Area units used in Indian real estate
Commercial leases in India are usually measured in square feet, while land records and government documents often use square metres or regional units. The table below lists the standard values this converter uses.
| Unit | Square feet | Square metres | Common in |
|---|
Carpet, built-up and super built-up area
- Carpet area — the usable floor area within the walls. Under RERA it is the net usable floor area excluding external walls, service shafts, exclusive balconies and open terraces, but including internal partition walls.
- Built-up area — carpet area plus the thickness of walls and exclusive spaces such as balconies.
- Super built-up area (also called chargeable or saleable area) — built-up area plus a proportionate share of common areas: lobbies, corridors, lifts, staircases and sometimes amenities.
The difference between super built-up and carpet area is called loading:
Because commercial rent is often quoted per sq ft of super built-up area, a high loading means you pay for space you can’t use. Comparing the effective rent per carpet sq ft across buildings gives a fairer picture than the headline rate.
Frequently asked questions
How many square feet are in one square metre?
One square metre equals 10.7639 square feet. To convert square metres to square feet, multiply by 10.7639.
How many square feet are in one acre?
One acre equals 43,560 square feet, 4,046.86 square metres, 40 guntha or 100 cents.
What is loading in commercial real estate?
Loading is the percentage added to carpet area to cover a share of common areas such as lobbies, corridors, lifts and stairs. Super built-up area = carpet area × (1 + loading %). Commercial rent in India is often quoted on super built-up (chargeable) area.
Is bigha a fixed unit?
No. The size of a bigha differs widely between states and even districts, so it is not included in this converter. Check the local land records office for the value used in your area.
Managing many leased spaces?
LeaseHub360 tracks area, rent, escalations, GST and TDS for every property in one place.