Area takeoff calculator

Calculate GFA, NRA, and UFA with efficiency ratios

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The Area Takeoff Calculator helps architects, developers, and property managers calculate different area classifications used in building design and leasing. Understand the relationship between Gross Floor Area (GFA), Net Rentable Area (NRA), and Usable Floor Area (UFA).

Area calculations are critical for space planning, lease negotiations, building efficiency analysis, and code compliance. Different area definitions serve different purposes: GFA for building codes, NRA for leasing, and UFA for actual usable space.

Enter floor plate area, number of floors, and typical core and circulation percentages to calculate GFA, NRA, UFA, and building efficiency ratios. The calculator helps optimize space planning and provides accurate area breakdowns for design decisions and lease documentation.

Features

Everything you need

  • Gross Floor Area (GFA) calculation
  • Net Rentable Area (NRA) determination
  • Usable Floor Area (UFA) calculation
  • Building efficiency ratio
  • Core and circulation area breakdown
  • Multi-floor building support
  • Visual area breakdown diagrams

How it works

Simple workflow

  1. 1
    Enter floor plate area and number of floors
  2. 2
    Specify core percentage (elevators, stairs, MEP)
  3. 3
    Input circulation percentage
  4. 4
    Review calculated GFA, NRA, and UFA
  5. 5
    See building efficiency ratio

Use cases

Built for real-world scenarios

Space planning

Calculate usable area for space planning and tenant fit-out design.

Lease negotiations

Determine rentable area for lease agreements and tenant billing.

Building efficiency analysis

Evaluate building efficiency by comparing usable area to gross area.

Code compliance

Calculate gross floor area for building code compliance and FAR calculations.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

GFA is the total floor area of all floors measured from exterior walls. It includes all areas: usable space, corridors, mechanical rooms, elevators, and stairs. GFA is used for building codes and FAR calculations.

NRA is GFA minus core areas (elevators, stairs, mechanical rooms). It represents area that can be leased to tenants. NRA is typically 75-85% of GFA depending on building type.

UFA is NRA minus circulation (corridors, lobbies). It's the actual space tenants can use for their operations. UFA is typically 60-75% of GFA.

Efficiency = NRA ÷ GFA. Good efficiency: 75-85% for offices, 80-90% for retail, 85-95% for warehouses. Higher efficiency means more rentable area per gross square foot.

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We're always looking to improve our calculators. If you have ideas for new features, improvements, or found something that could work better, we'd love to hear from you.

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