The Hidden Math Defining Your City

Floor area ratio measures the total square footage of a building against the land it sits on. Surprisingly, a skyscraper and a small house can have the same ratio if their total floor area balances their land footprint.

City planners use this metric to control how dense or tall buildings can get in specific neighborhoods. While a building coverage ratio only looks at how much land is physically touched, floor area ratio cares about the sum of every story combined. This means developers can choose between building a short, wide structure or a thin, towering one while keeping the total density identical. It is the invisible rulebook that shapes the skyline you see every day.