What is Floor Area Ratio (FAR)?

Floor Area Ratio (FAR) is a key indicator used in zoning regulations to measure the relationship between a building’s total floor area and the size of the plot of land it is built on. In simple terms, it tells you how much floor space can be constructed in relation to the plot size.

Formula to Calculate Floor Area Ratio (FAR)

The formula to calculate FAR is simple and requires two key pieces of information:

1. Total Building Floor Area (in square feet or meters)
2. Total Plot Area (in square feet or meters)

The formula is:

$\text{FAR}=\frac{\text{Total Building Floor Area}}{\text{Total Plot Area}}$

Explanation:

• Total Building Floor Area: This includes the sum of the floor areas of all the floors of the building.
• Total Plot Area: This is the area of the land or plot on which the building is constructed.

Example Calculation

Let’s assume:

• The total building floor area is 10,000 square feet.
• The total plot area is 5,000 square feet.

Now, we can use the formula to calculate FAR:

$\text{FAR}=\frac{\text{10,000}}{\text{5,000}}$

$\text{FAR }=\text{ 2}$

So, the FAR in this case is 2, meaning that the total floor area of the building is twice the size of the plot area.

What Does the FAR Value Mean?

• If FAR = 1, it means the building's floor area is equal to the size of the plot.
• If FAR > 1, the building's floor area is greater than the plot size. This often indicates multi-story buildings.
• If FAR < 1, the building's floor area is smaller than the plot, which could indicate a single-story building or that much of the land is left open