What is GFA (Gross Floor Area)?

Gross Floor Area (GFA) is a measurement used in planning, design, and development to describe the total floor area within the external walls of a building. It includes all enclosed spaces—such as rooms, corridors, storage areas, and internal walls—but excludes certain elements depending on local regulations (e.g., balconies, car parks, service voids, or plant areas).

GFA is one of the most important metrics in development because it determines planning controls, allowable building size, yield calculations, construction cost estimates, and project feasibility. It’s essentially the number that tells you how much usable or sellable building area a development contains.