Plinth Area and Built In Area Calculation: A Comprehensive Guide
When navigating the complex world of real estate, a clear understanding of property measurements is paramount. So, having an in-depth knowledge of the plinth area is crucial, as it plays a pivotal role in the real estate domain. However, people often misunderstand this term. Thus, this guide aims to simplify the concept, explain the relationship of plinth area and built up area, and its significance in property-related matters. Read on to know more!
What is Plinth Area?
Plinth area refers to the entire floor space of a building, measured at the ground level of any basement. This encompasses not only the interior floor space but also the area occupied by the building’s structural components, such as internal and external walls.
Understanding the plinth area is crucial as it is a foundational metric for various property-related calculations and assessments. However, you should remember that features like an open terrace, lobby, and garden are not included while calculating the plinth area.
Is Plinth Area and Built Up Area Same?
A short answer to this question is yes. The terms built up area and plinth area are often used interchangeably in the real estate industry. Both the terms define the same thing, the total covered area of a building, encompassing both the internal floor space and the area occupied by walls.
It is essential to distinguish these terms from carpet area, which exclusively refers to the usable floor space within the walls, excluding the thickness of the walls. A clear comprehension of these terms is vital for accurate property valuation, taxation, and legal documentation.
What is the Significance of Plinth Area?
The plinth area is pivotal in several aspects of property ownership and transactions. By referring to the below points, you can learn better:
- Property Valuation: One of the primary determinants of property value is the plinth area or built up area. A larger plinth area generally corresponds to a higher property value, assuming other factors remain constant.
- Property Taxation: Various property tax assessments are done based on a property’s plinth area. It helps local authorities often to calculate the property tax liability.
- Adherence to Building Regulations: Building permits and other regulatory approvals frequently have stipulations regarding the maximum plinth area allowed for a property. Complying with these regulations is essential to avoid legal complexities.
- Home Loans: Financial institutions consider the plinth area as a key factor while assessing your loan eligibility and determining the loan amount. So, if your house has a larger plinth area, you are more likely to get a higher loan amount.
How to Calculate Plinth Area?
Determining the plinth area of a building might seem complex, but it can be calculated using relatively simple methods.
You can use the following plinth area formula for calculation:
Plinth Area = Carpet Area + Area of Walls
However, calculating the exact area of your home’s walls can be extremely time-consuming. Thus, a commonly used methodology is to add 10-20% of the carpet area to the carpet area to find an approximate plinth area. This method generally provides a reasonable estimation for residential properties that have regular shapes.
But for precise calculations, you must measure the length and thickness of each wall individually and sum up the total area. This method will provide you with an accurate number but would require more time and effort.
How to Calculate Plinth Area?
If you want to calculate your home’s built up area, you can follow the below steps:
Step 1: You have to measure the width and length of every room and sum it up to find out the total area.
Step 2: After that, you need to find out the thickness of all the walls and add it to the total area.
Step 3: Lastly, multiply it with the total number of floors.
However, to simplify the calculation process, you can use online plinth area calculators as well. By putting in the necessary information, you can find out your house’s plinth area.
What Factors Influence Plinth Area?
There are several elements that can influence the plinth area of your house. You can check the following points to develop a better understanding of these factors:
- Number of Floors: A multi-storey building naturally has a larger plinth area than a single-floored building, as it covers more ground area.
- Wall Thickness: Buildings with thicker walls have a larger plinth area compared to those with thinner walls as it is included in the calculation of plinth area.
- Building Shape: Irregularly shaped buildings often have a larger built-in area than rectangular or square buildings due to the additional area covered by the walls.
Conclusion
A comprehensive understanding of the plinth area is essential for you to make profitable real estate transactions. By understanding its significance, you can make informed decisions. However, calculating your home’s plinth area and built in area can be tough without professional guidance, so consider us at NoBroker for expert assistance. We have experts who can help you in finding a building’s accurate plinth area, ensuring that you make the best real estate investments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there any difference between a building’s plinth area and a built in area?
No, a building’s built in area and plinth area are the same.
How to calculate plinth area or built in area?
You can add 10% to 20% to your home’s carpet area to find an estimated plinth area of your home. However, to get an accurate result, you have to find out the thickness of the wall and add it to the carpet area. The sum of these two elements will give you an accurate built-in area.
What features should you include while calculating plinth area?
While calculating the plinth area, you need to include the total wall areas, duct for air conditioners, inner shafts, the thickness of the wall, and internal and external staircase.
What features should you exclude from plinth area calculation?
You should not include an open terrace, garden or lobby while calculating the built-in area.
How is plinth area different from the carpet area?
A building’s carpet area represents its total usable area, whereas, the plinth area is the sum of carpet area and wall area.