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16/07/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 16/07/2024 13:56

Super Built-up Area vs Carpet Area: Unveiling the Key Differences

Understanding super built-up area vs carpet area is crucial for homebuyers. Carpet area is the usable floor space within an apartment, excluding walls and common areas. Super built-up area includes the carpet area plus shared amenities like lobbies and staircases. This distinction helps in making informed property decisions.

Whether you are looking for your dream home, or have already found it, it is important to understand real estate terms and the detailed measurements that describe a property. Among these, super built-up area vs carpet area can often cause confusion - creating a haze of uncertainty for homebuyers, investors, and tenants.

This blog endeavours to clearly answer the questions, 'what is carpet area?' and 'what is super built-up area?' These two crucial metrics significantly impact property evaluation and pricing. Let us unravel the difference between carpet area and super built-up area, enabling you to compare homes more accurately.

Understanding Carpet Area and Super Built-up Area

Among property terminologies, 'carpet area vs super built-up area' stands as a cornerstone in property evaluation, yet its nuances are often not understood well. With this blog, you can gain insight into the practical aspects of a property, allowing you to envision your future living environment with greater clarity.

What is Carpet Area?

According to the RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Authority) Act of 2016, carpet area refers to the net usable floor area of an apartment, including the space occupied by the internal partition walls, and excluding a few elements such as external walls, exclusive balconies, and exclusive terraces.

The intricacies of carpet area extend beyond mere square footage. It impacts functionality - including furniture arrangement, interior design possibilities, and overall liveability. Further, it serves as a fundamental metric in evaluating the cost-effectiveness of your property investment and ensures transparency in real estate transactions.

What is Super Built-up Area?

In real estate, the total area of a property encompasses not only the actual living space within a house, but also includes a proportionate allocation of shared areas and amenities. This total area is known as super built-up area.

This metric contains not only the tangible living space within an apartment but also the shared spaces like terraces & staircases, and exclusive amenities offered by the developers, such as clubhouses & landscaped gardens. This aspect of the metric serves as the foundation for evaluating the practicality and comfort of a property.

Real Estate Area Calculation (Carpet Area and Super Built-up Area)

Real estate transactions are complex. Metrics like carpet area vs super built-up area, hold the key to understanding the true dimensions of a property, influencing financial decisions and lifestyle considerations.

Having knowledge of the real estate area calculation can serve as a guiding light for buyers, investors, and tenants. Let us delve into these calculations to unveil insights that go beyond mere numbers, so that you can confidently make choices in a dynamic market.

How to Calculate the Carpet Area vs Super Built-up Area?

Carpet Area Super Built-up Area
Formula to Calculate Carpet Area = Length × Width (of usable floor space including the area covered by the internal walls of the house)

Living & Dining: 24 ft × 20 ft = 480 sq ft

Master Bedroom: 22 ft × 15 ft = 330 sq ft

Bedroom 2: 20 ft × 14 ft = 280 sq ft

Guest Bedroom: 15 ft × 10 ft = 150 sq ft

Kitchen: 12 ft × 10 ft = 120 sq ft

Total Carpet Area = 480 + 330 + 280 + 150 + 120 = 1360 sq ft

Formula to Calculate Super Built-up Area = Carpet area + Area occupied by external walls & exclusive balconies & terraces + Proportionate share of Common Areas & Amenities

Carpet Area: 1360 sq ft

External Walls: 70 ft (overall length) x 2 ft (wall thickness) + 80 ft (overall width) x 2 ft (wall thickness) = 300 sq ft

Balconies: 2 balconies of 6 ft x 5 ft = 60 sq ft

Common Areas: Assuming the project has 100 homes, and common areas & amenities occupy 15,000 sq ft:

Proportionate share = 15000/100 = 150

Total Super Built-up Area = 1360 + 300 + 60 + 150 = 1870 sq ft

Key Differences Between Carpet Area Vs Super Built-up Area

The key difference between super built-up area and carpet area is that the carpet area is the actual usable space inside an apartment, excluding walls and common areas, while the super built-up area includes the carpet area plus the proportionate share of common amenities like lobbies, staircases, and elevators.

While similar, these metrics represent distinct facets of a property's space and value. In this guide, you can find the nuances of carpet area vs super built-up area, providing clarity in your real estate endeavours.

Feature Carpet Area Super Built-up Area
What it Measures Usable space within the apartment's walls; including the area of the internal walls and excluding exclusive balconies, external walls, shared areas Total area you pay for (carpet area + external walls + proportionate share of shared areas & amenities)
Cost per sq ft Higher (represents only the usable space) Typically, lower (includes shared areas too)
Importance for Buyer Determines the actual living space; influences interior design & furniture placement Reflects the overall value proposition, as it includes amenities
Focus On Understanding usable space and daily living comfort Considering total price and value received against it

Why Understanding Both Carpet Area vs Super Built-up Area Matters?

Explore the benefits of knowing the carpet area and super built-up area, and how it can transform your journey of property acquisition.

The Significance of Carpet Area

  • Understanding Usable Space: Carpet Area represents the actual living space within an apartment, excluding elements such as external walls and exclusive balconies. This metric provides clarity on the usable area available for furniture placement, interior design, and daily activities.
  • Impact on Furniture Placement: A clear understanding of Carpet Area is essential for homeowners to optimise furniture placement and ensure efficient use of space. It allows for strategic arrangement and organisation of furniture - maximising comfort & functionality within the living space.

The Significance of Super Built-up Area

  • Determining Total Cost: Super Built-up Area encompasses not only the Carpet Area but also amenities such as recreational facilities. Understanding this metric is crucial for determining the total cost of a property, including shared spaces and amenities.
  • Reflecting Value Offered: Super Built-up Area reflects the value proposition of a property by considering the collective space and amenities provided to all residents. It helps homebuyers evaluate the overall benefits and lifestyle offerings of a property, contributing to informed decision-making.

7 Tips for Property Buyers on Understanding the Property Metrics

  1. Prioritise Practical Needs: When evaluating a property, focus on the carpet area as it represents the actual usable space within the unit. Consider your furniture layout and daily activities to ensure the space meets your practical needs. This includes factors such as storage space, movement areas, and room functionalities.
  2. Detailed Floor Plan Examination: Request a detailed floor plan from the developer or seller. This plan should clearly delineate the distribution of carpet area versus super built-up area. Understanding this helps in visualising the actual living space available versus the total constructed area, which may include common areas, external walls, and other shared spaces.
  3. Verify Inclusions in Super Built-up Area: SBU includes not only the carpet area but also the proportionate share of common spaces such as corridors, staircases, lobby, and amenities. To avoid misunderstandings later, ensure you understand what is included in this calculation.
  4. Evaluate Cost Efficiency: Compare the cost per square foot / metre of carpet area across different properties, rather than solely relying on the total super built-up area. This gives you a more accurate measure of the value you are receiving, in terms of usable space versus total constructed space.
  5. Legal and Documentation Clarifications: During the purchase process, seek clarification on how carpet area and SBU area are defined and documented legally. This ensures transparency and reduces the risk of disputes in the future.
  6. Consider Future Modifications: If you plan to make modifications or renovations, focus on the carpet area that can be altered. Super built-up areas have obvious restrictions due to shared spaces and building regulations.
  7. Consult with Real Estate Professionals: Engage with real estate consultants who have expertise in property metrics. They can provide insights into local practices, market trends, and help you interpret floor plans accurately.

Conclusion

To summarise, in the complex landscape of real estate, understanding the subtleties between carpet area vs super built-up area is crucial for making informed decisions. As we conclude our exploration of these key metrics, let us recap the essential takeaways:

  • Carpet Area serves as a crucial indicator of usable space within a property, directly influencing furniture placement and daily living comfort.
  • Super Built-up Area encompasses the total cost per square foot of a property, reflecting not just the living space but also the value offered by shared amenities.
  • As a homebuyer, you should seek clarity in the cost per square foot and in the breakdown of both metrics. This can help avoid confusion and ensure transparency in property transactions.

By empowering yourself with knowledge and asking pertinent questions, you can navigate the complexities of real estate with confidence, unlocking the door to your dream home with clarity and certainty.

Read More:Understanding Carpet Area, Built-up Area and Super Built-up Area

FAQs

The difference between carpet area vs super built-up area is that carpet area is the usable space within your house walls, including the area covered by the internal partition of the walls (think: where you lay carpet). Super built-up area includes area of the house, external walls, and shared portion of common areas & amenities.



Yes, the carpet area is always smaller than the super built-up area, because it also includes the area covered by external walls, common areas, and amenities.



Yes, the super built-up area percentage markup on the carpet area can vary - depending on the project master plan, type of property, number of amenities, and developer. It is important to compare the markup percentages between different properties you are considering.



Yes, you can negotiate the super built-up area price, by inquiring about potential discounts or offers that might impact the closing price per square foot.



If the developer does not provide a clear breakdown of carpet and super built-up area, it is a red flag. It is important to have a transparent breakdown from the developer. If this is not possible, consider properties from developers who are transparent about these details.



You should prioritise carpet area over super built-up area, when comparing the usable living space of multiple homes. However, you should also consider super built-up area to understand the total cost and overall value proposition, including shared areas and amenities.



To compare apartments based on carpet area, assess the usable living space of all the homes that you are evaluating. Also note that the exclusive balconies & terraces are excluded from the carpet area calculations, as per RERA Act 2016, so account for the same during the comparison.



Yes, super built-up area is important as it provides a comprehensive view of the total area you are paying for, including common spaces and amenities. It helps you understand the full extent of the facilities available and their contribution to the property's appeal and pricing.



You should buy based on both carpet area and super built-up area, as carpet area helps you maximise usable living space in the house, and super built-up area is an excellent indicator of the amenities, shared spaces, and the overall lifestyle offered by the property. Strike a balance between usable space and overall value, to take a well-informed decision that aligns with your needs, lifestyle, and budget.