Short answer: Interior work in Pune is priced on carpet area, the floor you can actually walk on. Built-up and super built-up area are larger numbers, so using them to budget your interiors will overstate the cost and confuse quotes.
Flat brochures and agreements mention several areas, and many homeowners use the wrong one when they set an interior budget. Here is what each area means and how to use it.
Carpet, built-up and super built-up area
- Carpet area: the net usable floor area inside the flat, including internal partition walls. Under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, it excludes external walls, service shafts, exclusive balconies and exclusive open terraces. Flats in Maharashtra are sold on this area.
- Built-up area: carpet area plus the thickness of walls and spaces such as balconies attached to the flat.
- Super built-up (saleable) area: built-up area plus a share of common areas such as lobbies, staircases and lift wells. It is the largest figure.
Why interiors are priced on carpet area
Kitchens, wardrobes, ceilings and flooring only go inside your flat. The lobby and the staircase share in super built-up area never get any furniture. That is why our interior design cost guide gives per sq ft bands on carpet area:
- Essential: about ₹1,300 to ₹1,900 per sq ft
- Mid-segment: about ₹2,000 to ₹3,000 per sq ft
- Premium: about ₹3,200 to ₹6,000+ per sq ft
Worked example: a 2 BHK in Pune
Illustrative figures only.
- Carpet area: 750 sq ft
- Mid-segment band: ₹2,000 to ₹3,000 per sq ft
- Planning budget: ₹15 lakh to ₹22.5 lakh (750 × ₹2,000 to 750 × ₹3,000)
If you used a super built-up area of, say, 1,050 sq ft instead, the same band would suggest ₹21 lakh to ₹31.5 lakh, an overstatement of ₹6 lakh to ₹9 lakh. Always budget from the carpet area in your sale agreement.
Painting is different: paintable area
Painting is not priced on carpet area at all. It uses paintable area (walls plus ceilings), usually 3 to 3.5 times the carpet area. A 750 sq ft carpet 2 BHK has around 2,300 to 2,600 sq ft of paintable surface. See house painting cost for 1, 2 and 3 BHK.
Wardrobes and kitchens: running feet
Furniture is usually priced by running feet or by unit, not by area. A 10 ft wardrobe costs roughly double a 5 ft one, whatever the room size. See our wardrobe guide and modular kitchen cost.
How to use this when comparing quotes
- Confirm the carpet area from your agreement.
- Ask every designer which area they used for any per sq ft figure.
- For furniture, compare running feet and materials line by line. See how to read an interior quotation.
- Keep about 10% in reserve for surprises.
Frequently asked questions
Is interior design cost calculated on carpet area?
Yes. In Pune, per sq ft interior bands are usually quoted on carpet area. Furniture is then itemised by running feet or by unit.
What is the difference between carpet area and built-up area?
Built-up area adds wall thickness and attached spaces such as balconies to the carpet area.
Is the balcony included in carpet area?
Under the RERA definition, an exclusive balcony is not part of carpet area. It is usually listed separately.
Want a budget for your own flat? Gruham Buildsol gives an itemised budget band after a site study. Call +91 98504 25350, WhatsApp +91 98602 98213, or book a free design consultation.
