Usable Square Footage (USF)
The actual space a tenant occupies and controls exclusively, measured from wall to wall within their demised premises.
Definition
Usable square footage is the space a tenant physically occupies—the area within their walls that they control exclusively. It does not include common areas shared with other tenants. USF is what matters for planning furniture layouts, equipment placement, and operational capacity. In small bay industrial, USF typically includes the warehouse area, any built-out office space, and private restrooms within the unit. The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) sets standards for measuring USF, though industrial properties often use simpler wall-to-wall measurements. When comparing spaces, always clarify whether quoted square footage is usable or rentable.
Example
A contractor evaluates a unit quoted at 3,000 SF. They confirm this is usable square footage—the actual warehouse and office space they'll occupy. With a 1.06 load factor, they'll pay rent on 3,180 RSF, but they have 3,000 SF to work with for storing equipment and vehicles.