Glossary · Buildings, land and paperwork
Rai
Also called: Ngan, Square wah
In short
The Thai unit of land area. One rai is 1,600 square metres, divided into four ngan or 400 square wah. Land prices are usually quoted per rai or per square wah.
What it means
Land in Thailand is measured in rai, ngan and square wah, and title deeds state areas in the form rai-ngan-wah. Floor areas of homes, by contrast, are given in square metres.
The conversions
- 1 square wah = 4 square metres
- 1 ngan = 100 square wah = 400 square metres
- 1 rai = 4 ngan = 400 square wah = 1,600 square metres
- 1 rai is about 0.4 acre; 1 acre is about 2.5 rai
- 1 hectare = 6.25 rai
Reading a villa listing
A plot given as 0-2-50 is no rai, two ngan and 50 square wah: 250 square wah, or 1,000 square metres. Check whether a listing states the plot or the built area, and whether the built area includes terraces and the pool deck.