Difference Between RERA Carpet Area, Built-Up Area, and Super Area (2025 Complete Guide)

When buying a new property in India — especially in cities like Gurgaon, Noida, Mumbai, or Pune — one of the most confusing parts of the deal is understanding area calculations. Builders use terms like carpet area, built-up area, and super area — but each means something very different.

Knowing these terms isn’t just about jargon — it directly affects how much you pay per square foot, how much usable space you get, and whether the builder is RERA compliant.

In this guide, we’ll break down every detail — with clear examples, legal definitions, and a ready reference table — so you can compare projects accurately and avoid paying for space you never use.

Quick Summary: Carpet vs Built-Up vs Super Area

Type	What It Includes	What’s Excluded	Typical Range
RERA Carpet Area	Usable floor area inside the apartment — bedrooms, living, kitchen, bathrooms, passages, and internal partition walls (as per RERA).	External walls, service shafts, balconies, verandas, terraces and common areas.	Represents the actual usable area (100% usable).
Built-Up Area	Carpet area + thickness of internal & external walls + exclusive balconies/terraces attached to the unit.	Proportionate share of common areas (lobbies, lifts, clubhouses, corridors).	About 10–20% higher than carpet (varies by design).
Super / Super Built-Up Area	Built-up area + your proportionate share of common areas (lobbies, corridors, lifts, clubhouse, parking driveways).	— (all common areas are already included proportionally).	Typically 25–50% higher than carpet; luxury projects may load even more.

What is RERA Carpet Area?

Under 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 service shafts, exclusive balcony or terrace areas, but including the area covered by internal partition walls.”

In simple terms, carpet area = usable living space inside your flat — the space you can literally place your carpet on.

Key points:

• Includes: bedrooms, living/dining, kitchen, bathrooms, passageways, and internal walls.
• Excludes: external walls, service shafts, balconies, verandas, terraces.
• Represented in square feet or square meters.

Why It Matters:

RERA mandates developers to quote prices based on carpet area — not super area. This ensures transparency and prevents inflated pricing. Always check the RERA certificate or brochure for the exact carpet area registered with the state authority.

What is Built-Up Area?

Built-up area = Carpet area + thickness of walls + exclusive balconies or terraces.

It represents the total constructed area of your unit, including the usable interior and private exterior spaces.

Example:

If the carpet area is 1,000 sq. ft. and wall thickness + balcony adds 150 sq. ft.,
then built-up area = 1,150 sq. ft.

What It Includes:

• Carpet area
• Internal & external wall thickness
• Balconies / terraces attached to the unit

Important:

Built-up area is not standardized under RERA — so builders may calculate it differently. It’s useful for construction and architectural understanding, but not for buyer comparison unless the carpet ratio is known.

What is Super or Super Built-Up Area?

The Super Built-Up Area (SBA), often called saleable area, includes your apartment’s built-up area plus your proportionate share of common spaces in the project.

Formula:

Super Built-Up Area = Built-Up Area + Proportionate Common Area

Common areas include:

• Lobbies, lifts, and corridors
• Clubhouse, gym, and swimming pool
• Staircases and entrance foyers
• Utility areas and parking driveways

Example:

Component	Area (sq. ft.)
Carpet Area	1,000
Walls + Balcony	150
Proportionate Common Area	150
Super Built-Up Area	1,300 sq. ft.

Here, the loading factor (extra over carpet) = (1,300 − 1,000) ÷ 1,000 = 30%.

Understanding the Loading Factor

The loading factor shows how much extra area you’re paying for beyond the actual usable space.

Loading Factor = (Super Built-Up Area − Carpet Area) ÷ Carpet Area × 100

Typical Ranges:

• Affordable or mid-range housing: 25–35%
• Premium projects: 35–45%
• Ultra-luxury townships with large amenities: 50% or more

Higher loading = less usable space for the same price.
If two flats cost ₹1 crore each but have different loading, one could have 200 sq. ft. less usable space for the same money.

Example Conversion Table

RERA Carpet Area	Approx. Built-Up Area	Approx. Super Built-Up Area (30% Loading)
800 sq. ft.	920 sq. ft.	1,040 sq. ft.
1,000 sq. ft.	1,150 sq. ft.	1,300 sq. ft.
1,200 sq. ft.	1,380 sq. ft.	1,560 sq. ft.
1,500 sq. ft.	1,725 sq. ft.	1,950 sq. ft.

Use this to convert builder quotes into carpet area terms for fair comparison.

RERA vs Pre-RERA Practices

Before 2016, developers often quoted property prices on super built-up area, inflating “saleable size” by 30–60%.
After RERA, every builder must disclose carpet area in the sales agreement, ensuring buyers know the actual usable space.

However, not all developers follow this in marketing materials — so always verify on the state RERA portal.

• Haryana RERA: https://haryanarera.gov.in
• Maharashtra RERA: https://maharera.mahaonline.gov.in
• Karnataka RERA: https://rera.karnataka.gov.in

Why Buyers Must Compare Only on Carpet Area

1. Transparency: Carpet area is standardized under law, while built-up/super can be manipulated.
2. Fair Pricing: Price per sq. ft. of carpet area is the real cost you pay for usable space.
3. Loan & Valuation: Banks and NBFCs assess property value based on carpet area, not super area.
4. Dispute Protection: RERA protects buyers if the delivered carpet area differs by more than 3%.

Common Developer Tactics & Buyer Red Flags

Beware of:

• “Launch offer” prices quoted only on super built-up area without carpet details.
• Unrealistic “1,500 sq. ft. 3BHK” claims that turn out to have 1,000 sq. ft. usable.
• Inconsistent figures in the brochure vs RERA registration.
• Loading factors exceeding 45% without justification (like massive clubhouse areas).

👉 Always insist on a written area statement in your Allotment Letter or Agreement to Sell.

Simple Conversion Formula for Buyers

Want to quickly estimate? Use this rule of thumb:

Carpet Area = Super Built-Up Area ÷ (1 + Loading Factor)

Example:
If Super Area = 1,400 sq. ft. and loading = 40%,
Carpet = 1,400 ÷ 1.4 = 1,000 sq. ft.

Quick Buyer Checklist Before Booking

• Verify RERA registration and area disclosures on the state portal.
• Ask for the detailed area breakup (carpet, wall, balcony, common).
• Calculate loading % — anything above 45% is suspicious.
• Compare cost per sq. ft. on carpet basis, not super area.
• Get area details signed in the official sale agreement.
• Check if stamp duty is levied on carpet or super area in your state.
• Keep screenshots or official documents as proof for dispute resolution.

Final Takeaway

Understanding the difference between RERA carpet area, built-up area, and super area can save you lakhs and ensure full transparency.

Carpet area gives you the true picture of usable space.
Built-up area adds private walls and balconies.
Super area adds shared amenities — the portion you pay for but can’t exclusively use.

When comparing projects in Gurgaon, Noida, or Mumbai, always base your decision and price on carpet area, verify all numbers on the RERA portal, and stay cautious of inflated “saleable” metrics.

In today’s transparent real estate era, smart buyers measure in carpet — not confusion.