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. Carpet area does not include the
space covered by common areas such as lobby, lift, stairs, play area, etc. Carpet
area is the actual area you get for use in a housing unit. So when you are in search
of a house, look at the carpet area and then make your decision, because that is the
number that will give you an idea of the actual space at your disposal. Focusing on
the carpet area will help you understand the usable area in the kitchen, bedroom,
living room, etc. Nowadays, many builders don’t even mention carpet area at first,
and usually charge on the basis of built-up area or super built-up area. Carpet area
is usually around 70% of the built-up area.

Built-Up Area
Built-up area is the area that comes after adding carpet area and wall area. Now, the
wall area does not mean the surface area, but the thickness of the inner walls of a
unit. The area constituting the walls is around 20% of the built-up area and totally
changes the perspective. The built-up area also consists of other areas mandated by
the authorities, such as a dry balcony, flower beds, etc., that add up to 10% of the
built-up area. So when you think about it, the usable area is only 70% of the built-up
area. So, if the built-up area says 1200 square feet, it means around 30% (360
square feet) is not really usable, and the actual area you will get to use is only the
remaining 840 square feet.

Super Built-Up Area

Super Built-up area is a builder’s BFF! It is the area calculated by adding the built-up
area and common area that includes the corridor, lift lobby, lift, etc. In some cases,
builders even include amenities such as a pool, garden and clubhouse in the
common area. A Developer/Builder charges you on the basis of the super built-up
area which is why it is also known as ‘saleable’ area.

Now let us consider this case – the rate is Rs. 2,000 per square foot and the super
built-up area is 1,200 square feet, then the base cost will come up to 24 Lakhs.

When there is more than one apartment on a floor, the super built-up area is
calculated in a different manner. Let us assume this is the case.

— The area of Apartment 1 is 1000 square feet

— The area of Apartment 2 is 2000 square feet

— The total common area is 1500 square feet, out of which the share of Apartment
1’s common area is 500 sq. ft. while the share of Apartment 2’s common area is
1,000 sq. ft.
Then the super built-up area of Apartment 1 is 1,500 square feet and of Apartment 2
is 3,000 Square feet. The super built-up area, as seen in this example, is divided in
the ratio of the apartments’ built-up areas (in this case 1:2).

Considering the fact that Builders and Developers usually price their apartments
based on super built-up or ‘saleable’ area, being unaware of the fundamental
difference between carpet area and built-up area and other terms leaves one running
blind. Often the actual usable area is much lower than the super built-up area. Some
Builders take into account the carpet area while charging you, but this is only in the
rarest of the rare cases. 90% of the developers calculate the base cost on the basis
of the super built-up area; the more the amenities the higher the super built-up area.

Real Estate can be complicated, and you cannot change the rules and practices, but
you definitely can make an informed decision when you’re aware of the various types
of calculations for square footage, a seemingly major but actually simple job!

Carpet Area – Total area of the floor only without internal walls. It is a self explanatory
terminology i.e. how much carpeting you can do. You can get it from the floor plan
provided by the developer or you may measure physically.

Covered Area – Covered area is the total area of the flat only i.e. wall to wall
measurement. It includes the carpet area and the internal walls. This can be calculated
by adding up 12-15% of the carpet area. If the wall is very thick, you may consider upper
band i.e. 15%. Covered area sometimes called as Built Up area.

Super Built-up Area – Now this is the most confusing calculation. The total common
area of the building / project is calculated here. It includes lobby, staircase, lifts, shafts,
security rooms, conference room, other amenities like swimming pool, indoor games
room etc. Keep in mind, the total common area where everybody has access is
considered to calculate Super Built Up. It is simple. The total area is divided by total
units of the building or the project and proportionately added to the flat size. Now you
can understand that all the projects are not same; so all the projects can’t be same
percentage calculations. You may get the actual calculation from developer that how
proportionately the SBU is calculated.

Illustration-
We now calculate the SBU of a flat assuming carpet area is 1000 sq. ft.

Carpet area = 1000 sq. ft.

Covered Area = Carpet area + 15% of Carpet area

= 1000 sq. ft. + 15% of 1000

= (1000 + 150) sq. ft.

= 1150 sq. ft.

Super Built-Up area = Covered Area + Proportionate common area

Let us assume that the total common area is 3200 sq. ft. and there are 8 flats of same
size in the building. So, 3200 sq. ft. will be divided by 8

Proportionate common area = 3200/8 sq. ft.

= 400 sq. ft.

So, the SBU of the flat is = (1150 + 400) sq. ft.

= 1550 sq. ft.

It is clear now that the SBU will be less in a standalone building, whereas, the SBU will
be more in a complex.

Our advice is to concentrate on the carpet area of the flat. The actual size what you are
getting. You can now easily understand the terminology and the calculations. So, next
time make your own calculations.

Note, SBU is not used in everywhere. Sometime Covered area is mentioned to denote
flat size. So, if somewhere the flat size is given as covered area 1000 sq. ft. and you are
comparing with other super built up 1000 sq. ft. flat, you are actually calculating wrong.
Ask what size is given to you whether it is Carpet/Covered/SBU area.

Please share with others if you like this article and find this as helpful to everyone.

What is Super Built Up Area?

Super Built Up Area means built up area plus common areas proportioned to a
unit (Checkout the illustration below). As a rule of thumb, the super built up area can be
calculated by adding a loading factor to the carpet area, which may vary from 15% to
50%. The lower the factor the better it is for you as a customer as you get a higher
carpet area for the same amount. The biggest catch is the calculation of common
areas, where you should pay most attention to.
Areas included in Super Built Up Area
 Entire Built Up Area
 Common Areas – lobby, lift ducts, staircases, pipe ducts/ shafts, air ducts,
covered community centres/ clubs, other covered common facilities.
Areas not included (generally should not be included) in Super Built Up Area
 Roof Terrace
 Open Areas like parks, gardens, play areas etc.


Covered Area : This is the Actual Area under the roof.

Carpet Area : As its name suggests, Carpet Area is the area where we can spread a
carpet, means area calculated from inner wall to wall distance inside the house. This
would also include steps if any, inside the house. So essentially, Carpet area is nothing
but the net usable area inside the house.
 Built up Area : Built up area is Carpet Area + Area of walls and ducts+ 1/2 the Area of
terrace. This is usually 10% more than the carpet area. A terrace is considered as half
the actual area for calculating built up area.

Super Built up Area : This is built up area + area occupied by common amenities like
lifts, corridors, awnings, club house, stairs. Super built up is usually around 25% more
than Built up area. This is also called as Salable Area.

Carpet Area : 1000 sq ft:

Built Up Area : will be ~ 10% more than carpet area, so it comes to 1000+100 = 1100 sq ft

Super Built Up Area : will be ~ 25% more than built up area, so it comes to 1100 + 280(~
300) = 1400 sq ft.

You can see, even though you are buying a 1400 sq ft flat, you are only getting 1100 sq ft, as
the remaining means 300 sq ft is nothing but area of your common usage like lifts, garden,
stairs etc !! So if you want to compare two flats rate-wise, a rule-of-thumb would be
to calculate carpet area first and then compare, how much you are paying per sq feet.
This way, you will be able to do a fair comparison and not get fooled by property-dealers

Before purchasing the flat,

Check up whether the builder has the right to put up structure over the land as the owner or
contractor. If so, check the title of land ownership with the help of good advocate.
Also we should check whether the builder is building without any violation and the
construction of our flat is as per plan given to us.
Check whether the total floors are as per the building map.
We should ensure that the floor we are buying is approved one as nowadays many flats are
sold without any approval and the purchasers faces the problem of demolition.
We should also check the reputation of builder and also we should obtain that NOC for
urban land ceiling is obtained by the builder.

Obtain the electrical and water pipelines maps from the builder which will be helpful in
getting help for any major repairs or alteration.
Carpet Area : As its name suggests, Carpet Area is the area where we can spread a
carpet, means area calculated from inner wall to wall distance inside the house. This
would also include steps if any, inside the house. So essentially, Carpet area is
nothing but the net usable area inside the house.
Built up Area : Built up area is Carpet Area + Area of walls and ducts+ 1/2 the Area
of terrace. This is usually 10% more than the carpet area. A terrace is considered as
half the actual area for calculating built up area.
Super Built up Area : This is built up area + area occupied by common amenities like
lifts, corridors, awnings, club house, stairs. Super built up is usually around 25%
more than Built up area. This is also called as Salable Area.
Right method for carpet area calculation

Carpet area - As the name suggests, it is the area that allows us to spread a carpet
inside the house. To make it simple - If you had to lay out a wall-to-wall carpet in your
entire home, the area covered would be the carpet area. It is defined as the area
calculated from inner wall to wall distance inside the house. This would also include
staircase if any, inside the house. So essentially, carpet area is the net usable area inside
the house.

Built-up area - It is inclusive of not just the carpet area but also the area being
occupied by the walls of your home. Built-up area is Carpet Area + Area of the walls and
ducts + 1/2 area of the terrace. It is usually 10 per cent more than the carpet area. A
terrace is considered half of the actual area for calculating the built-up area.

Super built-up area: This is also known as the ‘saleable or useable’ area. This area is
the sum of the built-up area + common spaces which include the apartment's
proportionate share of the lobby, common staircase, lift and the corridor outside the
apartment, club house and awnings. Super built-up area is usually around 25 per cent
more than built-up area.
There are many instances where confusion arises over super built-up area. Super built-
up area depends on the project and on the builder’s judgment. Some even include the
terrace, security room, electrical room and/or pump room. The cumulative total of these
'extras' is taken into account and divided by the number of apartments in proportion to
their size.”

Carpet area - As the name suggests, it is the area that allows us to spread a carpet
inside the house. To make it simple - If you had to lay out a wall-to-wall carpet in your
entire home, the area covered would be the carpet area. It is defined as the area
calculated from inner wall to wall distance inside the house. This would also include
staircase if any, inside the house. So essentially, carpet area is the net usable area inside
the house.

Built-up area - It is inclusive of not just the carpet area but also the area being
occupied by the walls of your home. Built-up area is Carpet Area + Area of the walls and
ducts + 1/2 area of the terrace. It is usually 10 per cent more than the carpet area. A
terrace is considered half of the actual area for calculating the built-up area.

Super built-up area: This is also known as the ‘saleable or useable’ area. This area is
the sum of the built-up area + common spaces which include the apartment's
proportionate share of the lobby, common staircase, lift and the corridor outside the
apartment, club house and awnings. Super built-up area is usually around 25 per cent
more than built-up area.

For instance, if the carpet area is 800 sq ft, the built-up area will be approximately 10 per
cent more than the carpet area (800+80 = 880 sq ft), then super built-up area will be
approximately 25 per cent more than the built-up area (880 + 220 = 1100 sq ft).

Carpet Area : As its name suggests, Carpet Area is the area where we can spread a carpet, means

area calculated from inner wall to wall distance inside the house. This would also include steps if

any, inside the house. So essentially, Carpet area is nothing but the net usable area inside the

house.

Built up Area : Built up area is Carpet Area + Area of walls and ducts+ 1/2 the Area of terrace.

This is usually 10% more than the carpet area. A terrace is considered as half the actual area for

calculating built up area

Super Built up Area : This is built up area + area occupied by common amenities like lifts,

corridors, awnings, club house, stairs. Super built up is usually around 25% more than Built up

area. This is also called as Salable Area.

There are many instances where confusion arises over super built-up area. Super built-
up area depends on the project and on the builder’s judgment. Some even include the
terrace, security room, electrical room and/or pump room. The cumulative total of these
'extras' is taken into account and divided by the number of apartments in proportion to
their size.