is commonly 96.5%.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Understanding the mix of traditional and metric systems in Thailand is key to navigating daily life and legal matters efficiently. Start by familiarizing yourself with the basic conversions, ask for clarity when needed, and ensure legal documents are precise. This knowledge will help you feel more confident and connected in your interactions and transactions in Thailand.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/System_of_units_of_measurement\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Systems of Units Measurements<\/a> Wikipedia<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n    \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n    \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n    \"@id\": \"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/measurements-in-thailand\/#faq\",\n    \"mainEntity\": [\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"How many square meters in 1 rai in Thailand (rai\u2013ngan\u2013square wah conversion)?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"Thailand uses a traditional land system where 1 rai = 4 ngan and 1 ngan = 100 square wah (also written talang\/tarang wah). A square wah is 2 m \u00d7 2 m = 4 m\u00b2, so 1 ngan = 400 m\u00b2 and 1 rai = 1,600 m\u00b2. Quick formula: m\u00b2 = (rai \u00d7 1,600) + (ngan \u00d7 400) + (square wah \u00d7 4). Example: 2\u20131\u201350 (rai\u2013ngan\u2013wah) = (2 \u00d7 1,600) + (1 \u00d7 400) + (50 \u00d7 4) = 3,800 m\u00b2.\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"Rai to acres and hectares: what\u2019s the fastest way to convert Thai land size?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"For rough mental math, remember these anchors: 1 rai \u2248 0.395 acre, 1 acre \u2248 2.529 rai, and 1 hectare (ha) = 6.25 rai. Conversions: acres = rai \u00d7 0.395; rai = acres \u00d7 2.529; rai = hectares \u00d7 6.25; hectares = rai \u00f7 6.25. Example: 5 rai \u2248 5 \u00d7 0.395 = 1.98 acres (about 0.80 ha). Or 1 acre \u2248 2 rai, 2 ngan, 11.7 sq wah (because 1 acre \u2248 4,046.86 m\u00b2).\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"What is a \u201csquare wah\u201d (talang\/tarang wah), and why is it on Thai title deeds?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"A square wah (\u0e15\u0e23.\u0e27. \/ talang wah) is an area unit equal to 4 m\u00b2. You\u2019ll see it on Chanote and Nor Sor 3 Gor land title deeds and in property listings because it breaks plots into easy-to-read sizes (100 sq wah = 1 ngan; 400 sq wah = 1 rai). Memory tip: 25 square wah = 100 m\u00b2, and 100 square wah = 400 m\u00b2.\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"How are distances and speed limits shown in Thailand (metric vs imperial)?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"Road distances and speed limits use the metric system: kilometers (km) and kilometers per hour (km\/h). Highway markers (\u201ckilometer stones\u201d) and navigation apps display km, while fuel efficiency is typically in L\/100 km or km\/L. Imperial units are rare on roads, though you may still see inches used for things like TV screen sizes or pipe diameters in retail.\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"How are utilities billed\u2014electricity, water, gas, and internet speeds?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"Electricity bills charge per unit (kilowatt-hour, kWh), water is billed per cubic meter (m\u00b3), and cooking gas is sold either by kilogram (LPG cylinders) or by liter at service stations. Residential internet plans advertise speeds in Mbps\/Gbps, and mobile data packages list GB allowances. If you\u2019re budgeting a condo or house, check the kWh rate, monthly service fees, and any minimum charges per m\u00b3 of water.\"\n            }\n        }\n    ]\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The metric system was officially introduced by a law passed on 17 December 1923 as Measurements in Thailand. However, old [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":658,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-279","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","pmpro-has-access"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/279","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=279"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/279\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4035,"href":"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/279\/revisions\/4035"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/658"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=279"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}