An explanation of the measurement system used in Thailand.

Thailand uses the Metric system of measurement for Building dimensions however maintains the traditional Thai system for Land measurement.

And although at times this system can be complex it really only comes into focus when your purchasing land itself, as every discussion past that is in standard metric units – mm, cm and meters.

When dealing with Thai Land Measurements the two area units that you will be exposed to the most are the Rai and the Talang Wah.

Rai is used in describing larger areas of land, in the same way that we might use the hectare or the acre.

1 Rai = 1600 sq m
1 Rai = 0.40 Acre
1 Rai = 0.16 Hectare

See the detailed measurement chart below.

Talang is the Thai word for square, in the manner that we would say “square meter”

1 Talang Wah = 4 sq m

About the only other land units measurement that you will be exposed to is the Ngan .

1 Rai = 4 Ngan
1 Ngan = 100 Talang Wah

Some other useful tips when it comes to understanding the Thai use of the metric system in Building and Construction is that the words meter, centimeter and millimeter are pronounced in such a way that if you not “listening ” for them you can be confused that some other unit  is being discussed.

Thais say the word meter pronounced as maeht with a falling tone

So

Meter = maeht

Centimeter = sen dti maeht or “sen”

Millimeter = min li maeht or min

These other words are also useful in this context

Tape Measure = dta lap maeht

Measure ( verb ) = wat ( high tone )

Here is a comprehensive conversion table provided by the Thai Government.

==============================================================================
                                                Approximately equal to:
                With British & Metric           British         Metric
                Equivalents
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Measure of      1 kabiet                        3/16 inch       5 mm
Length          4 kabiet          1 nieu        3/4 inch        2.083 cm
                                                0.820 in
               12 nieu            1 keub        10 inches       25 cm
                                                0.820 ft
                2 keub            1 sawk        1 ft 7 1/2 in   50 cm
                                                1.640 ft
                4 sauk            1 wah         6 ft 6 1/4 in   2 m
                                                2.187 yd
               20 wah             1 sen         43.74 yards     40 m
              400 sen             1 yote        9.942 miles     16 km
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Measure of      1 sq wah                        4.784 sq yards  4 sq m
Surface         1 sq wah                        0.000989 acres
                                                0.000247 acres  1 sq m
              100 sq wah          1 ngan        478.4 sq yards  400 sq m
                4 ngan            1 rai         2/5 acre        1,600 sq m
                                                0.395 acre      0.16 ha
         1011.736 sq wah          4046.9 sq.m.  1 acre
          250,000 sq wah          625 rai                       1 sq km
                                  6.25 rai      1 hectare

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