Carpet vs built-up vs super built-up area explained

TL;DR

Carpet area = actual floor space you can lay carpet on.
Built-up area = carpet + walls + balconies (typically 10-15% higher than carpet).
Super built-up area = built-up + share of common areas (20-40% higher than carpet).
RERA mandated carpet-area pricing since 2016, but super built-up is still quoted in marketing.

The RERA-mandated definition

Under RERA 2016, every project must quote carpet area in the sale agreement — defined as the net usable floor area within apartment walls (excluding external walls, common walls with adjacent units, and shafts). This is what you actually live in.

The marketing trap

Builders often advertise super built-up area because it looks larger. “1,800 sqft flat at ₹10,000/sqft = ₹1.8 Cr” sounds reasonable. Actual carpet area might be 1,260 sqft — meaning true per-sqft cost is ₹14,286. When comparing projects, always normalize to carpet area.

How to verify

Ask for the sale agreement draft before booking. It must quote carpet area explicitly (RERA requirement). Divide total price by carpet area for apples-to-apples comparison across projects.

FAQs

What’s the typical ratio of carpet to super built-up?

70-80% in efficient projects, 60-70% in premium projects with heavy common amenities. Below 60% = disproportionately paying for common areas.

Does my loan get disbursed on carpet area or super built-up?

On agreement value, which is based on super built-up as per builder pricing. Your LTV is calculated on the full agreement value — carpet area is just a disclosure.

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