Difference Between Carpet Area, Built-Up Area and Super Built-Up Area

Confused by the terms carpet area, built-up area, and super built-up area? You’re not alone. Each term reveals different aspects of a property’s size and directly affects what you pay for. Carpet area shows the usable space inside your home, built-up area adds in the walls and other structures, while super built-up area includes a share of communal spaces. 

This guide breaks down these concepts clearly and helps you to learn about the difference between carpet area vs built-up area vs super built-up area. This helps you understand exactly what you’re getting and paying for. This way, you can make a smarter, more confident real estate decision.

Carpet Area vs. Built-Up Area vs. Super Built-UpArea

Understanding Carpet Area vs. Built-Up Area vs. Super Built-Up Area is crucial when evaluating a property. These terms highlight how much usable space you get, influencing the property’s value and functionality. Here’s a simple breakdown to help you grasp the differences.

Area	Carpet Area	Built-Up Area	Super Built-Up Area
Bedroom	Yes	Yes	Yes
Living Room	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bathroom	Yes	Yes	Yes
Kitchen	Yes	Yes	Yes
Study Room	Yes	Yes	Yes
Guest Room	Yes	Yes	Yes
Kid’s Room	Yes	Yes	Yes
Dining Room	Yes	Yes	Yes
Lobby	No	No	Yes
Balcony	No	Yes	Yes
External Staircase	No	Yes	Yes
Internal Staircase	Yes	Yes	Yes
Pooja Room	Yes	Yes	Yes
Terrace	No	Yes	Yes
Lift	No	Yes	Yes
Verandah	No	Yes	Yes
Garden	No	No	Yes

What is Carpet Area? 

In Indian real estate, carpet area refers to the actual usable floor space within the walls of a property. This is the area where you can lay a carpet, hence the term. It includes the space covered by rooms like the bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom, etc. Essentially, it is the net usable area of the home but excludes areas such as:

• External walls
• Balconies
• Terraces
• Common areas like lifts, lobbies, and corridors

Why is Carpet Area Important?

Carpet area is crucial for homebuyers because it directly represents the usable living space. It helps in making more informed decisions about how much of the purchased area can actually be used.

How to Calculate Carpet Area

The calculation of carpet area is fairly simple. The formula for carpet area is:

Carpet Area = Total Built-up Area – Area of Walls (External and Internal)

For example, if a home has a built-up area of 1,200 sq. ft., and the area covered by internal and external walls is 200 sq. ft., the carpet area would be:

Carpet Area = 1,200 sq. ft. – 200 sq. ft. = 1,000 sq. ft.

This gives you a clear understanding of how much of the total property size is actually usable.

What is RERA Carpet Area?

With the introduction of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), a more standardised and transparent definition of carpet area was created. According to RERA, carpet area is the net usable area within the walls of an apartment, but it includes the area covered by internal partition walls.

RERA carpet area, however, still excludes external walls, balconies, common areas, and utility spaces like lifts and staircases.

This new definition ensures that homebuyers get a clearer picture of the space they are purchasing, eliminating confusion often caused by inflated areas quoted by developers under terms like “built-up area” or “super built-up area.”

Carpet Area vs. RERA Carpet Area

Aspect	Carpet Area	RERA Carpet Area
Internal Walls	Excluded	Included
External Walls	Excluded	Excluded
Balconies	Excluded	Excluded
Terraces	Excluded	Excluded
Common Areas (Lift, Lobby etc.)	Excluded	Excluded
Transparency for Buyers	May vary based on developer’s calculations	Standardised by RERA, ensuring consistency
Usable Space Representation	Represents the livable area, excluding walls	Provides a slightly higher figure due to inclusion of internal walls

What is Built-Up Area?

The built-up area in Indian real estate refers to the total area that includes both the carpet area (the actual usable space) and the thickness of internal and external walls. It also accounts for other spaces like the balcony, terrace, and in some cases, utility areas. 

Essentially, the built-up area is larger than the carpet area because it factors in additional spaces that aren’t directly usable but still form part of the property structure.

Why is Built-Up Area Important?

Built-up area plays a significant role when evaluating a property because it gives a broader picture of the property’s total size. However, it may not always reflect the actual livable space. Developers often use built-up area to quote the size of a property, and understanding how this differs from the usable carpet area is essential for making informed purchasing decisions.

For instance, a property advertised as 1,500 sq. ft. built-up area might only have 1,200 sq. ft. of carpet area. The remaining 300 sq. ft. could be walls, balconies, and other structural elements.

How to Calculate Built-Up Area

To calculate the built-up area of a property, the following formula is used:

Built-Up Area = Carpet Area + Area of Walls + Area of Balcony/Terrace/Utility

For example, if a property has a carpet area of 1,000 sq. ft., and the total area covered by internal/external walls and balconies is 300 sq. ft., the built-up area would be:

Built-Up Area = 1,000 sq. ft. + 300 sq. ft. = 1,300 sq. ft.

This calculation ensures that you understand how much of the total space is taken up by walls and non-usable areas like balconies.

Note: While the built-up area is larger than the carpet area, it’s important to focus on the carpet area when assessing how much livable space you actually have in your property.

What is Super Built-Up Area?

The super built-up area refers to the total built-up area of a property plus a proportionate share of the common areas in a building, such as the lobby, staircases, elevators, and other shared amenities. This measurement gives an inflated idea of the space since it includes areas that are shared by multiple residents. 

In real estate, the super built-up area is often used by developers to calculate the saleable area of a property, making it larger than both the carpet area and built-up area.

Why is Super Built-Up Area Important?

The super built-up area is crucial for buyers to understand because it significantly impacts the price of a property. Developers typically base the price per square foot on the super built-up area, which means you are paying for the common areas as well as your individual unit.

While this figure helps developers advertise larger properties, it’s important for buyers to differentiate between actual usable space (carpet area) and the area that includes non-usable but shared spaces. For example, a property advertised with a super built-up area of 2,000 sq. ft. may have only 1,400 sq. ft. of carpet area, with the remaining 600 sq. ft. being attributed to shared amenities.

How to Calculate Super Built-Up Area

The super built-up area is calculated using the following formula:

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

For instance, if the built-up area of your apartment is 1,500 sq. ft., and the proportionate share of the common areas (such as the lobby, staircases, etc.) is 300 sq. ft., the super built-up area would be:

Super Built-Up Area = 1,500 sq. ft. + 300 sq. ft. = 1,800 sq. ft.

This calculation reveals how much extra space you’re paying for in terms of shared amenities.

Note: Focus on the carpet area to understand the actual usable space in your home. The super built-up area includes shared spaces like lobbies and staircases, which you won’t directly use. Always ask for the carpet area to avoid paying for more space than you can use.

What is the Loading Factor? 

The loading factor is a key metric in real estate that reflects the additional percentage added to the carpet area to account for common areas and shared facilities. It is essential for buyers to understand this factor as it directly impacts the total area they are paying for.

In Indian real estate, the loading factor typically ranges from 20% to 30%. This percentage represents the additional area added to account for common areas and structural elements in a building, such as walls, lobbies, and elevators. A loading factor of 25% is quite common, meaning that if the carpet area is 1,000 square feet, the built-up area would be approximately 1,250 square feet.

How to Calculate the Loading Factor

To determine the loading factor, follow these steps:

Identify Carpet Area and Built-Up Area:

• Carpet Area: The actual usable area inside the apartment or office.
• Built-Up Area: Includes the carpet area plus the thickness of walls, internal staircases, and other structures.

Calculate the Loading Factor:

Loading Factor (LF) = [(Built-Up Area (BUA) – Carpet Area (CA)) / Carpet Area (CA)] × 100

Example Calculation:

If the Carpet Area is 1,000 square feet and the Built-Up Area is 1,200 square feet:

Loading Factor (LF) = [(1,200 – 1,000) / 1,000] × 100 = 20%

4 Tips for Understanding Carpet, Built-Up, and Super Built-Up Areas

• Understand Each Area Type: Know the difference between carpet, built-up, and super built-up areas. Each impacts your usable space differently.

• Check the Loading Factor: Be aware of the loading factor used by builders to calculate super built-up area. A typical factor ranges from 15% to 30%.

• Verify Measurements: Always cross-check the area calculations provided by the builder with those in your agreement.

• Consider Usable Space: Focus on carpet area for practical living space, while built-up and super built-up areas give insight into the total space including shared and structural components.

Conclusion

Understanding the difference between carpet area, built-up area, and super built-up area is crucial for making informed real estate decisions. By knowing what each term represents, you can better assess the true value and usability of a property. 

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