⭐ Table of Contents
- What Is Carpet Area?
- What Is RERA Carpet Area?
- What Is Built-Up Area?
- What Is Super Built-Up Area?
- Carpet Area vs Built-Up Area vs Super Built-Up Area
- What Should Homebuyers Prefer: Carpet Area or RERA Carpet Area?
- Understanding the Loading Factor
- Super Built-Up Area vs Carpet Area
- How to Calculate Super Built-Up Area
- FAQs
What Is Carpet Area?
Carpet Area refers to the actual usable space inside a home where you can physically lay a carpet or place furniture.
Carpet Area Includes:
- Bedrooms
- Living room
- Kitchen
- Bathrooms
- Internal passages
- Any enclosed usable spaces
Carpet Area Excludes:
- External walls
- Balconies
- Terraces
- Common areas
- Lift shafts
- Lobby or staircase areas
Formula for Carpet Area:
Carpet Area = Sum of all usable internal areas (wall to wall)
This is the space that matters most to homeowners because it reflects how much area you can actually use on a daily basis.
What Is RERA Carpet Area?
Under the RERA Act, developers must disclose the RERA Carpet Area, which is the standardized measure of usable internal space.
RERA Carpet Area Meaning
According to RERA, carpet area includes the net usable area inside the apartment but excludes:
- External walls
- Balconies
- Verandahs
- Open terraces
It includes internal partition walls.
Why RERA Carpet Area Matters:
- Ensures transparency
- Prevents misleading claims
- Standardizes area measurement across developers
- Pricing must be based on RERA carpet area
Thus, RERA carpet area is the most reliable benchmark when comparing two projects.
What Is Built-Up Area?
The Built-Up Area includes:
- Carpet Area
- Internal external wall thickness
- Balconies
- Utility areas
Built-up area is usually 10–20% more than carpet area.
Formula:
Built-Up Area = Carpet Area + Wall Thickness + Utility Balcony Areas
Although no longer used for pricing under RERA, it still provides clarity on the overall footprint of an apartment.
What Is Super Built-Up Area?
Super Built-Up Area is also known as the saleable area. It includes:
- Built-Up Area
- Proportionate share of common amenities and spaces
This might include:
- Lobbies
- Staircases
- Lift shafts
- Clubhouse area
- Swimming pool
- Security room
- Garden space
- Other shared amenities
Super built-up area is usually 25–30% more than built-up area.
Why Developers Use It
Before RERA, pricing was based on super built-up area, making apartments look bigger on paper. RERA now mandates pricing based on carpet area, reducing ambiguity.
Difference Between Carpet Area, Built-Up Area Super Built-Up Area
| Area Type | What It Includes | What It Excludes | Typical Size Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carpet Area | Usable internal area | Walls, balconies, common spaces | Smallest |
| RERA Carpet Area | Usable internal area (incl. internal walls) | External walls, balconies | Slightly more than carpet area |
| Built-Up Area | Carpet area + walls + balcony | Common areas | 10–20% carpet area |
| Super Built-Up Area | Built-up area + common amenities | None | 25–35% built-up area |
📌 Property pricing is now based on RERA Carpet Area—not super built-up area.
What Should Homebuyers Look At – RERA Carpet Area or Carpet Area?
Most developers quote the RERA Carpet Area as it is the legal requirement.
However, the usable carpet area you actually experience might differ slightly due to wall thickness or enclosed spaces.
Best Practice for Homebuyers
✔ Compare projects using RERA Carpet Area
✔ Calculate the usable carpet area personally (wall-to-wall measurement)
✔ Check actual layout and room size instead of relying only on brochures
Knowing both helps you estimate realistic interior usability.
What Is the Loading Factor?
Loading Factor = (Super Built-Up Area – Carpet Area) / Carpet Area
It represents how much extra area (common space) you are indirectly paying for.
Example:
If carpet area = 700 sq ft
Super built-up area = 1,000 sq ft
Loading = (1000 – 700) / 700 = 42.8%
A high loading factor indicates you are paying for more shared spaces and less usable area.
Super Built-Up Area vs Carpet Area
Understanding this difference is crucial:
Carpet Area
- Space inside your home
- 100% usable
- Best for interior planning
- Super Built-Up Area
- Includes shared amenities
- Not fully usable
- Earlier used for pricing, now replaced by RERA standards
Buyers should always prioritize carpet area over super built-up area.
How To Calculate Super Built-Up Area
Developers typically use this method:
Formula:
Super Built-Up Area = Built-Up Area + Proportionate Share of Common Areas
Example:
Built-up area = 1,200 sq ft
Common area share = 300 sq ft
Super built-up area = 1,500 sq ft
FAQs
1. What is 100% usable area in a flat?
It refers to the carpet area only.
2. Why do developers use super built-up area?
It was traditionally used for pricing, but RERA now mandates carpet-area-based pricing.
3. What is a good loading factor?
A loading factor between 25–35% is considered reasonable.
4. Does balcony count in carpet area?
No. Balconies and terraces are not counted in carpet area under RERA.
5. Is built-up area still relevant?
Not for pricing, but helpful to understand the overall footprint of your apartment.
