The importance of measurement in real estate is very high, as it provides not just a visual check about the property but even an understanding of the precise dimensions and measurements. Understanding these measurements brings the benefits in calculating price and value and provides valuable insights for property investors and owners.
Measuring real estate is a complex task beyond a simple tape measure. It involves understanding the units used and how to calculate them. Nowadays, land experts rely on advanced tools to automatically calculate the area of large pieces of land and their conversions. This complexity underscores the need to deeply understand real estate area measurements, especially in Thailand.
What’s the History of Area Measurements in Thailand?
In 1923, the Kingdom adopted the metric system, which replaced the decimal system based on the meter. However, it has its unique way of measuring land, which can be confusing for expats. Instead of using familiar measurements like miles, acres, and kilometers, Thailand uses its own units such as ‘Rai’, ‘Square Wah’, and ‘Ngan’ for land measurement.
To measure land area in Thailand, you should be aware that most land sizes are measured in ‘Rai,’ which generally means farms. To measure a unit of area in Thailand, it is in ‘Ngan,’ which generally means work. Another term for a unit of area measurement is ‘Wah,’ which is an act of spreading one’s arm to both sides, as a verb.
What are the Benefits of Area Measurements in Thailand?
The benefits of area measurement in Thailand is accurate land valuation. Familiarity with these measurements is paramount knowledge to assess the size of real estate and compare it to other properties on the market. This understanding will greatly help in any real estate transaction to come up with an informed decision.
Before a person signs a contact, having a clear understanding of the area that a person is buying is vital. Because it helps determine if it is the best deal and allows the buyer to assess if the property aligns with their personal needs and planned design.
It carries with it the legalities of where your building or house is situated, as it could potentially encroach on other properties, leading to legal complexities that could be both time-consuming and financially draining in the future.
What Units of Area Measurements Used in Thailand?
Thailand’s Land Measurement System is based on rai, ngan, and wah. Rai, the most significant unit of land area, is commonly used in Thailand. For instance, a typical rice field might be measured in rai, with one rai equivalent to 4 ngan.
Ngan is a commonly used unit, wherein one ngan is equivalent to 100 square wah, making it a practical choice for smaller land measurements. Similarly, the Wah, the smallest unit, is commonly used in land measurement. It is equivalent to 4 square meters, a fact that you’ll often encounter in your dealings in the Kingdom regarding land measurement.
Calculating the land with more precise measures is a practical skill that provides valuable information about the whole land size, a notation that you will frequently encounter in your dealings with Thai land measurement, further solidifying your understanding of the system.
Below are the conversions for your reference, which will guide you through this Article and for your future measurement and conversion.
| 1 rai = 4 ngan
4 ngan = 400 square wah 1 square (Talang) wah = 4 square meters (NOTE: Talang means squared) So using the above conversions, 1 rai = 400 square wah = 1,600 square meters |
1. For Land
What are the Units for Land Area Measurements?
The main units for land area measurement in Thailand are Rai, Ngan, and Talang Wah. They are not just arbitrary units of measurement but the very language of land ownership and transactions in Thailand. They are used in land title deeds to indicate the land area, and understanding them is key to verifying the land area and its size in the actual location.
Examples of How to Calculate Different Land Area Formats?
Imagine you have a land area of 100 rai. You might be curious to know how this translates into ngan and square wah. This is where understanding the conversion between these units becomes important.
To use the conversion stated in the preceding section,
1 rai = 4 ngan
4 ngan = 400 square wah,
So 400 square wah = 1 rai
If you have 100 rai of land and want to calculate how many ngan this land amount is, the calculation would be 100 rai multiplied by 4, as 1 rai is equivalent to 4 ngan. That would give us 400 ngan.
If you want to convert 100 rai to square wah, it is simple. Remember, 1 rai is equal to 400 square wah. Therefore, 100 rai would be multiplied by 400, which gives us 40,000 square wah.
Lastly, if you want to convert 300 ngan to square wah, using the abovementioned conversion, we know that 1 ngan is equivalent to 100 square wah. Hence, if we have 300 ngan, we multiply it by 100, giving us 30,000 square wah.
2. For Usable Space
What are the Units for Usable (Floor) Area Measurements?
The unit for measuring usable or floor space is typically in square meters. To convert usable area, all we need is the width multiplied by the depth of the area. This straightforward calculation is the key to understanding the very essence of the spaces.
Whether it is a condo, villa, apartment, or building, the square meter is the language of floor area measurement. It is essential in architectural, construction,or decoration calculations to divide spaces within the house or building into square meters for the balcony, and basically the interior of a house. In fact, some developers and contractors charge a fee per square meter.
How to Convert Thai Units to Imperial Measurements?
To convert Thai Units to Imperial Measurements, we need to know that the common units used for measuring in the imperial system are inches, feet, yards, and miles. Since we already have our guide for the Thai Units above, we will try to convert it to imperial measurements.
To give you a simple conversion:
1 square meter = 1.1959 square yard = 1550 square inch = 10.7639 square foot = 3,8610 square mile
Our basis for this is 1 square meter since the Thai conversion of 1 rai equals 1,600 square meters. And 1 square meter is equal to the imperial measurements above to guide us.
EXAMPLE 1: We will convert 100 rai to a yard. Since 1 square meter is equivalent to 1.19599 square yards, we multiply 1,600 square meters by 1.19599, which gives us 1,913.58 square yards.
EXAMPLE 2: Suppose we will convert 40,000 square wah to a square feet. We will convert 40,000 square wah to square meters, following the conversion of 1 square wah equivalent to 4 square meters. We multiply 40,000 by 4, which gives us 160,000 square meters. We convert this to square feet by multiplying 160,000 square meters by 10.7639, which is equivalent to 1,722,224 square feet.
CONVERSION
| Thai Units | Imperial / Metric Units | |||||
| RAI | NGAN | TALANG WAH | SQUARE METERS | SQUARE FEET | ACRE(S) | HECTARE(S) |
| 1 | 4 | 43 | ||||
| 0.25 | 1 | 100 | 400 | 4,305.56 | 0.098 | 0.04 |
| 1 | 4 | 400 | 1,600 | 17,222.26 | 0.395 | 0.16 |
| 2 | 8 | 800 | 3,200 | 34,444.51 | 0.790 | 0.32 |
| 3 | 12 | 1,200 | 4,800 | 51,666.77 | 1.18 | 0.48 |
| 4 | 16 | 1,600 | 6,400 | 68,889.03 | 1.58 | 0.64 |
| 5 | 20 | 2,000 | 8,000 | 86,111.28 | 1.97 | 0.80 |
| 6 | 24 | 2,400 | 9,600 | 103,333.5 | 2.37 | 0.96 |
| 7 | 28 | 2,800 | 11,200 | 120,555.8 | 2.76 | 1.12 |
| 8 | 32 | 3,200 | 12,800 | 137,778.05 | 3.16 | 1.28 |
| 9 | 36 | 3,600 | 14,400 | 155,000.31 | 3.55 | 1.44 |
| 10 | 40 | 4,000 | 16,000 | 172,222.57 | 3.95 | 1.60 |
It is best to be familiar with the units used and their conversion. Most importantly, in this ever-changing world, we need to be knowledgeable with how to use the calculator, but before we use it, we should be well-versed in the units and conversion used in real estate.
The Importance of Area Measuring on Maintenance Fees
The significance of area measuring for maintenance fees lies in the fact that it determines the level of fees and their calculation method. For instance, some contractors and developers levy on the actual costs incurred by the management company, or they will charge a fixed fee on a per-square-meter basis, taking into account the floor area and common areas. Notably, these rates can differ immensely, depending on factors such as property type, location, and size.
To give you an example on a per square meter basis, an owner of a condo has a floor space of 100 square meters, and the monthly fee is 35 baht per square meter. Hence, the owner should pay 100 x 35 baht, which is 3,500 baht per month. Rates differ in size, complexity, quality, and the overall scope of services.
It is equally important to know the net floor area and common areas. When we compute the monthly management and maintenance fee, the basis would be the ‘net floor area’, which only comprises the usable area at your private property. In contrast, the ‘common area’ includes the ground floor, the lift, typical terraces, the lobby, and other relevant common areas beneficial to all.
Note that the common area would be included in the calculation, and the management and maintenance fees would be swelled because these areas are maintained for the owner’s benefit.
What Types of Area Measurements are Calculated as Maintenance Fees?
The two main types of area measurement calculated as maintenance fees are floor area for condominiums, and land area and usable area or common fees for villas, detached houses, townhouses, and semi-detached houses.
1. Condominiums: Floor Area Used for Maintenance Fees
Most of the time, the numbers that concern us directly are the square meters of area inside the condominium such as from the front door to the balcony. However, it is noted that air compressors are separated from the balcony. Hence, it cannot be counted as a floor area as this space cannot be used by the owner.
For example, the monthly maintenance fee is 40 baht per square meter. The unit has a total floor area of 35 square meters with a separate air compressor of 5 square meters. This will give us a maintenance fee of 1,400 baht per month only because 40 bath multiplied by the floor area of 35 square meters excludes the 5 square meters.
It is important to note that if there is a 5 square meter area in the balcony that can be used by the room owner, it will be added to the 35 square meter floor area. This brings the total 40 square meters, which is the usable area included in the maintenance fee calculation.
When considering purchasing a condominium property in Thailand it is crucial to factor in not just the purchase amount but also the maintenance fees. Understanding these fees is key to making an educated decision about your investment.
2. Detached House: Land area and Usable Area or Common Fees
When considering a detached house, it is important to understand the concept of land area and usable area. The land area includes all the space surrounding the home. However, it is vital to note that this calculation only includes the ground and excludes any space on the second floor or above, as these are counted as square meters.
The usable area, as the name suggests, is the part of the property that serves a specific purpose. This includes the parking area, the interior of the house, and each floor. It is measured in square meters and is a key factor in determining the actual living space of the property.
For example, if you are considering a house, townhouse, or semi-detached house, you’ll need to calculate the usable area and land area to determine the fee. If the monthly maintenance fee is 25 baht per square meter, and the area is 60 square meters, your monthly payment would be 1,500 baht.
In addition to this, there are common areas that would be beneficial to the owners, such as the parking lot and amenities, which would increase the fees and be added to the usable area and land area. Suppose the common area is 50 square meters, which would be an addition to the 60 square meters earlier, resulting in 110 square meters. We will multiply by 25 baht per square meter, giving us a 2,750 baht monthly maintenance fee comprising the usable and land area, including the additional common area.
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