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Gross Living Area (GLA)

Gross living area is the finished, above-grade square footage of a home, measured from the outside of the exterior walls. It is the main size figure used in residential appraisals in the United States.

Under ANSI Z765, which Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac require, GLA counts finished rooms, hallways and closets that are above grade, heated, reachable from inside the home and tall enough under the ceiling height rules. It leaves out basements of any finish, attached garages, unfinished attics, porches and decks. Those areas are reported separately.

GLA is not the same as total finished area or net livable area, which may include basements or be measured from the interior surfaces of the walls.

GLA is calculated floor by floor from exterior dimensions and then added up. See what is gross living area.