Look, I've been helping people buy property in Gurgaon for years now. And the one thing that trips up almost everyone? Super area vs carpet area. Sounds like jargon, right? It's not. It's the difference between what you're paying for and what you actually get to use.
Here's the thing - super area, carpet area, built-up area - they're wildly different numbers. We're talking lakhs of rupees in difference. I've seen buyers get confused comparing a 4,500 sq.ft. apartment to a 3,800 sq.ft. one, not realizing they might have the same usable space. Crazy, right?
So let me break this down. No fancy terms. Just what you actually need to know when looking at places like Elan The Statement Sector 49.
Why This Actually Matters (The Money Part)
The gap between super area and carpet area? Usually 25-35%. Sometimes worse. At ₹20,000+ per sq.ft. for luxury apartments, that's not pocket change.
Quick reality check:
- You're paying for space you can't use. A 4,300 sq.ft. super area flat might give you 3,000-3,200 sq.ft. to actually live in. Big difference.
- Comparisons become useless. Can't compare two projects if one quotes super and the other quotes carpet. Apples and oranges.
- Your "rate per sq.ft." is misleading. That ₹21,000/sq.ft. could really be ₹28,000 on usable space.
- Furniture won't fit. Planned your interior based on super area? Good luck fitting that sectional sofa.
The Three Numbers You'll See (And What They Mean)
1. Carpet Area - What You Can Actually Use
This one's simple. Carpet area = the floor you walk on. Where you put your furniture, where you live. The name comes from the idea that it's where you'd lay carpet. Makes sense, yeah?
What's In Your Carpet Area:
- All your rooms - bedrooms, living room, dining
- Kitchen and utility space
- Bathrooms (yes, those count)
- Store rooms, servant quarters
- Corridors inside your flat
What's NOT Carpet Area:
- Balconies and terraces (nope)
- Verandahs
- Wall thickness - internal or external
- Common areas (obviously)
2. Built-Up Area - Carpet + Walls
Built-up area is your carpet area PLUS the walls. Internal walls, external walls (well, half of them - you share the other half with your neighbor), balconies, terraces. Think of it as drawing a line around your entire apartment footprint.
The Math:
Usually about 10-15% more than carpet area. Not a huge jump, honestly.
3. Super Area - Here's Where It Gets Tricky
Okay, this is the one that confuses everyone. Super area (some call it "saleable area" or "super built-up") is your built-up area PLUS your share of all common spaces. The lobby? Part of your super area. The clubhouse? Yep. Staircase? That too.
The Math:
This extra chunk is called "loading". In fancy projects, it's usually 20-35%. Sometimes higher. That's a lot of square feet you're paying for but can't put a couch on.
What's Hiding in Your Super Area:
- Lift lobbies (the fancy ones cost you)
- Staircases, fire escapes
- Corridors you walk through
- That grand entrance lobby
- Clubhouse (your proportionate bit)
- Pool area
- Gym, games room
- Security cabin, pump rooms, generator space
- Even the water tanks
Seeing the Numbers Side by Side
| Area Type | What's Included | Typical % of Super Area |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet Area | Usable floor space inside walls | 65-75% |
| Built-Up Area | Carpet + walls + balconies | 75-85% |
| Super Area | Built-up + common areas share | 100% |
Let's Do Some Real Math
I'll use actual numbers from Elan Statement so you can see how this works in practice.
Example 1: The 4 BHK (4,285 sq.ft.)
Here's a 4 BHK they're selling:
Loading (let's say 25%):
Built-Up: 4,285 ÷ 1.25 = ~3,428 sq.ft.
Carpet (90% of that): ~3,085 sq.ft.
So from 4,285 sq.ft., you're living in about 3,000-3,100 sq.ft. Still massive, honestly. Most "luxury" 4 BHKs in Gurgaon give you 2,000-2,500 sq.ft. carpet. This is bigger.
Example 2: The 4 BHK Penthouse (7,395 sq.ft.)
Now the penthouse. This one's wild:
Loading 25%: Built-Up ~5,916 sq.ft.
Carpet: ~5,324 sq.ft.
PLUS Sky Deck: 805 sq.ft. on top
That's 5,300+ sq.ft. indoors. Plus an 805 sq.ft. terrace. Basically a bungalow. In the sky. Not exaggerating.
What RERA Says (Finally, Some Rules)
Before 2016, developers could basically make up numbers. Then RERA came along. Thank god.
The Official RERA Definition:
"Carpet area means the net usable floor area of an apartment, excluding external walls, service shafts, balconies, verandahs, and terraces, but includes internal partition walls."
Translation? They can't hide behind confusing numbers anymore. What RERA forces them to do:
- Tell you the carpet area. In writing. In the agreement.
- Quote price on carpet. Not super, not built-up. Carpet.
- Spell out common area share. No more mystery loading.
- Refund if they lied. Less carpet than promised? Get your money back.
How to Figure Out What You're Really Paying
Projects still market on super area (it's a bigger number, looks better). Here's how to cut through it:
First: Get the Carpet Area
Just ask. They have to tell you. It's the law now.
Then: Figure Out the Loading
Loading %
Finally: Calculate What You're Really Paying
Real Rate
Let Me Show You
Looks like: ₹9 Cr ÷ 4,285 = ₹21,000/sq.ft.
But carpet is actually ~3,100 sq.ft.
Real rate: ₹9 Cr ÷ 3,100 = ₹29,000/sq.ft.
See the difference? When you compare projects, compare carpet to carpet. Otherwise you're fooling yourself.
What's "Normal" Loading?
Depends on what you're buying:
| Project Type | Loading | Carpet You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Budget flats | 15-20% | 80-85% |
| Mid-range | 20-25% | 75-80% |
| Luxury | 25-30% | 70-75% |
| Ultra-luxury | 30-35% | 65-70% |
Why's luxury loading higher? Because you're getting stuff. Real stuff. Elan Statement has a 50,000+ sq.ft. clubhouse. Multiple pools. Landscaped gardens. Grand lobbies. Private lift lobbies on each floor. That's not fluff - you'll actually use it. But yeah, you're paying for it in that loading number.
Wait - Higher Loading Can Be Good?
I know what you're thinking. Less loading = better deal, right? Not always. Hear me out.
When High Loading Makes Sense:
- Private lift lobbies. Your own waiting area. No sharing with 10 neighbors.
- Amenities you'll actually use. A real clubhouse, not some afterthought.
- Wider corridors. Moving furniture becomes less of a nightmare.
- Better upkeep. More common area = more maintenance budget = nicer property.
- Stuff you couldn't afford alone. Olympic pool? Private gym? You get access without owning it.
When to Worry:
- Loading over 35% but amenities are basic (red flag)
- Common areas look cheap or abandoned
- They're counting random service areas to inflate numbers
- Numbers don't add up when you ask questions
About Those Sky Decks
The Elan penthouses come with private sky decks - 781 to 805 sq.ft. These are quoted separately, and here's why:
- They're yours alone. Not shared. Not common area.
- Different construction costs than indoor space
- RERA doesn't count them as carpet
- But they add serious lifestyle value
Think about it. 805 sq.ft. of private terrace. That's bigger than most people's living rooms. You could put a dining setup, lounge chairs, maybe even a putting green. It's basically outdoor living space.
Elan Statement: The Numbers
Quick reference for what you're actually getting:
| Unit | Super Area | Carpet (est.)* | Sky Deck |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 BHK Type A | 4,285 sq.ft. | ~3,000 sq.ft. | - |
| 4 BHK Type B | 4,340 sq.ft. | ~3,040 sq.ft. | - |
| Penthouse A | 7,250 sq.ft. | ~5,075 sq.ft. | 781 sq.ft. |
| Penthouse B | 7,270 sq.ft. | ~5,089 sq.ft. | 795-800 sq.ft. |
| Penthouse C | 7,395 sq.ft. | ~5,177 sq.ft. | 805 sq.ft. |
*My estimates based on 30% loading. Get official numbers from the sales team - they're required to give them.
Questions to Ask Before You Buy
Don't be shy. Ask these directly:
- "What's the exact carpet area?" RERA definition. Make them spell it out.
- "What's in the loading?" Get a breakdown. Clubhouse? Lobby? What else?
- "Balconies separate or included?" Sometimes they sneak it in, sometimes not.
- "Price on super or carpet?" Know what you're actually paying per sq.ft.
- "What goes in the agreement?" The legal document should say carpet.
- "What if carpet is less than promised?" Know your refund rights.
- "Can I see the clubhouse now?" See if the common areas match the brochure.
Bottom Line
Look, super area vs carpet area isn't rocket science once someone explains it properly. Here's what to remember when looking at places like Elan Statement:
- Carpet = what you live in. That's it. That's the number that matters.
- Super includes shared stuff. Lobbies, clubhouse, corridors. You use them, but you don't own them.
- High loading isn't always bad. If the amenities are legit, it might be worth it.
- RERA has your back. They can't hide numbers anymore.
- Compare carpet to carpet. Anything else is meaningless.
At Elan Statement? Even with luxury loading, you're looking at 3,000+ sq.ft. carpet in the 4 BHK. Over 5,000 in the penthouse. That's legitimately huge for Gurgaon. Add the amenities (50,000 sq.ft. clubhouse, Benoy London architecture, Sector 49 location)... yeah, it's expensive. But you're actually getting something for it.