Carpet, built up, super built up: the difference

By Parish Rao · 25 August 2026 · 6 minute read

You bought a thousand square foot flat and it feels smaller than the neighbour's nine hundred. Both of you may be right, because you are quoting different measurements of the same kind of space.

The three measurements

Carpet area is the usable space inside your walls. Roughly where you could actually lay a carpet. This is the space you live in.

Built up area is carpet area plus the walls themselves, and usually the balcony. Typically ten to fifteen percent more than carpet.

Super built up area is built up area plus your share of everything common. Lobbies, staircases, lifts, corridors, and in some projects the clubhouse and other amenities.

The gap between carpet and super built up is called loading, and it commonly runs from twenty to thirty percent or more. A flat sold as one thousand super built up may have a carpet area closer to seven hundred.

Why builders quoted the biggest number

Because a lower rate per square foot on a larger area looks cheaper than a higher rate on a smaller one, even when the total price is identical. It was a presentation choice, and it was legal.

This is exactly why the law changed. Under RERA, builders are required to disclose and price on carpet area, which is the number that describes what you actually get.

Which one a valuer uses

A valuer measures on site rather than accepting a brochure. Reports typically state carpet and built up, and where a super built up figure is mentioned, the loading should be stated too.

Lenders lean heavily on carpet area when deciding what to advance, which is one reason a bank's figure can come in below an owner's expectation. Related reading: when the bank values your property low.

The comparison mistake this causes

Comparing a per square foot rate from one flat against another without checking which area each uses is meaningless, and it happens constantly.

A flat quoted at eight thousand per square foot on carpet area is more expensive than one quoted at seven thousand on super built up, despite looking cheaper. Always ask which area the rate refers to before drawing any conclusion.

How to work out your own

1. Check the sale agreementPost RERA agreements should state carpet area explicitly.
2. Measure the roomsA tape and ten minutes gives you a close approximation of carpet area.
3. Compare with what you were soldIf the difference is large, that is worth understanding before you sell or borrow.
4. Ask for loading in writingIf you are buying, ask the builder to state the loading percentage.

Land has the same problem in a different form

For plots the confusion is units rather than definitions, and some of those units change from state to state. That one is covered in bigha, guntha and cent explained.

See how a flat is valued, or send us your agreement and we will tell you what area it actually describes.