Carpet, Built-up & Super Built-up Areas – Key Differences Explained

When purchasing a home, one of the biggest sources of confusion for buyers is the way property sizes are presented. Terms like Carpet Area, Built-up Area, and Super Built-up Area often appear in brochures and sale agreements, but many buyers aren’t sure what they really mean.

Knowing the difference is crucial — it not only helps you evaluate the actual living space but also ensures you are paying the right price. At RAMS Real Estates, we believe in 100% transparency in area measurements, so buyers understand the true value of their investment.

Carpet Area – The Space You Can Actually Use

Definition:

Carpet Area

Carpet area is the net usable floor area within the internal walls of an apartment — the space where you can actually lay a carpet. It includes areas such as the living room, bedrooms, kitchen, Balcony and bathrooms. It does not include the thickness of internal and external walls, verandas, terraces, or common areas.

RERA Carpet Area

As per the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA), carpet area is defined as:

“The net usable floor area of an apartment, excluding the area covered by external walls, areas under services shafts, exclusive balcony or verandah area, and exclusive open terrace area, but including the area covered by internal partition walls of the apartment.”

Plinth area – Rera Carpet Area Plus Walls & Balconies

Definition:

Plint Area area refers to the Rera carpet area plus wall thickness and balcony/terrace space

Formula:

Plinth area = Rera Carpet Area + Wall Area + Balcony/Terrace Area

Example:

If Rera carpet area = 800 sq. ft. and wall + balcony = 200 sq. ft.,Plinth area = 1,000 sq. ft.

Why It Matters:

Some older agreements mention Plinth area instead of carpet area, which makes the home sound bigger on paper than it feels in reality. Always check whether the price is quoted on carpet or built-up area.

Super Built-up Area / Saleable area – Plinth area Plus Common Amenities

Definition:

Also known as saleable area, the super built-up area includes the Plinth area plus your share of common facilities.

What’s Included:

• Entrance lobby.
• Lift and staircase area upto terrace
• Clubhouse and corridors
• Swimming pool and shared facilities
• OHT, SUMP, Headroom Etc

Formula:

Super Built-up Area = Plinth Area + Proportionate Common Area

Loading Factor:

The difference between carpet area and super built-up area is called the loading factor. In Chennai, this usually ranges between 25% and 40%, depending on project design and amenities

Why These Terms Matter

In the past, many developers quoted property prices based on super built-up area/ saleable area, which caused confusion since the usable space (carpet area) was much smaller

Post-RERA:

Builders are now required to sell based on Rera carpet area, making pricing more transparent. Still, understanding Plinth Area and super built-up area helps buyers evaluate amenities, maintenance charges, and the actual value received.

Example Calculation

If you buy a 3 BHK apartment in Chennai with:

• Rera Carpet Area: 1,000 sq. ft.
• Walls + Balcony: 200 sq. ft.
• Share of Common Area: 300 sq. ft

Then:

• Plinth Area = 1,000 + 200 = 1,200 sq. ft.
• Super Built-up Area = 1,200 + 300 = 1,500 sq. ft. Price per square foot (₹/sq. ft.) in real estate is typically quoted on the super built-up area — not the carpet area, unless explicitly stated.

Let’s break it down with your example:

Price per sq. ft. = ₹8,000

This rate is usually on super built-up area

Home buyer assumes it’s based on carpet area

RAMS Real Estates – Our Transparent Approach

At RAMS, we eliminate the confusion by:

• Providing detailed floor plans with measurements.
• Explaining loading factors and maintenance upfront.
• Following RERA-compliant disclosures to ensure trust and clarity.

Our philosophy is simple: buyers should know exactly what they’re paying for.

Conclusion

Understanding the difference between carpet area, Rera Carpet area, Plinth area, and super built-up area or Saleable area can protect you from overpaying and help you make an informed decision.

With RAMS Real Estates, you are assured of transparent pricing, honest measurements, and RERA-compliant agreements — so you can focus on finding the perfect home, without hidden surprises.