The Three Area Measurements — Comparison
| Area Type | What It Includes | Typical Size | Used For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carpet Area | Net usable floor area inside flat — between inner walls. Excludes walls, balcony, common areas | Base — 100% | RERA pricing (mandatory), actual living space |
| Built-Up Area | Carpet area + wall thickness + exclusive balcony/terrace | ~110–115% of carpet area | Older sale deeds, municipal records |
| Super Built-Up Area | Built-up area + proportionate share of all common areas (lobby, lift, corridors, amenities) | ~125–145% of carpet area | Pre-RERA pricing by builders |
Worked example — 1,000 sq ft carpet area flat: Carpet area = 1,000 sq ft. Built-up area (add walls + balcony ~12%) = 1,120 sq ft. Super built-up area (add common areas ~30%) = 1,300 sq ft. If priced at ₹7,000/sq ft on super BUA = ₹91 lakh. Effective carpet area price = ₹91,000 ÷ 1,000 = ₹9,100/sq ft. Always compare prices on carpet area.
How RERA Changed the Conversation
Before RERA, builders almost universally priced flats on super built-up area — making comparison difficult. RERA 2016 mandated that all sales agreements must reference carpet area (as defined under RERA). Builders must disclose the exact carpet area of each unit. If actual carpet area at possession is less than declared, buyers are entitled to a proportional refund.
Related Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
Built-up area is the carpet area of a flat plus wall thickness and exclusive balcony or terrace area. It is typically 10–15% larger than carpet area and smaller than super built-up area. Under RERA, pricing must reference carpet area — built-up area appears in older sale deeds and municipal records but is no longer the primary pricing metric.
Carpet area is the net usable floor area inside a flat measured between inner walls — it is what you actually walk on. Built-up area adds wall thickness and exclusive balcony/terrace to the carpet area. Built-up area is 10–15% larger than carpet area. Super built-up area further adds proportionate share of all common areas.
Yes. Exclusive balcony and terrace area is included in built-up area. However, it is NOT included in carpet area as defined by RERA. This is an important distinction — a flat marketed as "1,000 sq ft built-up" may have only 870 sq ft carpet area. Under RERA, verify the carpet area separately from balcony area.
Banks use the property's market value (determined by their valuer) for LTV calculation — not just area. However, the carpet area declared under RERA is the reference for what you are buying. Banks verify the RERA carpet area matches the sale agreement. For comparison across projects, always use carpet area per rupee to assess value.
RERA mandates carpet area pricing because it is the most transparent and consistent measure of actual usable space. Built-up area and super built-up area allowed builders to inflate prices by including elements the buyer cannot use (walls, common spaces). Carpet area standardises comparison — every buyer knows exactly how much space they are getting for their money.