PropIQ › Guides › Carpet vs built-up vs super built-up area
Carpet vs built-up vs super built-up area
The same flat can be advertised with three very different square-footage numbers. Knowing which one you are quoted is essential to comparing prices honestly — and to not overpaying per sqft.
The three area definitions
- Carpet area: the net usable floor area within the walls — the space you can actually lay a carpet on. This is what MahaRERA mandates developers disclose.
- Built-up area: carpet area plus the thickness of internal/external walls and balconies — usually ~10–15% more than carpet.
- Super built-up (saleable) area: built-up area plus a share of common areas (lobbies, stairs, lifts, amenities). This can be 25–40% more than carpet.
Why it changes the price per sqft
A ₹1 crore flat with 700 sqft carpet is ~₹14,300/sqft on carpet, but if marketed on a 1,000 sqft “super built-up” basis it looks like ~₹10,000/sqft. Same flat, same price — very different headline rate. Always compare projects on the same basis (ideally RERA carpet).
The PropIQ convention
PropIQ quotes carpet-area prices and per-sqft rates wherever possible, and flags when a portal’s “average” is on a saleable basis — so you are comparing like with like.
FAQs
What is the difference between carpet area and super built-up area?
Carpet area is the usable space within your walls; super built-up adds wall thickness plus a share of common areas and can be 25–40% larger. RERA requires carpet area to be disclosed.
Which area should I use to compare prices?
Always compare on carpet area (RERA-mandated). A low “per sqft” figure is often quoted on super built-up area, which makes a flat look cheaper than it is.