what is carpet area vs built-up area in Indian real estate |...

what is carpet area vs built-up area in Indian real estate

Posted 2025-07-17 07:40:25

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When buying a home in India, one of the most confusing terms buyers often encounter are carpet area, built-up area, and sometimes super built-up area. Understanding these terms is crucial because they directly affect the price you pay and the actual space you get.

In this blog, we will explain what carpet area and built-up area mean, how they differ, and why it is important to know these measurements before purchasing a property.

1. What is Carpet Area?

Carpet area refers to the actual usable area within the walls of your home. It is the area where you can lay a carpet—hence the name. This includes all the rooms like the living room, bedrooms, kitchen, and bathrooms, but excludes the thickness of inner walls, balconies, terraces, or common spaces like staircases and lobbies.

In simple terms:

Carpet Area = Area usable inside the house (excluding walls and common spaces)

What is included in carpet area:

Bedroom
Living room
Kitchen
Bathrooms
Internal staircases (if duplex)

What is excluded from carpet area:

Walls (both internal and external)
Balcony
Utility areas outside the main structure
Common areas like lobby or lifts

2. What is Built-Up Area?

Built-up area includes the carpet area plus the thickness of the walls and other unusable areas within the apartment unit. It gives you an idea of the total construction area of your flat, even though not all of it is usable.

Built-Up Area = Carpet Area + Wall thickness + Balcony area

What is included in built-up area:

Carpet area
Internal and external walls
Balcony
Ducts

On average, the built-up area is usually 10–20% more than the carpet area.

3. Why is the Difference Important?

The price of a property is often quoted based on the super built-up area, but the usable space is always the carpet area. Understanding the difference helps you:

Know how much usable space you’re actually getting
Evaluate the cost per square foot effectively
Avoid being misled by higher quoted area which includes non-usable spaces

4. Example to Understand the Difference

Let’s say a flat has:

Carpet area: 800 sq. ft.
Wall thickness: 100 sq. ft.
Balcony: 100 sq. ft.

Then,

Built-up area = 800 + 100 (walls) + 100 (balcony) = 1000 sq. ft.

So, even though you’re paying for 1000 sq. ft., the actual usable space is only 800 sq. ft.

5. RERA’s Role in Carpet Area Transparency

The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA), which came into effect in 2016, mandates that builders sell units based on carpet area, not on super built-up or built-up area. This helps buyers get a clear picture of what they are paying for and improves transparency in real estate transactions.

Conclusion

When buying property in India, understanding the difference between carpet area and built-up area is crucial for making informed decisions. Always ask for the carpet area to know the actual usable space you are getting. With increased regulations like RERA, transparency is improving, but being aware yourself is always the best safeguard.