What Is Carpet Area,Built-Up Area, and Super Built-Up Area? Explained with Examples

When purchasing a flat or apartment in India, buyers often come across confusing terms like Carpet Area, Built-Up Area, and Super Built-Up Area. Understanding these terms is essential because they directly affect the size of your property, the price you pay, and your future resale value.

In this article, we will explain these commonly used real estate measurements in simple language, including examples for better clarity.

1. Why Understanding Property Area Terminology Is Important

When a builder advertises a property, the area mentioned is often the Super Built-Up Area. However, this is not the actual usable space inside the home. Many buyers are surprised after possession to find that the actual area they can use is much smaller than what was promised in brochures.

Knowing the difference helps:

• Avoid overpaying for space you cannot use

• Make smarter comparisons between different properties

• Know exactly what you're buying

2. What Is Carpet Area?

Carpet Area refers to the net usable floor area within the walls of the apartment. It is the area where you can actually lay a carpet. It includes:

• Bedroom

• Living Room

• Kitchen

• Bathrooms (usable floor area inside)

• Internal Partition Walls

What It Does Not Include:

• External walls

• Balcony

• Terrace

• Common areas like lift, staircase, lobby

Carpet Area Definition as per RERA (Real Estate Regulation and Development Act, 2016):

According to RERA, “Carpet Area means the net usable floor area of an apartment, excluding the area covered by the external walls, areas under services shafts, balcony or verandah area, and open terrace area.”

Carpet Area = Net Usable Area Inside the Apartment

Typical Ratio: Carpet Area is usually around 70–75% of the Super Built-Up Area in India.

3. What Is Built-Up Area?

Built-Up Area is slightly larger than Carpet Area. It includes:

• Carpet Area

• Internal and External Walls' Thickness

• Balcony

• Utility Ducts

Built-Up Area Formula:

Built-Up Area = Carpet Area + Wall Thickness + Balcony + Utility Area

It gives a clearer picture of the space covered by the apartment but is still not 100% reflective of what you actually use inside.

Typical Ratio: Built-Up Area is usually around 80–85% of the Super Built-Up Area.

4. What Is Super Built-Up Area?

Super Built-Up Area is often called the "saleable area" by builders. This is the figure used to calculate the price of the apartment. It includes:

• Built-Up Area of the Flat

• Proportionate Share of Common Areas

Common areas include:

• Lobby

• Staircase

• Lift Shafts

• Gym, Clubhouse

• Security Room

Super Built-Up Area Formula:

Super Built-Up Area = Built-Up Area + Proportionate Share of Common Areas

This number may sound attractive but is not always fair for the buyer. It can inflate the per square foot price.

5. Example to Understand All Three Areas

Imagine you are buying a flat where:

• Carpet Area = 700 sq. ft.

• Built-Up Area = 900 sq. ft. (700 + walls + balcony)

• Super Built-Up Area = 1,200 sq. ft. (includes common spaces share)

If the per sq. ft. rate is ₹5,000:

• Carpet Area Price = 700 × 5,000 = ₹35,00,000

• Super Built-Up Area Price = 1,200 × 5,000 = ₹60,00,000

You can see there’s a big difference between what you pay for and what you actually get. That’s why the RERA regulation was introduced.

6. How Builders Mislead Using Super Built-Up Area

Many builders market only the Super Built-Up Area because it looks larger. The customer thinks they’re buying more space, but the actual usable area (Carpet Area) is much smaller.

Why Builders Do This:

• Higher Super Built-Up Area means more saleable square footage.

• Increases revenue without increasing the physical size of apartments.

7. Carpet Area Under RERA: Buyer Protection

Before 2016, there was no uniform rule for declaring Carpet Area. Under the RERA Act:

• Builders must now clearly disclose Carpet Area.

• Pricing must be based on Carpet Area in many states.

• Reduces the chance of misleading advertisements.

Always check the RERA registration of the project to ensure transparency.

8. How to Calculate These Areas When Buying Property

When you visit a property:

• Ask for Carpet Area, not just Super Built-Up Area.

• Check the floor plan and request measurements.

• Use a laser measuring device to verify room sizes.

Pro Tip:
Do not make purchase decisions based only on brochures. Always physically visit the site or hire a property lawyer to review area calculations.

9. Area Definitions as per Indian Standards

Area Type What It Includes Typical % of Super Built-Up Area Carpet Area Rooms within internal walls 70–75% Built-Up Area Carpet + walls + balcony 80–85% Super Built-Up Area Built-Up + Common Amenities 100%

10. Conclusion

Understanding the difference between Carpet Area, Built-Up Area, and Super Built-Up Area protects you from overpaying or facing future disappointment.

When you buy a home in India, always:

• Focus on Carpet Area as the main factor.

• Compare two properties using Carpet Area, not Super Built-Up Area.

• Check RERA compliance for fair measurements.

Buying a home is a major investment — make sure you know exactly how much space you're paying for!

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