Quick answer
A 5 Marla house (about 1,125 sq ft of land) usually has 3 bedrooms and suits a small family or a rental investment. A 10 Marla house (about 2,250 sq ft) typically has 4–5 bedrooms and is the most popular family size in DHA Islamabad and Bahria Town. A 1 Kanal house (about 4,500 sq ft) usually has 5–6 bedrooms, larger lawns and servant quarters, with higher running costs. Choose based on family size, budget per square foot and how quickly you may need to resell.
Choosing the size of your house matters more than choosing the phase. It decides how comfortable your family is day to day, what you spend on upkeep, and how easily you can sell later. Here is how the three most common sizes in DHA Islamabad and Bahria Town compare.
The sizes at a glance
| 5 Marla | 10 Marla | 1 Kanal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Land area | ~1,125 sq ft | ~2,250 sq ft | ~4,500 sq ft |
| Typical plot | 25 × 45 ft | 35 × 65 ft | 50 × 90 ft |
| Typical covered area (double storey) | 2,000–2,400 sq ft | 3,500–4,200 sq ft | 6,500–8,000 sq ft |
| Usual bedrooms | 3 | 4–5 | 5–6 |
| Lawn | Small front space | Small front lawn | Proper lawn, often back yard too |
| Servant quarter | Rare | Sometimes | Usually |
Covered area depends on the society's building bylaws and on whether the house has a basement, so treat these figures as typical ranges rather than rules. Our Marla and Kanal guide explains the land measurements.
5 Marla: compact and efficient
Who it suits: couples, small families, first-time buyers, and investors buying to rent.
Strengths
- Lowest entry price in any given phase
- Lower running costs: electricity, maintenance and property tax are all smaller
- Strong rental demand from young families and working professionals
Trade-offs
- Limited parking, often one car inside
- Little outdoor space
- Rooms are smaller, and there is rarely a separate guest room
10 Marla: the family standard
Who it suits: most families of four to six, and buyers who want a balance of space and resale.
Strengths
- Enough room for 4–5 bedrooms, a drawing room and a TV lounge
- The widest pool of buyers when you sell, which helps both price and speed
- Space for two cars and a small lawn
Trade-offs
- Roughly double the price of a 5 Marla in the same phase
- Higher running costs, especially cooling in summer
If you are unsure, 10 Marla is usually the safest choice. It is the size most families look for, so resale is rarely a problem.
1 Kanal: space and status
Who it suits: larger or joint families, buyers who entertain often, and those who want a statement home.
Strengths
- Large rooms, a proper lawn, servant quarters and often a basement
- More privacy from neighbours
- Prime 1 Kanal homes in established phases hold value well
Trade-offs
- Much higher running costs and staff needs
- A smaller group of buyers, so selling can take longer
- Price per square foot of land is sometimes lower than smaller sizes, but the total budget is far higher
How to decide
Ask yourself four questions:
- How many bedrooms do you really need in the next five years? Include guests and parents who may stay with you.
- What is your monthly budget for running the house? Electricity, staff and maintenance scale with size.
- Will you live in it or rent it out? 5 and 10 Marla rent faster.
- How soon might you sell? If it could be within three to five years, stick to the most liquid size, which is usually 10 Marla.
Running costs by size
The purchase price is only the start. Larger houses cost more to run every month, and the gap is bigger than most buyers expect.
- Electricity. Cooling is the largest bill in Islamabad and Rawalpindi summers. A 1 Kanal house with several air conditioners running can cost several times as much to cool as a 5 Marla.
- Maintenance. Paint, waterproofing, plumbing and lawn care all scale with covered area and outdoor space. Budget a fixed amount each year rather than waiting for repairs.
- Staff. Most 1 Kanal homes need a driver, a gardener or full-time help. Few 5 Marla homes do.
- Society charges. DHA and Bahria maintenance charges are usually linked to plot size, so they rise with each step up.
If your income is stretched by the purchase, a smaller house with lower running costs is often the wiser choice. You can always move up later.
Rental demand and returns
If you plan to rent the house out, size changes the picture again:
- 5 Marla houses rent quickly to young families and professionals, and usually give the best rental yield as a percentage of the price.
- 10 Marla houses attract steady demand from established families and some corporate tenants, with longer average tenancies.
- 1 Kanal houses rent to a smaller group, often embassies, companies or senior officers. Rents are higher in rupees but can sit empty longer between tenants.
For pure investment, many buyers split a budget across two 5 Marla houses instead of one 10 Marla, to spread the risk.
Ready house or build your own?
At every size, you can buy a ready house or buy a plot and build. Buying ready means you can move in or rent out straight away, and you can inspect the construction quality before paying. Building gives you your own design and can cost less overall, but it takes 12 to 18 months and needs close supervision. Families moving within a year usually buy ready; those with time often build.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Buying for the biggest family gathering of the year. Plan for daily life and hire extra space for the occasional big event.
- Ignoring the covered area. Two 10 Marla houses can differ by 800 sq ft of covered area. Compare the built space, not just the plot.
- Forgetting resale. An unusual layout or an extremely customised house can be harder to sell, whatever its size.
- Not checking bylaws. Each society limits storeys, setbacks and basements by plot size. Check what is allowed before you buy a plot to build on.
Size versus location
A 10 Marla in a developed phase with schools, markets and good access often beats a 1 Kanal in an undeveloped area, both for daily life and resale. Compare phases using our DHA Islamabad phase guide and Bahria Town phase guide before you settle on a size.
Browse by size
- 5 Marla houses in DHA Islamabad · 5 Marla in Bahria Town
- 10 Marla houses in DHA Islamabad · 10 Marla in Bahria Town
- 1 Kanal houses in DHA Islamabad · 1 Kanal in Bahria Town
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Frequently asked questions
How many bedrooms does a 10 Marla house have?
Most 10 Marla houses in DHA Islamabad and Bahria Town have 4 or 5 bedrooms across two storeys, often with a drawing room, TV lounge, two kitchens and a small lawn.
Is a 5 Marla house enough for a family of five?
It can be. A well-designed double-storey 5 Marla usually has 3 bedrooms, which works for parents and up to three children. Families who host relatives often or want a guest room usually find 10 Marla more comfortable.
Which house size is easiest to resell?
10 Marla houses usually have the widest pool of buyers in DHA Islamabad and Bahria Town, with 5 Marla close behind in budget-sensitive phases. 1 Kanal homes sell to a smaller group of buyers, so they can take longer.
How big is 1 Kanal in square feet?
1 Kanal is 20 Marla. In DHA Islamabad and Bahria Town that is generally about 4,500 sq ft of land, typically around 50 × 90 ft.
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