Panchla is located at 22°32′N 88°08′E / 22.54°N 88.14°E / 22.54; 88.14.^[2] It has an average elevation of 7 metres (22 feet).

As per 2011 Census of India Panchla had a total population of 26,432 of which 13,573 (51%) were males and 12,859 (49%) were females. Population below 6 years was 3,528. The total number of literates in Panchla was 18,730 (81.78% of the population over 6 years).^[3]

As of 2001^[update] India census,^[4] Panchla had a population of 22,087. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Panchla has an average literacy rate of 63%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 69%, and female literacy is 58%. In Panchla, 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Zardozi embroidery with gold zari, seed pearls, sequins and beads is mainly produced by Muslim craftsmen of Panchla with six basic designs – leaf, flower, bird, animal, geometric and filler. This ornamental and dramatic embellishment is being used to create exclusive garments and accessories by leading fashion houses worldwide. Once the popular every household handcraft Zari (designing female ware by colour threads with small beads, pipes, pieces of stone like materials, reflective small plates etc by special types of needle) work has faced drought due to big machines taken over basic designing process, though some hand work are still breathing it's last air. Zari workers now switched to roadside factories of 12-hours-a-day labour job or migrated to other states for construction or jwellery work. Living cost is also getting higher for influx of skilled high paid workers from other states. ^[5]