What is Carpet Area and How We Can Calculate It?

Carpet area is an important parameter or aspect when one plans to buy an apartment. Do you know what a carpet area is? It is the area of a property that is usable and in simpler words, can be covered by carpet. It is the enclosed area within the apartment that can be used in rooms like bedrooms, living rooms, bathrooms, kitchen and passages.  It does not include the thickness of the walls and areas provided like dry areas, flower beds and balconies. It is that portion of the property that one can actively utilize in a home.

Key Components Included in Carpet Area:

1. Bedrooms, Living Room, and Dining Area: These spaces are included in the carpet area calculation as they are the primary rooms for everyday use.

2. Kitchens: Both the cooking space and any attached utility area that is part of the internal structure are considered carpet areas.

3. Bathrooms and Toilets: The floor space of all washrooms within the property is part of the carpet area.

4. Internal Passages and Staircases (within the unit): Any private hallways or stairs within the apartment add to the carpet area.

Understanding carpet area can help you estimate how well your furniture and belongings will fit within the space. This measure of usable area makes it easy to visualize the space for better planning and budgeting.

How to Calculate Carpet Area?

To know the carpet area of an apartment, one must measure the net usable area between the walls of each room, without taking into consideration the thickness of the wall along with spaces allocated for dry areas, flower beds or balconies.

How do you calculate carpet area?

1. Know the room dimensions: First measure the length and width of each room or area like bedrooms, living rooms, bathrooms, dining areas, and kitchens.
2. Measure the area for each room:  Now calculate the total area of each room by multiplying the length and width of each room to get the individual area for each room.
3. Calculate the area of internal passages: Estimate the utility spaces and passage area in the apartment.
4. Total all usable areas: Add up the total area of each room, internal passage and usable area to get the total carpet area.

Carpet Area Formula

The Carpet area can be calculated as per the below formula

Carpet Area = Sum of all usable areas in an apartment (Areas of All Rooms and Passages)

To get an accurate result, use a measuring tape to get the distance from one wall to the other both lengthwise and breadthwise.

As an example, let's see the calculation below.

• Bedroom 1: 12 x 10 feet = 120 sq. feet

• Bedroom 2: 10 x 10 feet = 100 sq. feet

• Living Room: 15 x 12 feet = 180 sq. feet

• Kitchen: 8 x 6 feet = 48 sq. feet

• Bathroom and Toilet 1: 6 x 4 feet = 24 sq. feet

• Bathroom and Toilet 2: 6 x 4 feet = 24 sq. feet

• Internal Passageway: 20 sq. feet

Lets now add all the areas mentioned above

120+100+180+48+24+24+20=516 sq. feet

The carpet area for this apartment is 516 square feet.

This calculation offers a more accurate representation of the actual usable space, helping buyers understand how the space can be used practically.

Also Read: Documents to Check Before Buying a Flat in Mumbai

How can one Calculate Carpet Area in Relation to Built-Up and Super Built-Up Areas?

Inbuilt and super built-up are commonly measured terms when calculating the carpet area. built-up and super built-up area measure different facets of the property space. It brings an end to the common query why the space being marketed was often much less than what one actually gets to use.

Built-Up Area

Built up area includes carpet area along with the thickness of internal and external walls and other non-usable areas like balconies. Typically, built-up area is 10-15% more than the carpet area.
For example, if a carpet area is 500 sq. feet, then its built-up area would be around 575-600 sq. feet as it depends on the thickness of the wall and the number of dry areas and balconies and their space.
 

Super Built-Up Area

The super built-up area is the area that includes built-up area plus all the common or shared spaces which includes lobbies, corridors, staircases and other amenities of a building. The builders promote properties including all the common spaces it contains. Super built-up area would be 25-30% more than the actual built-up area.

Knowing about built up area, super built area helps in calculating the carpet area of the property. It would be beneficial for buyers to understand the carpet area and know how to calculate the carpet area. The clarity about carpet area in projects like Suraksha Smart City Vasai would help the buyers in planning a comfortable space for living with exact awareness of the chosen apartment.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between carpet area and built-up area?

Carpet area is the net usable area of the property, leaving out walls, balconies, and common spaces. Built-up area is carpet area plus the thickness of both internal and external walls, plus sometimes balconies, and hence larger than carpet area.
 

How do builders calculate carpet area?

Builders measure carpet area as adding all the usable rooms of an apartment including a bedroom, living rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms put together. The wall thickness and all balconies or common areas are not taken into consideration by the builders.

Does carpet area vary from builder to builder?

Carpet area measurements vary from builder to builder based on the interpretation of usable spaces. However, the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, or RERA, has clearly defined carpet area to give buyers more transparency.