Floor Area Ratio (FAR) is a key concept in urban planning and real estate that indicates the density of a building on a particular piece of land. It is defined as the ratio of a building's total floor area (all the floors combined) to the size of the land plot on which the building stands.
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| Floor Area Ratio (FAR) calculator |
The formula is:
For example, if a plot has an area of 1,500 square feet and a building on it has a total floor area of 3,000 square feet (sum of all floors), the FAR would be 2.0 (3,000 ÷ 1,500). This means the building's total floor area is twice the size of the land area, often achieved by building multiple floors.
FAR helps regulate building density, urban growth, and land use intensity. It is widely used in zoning laws to control the size and bulk of buildings, ensuring sustainable development, proper ventilation, sunlight, and adequate open spaces. Lower FAR values mean less dense development, while higher FAR values indicate denser construction, which is common in urban areas.
FAR is also known by other terms depending on the region, such as Floor Space Ratio (FSR), Floor Space Index (FSI), Plot Ratio, or Site Ratio, but the concept remains similar.
It plays a critical role in real estate decisions because it determines how much area can be built on a parcel of land, influencing property value, housing supply, and urban form. For developers, FAR limits the maximum allowable built-up area on a given plot, often defined by local zoning authorities.
In summary:
FAR is a decimal or ratio that shows how much floor area a building has relative to its plot.
Higher FAR means more floors or larger buildings on the same plot.
Regulates density, building height, and land use.
Influences urban planning, property value, and housing availability.
This understanding will help you interpret the results from your FAR calculator and grasp how FAR shapes building development and city landscapes.
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