Architecture
Net to Gross Area Calculator
Net = useful program space. Gross = total building footprint including circulation, walls, MEP, restrooms. Plug in one to estimate the other.
FAQ
What's the difference between net and gross? +
Net (or NSF / NASF) = the actual program rooms: offices, classrooms, apartments, etc. Gross (GSF) = everything inside the exterior walls — net PLUS circulation, mechanical, structure, restrooms, vertical penetrations.
Where do these efficiencies come from? +
Industry benchmarks from BOMA, AIA programming guides, and building-type studies. Highly variable — a corridor-heavy hospital is much less efficient than an open-plan office.
How do I improve efficiency? +
Bigger floor plates, fewer corridors, open-plan layouts, double-loaded vs single-loaded corridors, shared service cores. Multifamily is hard because every unit needs its own bathroom + kitchen.