When you’re planning to buy a home, you may find ads and brochures showcasing property features. Some jargon can be tricky and even misleading if you don’t understand it well. Say you’re enticed by an ad for a 1200 sq. ft. apartment, but when you visit the property, it feels smaller than you expected. Why does that happen? This is where you need to pay attention to terms such as built up area.
Afterall, in India, you pay for a standalone home or an apartment based on its square feet. So it’s worth knowing what exactly you’re paying for! Read on to learn what built-up area is and what it includes and excludes. Learn how it is calculated and what sets it apart from other measures. Learn about its relevance in RERA and its significance for property buyers.
Built up area of a property means its total area, including the usable area and the thickness of the walls. It is also known as the plinth area. To understand the built up area meaning better, let’s first understand what carpet area is. It is the actual total usable floor area inside a property, where you can lay a carpet. Typically, it measures from wall-to-wall. It includes bedrooms, living rooms, the kitchen, toilets and stairs inside. It excludes floor spaces covered by the external walls, balconies, common areas and terraces.
Now, plinth area means carpet area plus the thickness of the walls, and the area covered by balcony, terrace and other structural components. Buyers should know that the flat size on a brochure does not show just the space inside the rooms; it covers parts of the structure. So, obviously, the plinth area is larger than the carpet area. Knowing this helps you analyse and compare properties correctly and avoid oversight.
When considering what is built up area meant for, it’s the total footprint of a property unit. It is often relevant for valuation, building plan approval, regulatory and structural purposes beyond just livability.
The plinth area of a property covers the usable space inside, plus some structural parts. These include:
In some residential projects, such as flats or apartments, some areas are shared by all residents. These common spaces are not part of the built-up area of an individual unit. They include:
When exploring properties, you may come across the term super built up area. It includes the plinth area of an apartment plus a proportionate share of the building’s common areas. These can include lobbies, lifts, staircases and other shared facilities. Now, if you’re wondering what is super built up area meant for, builders use it to price an apartment.
Thus, sometimes, a property price tag can be based on the super built up area calculation. In other words, the super built up area meaning points to what is often called the saleable area. Therefore, knowing how to calculate super built up area can help homebuyers truly know the actual space, both private and common, they’re paying for.
Like any other homebuyer, you may be wondering, “What is the difference between built up area and super built up area?” Both refer to the measures or size of a home, but consider different parts of the building. Distinguishing them is key to decoding the way builders calculate total area and apartment pricing. Below are the key differences that’ll help you make well-informed choices when comparing properties.
| Aspect | Built-Up Area | Super Built-Up Area |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | The actual structural footprint of the apartment, including carpet area, wall thickness, and spaces attached to the unit | The built-up area plus a share of common areas or facilities in the building |
| What It Includes | Carpet area of hall, rooms, kitchen, bathrooms, wall thickness, balconies, and attached terraces | Built-up area plus shared common spaces like lobbies, lifts, corridors, and staircases |
| Size Comparison | Smaller than super built-up area but larger than carpet area | Larger because it includes a portion of shared facilities |
| Purpose | Helps buyers understand the physical size of the apartment structure | Helps builders determine the saleable area and property price |
Built up area calculation is simpler than you’d think. You only need to know what elements are included and what aren’t. In general, it is the sum of the carpet area of the flat or apartment plus the thickness of the walls and any attached spaces like terraces or balconies. As such, in most Indian homes, it usually measures about 10 – 30% more than the carpet area.
When considering how to calculate built up area mathematically, here’s a simple formula you can use:
Built-up area = Carpet area + Wall area + Balcony or terrace or verandah area
For instance, a flat has 1,200 sq. ft. carpet area, 100 sq. ft. wall area and 50 sq. ft. balcony, then the plinth area will be the sum of all these, that is 1,350 sq. ft. This gives an idea about the total space that forms the structure of the flat.
Homebuyers often get confused between carpet area and built up area when trying to understand the size of a flat. This can often lead to misinterpretations. It’s also why some buyers end up concluding an apartment is smaller after a visit with respect to the size mentioned on the brochure. Hence, knowing the difference between carpet area and built up area is key. It’s simple!
As the word implies, carpet area is the space you can actually use or place a carpet on. Built-up or plinth area is the sum of this space and the thickness of walls and attached areas, like a balcony. Here are the key points of difference to note:
Carpet Area
Built-Up Area
Now, if you’re wondering how to calculate carpet area from built up area, you can do the math backwards! Remove the wall area and balcony or terrace space from the plinth area. In most cases, carpet area makes up 70 to 80% of the plinth area of an apartment.
Read More: Carpet Area, Built-Up Area & Super Built-Up: Key Differences
When considering what is built up area of a flat, it is the total space of the structure, which includes the usable area and the thickness of the walls. It covers the flat’s carpet area plus balconies and terraces that are attached to the flat.
If you ask, “What is super built up area of a flat?”, it is the flat’s built-up area plus shares of the common spaces in the building. Corridors, lifts, lobbies, common stairs and such shared spaces. Whether you’re buying an apartment or a flat, understanding these terms is crucial to comparing the actual home sizes before a purchase.
RERA mandates builders to clearly show the size of flats and apartments in each project. As per RERA, built up area of a building includes carpet area plus the space taken by the walls. It also includes attached terraces, verandas, utility areas and balconies. It does not include lobbies, lifts and common stairs.
In RERA, the plinth area shows the total structure size of a flat or apartment. While RERA mandates builders to sell properties based on carpet area, plinth area helps estimate the total construction footprint.
Built up area helps buyers understand the total size of a property. It is more than just the usable space inside the home. Knowing the exact carpet area helps buyers compare the actual usable space of flats. Meanwhile, built up or plinth area helps compare property footprints and judge the real value they offer. In a nutshell, the plinth area helps homebuyers:
Many homebuyers confuse the carpet area and plinth area when exploring properties. It often leads to misinterpretations and wrong expectations about the actual size of a property. Here are the common mistakes to avoid:
Understanding built up area and how it differs from other property measures is important. It helps with realistic expectations, fruitful comparisons and wise choices. Knowing what plinth area includes helps you understand a property’s footprint, which you may be investing in. If you’re planning to buy a property, check the area types and values carefully. Moreover, partner with a trusted builder like Confident Group, which ensures every project is registered with and compliant with RERA.
1. How to calculate built-up area?
It is calculated by adding the carpet area, wall thickness, and balcony or terrace spaces attached. This gives the total structure area or footprint of the flat.
2. What is the difference between built up and carpet?
Carpet area is the usable space inside the home. Built-up area includes the carpet area plus the thickness of walls and attached spaces like balconies.
3. Is built-up area bigger than carpet area?
Yes. It is usually 10 – 30% larger than the carpet area because it includes walls and attached spaces.
4. Should I buy based on built-up or carpet area?
It is best to consider the carpet area, which is the actual usable space inside a property. Under RERA, builders must sell flats based on carpet area, but they often use plinth area to show the actual property footprint.
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