Carpet area vs built-up vs super built-up area
By the PropT team · Published
Carpet area is the usable floor area inside the apartment's walls. Built-up area adds the walls and usually balconies. Super built-up area adds a share of common areas such as lobbies, lifts and the clubhouse. Under RERA, the carpet area must be disclosed, so it's the fairest basis for comparing price per square foot.
The three areas at a glance
| Area | What it includes | Defined by law? |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet area | Usable floor area inside the apartment, including internal partition walls | Yes, in the RERA Act, 2016 |
| Built-up area | Carpet area plus wall thickness and, usually, balconies | No; varies by developer |
| Super built-up area | Built-up area plus a proportionate share of common areas | No; varies by developer |
How RERA defines carpet area
Section 2(k) of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 defines carpet area as the net usable floor area of an apartment, excluding the area covered by the external walls, areas under service shafts, exclusive balcony or verandah area and exclusive open terrace area, but including the area covered by the internal partition walls of the apartment.
Because the definition is in the Act, carpet area means the same thing in every registered project. Built-up and super built-up area have no statutory definition, so two developers can calculate them differently.
Loading: the gap between the numbers
Loading is how much bigger the super built-up area is than the carpet area, as a percentage of carpet area. A unit with 1,000 sq ft of carpet area sold as 1,300 sq ft super built-up has 30% loading.
| Quoted on super built-up | Same price on carpet area | |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 1,300 sq ft | 1,000 sq ft |
| Rate | ₹6,500 per sq ft | ₹8,450 per sq ft |
| Price | ₹84,50,000 | ₹84,50,000 |
The price is identical; only the rate changes. That's why comparing per-square-foot rates across projects only works on carpet area.
What this means for developers and sales teams
- State the carpet area in every listing, brochure and price sheet, alongside any other area you quote.
- Keep each unit's carpet area, other areas and rate in one inventory record, so sales staff and channel partners quote the same figures.
- Show the all-inclusive price as well as the rate, so buyers aren't surprised at agreement stage.
Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, built-up or carpet area?
Built-up area is always bigger, because it adds the thickness of the walls, and usually balconies, to the carpet area.
Does carpet area include balconies?
No. The RERA definition excludes exclusive balconies, verandahs and open terraces from carpet area, though they may be listed separately.
How do I convert a super built-up rate to a carpet area rate?
Multiply the super built-up rate by the super built-up area to get the price, then divide by the carpet area. ₹6,500 per sq ft on 1,300 sq ft is ₹84,50,000, which is ₹8,450 per sq ft on a 1,000 sq ft carpet area.