Gross living area

Gross living area, or GLA, is the total finished, above-grade living space in a house, measured to the outside face of the exterior walls. It is the size figure appraisers use to compare one home with another.

In the United States the measuring rules come from ANSI Z765, and Fannie Mae requires that standard on most single-unit appraisals for loan applications dated April 1, 2022 or later. To count, a space has to be finished for year-round living, sit entirely above the ground on every side, meet the ceiling height rules, and connect to the rest of the house through finished area.

Garages, unfinished rooms, porches, and basements are left out, finished basements included. The appraisal still reports them, each on its own line, so the size of the home stays comparable while the extra space is valued separately.