Difference Between Carpet Area Vs Built-Up Area Vs Super Built-Up Area

You may run into real estate jargon like "carpet area," "built-up area," and "super built-up area" when searching for a new home or flat. But what do these terms mean? In this blog, we will understand built-up area vs carpet area vs super built-up area and their other essential aspects.

What is RERA?

RERA stands for the Real Estate Regulatory Authority, a law passed in India in 2016 to regulate the real estate sector and protect the interests of home buyers. RERA aims to bring transparency and accountability to the real estate industry by mandating the registration of all real estate projects and agents and requiring developers to disclose project details, timelines, and approvals.

RERA has benefited home buyers by ensuring that developers complete projects on time, maintain quality standards, and do not divert funds. It has also made it easier for buyers to seek redressal for any issues with their purchase. Overall, RERA has helped to professionalise the real estate sector and build greater trust between developers and consumers.

What is the Carpet Area?

Carpet area refers to the actual usable floor space inside a property. It includes the area within the walls of a room but excludes the space occupied by walls and other structures. In simpler terms, it's the area where you can lay a carpet or walk around comfortably.
 
So how important is this? Carpet area is an important metric to consider when evaluating a property's value since it directly impacts the amount of living space you will have. Understanding the carpet area of a property is particularly important when comparing different properties to find the one that best meets your needs.

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How to Calculate Carpet Area?

In general, the carpet area of a flat or apartment is approximately 70% of its total built-up area. This means that if you know the built-up area of a property, you can estimate its carpet area by multiplying the built-up area by 0.7.

Formula to Calculate Carpet Area

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

For example, if the built-up area of a property is 1,500 square feet, its typical carpet area would be:

1,500 sq. ft. × 0.7 = 1,050 sq. ft.

So, in this case, the carpet area of the flat would likely be around 1,050 square feet, even though the total built-up area is 1,500 square feet.

Important Things About Carpet Area

When buying a house, it's crucial to carefully examine the carpet area. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

  • Builders must disclose the carpet area in marketing materials, sale deeds, and agreements.
  • Verify the actual carpet area matches the promised area; request a refund if there's a discrepancy.
  • Carpet area is crucial for determining property value and pricing.
  • Ensure the carpet area meets your expectations to avoid overpaying

What is Built-Up Area?

The built-up area is the total area of a property that includes the carpet area plus the space occupied by walls. It's the sum of all areas enclosed by the outer walls of a property, including the carpet area.

This area is another essential aspect to consider when evaluating a property's value, as it directly impacts the price per square foot. We at Hero FinCorp use the built-up area to calculate the loan amount, making it an essential metric for those seeking Property Loans.
 

How to Calculate Built-Up Area?

If the total built-up area of a property is 1000 square feet, the actual carpet area (the usable floor space) would not exceed 700 square feet. The carpet area is always less than the built-up area due to the space occupied by walls, corridors, stairwells, and other common areas within the building.

Formula to Calculate Built-Up Area

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

Important Things About Built Up Area

When buying a house, it's crucial to carefully examine the built-up area. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

  • Built-up area refers to the total enclosed space of a property, including walls, corridors, and other common areas.
  • It is the gross square footage of a building, including the thickness of the walls.
  • Built-up area is typically larger than the net usable carpet area.
  • Knowing the built-up area is crucial for property valuation and taxation purposes.

What is Super Built Up Area?

A super built-up area is the total built-up area of a property plus additional common spaces such as elevators, lobbies, staircases, and corridors. It's the area that's proportionally distributed among all building residents for common use.
 
The super built-up area is calculated by adding a certain percentage of the built-up area, which varies from project to project, to account for the shared spaces. Understanding the super built-up area is essential when evaluating and comparing a property's value to others.
 

How to Calculate Super Built-Up Area?

To calculate the super built-up area, you need to add the built-up area to your proportionate share of the common areas. The formula is:

Formula to Super Calculate Built-Up Area

Super Built-up Area = Built-up Area + Proportionate Common Area

Or

Super Built-up Area = Carpet Area x (1 + Loading Factor)

For example, if the carpet area is 1,000 square feet and the loading factor is 50%, the super built-up area would be:

1,000 square feet x (1 + 0.50) = 1,500 square feet

The super built-up area represents the total area a buyer pays for, including their proportionate share of the common spaces. It serves as the basis for pricing and cost calculations, ensuring transparency and compliance with legal requirements.

Important Things About Super Built-Up Area

When buying a house, it's crucial to carefully examine the super built-up area. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

  • Super built-up area includes the total enclosed space of a property, including walls, corridors, and common areas.
  • It is the largest measurement of a property's size, encompassing all usable and non-usable spaces.
  • Super built-up area is used for calculating the total cost of a property.
  • It is important to consider the super built-up area when comparing properties or calculating the overall cost per square foot.

What is the Loading Factor?

Loading factor is a percentage added to the carpet area of a property to arrive at the built-up area. It's the proportion of the common spaces, including lobbies, elevators, and staircases, shared among all building residents.
 
Depending on the property's location, the loading factor can vary from 15% to 50%. Understanding the loading factor is essential when evaluating and comparing a property's value with others in the market.


 

How is Calculation done for Carpet Area, Built-Up Area, and Super Built-Up Area?

Calculating carpet area, built-up area, and super built-up area is easy. Let’s understand with some examples below:

  • Built-up Area

    The built-up area of a flat includes the carpet area and the area occupied by the walls. If an apartment has a carpet area of 750 square feet and the walls occupy an additional 50 square feet, the built-up area would be 800 square feet.

  • Carpet Area

    The carpet area of a flat is the liveable space inside the walls. It excludes the area occupied by the walls. If an apartment has a built-up area of 800 square feet, including 50 square feet occupied by walls, the carpet area would be 750 square feet (800-50).

  • Super Built-Up Area

    Suppose the loading factor for the project is 25%. In that case, the super built-up area for the flat would be 1000 square feet (800 + (25% of 800)), which includes the built-up area and the proportionate share of common areas, such as lobbies, elevators, and staircases shared by all residents of the building.

Important Factors included in Carpet Area, Built-Up Area and Super Built-Up Area

As the table shows, the carpet area includes only the usable floor space, while the built-up area includes the usable floor space, balconies, kitchens, bathrooms, walls, and other structures. The super built-up area includes everything in the built-up area plus the proportionate share of common areas like lifts, staircases, lobbies, and other shared spaces.
 

Factors IncludedCarpet AreaBuilt-up AreaSuper Built-up Area
Usable Floor Space (Living Room, Bedrooms, etc.)✔️✔️✔️
Balconies✔️✔️✔️
Kitchen✔️✔️✔️
Bathrooms✔️✔️✔️
Walls and other structures (e.g., ducts, shafts)✔️✔️
Proportionate share of common areas (Lifts, Staircases, Lobbies, etc.)✔️

 

Formula to Calculate Loading Factor

To calculate the super built-up area, you can use the following formula:

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

For example, if the loading factor is 1.5 times, it means that 50% has been added to the carpet area. If the carpet area is 1000 sq ft, then the super built-up area would be 1500 sq ft, with a loading factor of 500 sq ft.

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

When buying a property, understanding the different types of areas involved, such as carpet, built-up, and super built-up areas, is crucial for making informed decisions.
 
The carpet area represents the actual usable floor space within a property. In contrast, the built-up area includes the carpet area and the area occupied by walls. The super built-up area includes everything in the built-up area and the proportionate share of common areas, like lobbies, lifts, and staircases.

Here is a detailed explanation of the differences between Carpet Area, Built-up Area, and Super Built-up Area:

FeatureCarpet AreaBuilt-up AreaSuper Built-up Area
Living room/HallYesYesYes
BedroomYesYesYes
Dining roomYesYesYes
KitchenYesYesYes
BathroomYesYesYes
Pooja roomYesYesYes
Study roomYesYesYes
BalconyNoYesYes
Utility areasNoYesYes
Staircase (inside)YesYesYes
Staircase (outside)NoYesYes
TerraceNoYesYes
VerandahNoYesYes
LiftNoNoYes
LobbyNoNoYes
GardenNoNoYes
Swimming poolNoNoYes

 

Carpet Area, Built-Up Area and Super Built-Up Area: Indian Real Estate

In Indian real estate terminology, the carpet area refers to the actual usable area within the walls of an apartment, excluding common spaces like lobby and staircase. It includes only the floor area that can be carpeted, providing the exact measurement of living space available to the occupant.

Built-up area encompasses the carpet area along with the thickness of walls and balconies. It represents the total area that is enclosed by the apartment's walls, including all usable spaces within those boundaries.

Super built-up area extends beyond the built-up area to include common spaces such as corridors, lifts, and amenities like gardens or clubhouse. It accounts for the proportionate share of these areas allocated to each apartment, influencing the overall pricing and utility for residents.

Conclusion

Knowing the differences between carpet area, built-up area, and super built-up area is crucial when buying a property. Now that you understand built-up area vs carpet area and built-up area vs super built-up area, it is essential to consider these factors when buying a property or applying for a loan from Hero FinCorp.  
 
These factors can impact the selling price and property taxes and determine the loan amount and Property Loan interest rate. Being informed about these aspects can help you make better decisions and ensure you get the most value for your investment.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Built Up Area and Carpet Area?

Built-up area includes the entire floor space, walls, and balconies. Carpet area is the usable floor space within walls.

2. Why is Carpet Area important?

Carpet area is crucial because it represents the actual usable area within your property. It helps you understand how much space you have for living and furnishing.

3. Why do builders use Super Built-Up Area for pricing?

Builders use the super built-up area for pricing to distribute the cost of common amenities among all buyers. It helps in covering the cost of construction for common areas.

4. Is there a standard percentage for common areas in Super Built-Up Area?

There is no fixed standard; it varies from project to project. Typically, the loading (common area proportion) can range from 15% to 50%.

5. Which area should I consider while buying a property?

While super built-up area is used for pricing, you should focus on the carpet area to understand the actual usable space you will get.



 

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Written by  Katyaini Kotiyal

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Katyaini is a finance expert with a focus on the non-banking financial sector, bringing over 8 years of experience in NBFC. She specializes in simplifying complex financial concepts for readers, helping them navigate the NBFC landscape. Outside of work, she is passionate about travelling.

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