Net Square Footage

Net Square Footage (NSF), sometimes referred to as Usable Square Footage, is a term used in real estate to define the actual usable floor area of a building or a portion of a building (like an individual office suite or an apartment). The net square footage is the area where the occupant conducts their primary activities.

In a commercial building, for example, the net square footage of an office suite would include the office space, any private restrooms, closets, or storage areas within the suite. However, it would not include common areas like lobbies, shared hallways, or building mechanical rooms.

The concept is similar in residential real estate. In an apartment, for example, the net square footage would include the living space within the apartment but not common areas like the building lobby, hallways, or amenities.

The net square footage is often less than the gross square footage, which includes all areas within a building, both usable by the tenant and those areas considered common or shared.

Calculating the net square footage is important for tenants because it represents the actual space they will be able to use, and it's often the basis for calculating rent.