Property prices in India are quoted per square foot, but the square feet being counted are not always the same. Understanding the three common area definitions is the simplest way to compare projects fairly and avoid paying for space you cannot use.
Carpet area
Under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, carpet area is the net usable floor area of an apartment, excluding external walls, service shafts, exclusive balcony or verandah areas and exclusive open terraces, but including internal partition walls. RERA requires developers to sell on the basis of carpet area, so this figure should appear in your agreement for sale.
Built-up area
Built-up area adds the thickness of external walls and, depending on how a developer defines it, balconies and utility areas. It is typically larger than carpet area.
Super built-up area
Super built-up area (sometimes called saleable area) adds a proportionate share of common areas — lobbies, staircases, lift wells, clubhouse and corridors. The difference between super built-up and carpet area is often called the “loading”.
How to compare two projects
- Ask every developer for the RERA carpet area of the exact unit.
- Divide the all-in price by the carpet area to get a comparable price per usable square foot.
- Check how much of the common area is genuinely useful to you — a large clubhouse is only valuable if it is maintained.
- Look at the floor plan: column positions, corridor space and odd-shaped rooms reduce usable area even within carpet area.
Our tools and calculators include an area converter, and our checklists cover the questions to ask on a site visit.
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