Carpet Area vs Built-Up Area vs Super Built-Up Area: A Complete Guide for Homebuyers
When buying a flat in India, one of the most confusing aspects is understanding the terms carpet area, built-up area, and super built-up area. These measurements directly affect the price you pay and the actual space you get. In this guide, we’ll break down these concepts, explain how to calculate them, and highlight their differences so you can make informed decisions.
What is Carpet Area in a Flat?
The carpet area is the actual usable area within the walls of your flat—the space where you can lay a carpet. It includes:
- Bedrooms
- Living room
- Kitchen
- Bathrooms
It does not include walls, balconies, verandas, or common areas like staircases and lifts.
👉 Formula:
Carpet Area = Built-Up Area – (Thickness of walls + Balcony + Utility areas)
For example, if your flat has a built-up area of 1,200 sq. ft. and the walls and balconies take up 200 sq. ft., the carpet area is 1,000 sq. ft.
Carpet Area vs Covered Area
Many buyers confuse carpet area with covered area. Covered area includes the carpet area plus balconies and verandas that are covered by a roof. Carpet area is strictly the usable indoor space.
Built-Up Area vs Carpet Area
The built-up area is larger than the carpet area because it includes:
- Carpet area
- Thickness of walls
- Balcony and terrace
👉 Formula:
Built-Up Area = Carpet Area + Walls + Balcony
So, if your carpet area is 1,000 sq. ft. and walls/balcony add 200 sq. ft., the built-up area is 1,200 sq. ft.
Super Built-Up Area vs Carpet Area
The super built-up area (also called “saleable area”) includes:
- Built-up area
- Proportionate share of common areas (lobby, lifts, staircases, clubhouse, etc.)
Builders often quote prices based on super built-up area, which inflates the cost compared to the actual usable carpet area.
👉 Formula:
Super Built-Up Area = Built-Up Area + Common Area Share
For example, if your built-up area is 1,200 sq. ft. and your share of common areas is 300 sq. ft., the super built-up area is 1,500 sq. ft.
Carpet Area vs Super Area
- Carpet Area: Usable space inside your flat.
- Super Area: Includes carpet area, walls, balconies, and common facilities.
This difference is crucial because you pay for super area but live in carpet area.
RERA Carpet Area: Transparency for Buyers
The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA) mandates that builders must disclose the carpet area when selling flats. This ensures transparency and prevents misleading pricing based on inflated super built-up areas.
👉 RERA Carpet Area Definition:
“The net usable floor area of an apartment, excluding the area covered by external walls, areas under service shafts, exclusive balcony or verandah area, and exclusive open terrace area.”
This means buyers now know exactly how much usable space they are getting.
How to Measure Carpet Area
You can measure carpet area by:
- Manual Measurement: Using a measuring tape to calculate the length and breadth of each room and summing them up.
- Architectural Plans: Referring to the floor plan provided by the builder.
- Carpet Area Calculator: Online tools can help estimate carpet area from built-up or super built-up area using standard ratios (typically 70–80% of super built-up area).
👉 Example:
If super built-up area = 1,500 sq. ft.
Carpet area ≈ 75% of super built-up area = 1,125 sq. ft.
Carpet Area and Built-Up Area Difference
| Feature | Carpet Area | Built-Up Area |
|---|---|---|
| Includes walls? | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Includes balcony? | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Usable space? | ✅ Yes | ✅ Partially |
| Transparency (RERA)? | ✅ Mandatory | ❌ Not required |
Super Built-Up Area and Carpet Area Difference
| Feature | Carpet Area | Super Built-Up Area |
|---|---|---|
| Usable space only? | ✅ Yes | ❌ Includes common areas |
| Price quoted by builder? | ❌ Rarely | ✅ Commonly |
| RERA compliance? | ✅ Yes | ❌ Not mandatory |
Is Balcony Included in Carpet Area?
No. Balconies, verandas, and terraces are not included in carpet area. They are part of the built-up area.
Carpet Area to Built-Up Area Conversion
Typically:
- Carpet area = 70–80% of built-up area
- Built-up area = 110–130% of carpet area
👉 Example:
Carpet area = 1,000 sq. ft.
Built-up area ≈ 1,200 sq. ft.
Super built-up area ≈ 1,500 sq. ft.
Why Carpet Area Matters for Buyers
- Transparency: Carpet area tells you the actual usable space.
- Pricing: Builders often quote super built-up area, making flats look bigger than they are.
- RERA Compliance: Carpet area is the legal benchmark for property transactions.
- Resale Value: Buyers prefer clarity on usable space, making carpet area a key selling point.
Common Tricks Builders Use
- Quoting super built-up area to inflate size.
- Adding clubhouses, gyms, and parking into super area calculations.
- Misleading buyers by not clarifying carpet area.
👉 Always ask for RERA carpet area before signing agreements.
Conclusion
Understanding carpet area, built-up area, and super built-up area is essential when buying a flat in India. While builders may advertise super built-up area, the carpet area is what truly matters—it defines the space you can actually use. Thanks to RERA, buyers now have more transparency, but it’s still important to measure and verify these numbers before making a purchase.
