Question 1

How big is one rai in square metres?

Accepted Answer

Exactly 1,600 m². It is the standard Thai land unit and equals 4 ngan or 400 talang wah. One rai is roughly 0.16 hectares or 0.395 acres.

Question 2

What is a ngan and how does it relate to a rai?

Accepted Answer

A ngan is one quarter of a rai — 400 m² or 100 talang wah. Smaller residential plots are typically advertised in ngan rather than rai.

Question 3

What is a talang wah (wah²)?

Accepted Answer

Talang wah, written wah² in shorthand, is the smallest common Thai land unit. One talang wah equals 4 m² (a 2 m × 2 m square). It is most often used to price urban plots — for example, ฿80,000 per talang wah.

Question 4

Why are Thai listings still priced in rai, ngan and wah?

Accepted Answer

The Royal Survey Department's title-deed (chanote) system uses rai, ngan and talang wah, so every official document carries those units. Sellers and brokers stick to them for legal continuity even though m² is also widely understood.

Question 5

What is a typical plot size in Thailand?

Accepted Answer

Townhouse plots usually fall between 20 and 35 talang wah (80–140 m²). Detached-house plots commonly run 50–100 talang wah (200–400 m²). A 1-rai plot (1,600 m² ≈ 0.4 acre) is a substantial suburban lot, while agricultural land is more often discussed in tens of rai.

Question 6

Can foreigners own land in Thailand?

Accepted Answer

Foreign nationals generally cannot own land outright. Common alternatives include freehold of a condominium unit (subject to the 49% foreign-quota rule), a long-term lease (up to 30 years, renewable), or ownership via a Thai company. Always consult a licensed Thai lawyer before committing.

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Land unit FAQ for Thailand