Homebuyers must know what they are paying for by understanding their apartment’s actual usable space. While purchasing an apartment, you usually pay for the total number of square feet you are going to occupy. This blog will help you identify the key differences between them so that you can start your home-shortlisting tasks more confidently.
What is a Carpet Area?
An apartment’s carpet area is the net usable space that one can cover with a carpet. It includes-
- Bedroom
- Living room
- Dining space
- Kitchen
- Bathrooms
- Staircases
The carpet area does not include any external space, like-
- Terraces
- Corridors
- Lifts
- External walls
- Common areas
- Utility ducts
Calculating the Carpet Area
The simple formula to calculate the carpet area is:
Carpet Area formula = (The total area of Bedrooms + Living Room + Dining Room + Study Room + Prayer Room + Kitchens + Bathrooms + Inner Staircase) – The inner walls’ thickness
Learn more about the specifications of Jyothi Serenity 3 BHK apartments.
Understand the concept of RERA Carpet Area
The definitions of the 2016 RERA Act reveal that the RERA carpet area is the apartment’s net usable floor area. It also excludes external spaces like the veranda and the exclusive open terrace area. However, it includes all the spaces covered by the internal partition walls.
Calculating the RERA Carpet Area
As per the RERA Act 2016, calculate the RERA Carpet Area by using this formula:
RERA Carpet Area = The apartment’s Net Usable Area + Areas of the Internal Partition Walls
Carpet Area vs. RERA Carpet Area
The difference between the carpet area and the RERA carpet area lies only in the thickness of the internal partition walls, which is included in the latter. The RERA Carpet Area is usually 5% higher than the general carpet area.
Defining and Calculating the Built-Up Area
Your flat’s built-up area can be calculated by summing up the carpet area of both the interior and exterior walls. It should include the interior staircase and other liveable spaces. A flat’s built-up zone is around 80% of the super-built space.
To calculate an apartment’s built-up area, add the RERA Carpet Area or the general carpet area to both the interior and exterior wall area, the corridor, and the exclusive balcony.
Built-Up Area = Carpet Area + Wall Areas + Exclusive Terrace & Balcony + Exclusive Corridor (if present)
Super Built-Up Area and Its Calculation
The super built-up area is the total “saleable” space, and homebuyers are given a quote based on this value. So, it includes all the exclusive built-up areas and common spaces:
- Elevators
- Staircases
- Corridors
- Clubhouses
Please note: A super built-up zone does not include:
- Compound walls
- Driveways
- Open-to-sky swimming pools
- Parks
- Open sports grounds
To calculate the super built-up area, add the built-up area and the proportionate common area. You can also get its estimate by multiplying the carpet area by (1+loading factor). To calculate the Loading Factor, use this formula:
Loading Factor = (Super Built-Up Area – Carpet Area) / Carpet Area
As a thumb rule, the Loading Factor for luxury apartments must be below 60%. That’s because if the value is higher, it would suggest a smaller carpet area and a higher super built-up area.
Built-Up vs. Super Built-Up Area
The built-up area is the sum of the carpet area, the exclusive corridor, the balcony, the exclusive terrace, the thickness of all the walls, and the internal staircase. But super built-up space covers the total built-up area plus all the common spaces. These include common corridors, lifts, clubhouses, staircases, and other amenities. The super built-up area is the saleable area, so the homebuyer should pay for it depending on the area’s value.
Carpet Area Vs Built-Up Area vs Super Built-Up Area
Here’s a table differentiating between the carpet, built-up, and super built-up areas to help you understand the spaces included in each type.
| Carpet Area | Built-Up Area | Super Built-Up Area | |
| Living Room/ Community Hall | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bedroom | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dining Room | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Kitchen | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Prayer Room | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Study Room | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bathrooms | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Inner Staircase | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Balcony | No | Yes | Yes |
| Utility Area | No | Yes | Yes |
| Exclusive Veranda | No | Yes | Yes |
| Exclusive Terrace | No | Yes | Yes |
| Outer Staircase | No | No | Yes |
| Lift | No | No | Yes |
| Lobby | No | No | Yes |
| Garden | No | No | Yes |
| Open-to-Air Swimming Pool | No | No | No |
| Parks | No | No | No |
| Driveways | No | No | No |
| Play Areas / Open Sports Facilities | No | No | No |
| Water Tanks / Septic Tanks | No | No | No |
In short, the Carpet Area is less than the Built-Up Area, which is less than the Super Built-Up Area.
What Makes Jyothi Infratech Different?
Jyothi Infratech is committed to converting your ideation into a reality. Our team maintains transparency throughout the journey. Furthermore, we deliver high-quality projects that align with your lifestyle preferences and aspirations through innovation and expertise.
The Takeaway
In a nutshell, it’s crucial to understand the concepts of carpet, built-up, and super built-up areas to ensure you don’t get unwanted surprises later. By being able to differentiate one property from another, you can make more informed and smart real estate investment decisions. We hope the article will help you gain more clarity on the spaces you are paying for.
FAQs
Q. 1. How much carpet area is good for a 3 BHK apartment?
An ideal carpet area for a 3 BHK apartment ranges from 900 to 1,500 square feet. However, it may vary based on family needs and individual lifestyle choices.
Q. 2. Which area is more important to consider while purchasing a property?
The carpet area is crucial; you must check it while purchasing an apartment. It represents how much usable space you are getting inside your flat. However, you must also know your built-up area and super built-up area to estimate the total property cost.
Q. 3. How do I calculate my apartment’s carpet area?
To calculate the carpet area of your flat, measure every room’s area (by multiplying its length and width). The sum of all these calculated areas is your total carpet area.
Q. 4. Is there a standard percentage for the Super Built-up Area?
No, because the super built-up area depends on the particular project design. But it usually ranges between 25% and 30% of the total carpet area.
Q. 5. During a property purchase, should I focus more on the Carpet Area, Built-up Area, or Super Built-up Area?
You should focus more on the carpet area you are receiving at the quoted price. However, it is also crucial to understand the built-up and super-built-up areas (including common facilities and walls) to assess what you are being charged for.
