Two flats advertised as “750 sq ft” can be very different homes. One may give you 750 sq ft of usable floor; the other may count walls, balconies and a share of the lobby. Knowing which area a number refers to is the most useful check before you compare prices in Ravet Annex or anywhere else in Pune.
Carpet area
Under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA), carpet area means the net usable floor area of an apartment, excluding the area covered by the external walls, areas under service shafts, the exclusive balcony or verandah area and the exclusive open terrace area, but including the area covered by the internal partition walls of the apartment. In simple terms: the floor inside your home that you can walk on and furnish, plus internal walls.
Built-up area
Built-up area is commonly understood as carpet area plus the thickness of the external walls, and often the balcony. It is not defined in the RERA Act, so different sellers calculate it differently. Treat any built-up figure as a marketing number unless the calculation is shown to you.
Saleable or super built-up area
Saleable (or super built-up) area adds a proportionate share of common areas such as lobbies, staircases, lift wells and the clubhouse to the built-up area. The ratio between saleable area and carpet area is often called the loading. Because RERA requires registered projects to sell on carpet area, read saleable figures as context, not as the basis of price.
A worked example
| Measure | What it includes | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet area (RERA) | Usable floor + internal walls | 600 sq ft |
| Exclusive balcony | Shown separately | 60 sq ft |
| Built-up (typical) | Carpet + external walls (+ balcony) | about 700 sq ft |
| Saleable / super built-up | Built-up + share of common areas | varies by project |
These figures are illustrative only. For a real project, rely on the carpet area stated in the agreement for sale and in the project’s MahaRERA registration.
How to use this when comparing flats
- Ask every project for the RERA carpet area of the exact unit, with the balcony area shown separately.
- Compare the price per sq ft of carpet area, not of saleable area.
- Check that the carpet area in the brochure matches the agreement for sale and the MahaRERA documents.
- Look at the floor plan dimensions: a well-planned 600 sq ft home can live larger than a badly planned 650 sq ft one.
- Ask what the “total area” on a brochure includes, and get the answer in writing.
Why it matters for your budget
If two projects quote the same price per sq ft but one uses saleable area and the other carpet area, the carpet-area project may be offering noticeably more usable space for the money. Converting every quote to carpet area puts projects on the same footing and makes stamp duty, loan and interior budgets easier to plan, since furniture and flooring are bought for the floor you can actually use.
FAQs
Do builders have to quote carpet area?
For projects registered under RERA, the sale is based on carpet area as defined in the Act.
Is the balcony part of carpet area?
No. Exclusive balcony and verandah areas are excluded from carpet area and are usually shown separately.
Why do some brochures show a bigger number?
They may be showing built-up or saleable area. Ask for the RERA carpet area of the unit you are considering.
Related reading: How to check a project on MahaRERA and our first-time home buyer guide for Ravet Annex.
This article is general information, not legal advice.
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