Additional Leasing Info

Real Estate Space Measurements

Calculating exact measurements of office space square footage is tricky business, especially in New York, where buildings frequently grow in size without any renovation. The source of all office measurement ambiguity can be traced to one equation: the difference between “rentable” and “usable” square footage.


“Usable square footage” is defined as areas within a building that a tenant may use exclusively; including everything a lay person would consider part of an office. “Rentable square footage” includes a tenant’s share of a building’s common areas, such as lobbies, hallways, bathrooms, loading docks, etc. The difference between these two types of office measurement is called a “loss factor,” described as a percentage. If a space has a high loss factor, tenants are paying for less private space. In a crowded location like New York City, this can make a huge difference. Typical Manhattan loss factors are between 20 and 35 percent.

The Real Estate Board of New York recommends a standardized method to calculate square footage of rentable areas within office buildings. Landlords should have a transparent, explainable method of office measurement and should make calculations available to tenants upon request. The official criteria, known collectively as the Standard Method of Floor Measurements are listed below.


RENTABLE AREA:

Differences between buildings may cause variances in the calculation of rentable square footage. All landlords should provide potential renters the loss factor percentage for specific office facilities.


USABLE AREA, SINGLE TENANT FLOORS:

Calculate square footage of the office space all the way to the building’s outside surface. Subtract the area covered by the finished enclosing walls, as well as the following:


  • General-use elevator shafts and surrounding walls.
  • General-use staircases and surrounding walls.
  • HVAC facilities and all related pipelines, ductwork, shafts and enclosing walls that do not serve the floor on which the office is located.
  • Fire towers, fire tower courts and surrounding walls.
  • Telecommunications and switchboard equipment rooms that do not specifically serve the floor on which the office is located.

USABLE AREA, FOR A MULTIPLE TENANT FLOOR:

  • Complete all calculations as if the floor had a single occupant.
  • Subtract all corridor areas and common use spaces such as bathrooms, closets, etc. –not including the surrounding walls.
  • Calculate the total usable square footage of the office space by measuring all enclosing/exterior walls to the outside surface. Measure demising walls (walls used on either side by different tenants) to their center. Walls abutting corridors should be measured to the corridor side of the wall.
  • A few simple calculations will help you determine the final office measurement. First, create a fraction by dividing the total of all usable square footage on the floor by the usable area of the space you are measuring. Then multiply the total corridor area by that fraction, and finally add the resulting number of square feet to the total usable area of the office.

BELOW-GRADE, CELLAR AND SUB-CELLAR SPACE:

To calculate the usable areas below ground level, use the same process you would for an above-ground floor, then subtract the following areas:


Any rooms housing building equipment and their surrounding walls. This includes switchgear rooms, telecommunications equipment rooms, boiler rooms, etc.


Any areas related to building maintenance, including engineer’s offices, supply storage, workshops, etc.


HOW TO DETERMINE FLOOR MEASUREMENT FOR STORES:

If a store has street frontage, measure from the building line to the inside of outer walls, as well as to the corridor side of corridor walls. Walls separating two rentable areas should be measured from their center. Do not subtract areas accounted for by columns of other features necessary to the building.


When the building serves more than one tenant, the store’s total rentable area should encompass all space inside exterior walls, with the following exceptions: building stairs, fire towers, elevator shafts, flues, vents, stacks, pipe shafts, vertical ducts and all surrounding walls and fixtures.


If a space services only one tenant, add the following to the total rentable area: Private stairs, elevators, bathrooms, heating/air conditioning areas, supply closets, telecommunication rooms and electrical areas. If HVAC equipment serves multiple renters, divide space accounted for by ducts, equipment rooms etc. as if for single tenant floors.


If a store is part of a public mall or plaza intended for general use, public spaces should not be added to the rentable area of an individual retail facility.