Korean Apartment Floor Areas — 전용 (Exclusive) vs 공급 (Supply) vs Contract Area
Jun 23, 2026
You see a listing that says “84㎡ (34 pyeong),” but the place feels smaller than expected — sound familiar? A Korean apartment has several different "areas," so the same pyeong figure can mean quite different usable space. This guide explains the difference between exclusive, common, supply, and contract area, and the 전용률 (efficiency ratio) that decides how much you actually use.
When a listing only shows ㎡, convert it to pyeong to get a feel for the size. Free, no sign-up.
Pyeong calculator →The four areas at a glance
| Area | What it includes |
|---|---|
| Exclusive (전용면적) | Space inside your front door used only by your household — living room, bedrooms, kitchen, bathrooms. This is your actual home size. |
| Residential common (주거공용) | Stairs, hallways, elevators — shared for residential use |
| Supply (공급면적) (= sale area) | Exclusive + residential common. The "pyeong" in listings and sales ads usually refers to this. |
| Other common (기타공용) | Underground parking, management office, security office, etc. |
| Contract (계약면적) | Supply + other common. The largest figure, written on the purchase contract. |
전용률 — why the same pyeong gives different usable space
Efficiency ratio = exclusive ÷ supply × 100. For the same supply area (same pyeong), a higher ratio means a larger actual home.
- Apartments: usually 70–80%. Flat (판상형) layouts tend to be higher than tower (타워형) types.
- Officetels: often in the 40–50% range, so the same "pyeong" gives less usable space than an apartment.
So when comparing listings, look not only at supply area but also at the exclusive area and efficiency ratio.
What area is the famous "84㎡"?
The widely used "84㎡" refers to the exclusive area. Adding the residential common area, the supply area becomes roughly 110–113㎡ — about 33–34 pyeong — which is advertised as a "34-pyeong unit." In short, exclusive 84㎡ ≈ 25 pyeong exclusive, about 34 pyeong by supply area.
What about service area (balcony)?
A balcony and similar service area is included in neither exclusive nor supply area. It doesn't show up in the area table, but expanding it widens your living room and rooms — think of it as a bonus. That's why two units of the same exclusive 84㎡ can feel very different in size.
Tools that work well together
To convert a listing's area into pyeong, use the pyeong calculator (pyeong↔㎡); to check rental yield, try the real estate yield calculator.
Convert ㎡ to pyeong to size up a listing at a glance. Free.
Pyeong calculator →Frequently asked questions
Q. Is the exclusive area my actual home size?
Yes. The space inside your front door — living room, bedrooms, kitchen, bathrooms — is the exclusive area. A balcony (service area) is not included.
Q. Are supply area and sale area the same?
Yes, they're the same. It is the exclusive area plus residential common area (stairs, hallways), and listings' "pyeong" usually use this.
Q. Why do two "34-pyeong" units differ in size?
Because of the efficiency ratio. For the same supply area, a higher ratio means more usable space — which is also why an officetel feels smaller than an apartment.
Q. Does expanding a balcony count toward the area?
A balcony is service area, so it isn't counted in exclusive or supply area — but expanding it does widen your usable space.