Understanding Gross Living Area (GLA) calculations and deliverables helps ensure your floor plans comply with appraisal standards and meet property evaluation needs.

GLA stands for Gross Living Area. As defined by The Dictionary of US Real Estate Appraisal, GLA is the "Total area of finished, above-grade residential space; calculation by measuring the outside perimeter of the structure and includes only finished, habitable, above-grade living space."

The purpose of GLA floor plans is to provide a reliable solution for real estate appraisers to assist with property evaluations.

For all GLA calculations, we follow the ANSI Z765 calculation standard.

No, GLA reports adhere strictly to US appraisal standards, so all measurements are provided in imperial units only.

Yes, receiving a GLA floor plan requires purchasing the GLA Add-on.

No, generating a GLA floor plan does not require special equipment. You only need a supported device to scan the property using the CubiCasa App. Once processed, you can download your GLA floor plan from the same location as your standard floor plans.

You can scan the following property types to get GLA calculations:

The difference exists because Total Area/GIA and GLA use different calculation methodologies:

Whether external walls are included in GLA depends on the property type. Please read our detailed guide on external walls inclusion based on property type.

The area of the stairs themselves is included in the level from which they descend. The area below the stairs (regardless of finish or ceiling height) is included in the level on which they land. Please review our guide on stair inclusions for detailed rules.

Fireplaces are excluded from GLA calculations when they are covered at least partially by external walls on 3 sides.

Spaces that can only be accessed through excluded or ignored spaces are also excluded from GLA, even if they would normally be included. For example, a bedroom or bathroom that would typically be counted is excluded if it can only be accessed by walking through an excluded space.

To adjust room inclusion rules, please refer to our dedicated article on how to include or exclude a room from GLA.

To set or adjust floor grades, please follow our instructions on how to readjust and rename floor labels.

No, the GLA floor plan comes with a pre-defined styling to ensure strict compliance with appraisal standards.

Important: The GLA plan will not reflect your custom styling tab settings, with the exception of Language and Units. This means:

You can obtain exterior dimensions either automatically by purchasing the GLA Package or manually using our Quick Editor tool.

Exterior dimensions are automatically included on the GLA floor plan.

Note: You must use a web browser to access and purchase this upgrade.

To get the GLA package:

If you prefer not to purchase the GLA package, you can add exterior dimensions manually. For step-by-step instructions on drawing lines, please view our guide on how to add lines and measurements.

GLA labels follow a different logic from standard floor plans. Some room names may appear differently on your GLA floor plan than on your standard 2D plan.

Bathroom labels on GLA floor plans are determined automatically based on the number of unique bathroom fixtures detected:

Kitchen labels on GLA floor plans are also determined automatically based on detected fixtures. For example, a room will be labelled "Kitchenette" instead of "Kitchen" if no stove is detected.

For other room labels (e.g. a "Sunroom" appearing as "Other Room"), you can make the label reflect correctly on the GLA floor plan by adding an extra space after the label name in QuickEdit.

For example, instead of typing Room, type Room (with a trailing space). See our article on How to Change, Remove, or Edit Room Labels and Dimensions for the full override steps.

You can of course, search our help center, check our appraisal FAQ but you can also start a conversation with us.