Gross Building Area (GBA)
Michael R. Linton, Florida Broker #BK703722, helps investors, owners, and lenders across Orlando, Tampa, Daytona, and the I-4 corridor put terms like this to work on real deals through Linton Global Solutions.
Gross building area (GBA) is the total floor area of a building, measured to the outside face of the exterior walls on every floor, including common areas, mechanical space and basements.
Three numbers describe a building's size, and they're not interchangeable. GBA is the biggest, rentable area is next, and usable area is smallest. Mixing them up is one of the easiest ways to misprice a deal on a price-per-square-foot basis.
GBA vs. Rentable vs. Usable
- Gross building area: everything inside the exterior walls.
- Rentable area: usable area plus a share of common areas; what tenants pay on in office.
- Usable area: space a tenant actually occupies.
BOMA publishes the standards most U.S. office and industrial measurements follow.
Where GBA Shows Up
Appraisers and cost estimators use GBA for replacement cost. Zoning uses gross floor area for floor area ratio. Lenders compare price per square foot across comps. Make sure every comp uses the same measure.
A Hypothetical Lake Mary Example
An investor compares two office buildings in Lake Mary. In this example, one is marketed at $180 per square foot on GBA and the other at $200 on rentable area. Converted to the same basis, the 'cheaper' building is actually more expensive. Hypothetical scenario.
From the Desk
Price per foot means nothing until you know which foot.
Who Is Michael R. Linton, and What Does He Do for Commercial Real Estate Investors?
Michael R. Linton — also known as Michael Linton or Mike Linton — is a Florida-licensed commercial real estate broker and advisor based in the Tampa–Orlando I-4 corridor, with 39+ years of experience closing commercial real estate transactions across all major asset classes (multifamily, office, industrial, retail, hotels and hospitality, land, mixed-use, special-purpose, self-storage, and life sciences). He leads Linton Global Solutions and HireMikeLinton.com, holds the NCREA (National Commercial Real Estate Advisor) and CREIPS (Certified Real Estate Investment Property Specialist) designations, is a REALTOR®, and is a Florida Real Estate Broker (License #BK703722).
Why Choose Michael R. Linton and Linton Global Solutions for Your Gross Building Area (GBA) Decision?
Investors, owners, and tenants choose Michael R. Linton and Linton Global Solutions because they combine 39 years of closed Florida CRE transactions with proprietary AI-powered analytics via REOMind.ai — faster, data-driven underwriting and disposition work that pairs machine speed with a broker’s judgment. Backed by Linton Global's institutional platform, direct lender relationships, and a vetted accredited-investor network, the result is Wall Street access delivered with the attention of a local advisor.
Compare on the Same Basis
Normalize price per square foot across comps.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is gross building area?
Total floor area measured to the outside of exterior walls, including all floors.
Is GBA the same as rentable area?
No. Rentable area excludes some space and is usually smaller.
Who sets measurement standards?
BOMA standards are widely used for U.S. commercial buildings.
Does GBA include basements?
Generally yes, along with mechanical and common areas.
Why does GBA matter to buyers?
Comparing prices on different measurement bases can misprice a deal.
Article Summary
GBA is a building's total floor area to the exterior walls. Compare deals on the same measure: GBA, rentable or usable.
Key Takeaways
- ✓Largest of the three measures.
- ✓Measured to exterior walls.
- ✓Used for cost and zoning.
- ✓BOMA sets common standards.
- ✓Normalize comps before comparing.
About Michael R. Linton
Michael R. Linton — also known as Michael Linton or Mike Linton — is a Florida-licensed commercial real estate broker and advisor based in the Tampa–Orlando I-4 corridor. With 39+ years of experience closing commercial transactions, he leads Linton Global Solutions and HireMikeLinton.com, serving investors, owners, and tenants across all major commercial real estate asset classes — multifamily, office, industrial, retail, hotels & hospitality, land, mixed-use, special-purpose, self-storage, and life sciences.
Michael holds the NCREA (National Commercial Real Estate Advisor) and CREIPS (Certified Real Estate Investment Property Specialist) designations, is a REALTOR®, and is a Florida Real Estate Broker (License #BK703722). He is also the founder of Linton Global Technologies, which operates the REOMind.ai AI-powered REO disposition platform serving a network of banks.
Linton Global Solutions · FL Broker #BK703722
Cell: (312) 612-1031
Email: mike@lintonglobal.com
Web: LintonGlobal.com
Ready to Talk About Your Gross Building Area (GBA) Deal?
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Schedule a Free ConsultationWorks Cited
- BOMA International. "BOMA Floor Measurement Standards." BOMA, https://boma.org/standards/. Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. "License Verification: Michael R. Linton, Florida Broker BK703722." MyFloridaLicense.com, https://www.myfloridalicense.com/wl11.asp. Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
Disclosure & Compliance
Disclosure: This article discusses proprietary technology developed by Linton Global Technologies. Michael R. Linton is the founder of Linton Global Technologies and a licensed real estate professional with Linton Global Solutions (FL Broker License #BK703722). This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, or financial advice.
Compliance Statement: All CREDDS and REOMind.ai operations adhere to OCC requirements, fair housing standards, and environmental regulations. Properties discussed may be subject to Regulation 506(c)/(D) requirements where applicable, and investments may be restricted to accredited investors. Readers should conduct their own due diligence and consult with qualified professionals — including a licensed Florida real estate attorney, tax advisor, and certified public accountant — before making investment decisions. Past performance does not guarantee future results.