The actual square footage of a building that can be rented. Halls, lobbies, stairways, elevator shafts, maintenance areas and other common areas may or may not be included depending on the custom of the locality.

The area (square footage) for which rent can be charged. Generally it is the gross area of the full floor less the area of all vertical penetrations (elevator shafts, stairwells, mechanical shafts etc.) Rentable area can be measured in many ways, but the most common measurement for office buildings is according to BOMA standards. Net Rentable area includes the tenant's premises plus an allocation of the common area directly benefiting the tenant, such as common corridors, restrooms, mechanical and janitor's rooms and the elevator lobby on the tenant's floor. Also called Rentable Area.

Another word for Rentable Area. Some people also use this term to refer to Usable Area. This term is not defined in the BOMA Standards or any major published measurement standard. This term should not be used if the BOMA Standards are being employed.