Guides · Before you buy
Before you buy · 4 min readCarpet vs Built-up vs Super Built-up Area
Reviewed against MahaRERA rules · Informational, not legal advice
The short version: RERA made carpet area the legal basis for pricing — but sales pitches still lean on super built-up. Knowing the three area types stops you paying for space you can't use.
The three areas
Carpet area is the actual usable floor area within your flat's walls — the space you can lay a carpet on. RERA requires your agreement and price to be stated on carpet area.
Built-up area adds the thickness of your walls and balconies — roughly carpet area plus 10–15%.
Super built-up (or “saleable”) area adds your share of the common areas — lobbies, staircases, lifts. It can be 25–40% more than carpet, and builders historically quoted it to make the per-sq.ft price look lower.
What to do
Always compare flats on carpet area, and confirm the agreement states carpet area. To compare prices fairly, divide the all-in cost by the carpet area — that's your true per-sq.ft.
What to watch for
- A high “loading factor” quietly inflating the saleable area.
- Per-sq.ft prices quoted on super built-up, not carpet.
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This guide is general information to help you ask better questions — it is not legal advice, and it doesn't replace your own advocate or the official MahaRERA portal. Rules, rates and builder practices vary; always verify against the current MahaRERA record and your project's documents before acting.