How to calculate the area of a room
When buying, renovating, or renting a home, it's crucial to accurately calculate your home's square footage. Different countries and regions may have different calculation methods for house area, but they usually include concepts such as building area, usable area and shared area. This article will detail how to calculate the square footage of a home and provide structured data to help you better understand.
1. Basic concepts of house area

House area is usually divided into the following categories:
| area type | definition | Calculation method |
|---|---|---|
| Building area | Including all areas within the exterior walls of the house, including shared areas | The area enclosed by the center line of the exterior wall |
| Used area | Actual usable living area, excluding walls | The sum of indoor net areas |
| Pool area | Apportioned area of common areas (e.g. stairs, elevators, corridors) | Share proportionately |
2. How to calculate the area of the house
1.Building area calculation: Building area is the most common area indicator when buying a house, usually provided by developers. The calculation formula is:Building area = building area within the suite + common area.
2.Calculation of building area within the suite: The built-up area within the house refers to the net area inside the house plus the area occupied by the walls. The calculation formula is:Building area in the suite = usable area in the suite + wall area in the suite + balcony area.
3.Use area calculations: Usable area is the actual usable living area, usually calculated by measuring the length and width of the room. For example, if a room is 5 meters long and 4 meters wide, the usable area is5 × 4 = 20 square meters.
3. Calculation method of shared area
The shared area refers to the area in which the public areas of the entire building (such as elevators, stairs, corridors) are allocated proportionally to each household. The calculation formula is:Shared area = building area × shared coefficient. The share factor is determined by the developer based on the building design and is usually between 10% and 30%.
| Building type | Sharing coefficient range |
|---|---|
| Multi-story residential buildings (below 7 floors) | 7%-12% |
| Small high-rise residential buildings (7-11 floors) | 10%-16% |
| High-rise residential buildings (above 12 floors) | 14%-24% |
| commercial office building | 20%-30% |
4. Frequently Asked Questions
1.How to calculate the balcony area?According to national standards, the area of an enclosed balcony is calculated as 100%, and that of an unenclosed balcony is calculated as 50%.
2.Are bay windows included in the area?If the height of the bay window is less than 2.2 meters, it is usually not included in the building area; if it is higher than 2.2 meters, it is calculated as half the area.
3.How is the basement area calculated?The part of the basement that exceeds 2.2 meters in height is included in the construction area, and the part that is lower than 2.2 meters is not included in the construction area.
5. Summary
When calculating the house area, it is necessary to clarify the differences between the building area, usable area and shared area, and choose the appropriate calculation method according to actual needs. When purchasing a house, be sure to carefully check the area data provided by the developer to avoid disputes caused by area errors. If you still have questions about area calculation, it is recommended to consult a professional surveying and mapping agency or lawyer.
Through the above structured data and detailed explanation, I hope it can help you better understand the calculation method of house area and provide a reference for home purchase or decoration.
check the details
check the details