How to Use the Building Coverage Calculator

A Building Coverage Calculator helps determine what percentage of a lot is occupied by a building, which is essential for urban planning, zoning compliance, and site analysis.

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What It Does:

This tool calculates how much of a property lot is covered by a building’s footprint (including the foundation and enclosed areas), and how much remains as open or green space. It provides:

• The building coverage ratio is in percent.
• The remaining open space is in square feet.

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Steps to Use:

1. Enter the total lot area (in square feet).
2. Enter the total building footprint (in square feet).
3. Click “Calculate Coverage”.

The calculator will display:

• The percentage of the lot covered by the building.
• The square footage of the remaining open area.

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Example:

If your lot is 10,000 sq ft and your building footprint is 4,000 sq ft:

• Coverage = 40%
• Open Area = 6,000 sq ft

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Building Coverage Calculator FAQ

Q1: What is considered building coverage?
A: Building coverage typically includes the footprint of all structures on a lot, such as the house, garage, and covered patios. It excludes driveways, decks, and open-air landscaping.

Q2: Why is building coverage important?
A: Many municipalities limit building coverage to preserve green space, manage runoff, and control neighborhood density. Staying within limits ensures compliance with zoning laws.

Q3: Does this calculator support metric units?
A: This version uses square feet. For metric, you can adapt the input fields to accept square meters or add a unit converter.

Q4: What happens if the building area exceeds the lot area?
A: The calculator will alert you, since this is physically impossible and likely a data entry error.

Q5: Can I include multiple buildings?
A: Yes. Add up the footprints of all buildings on the lot and enter the total in the “Total Building Footprint” field.