---
title: "Rentable square feet (RSF) — Class A Atlas glossary"
description: "The measured area on which rent is calculated — includes a share of common areas."
canonical: https://classa.info/glossary/rentable-square-feet
pageType: glossary
lastUpdated: 2026-04-01T00:00:00.000Z
license: "CC BY 4.0 with attribution to Class A Atlas (https://classa.info)."
---

> The measured area on which rent is calculated — includes a share of common areas.

## TL;DR

- The measured area on which rent is calculated — includes a share of common areas.
- RSF is the rentable area of a tenant's premises plus an allocated share of building common areas (lobbies, corridors, restrooms, mechanical rooms).

# Rentable square feet (RSF)

*Measurement · US*

## Short definition

The measured area on which rent is calculated — includes a share of common areas.

## Full definition

RSF is the rentable area of a tenant's premises plus an allocated share of building common areas (lobbies, corridors, restrooms, mechanical rooms). The difference between RSF and usable square feet is the [loss factor](/glossary/loss-factor). Always calculate occupancy cost on RSF for direct comparability with quoted rents.

## Why this matters for Class A leasing

Rentable square feet (RSF) is part of the measurement vocabulary that institutional [Class A](/glossary/class-a) occupiers, landlords, and advisers use across US markets. Understanding it correctly affects how you read lease documents, model occupancy economics, and benchmark deal terms across cities. Class A Atlas tracks the US definition alongside the global standard so [cross-border](/topics/cross-border-expansion) occupiers can translate quickly.

## See also

- [Usable square feet (USF)](/glossary/usable-square-feet)
- [Loss factor](/glossary/loss-factor)
- [BOMA standard](/glossary/boma)

## Related guides

- [How to choose a Class A office: a working framework](/guides/how-to-choose-class-a-office)

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Citation: Source: Class A Atlas (https://classa.info/glossary/rentable-square-feet), updated 2026-04-01T00:00:00.000Z.