What constitutes a good FAR value for different types of development?

A good FAR depends on your zoning type and location. For residential: 0.3-2.0, commercial: 0.5-4.0, mixed-use: 0.5-4.0, industrial: 0.3-2.0. Check local zoning regulations for specific limits in your area.

What are the methods to increase the FAR of a property?

To increase FAR, you can add more floors to your building or reduce lot coverage by building vertically instead of horizontally. Always check local zoning regulations and building codes first.

What factors determine the maximum FAR allowed in different areas?

FAR limits are determined by local zoning regulations, building codes, infrastructure capacity, and urban planning goals. Different areas have different density requirements based on development plans.

What is the process for calculating FAR when there are multiple structures on one lot?

For multiple buildings on one lot, sum the total floor area of all buildings and divide by the total lot area. This gives you the overall FAR for the entire property.

How do FAR and lot coverage calculations differ?

FAR includes the area of all floors in the calculation, while lot coverage only considers the ground floor footprint. FAR is typically higher than lot coverage for multi-story buildings.

Floor Area Ratio Calculator

Property Details

Total Floor Area

Total area of all floors

Lot Area

Total area of the lot

Number of Floors

Total number of floors

Zoning Type

Type of zoning

Calculation Results

Floor Area Ratio Calculator: Your Guide to Building Density

Need to calculate the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) for your property? Our Floor Area Ratio Calculator helps you determine the relationship between your building's total floor area and the size of your lot.

Understanding Floor Area Ratio

Floor Area Ratio (FAR) is important for several reasons:

Zoning Compliance: Ensures building density meets regulations
Development Planning: Helps in project feasibility assessment
Property Value: Influences potential development value
Urban Planning: Controls urban density
Building Design: Guides architectural decisions

How to Use the Floor Area Ratio Calculator

Enter Floor Area: Input total floor area of all floors
Enter Lot Area: Input total lot area
Set Floors: Enter number of floors
Select Zoning: Choose zoning type
Click Calculate: Get detailed results

Floor Area Ratio Calculation Formula

Floor Area Ratio:
FAR = Total Floor Area / Lot Area

Where:
Total Floor Area = Sum of all floor areas
Lot Area = Total area of the lot

Common Zoning Specifications

Residential Zoning:
- Single Family: 0.3 - 0.5 FAR
- Multi Family: 0.5 - 2.0 FAR
- High Rise: 2.0 - 5.0 FAR
Commercial Zoning:
- Neighborhood: 0.5 - 1.0 FAR
- Community: 1.0 - 2.0 FAR
- Regional: 2.0 - 4.0 FAR
Mixed Use Zoning:
- Low Density: 0.5 - 1.0 FAR
- Medium Density: 1.0 - 2.0 FAR
- High Density: 2.0 - 4.0 FAR
Industrial Zoning:
- Light Industrial: 0.3 - 0.5 FAR
- Medium Industrial: 0.5 - 1.0 FAR
- Heavy Industrial: 1.0 - 2.0 FAR

Real-World Examples

Example 1: Single Family Home

Total Floor Area: 2,000 sq ft
Lot Area: 5,000 sq ft
Number of Floors: 2
Zoning Type: Residential
Results:
- Floor Area Ratio: 0.4
- Typical for single family zoning
- Allows for future expansion
- Good for resale value

Example 2: Commercial Building

Total Floor Area: 20,000 sq ft
Lot Area: 10,000 sq ft
Number of Floors: 4
Zoning Type: Commercial
Results:
- Floor Area Ratio: 2.0
- Typical for commercial zoning
- Good density for retail
- Efficient land use

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good FAR?

Depends on zoning type and location.

How to increase FAR?

Add floors or reduce lot coverage.

What affects FAR limits?

Zoning regulations and local codes.

How to calculate FAR for multiple buildings?

Sum all floor areas and divide by total lot area.

What's the difference between FAR and lot coverage?

FAR includes all floors, lot coverage is ground floor only.