Space planning calculator

Calculate efficiency ratios and circulation factors

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The Space Planning Calculator helps architects and interior designers optimize space layouts by calculating efficiency ratios, circulation factors, and usable area percentages. Understand the relationship between gross area, net area, and usable space.

Effective space planning balances program requirements with circulation needs and building efficiency. The calculator helps identify opportunities to maximize usable area while maintaining comfortable circulation and code-compliant layouts.

Enter gross area, program requirements, and circulation percentages to calculate net usable area, efficiency ratios, and space allocation. The tool helps optimize layouts for offices, retail, healthcare, and other building types, ensuring efficient use of valuable floor area.

Features

Everything you need

Efficiency ratio calculations
Circulation factor analysis
Net usable area determination
Program area allocation
Space utilization optimization
Multiple building type support
Visual space breakdown

How it works

Simple workflow

1
Enter gross floor area
2
Specify program area requirements
3
Input circulation percentage
4
Review calculated efficiency ratios
5
Optimize layout for maximum efficiency

Use cases

Built for real-world scenarios

Office space planning

Optimize office layouts to maximize usable area while maintaining comfortable circulation.

Retail design

Calculate space efficiency for retail layouts balancing sales area with circulation and back-of-house.

Feasibility studies

Evaluate space efficiency during early design to ensure program requirements fit within building constraints.

Lease planning

Determine rentable vs. usable area for lease negotiations and tenant fit-out planning.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Space efficiency = Usable Area ÷ Gross Area. Good efficiency: 75-85% for offices, 80-90% for retail, 85-95% for warehouses. Higher efficiency means more usable space per gross square foot.

Circulation factor is the percentage of gross area dedicated to corridors, lobbies, and circulation. Typical: 15-25% for offices, 10-20% for retail. Lower circulation means higher efficiency but may reduce comfort.

Reduce corridor widths (within code minimums), minimize double-loaded corridors, optimize room sizes, reduce wall thickness, and eliminate unnecessary circulation space.

Gross area includes all floor area. Net area excludes core (elevators, stairs, MEP). Usable area excludes both core and circulation. Efficiency = Usable ÷ Gross.

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