Difference in carpet area, built-up area and super built-up area

The size of flats and apartments if expressed using the terms carpet area, built-up area and super built-up area. This guide explains what is the difference among these three terms.

What is carpet area?

Carpet area is that area in the flat which you could cover using a carpet. It is also known as the net usable area. According to the Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Act, 2016 (RERA), carpet area is ‘the net usable floor area of an apartment, excluding the area covered by the external walls but including the area covered by internal partition walls of the apartment’. Under the government’s PMAY programme, carpet area is defined as the area enclosed within the walls and the actual area to lay the carpet.

Formula to calculate carpet area

Carpet area = Area of bedroom + living room + balconies + toilets – the thickness of the inner walls

See also: How is RERA carpet area defined?

 

Importance of carpet area

The carpet area gives the buyer a realistic picture of how much space they would actually have to live. For the benefit of the buyer, it is crucial that the price of the property is calculated on this measuring benchmark and not on built-up area of super built-up area.

Also, during property valuation, banks take into account the carpet area of the property to arrive at its worth, and offers loans based on that.

 

 

What is built-up area?

The built-up area in a flat is its carpet area, plus the space taken by the walls. The build-up area in a flat also includes other unusable areas like balcony, terrace, flower beds, etc. This is why the space in a flat would seem larger when it is expressed in build-up area terms.

Formula to calculate built-up area  

Built-up area = Carpet area + area of walls + area of balcony

Importance of built-up area

While the carpet area represents the actual usable floor space within the confines of the walls, the built-up area includes the carpet area plus the area covered by walls, ducts, balconies, and other structural elements. Understanding the built-up area gives a more holistic view of the total space available within the property. Also, the built-up area plays a significant role in determining the cost of a property.

 

 

What is super built-up area?

Super built-up area is the built-up area of the property, along with the proportionate area of the common facilities in the housing project. These facilities may include the lobby, the lift shaft, the stairs, the swimming pool, the garden, the park and clubhouse, etc. Developers arrive at the super-built up area of a unit by way of adding the total built-up area with the area occupied by common areas, including the corridor, the lift lobby, the elevator, etc. In some cases, builders even include amenities such as pools, gardens and clubhouses, in the common area.

Formula to calculate super built-up area

Super built-up area = Built-up area + proportionate common area

Or

Super built-up area = Carpet area (1+loading factor)

Importance of super built-up area

The super built-up area provides a more comprehensive understanding of the total space that a buyer or tenant will have access to, including the common areas and amenities. This helps in evaluating the overall cost of the property or rental, as it accounts for both the individual unit space and the shared facilities.

 

 

 

What is loading factor?

The difference between the carpet areas and the super built up areas is known as the loading factor. The following is the formula to calculate the loading factor percentage:

Carpet area * (1-loading factor) = Super Built-up area

Note: The loading would be in the range of 15% to 50%, depending on builder and the exact location. In cities like Bengaluru, the loading factor could be in the range of 20-25% or even more. 

See also: All about property registration laws in India

 

Super built-up area calculation example

When there are more than one apartments on a floor, the super built-up area is calculated in a different manner.

Let us assume that on the fifth floor of a housing society, Sanjay Mehta owners an apartment with a built-up area of 1,000 sqft. On the same floor, Amit Lal owns an apartment with a built-up area of 2,000 sqft. The total common area on the floor is 1,500 sqft.

Now, to calculate the super built-up area of the two apartments, the builder would divide in the ratio of the apartments’ built-up areas (in this case 1:2) add 500 sqft extra space in Mehta’s total built-up area and 1,000 sqft extra in Lal’s built-up area. Now, the super built-up area of Mehta’s apartment is 1,500 sqft and Lal’s is 3,000 sqft.

See also: All about GST on flat

Carpet area, built up area and super built up area in Indian real estate

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

 

Final carpet area calculation

In most cases, the carpet area in your flat would typically be 70% of its built-up area.  So, if the built-up area of a property is 1,500 sqft, its carpet area would typically be 1,050 sqft.

See also: All about e stamping

 

Housing.com Viewpoint

There are so many ways in which the seller or the builder—whosoever you are buying a property from— may express the size of your would-be home. Some would explain it in carpet area terms while others would talk about built-up area or super built-up area. But, since the real estate law makes it incumbent upon builders to reveal the house area in carpet area terms, it becomes important to understand this concept for a rookie homebuyer. Insist on knowing the carpet area of the any property you plan to invest in. Also insist on the seller offering prices based on carpet area and not on built-up or super built up area.

 

FAQs

What is the meaning of carpet area?

Carpet area is the area that can actually be covered by a carpet or the area of the apartment excluding the thickness of inner walls.

How to calculate carpet area

You can calculate the carpet area if you know the exact built-up area.

What is carpet area according to the RERA?

According to the RERA, carpet area is defined as 'the net usable floor area of an apartment'.

How to calculate loading on carpet area

If a builder puts 1.25 as the loading factor, then it means 25% of space has been added to the carpet area of the flat.

What is included in carpet area

Carpet area does not include the area covered by the external walls, areas under services shafts, exclusive balcony or verandah area and exclusive open terrace area.

What is the difference between carpet area and built-up area

Carpet area is the area that can actually be covered by a carpet while built-up area is the area that comes after adding carpet area and wall area.

What is the meaning of the built up area?

Built up area is the carpet area in a home, plus the wall thickness along with other unusable areas. These can include balcony, terrace, flower beds, etc.

Is the carpet area the same as the super built-up area?

No, the super built-up area includes the carpet area, built-up area and common areas.

Is carpet area the same as the livable area?

Yes, the carpet area is the same as the livable area. Both these terms refer to the actual area which is actually used for living.

 

Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at [email protected]