What is Net Lettable Area (NLA)?

Net Lettable Area (NLA) is a measurement used in commercial property to determine the amount of floor space within a building that can be leased to a tenant. Unlike Gross Floor Area (GFA), which includes everything inside the external walls, NLA focuses only on the usable, rentable areas—typically offices, retail floorspace, and other tenant-occupied zones.

NLA usually excludes common areas such as lobbies, stairwells, plant rooms, toilets, service corridors, lift shafts, and structural walls. It’s the figure landlords and agents rely on to calculate rental rates, compare tenancy sizes, and assess leasing value. In short, NLA tells you exactly how much space a tenant can occupy and pay for, making it a critical metric in commercial property valuation and leasing.

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