If you are looking to buy a house, you will know that there is a ton of jargon and terminology that you have to familiarize yourself with. One such term is ‘Plinth Area’. The meaning of plinth area is defined by the Indian Standard (IS) 3861-2002 as the “constructed covered area calculated at the floor level of the basement or of any storey”. It is also referred to as the ‘built-up’ area.
But, practically, how do you calculate the plinth area? And why is it important? Let’s get into the meaning, inclusions, and exclusions you need to be aware about when looking at property.
What is plinth area?
It’s important to fully understand the meaning of plinth area if you are a prospective homebuyer or even if you are buying commercial property. The term ‘plinth area’ or ‘built-up area’ is used when referring to the area of a home or property. When the plinth area is mentioned, it is usually around 10% to 20% more than an apartment or a flat’s carpet area (the usable floor area). This is because it is measured as the covered built-up area at the floor level of any floor in a building or the building’s basement floor level. So it includes the carpet area as well as the area taken by walls (both internal and external), elevator doors and other areas in the building too such as the parasitic area.
How to calculate plinth area: Plinth area rate estimate with example
A plinth area cost estimate is done according to the building’s plinth area. This cost estimate is derived by multiplying the building’s plinth area with the current plinth area rates (based on buildings with similar characteristics in similar locations).
The Plinth area formula is Building cost = Plinth area X Plinth area rate.
The result will be the approximate building cost. Each storey in a building will get its own plinth area estimate before the entire property gets an approximate cost according to those individual plinth area costs.
Here is a plinth area cost estimate example. If the plinth area of a building is 1000 square metres and the plinth area rate is Rs 4000 per square metre, then:
Building cost = Plinth area X Plinth area rate
That is, Building cost = 1000 square metre X Rs 4000 = Rs 40,00,000
What is not included in the plinth area of a building?
According to the IS 3861-2002, the list of areas below are not to be included in the plinth area of a building:
- Area of the loft
- Cornice, architectural elements, etc
- Projections such as sun breakers that are vertical, box louvre or projecting slabs for flowerpots
- Area of the terrace
- Service and spiral staircases, landings, open platforms, turrets, machine rooms and structures such as domes and sunshadesthat go above terrace levels
- Area of cantilevered porches
- Areas for seating in auditoriums, halls, theatres, etc.
- Garbage chutes greater than two square metres and other sanitary shafts of that size inside the building
What does the plinth area of a building include?
According to the IS 3861-2002, the list of areas below are included in the plinth area of a building:
- The area in total of all the building storeys at the floor level. If two buildings have a shared wall, half of the wall will be included in each building’s plinth area.
- Electric, telecommunications and firefighting necessities, as well as garbage chutes and sanitary infrastructures of less than two square metres within the building.
- Staircase room that is on any level but the terrace level
- Parasitic area and multi areas at the level of the building terrace
- Elevator opening area
- Porch areas and machine room but not cantilevered areas
- Air conditioning ducts and lift landing and lift well
- Open projections of veranda, balconies and parapets. If the area is covered by projections, then the entire area will be included in the plinth area. If the space is not protected by projections, then only 50% of the area is included in the plinth area.
Plinth area vs Carpet area: What is the difference?
Plinth area: It is the built-up area that is measured at the floor level of the basement of a building or any storey of the building.
Carpet area: Measured from wall to wall, it is the area of what is useable in a room, ie the total area in square feet that a carpet can be laid down.
Plinth area: Plinth area is also called built-up area.
Carpet Area: Carpet area is also called livable area or usable area.
Plinth area: It includes the building carpet area, wall area of internal and exterior walls, parasitic area, area of elevator opening, etc.
Carpet area: It does not include the area of the inner and exterior walls of the building. Carpet area the built-up area with the area of the walls subtracted.
Plinth area: The plinth area is usually around 10-20% larger than the carpet area.
Carpet area: The carpet area is usually around 10-20% smaller than the plinth area or built-up area.
What is the difference between plinth area and built-up area?
The terms plinth area and built-up area are used interchangeably. Both refer to the area covered at the floor level of any floor in a building or the building’s basement floor level. This area includes what is covered by internal and external walls of the building. Often, plinth area is more commonly heard when referring to standalone houses such as villas. Built-up area is generally used more often to describe the square footage of apartments and flats.
What is the difference between plinth area and floor area?
Carpet area, floor area, plinth area… you would have heard these terms used a lot when looking to buy property.
Carpet area: It is the useable area of a room – the total area in square feet that a carpet can be laid down.
Floor area: It is the total area of the floor within the walls. To put it simply, the floor area is the plinth area without the area that is occupied by the walls. Area covered by pillars and other supports are not taken into account when calculating floor area.
Plinth area: It is the total area that lies within the exterior dimensions of the walls of a building at any floor level.
What is the difference between plinth area and covered area?
As mentioned above, the plinth area is the built-up area that lies within the exterior dimensions of the walls of a building at any floor level. It usually measures at 10% to 20% higher than the calculated carpet aarea.
Covered area refers to the area under the roof of the building. This includes structures such as the walls, balconies and pillars. When measured, it is usually around 8% to 10% greater than the calculated carpet area.