When searching for a new apartment in Chennai, you’re likely to encounter three commonly used—but often misunderstood—terms: carpet area, built-up area, and super built-up area. These distinctions are far from trivial; they directly affect the amount of living space you get, the price per square foot, and even your future resale potential. In a market as diverse and rapidly developing as Chennai’s, especially in hotspots like Pallavaram, Tambaram, and Porur, understanding what you’re paying for is essential.
1. Carpet Area: The Space You Actually Use
Definition: Carpet area refers to the net usable floor area inside your apartment. In simple terms, it’s the area where you can actually lay a carpet—excluding the thickness of internal walls but including the area under internal walls.
Includes:
- Bedrooms
- Living and dining areas
- Kitchen
- Bathrooms
- Internal staircases (for duplex flats)
Excludes:
- External and internal wall thickness
- Balconies
- Utility areas
- Common areas
Why It Matters: Carpet area is the truest measure of your living space. However, many buyers mistakenly base their purchase decisions on built-up or super built-up area, leading to an overestimation of space. In recent RERA guidelines, builders are mandated to declare the carpet area, which brings much-needed transparency to Chennai’s housing market.
Typical Proportion: Around 70% of the super built-up area. For instance, if the super built-up area is 1,000 sq. ft., the carpet area is likely around 700 sq. ft.
2. Built-Up Area: Adding the Walls
Definition: Built-up area includes the carpet area plus the thickness of walls and possibly a balcony or terrace area. It gives a better idea of the flat’s actual footprint.
Includes:
- Carpet area
- Internal and external wall thickness
- Balconies (in some cases)
Why It Matters: This is often the number used in older builder brochures or secondary market listings. It can inflate your perception of space. For example, a 900 sq. ft. built-up area might give you only about 630 sq. ft. of carpet area. Understanding this gap is crucial when comparing two properties in areas like Medavakkam or Chromepet, where pricing differs drastically even for similar configurations.
Typical Proportion: Around 10–15% more than carpet area.
3. Super Built-Up Area: The Marketing Metric
Definition: Also known as saleable area, this includes the built-up area along with a proportionate share of common areas like the lobby, staircase, lift, amenities, and sometimes even the clubhouse.
Includes:
- Built-up area
- Common areas (lifts, corridors, lobby)
- Amenities (in some cases, a part of gym, clubhouse, etc.)
Why It Matters: Most real estate advertisements use the super built-up area to quote prices. This is where you need to be cautious. If you’re being quoted a per-square-foot rate of Rs. 6,000 for a 1,200 sq. ft. super built-up area, the actual usable space (carpet area) might only be around 840 sq. ft. That’s a big difference in terms of value.
Typical Proportion: 20–40% more than carpet area, depending on the project. Premium gated communities in OMR or ECR might allocate more space to amenities, thus increasing the super built-up to carpet area ratio.
Comparing the Three: A Snapshot
| Term | Includes | Excludes | % of SBA (approx.) |
| Carpet Area | Bedrooms, kitchen, bathrooms, internal walls | Common areas, balcony, exterior walls | 65–70% |
| Built-Up Area | Carpet area + wall thickness, sometimes balcony | Common areas | 75–85% |
| Super Built-Up Area | Built-up area + share of common amenities and circulation space | Nothing | 100% |
Real-Life Implications in Chennai’s Property Market
In a fast-growing city like Chennai, understanding these terms can help you make smarter investment decisions.
- Budgeting: A higher super built-up area might look good on paper but reduce actual livable space. Always ask for the carpet area to calculate the true cost per usable square foot.
- Loan Eligibility: Banks often consider carpet or built-up area (not super built-up) when assessing property value for loans.
- Legal Transparency: Thanks to RERA, developers are required to disclose carpet area. If your agreement doesn’t clearly specify it, that’s a red flag.
- Better Comparisons: In locations like Pozhichalur or Selaiyur, you might find two 2BHKs listed at similar prices, but one could offer significantly more carpet area than the other.
Tips for Chennai Homebuyers
- Always Ask for a Breakdown: Demand detailed area statements in the builder’s brochure.
- Compare Carpet Areas: Don’t fall for super built-up illusions. Two similarly priced units may offer very different usable spaces.
- Verify Through RERA: The Tamil Nadu RERA portal provides registered project details, including carpet area.
- Account for Amenities: In luxury projects, a larger chunk of super built-up area might be allocated to amenities—great if you’ll use them, but a waste if not.
Why It Matters More Than Ever in 2025
As Chennai’s suburbs grow—especially areas like Guduvanchery, Kelambakkam, and Urapakkam—developers are innovating with space. High-rises with clubhouses, co-working lounges, and rooftop gardens are common. But all of this comes under super built-up area. Understanding what portion of your investment goes into actual living space is vital for long-term satisfaction.
Final Word: Know What You’re Paying For
If you’re buying a home, you’re not just investing in walls—you’re buying into a space you’ll live in every day. Know how much of that space is truly yours. At Viva Housing, we ensure complete transparency in how area is calculated. Our project brochures provide a clear breakdown of carpet, built-up, and super built-up areas—so you know exactly what you’re getting.
Explore Viva Housing’s upcoming projects to find a home where transparency meets smart living.