Areas
1. Overview
The Area Tool in Revit allows architects and designers to calculate, document, and manage measurable floor areas in a project. It supports multiple industry classifications—gross areas, rentable areas, net areas, internal areas—and provides consistent, Revit-native schedules and graphical plans.
These tools become essential early in schematic design, feasibility studies, and throughout detailed design when calculations must reflect planning controls, certifications, and client briefs.
2. Area Schemes
Revit manages areas using Area Schemes, each representing a different calculation logic.
Typical schemes include:
- Gross Building Area (GBA)
Used for feasibility, project size, maximum allowable envelope, and planning controls. - Rentable Area / Commercial Area
Used in retail, commercial buildings, BOMA/Property Council standards, etc. - Net Lettable Area (NLA)
Used by planners, authorities, tenancy agreements, and internal layouts. - Custom Schemes
For example: “Landscape Area”, “Fire Compartment Area”, “Common Areas”, “Circulation Areas”, or “Plot Ratio Area.”
Creating a Scheme
Manage > Area and Volume Computations > Area Schemes > New Scheme
Each scheme is independent, meaning:
- It has its own area plans
- Its boundaries do not affect other schemes
- Schedules can be created per-scheme
3. Area Plans
Area Plans are view types dedicated to measuring areas.
Create area plans via:
View > Plan Views > Area Plan
Revit will ask:
- Which Area Scheme?
- Which Level?
Once the plan is created, you can place Area Boundaries that define the space.
4. Area Boundaries
Area Boundaries define the perimeter of the measurement.
There are three typical boundary types:
- Automatic Boundaries
Revit can pick up existing walls. This is useful but not always reliable. - Manual Boundaries
You can draw boundaries to override automatic readings or to follow specific standards. - Room Separation Lines vs Area Boundaries
Remember: Rooms ≠ Areas.
Rooms use room separation lines; areas use area boundaries. They are not interchangeable.
Best Practice
- Use automatic boundaries where possible for consistency.
- Use manual boundaries only when standards require it (e.g., BOMA rules inside wall faces).
- Lock boundaries when finalised to preserve accuracy.
5. Creating Area Elements
Once the boundaries are set:
Architecture > Area > Place Area
Select the region inside the boundaries. Revit will create an Area Element, which behaves similarly to a Room.
Each Area Element contains:
- Area number
- Area name
- Floor area (read-only)
- Additional custom parameters you may add (e.g., efficiency ratio, tenancy type, zoning category)
6. Schedules
Area Schedules allow you to tabulate results per scheme.
Create via:
View > Schedules > Schedule/Quantities > Area
Key fields include:
- Number
- Name
- Area
- Level
- Area Scheme
- Comments or Classification Code (for Arcanary taxonomy)
Schedules support:
- Sorting/grouping
- Totals
- Sub-totals
- Conditional formatting
- Additional calculated fields (e.g., NLA/GFA efficiency percentage)
7. Working With Multiple Options
For projects where different layouts need comparison, the Area Tool supports Design Options.
Workflow:
- Assign area boundaries to the option set.
- Ensure that area plans reference the correct option (primary or secondary).
- Place areas within each option.
- Create schedules filtered by option via a custom parameter (e.g., Option Name).
This method allows side-by-side feasibility studies.
8. Area Tool vs Room Tool
| Feature | Areas | Rooms |
|---|---|---|
| Used for | GFA, NLA, tenancies, site ratios | Finishes, room data sheets, internal layouts |
| Boundary logic | Area Boundaries only | Room Separation + Walls |
| Multiple schemes | Yes | No |
| Schedules | Very flexible | Highly detailed |
| Use case | Compliance + Feasibility | Architectural design and documentation |
Areas are more abstract and suitable for standards, compliance, and large-scale measurement.
Rooms are more specific and connect with finishes, equipment, and room tags.
9. Best Practices for Architecture & Planning
1. Differentiate Schemes Early
- “Gross Area – Planning”
- “Net Area – Residential Units”
- “Commercial Lettable Area”
2. Lock the Boundaries
When moving into coordination stages, lock boundaries to prevent accidental changes.
3. Use Classification Codes
Attach an Arcanary-style classification parameter (e.g., “BA-Code” or “Area Type”) to support reporting.
4. Use Colour Schemes
Colour-coded Area Plans help illustrate:
- Public vs private zones
- Tenancy divisions
- Efficiency studies
- GFA vs NLA
5. Separate Presentation vs Production Plans
Use:
- Production Area Plans for calculation accuracy
- Presentation Area Plans for client-friendly graphics
6. Combine Schedules with Calculated Fields
- GFA / Site Area = Plot Ratio
- NLA / GFA = Efficiency
- Circulation Ratio = (Common Areas / Total Areas)
10. Common Issues and How to Fix Them
1. Areas not appearing
- Area boundaries exist
- Correct scheme is selected
- View Range is not cutting away boundaries
2. Wrong measurements
- Boundary lines placed on the wrong level
- Overlapping boundaries
- Using automatic boundaries where walls are not joined properly
3. Missing schedule data
- Areas are placed (boundaries alone do not count)
- Filters in schedules are correct
- The correct scheme is used
11. Typical Usage in Real Projects
- Urban planning: calculate GFA, building envelope, site coverage, plot ratio.
- Residential projects: measure NLA per apartment, common areas, balconies, or garages.
- Commercial projects: calculate rentable areas with BOMA or PCA standards.
- Mixed-use developments: produce consolidated area tables per use.
- Site massing: quick feasibility calculations for early planning stages.
12. Conclusion
The Revit Area Tool is essential for professional architectural workflows. When configured correctly, it provides robust, repeatable, and compliant area calculations that support planning controls, feasibility studies, client reporting, and technical documentation.
By combining Area Plans, Area Schemes, and Schedules, you can maintain accuracy throughout the project lifecycle and reinforce the One Source of Truth principle in every stage.
Building Area Types
| Acronym | Name | Typical Use | Measures To | Includes | Excludes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLA | Net Lettable Area | Leasing | Internal face of walls | Usable tenant space | Shared/communal areas |
| GFA | Gross Floor Area | Planning | Outer face of external walls | Habitable floors | Basements/voids (varies) |
| GBA | Gross Built Area | Construction cost | Outer structure line | All built areas | Uncovered spaces |
| GIA | Gross Internal Area | Valuation | Internal face of external walls | Internal partitions | External walls |
| GEA | Gross External Area | Masterplanning | External perimeter | External walls | Open terraces |
| UFA | Usable Floor Area | Residential design | Internal usable area | Rooms, circulation | External structures |
| Superficie Útil | Spain – Usable | Sales | Internal usable | Habitable layout | Walls/columns |
| Superficie Construida | Spain – Built | Contracts | External perimeter | All built area | Uncovered areas |
Landscape Area Types
| Area Type | Typically Includes | Excludes | Main Purpose |
|---|
| Site Area | Entire plot | Road reserve | Baseline planning metric |
| Soft Landscape Area | Grass, planting beds | Paving | Green coverage & ecology |
| Hard Landscape Area | Paving, decks | Planting | Circulation & amenity |
| Deep Soil Zone | Natural ground | Slabs/basements | Tree growth, infiltration |
| Private Open Space | Private gardens, balconies | Shared areas | Residential amenity |
| Communal Open Space | Shared gardens/terraces | Private use areas | Multi-unit amenity |
| Impervious Area | Concrete, roofs | Grass | Stormwater design |
| Permeable Area | Soil, permeable pavers | Impermeable surfaces | Compliance with permeability targets |
| Green Roof/Podium | Vegetation on structure | Natural deep soil | Urban greening |