Work out facility operating cost per square foot instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.
Facility operating cost per square foot is the standard benchmark for comparing buildings, covering utilities, cleaning, security, maintenance and management. Cost per occupant is the complementary view: a densely occupied building can have a high cost per square foot yet a low cost per head, which is what the business actually pays for.
Unit cost
Per ft² = annual operating cost / gross area; per occupant = annual cost / occupants
Per ft² = annual operating cost / gross area; per occupant = annual cost / occupants. Facility operating cost per square foot is the standard benchmark for comparing buildings, covering utilities, cleaning, security, maintenance and management.
Cost per occupant, because the purpose of the building is to house people and activity. Cost per square foot is the right measure for judging the efficiency of the building operation itself.
This calculator takes 3 inputs: Annual operating cost, Gross area, Occupants. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic worked example — replace them with your own site or project figures.