If you are buying an apartment, you have to make certain important decisions as a buyer. One of these major decisions includes choosing the right size of apartment that caters to you and your family’s requirements. This involves understanding important factors such as the different terminologies used by the builders and analysing your requirements. This article helps you in decoding these factors so that you can make an informed decision on the right apartment size.

1. Decoding Apartment Sizes
Everything You Need To Know About
How to Choose the Right BHK?

3. Buying an apartment, is an
important decision to take as a
buyer as it includes choosing
the right size of apartment
that caters to you and your
family’s requirements.

4. This involves understanding
important basic terminologies
that are used by the builders
and to analyse your
requirements better.

5. Understanding the basic
builder terminologies is
the first step….

6. It means the net usable floor area within a building
excluding the area that is covered by the walls or any
other areas specifically exempted from floor space index
computation.
In simple terms, it is the total area in your flat where you
can lay the carpet which is measured wall to wall and
includes the area in your kitchen, bedroom, dining room,
living room, store room, balcony or any other room.
Carpet Area

7. The built-up area, also interchangeably called plinth
area, is the area covered by a building on all floors
including any cantilevered portion.
Simply put, it is the total area of the apartment/flat.
Apart from the the carpet area, it also includes the
walls, sit-out, balcony, terrace, utility. Generally the
built-up area is approximately 10% of the carpet area.
Built-Up Area

8. It includes the built-up area of an apartment plus the
proportionate area of common areas such as the lobby,
lifts shaft, stairs, etc.
Sometimes it may also include the common areas such,
swimming pool, garden, clubhouse, etc. except car
parking. The same is also referred to as the Saleable
Area.
Super Built-Up
Area

9. The amount of extra cost that a developer passes on to
home buyers for development of common spaces such as
lobby, staircase, lifts, terrace and building maintenance
room is commonly known as the Loading factor.
Simply put, loading factor gives you the percentage
difference between the carpet area and super built-up
area. This means that lesser the loading factor, lesser will
be the common area space and more space you get within
your apartment.
Loading Factor

10. The terms FAR (Floor Area Ratio) and FSI (Floor Space
Index) are often used interchangeably and signify the
restriction on gross floor area that can be built on a plot.
FAR is expressed in terms of percentage while FSI is
expressed as a ratio.
FSI / FAR = (Total covered area on all floors) / Plot area
FSI or FAR

11. The area usage in a project that is exempt from the FAR
computation of a construction is known as the Non-FAR
area. Some of these include stair-case, lift rooms and
passage thereto the topmost person, architectural
features, elevated tanks, basement floor, and fire escape
staircase, amongst others.
Non-FAR Area

12. What are the advantages and
disadvantages of the common
BHK types available?

13. Advantages
• Small and compact- Affordable option- Easy to maintain- It may be a
good alternative as against paying high rentals- Relatively easier to
rent it out.
• A worthy option for people who travel frequently and prefer a home-
like comfort on returning.
• When compared to a 3 or 4 BHK, loading factor per unit is relatively
low. This means that you get more space within your apartment.
Disadvantages
• Caters mostly to bachelors, couples and working couple- Several
cities have a demand-supply gap.
1BHK

14. Advantages
• A good option for first-time home buyers, Comfortable for a nuclear
family, Easily available, Maintenance is relatively easier, Good value
appreciation compared to other configurations.
• Much easier to sell or rent out.
Disadvantages
• Limited space can be an issue for a growing family. Since demand for
2 BHK is much higher, it is possible that the buyer doesn’t get the
unit of his preference unless he books the unit earlier.
• There is limited scope for carving out additional spaces, if required.
Due to high demand, builders seldom give discount on this
configuration.
2BHK

15. Advantages
• Ample space is the biggest advantage. One of the best choice for large
families due to ample space. Few units come with a servant room,
making it ideal for families with working parents.
Disadvantages
• More difficult to maintain. Relatively difficult to rent out. Generally
lower return on investment compared to 2BHK- The rent differential
between 2 and 3BHK is relatively low, though 3BHK units cost more.
3BHK

16. A Sample Checklist to Select
Right Size Of Apartment

17. 1) Know Your Requirements.
2) Understand terms such as super built-up area, carpet
area and loading factor.
3) Verify the size of all rooms.
4) For smaller apartments, check size of bathrooms and
kitchen.
5) Ensure proper approvals for advertised floor area.

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