What Are BOMA Standards for Office Workspaces?

Understanding the BOMA Standards can be beneficial for accurately measuring your office space. Here are 3 BOMA Office Standard measurements to help you out.

By Filip Dimkovski

Edited by Nevena Radulović

Published March 30, 2023.

BOMA stands for Building Owners and Managers Association (International). Founded in 1907 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., BOMA is today's leading association of the real estate industry worldwide for industrial, commercial, retail, office, and mixed-use properties.
While not mandated, the vast majority of professionals choose the BOMA standard for office workspace measuring.
Adhering to the standard BOMA measurements when organizing your office workspace can help you maximize your space utilization. What's more, this effective real estate method can save you time and money through consistent practice.
3 BOMA Office Standard Measurements1. Usable AreaTypically, usable areas in office workspaces refer to any space fit for human occupancy. So, think of areas that include cubicles, desks, conference tables, or individual offices. Here's how to measure this area:
Begin from the office side of the common corridor wall and measure the inside of the external wall as well as the middle of the partition wall.
However, to precisely measure your usable office area, make sure to exclude all non-occupiable spaces, such as restrooms, mechanical rooms, janitor closets, and other similar areas.
■ Optimize your office space use with key space utilization metrics﻿
2. Rentable AreaRentable areas in office workspaces usually cover a little bit more ground than usable areas. This is because they include the office in its entirety, except for the areas used for accessing other floors, such as elevator shafts or fire escape stairwells. When measuring the rentable area of your office, use these guidelines:
Start from the inside surface of exterior walls and measure along the office wall, excluding any major vertical penetration points.
Keep in mind that there's usually no need to deduct columns or projections from the building when measuring your rentable area. 
3. Load FactorThe load factor refers to the percentage of space in your office that isn't usable, and it's typically expressed as a percentage of the usable area. So, you can use this formula to calculate your load factor: 
Load Factor = Rentable Area / Usable Area
Calculating your office's load factor will help you know exactly how much extra space you're paying for. Generally, you should aim to have a 15%–25% load factor, depending on the type of office you're renting.
■ Get the most out of your office space by calculating your utilization rate﻿
Optimize Your Office Space Use With BOMA StandardsUnderstanding and using the BOMA standard measurements is essential for accurately measuring your office space. Not only does this allow you to properly calculate your rentable and usable areas, but it also serves as a universal system of measurement to ensure accuracy across various types of buildings.
By adhering to these measurements, you can easily create accurate office floor plans that can help maximize the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of your office space.