Floor Area Ratio (FAR) is the single number that decides how many floors you can legally build on a plot in Dhaka — more than the plot’s shape, more than what a client wants, more than what a contractor says is possible. Get the FAR math wrong before design starts, and the drawing either gets rejected at RAJUK, or you end up with less building than the land could actually support. Here is how it actually works, and a calculator to run your own numbers.
The FAR Formula
FAR is a ratio, and the formula itself is simple:
Total Floor Area = Land Area × FAR
A 5-katha plot (3,600 sq ft, since 1 katha = 720 sq ft) with a FAR of 3.5 is allowed 3,600 × 3.5 = 12,600 sq ft of cumulative floor area across every floor combined — not per floor. How many floors that becomes depends on your floor plate size after lift, stair core, and setback deductions.
Plot FAR vs. Area FAR: Which One Applies
RAJUK does not assign one FAR number to a plot — it checks two separate values, and the lower one governs:
- Plot FAR — set by the width of the road your plot fronts. A wider road generally allows a higher Plot FAR, which is why two plots of identical size can carry very different limits depending on which street they sit on.
- Area FAR — set by the DAP (Detailed Area Plan) density block your plot falls under, which depends on the ward and that zone’s planned density, not on the road alone.
Base FAR = the smaller of Plot FAR and Area FAR. Both are plot-specific and are updated by gazette amendment, so the only reliable way to get your exact figures is your plot’s RAJUK Land Use Clearance (LUC) or the current DAP density-block sheet for your ward — not a number from someone else’s project, and not a number from this article.
Bonus (Incentive) FAR
On top of Base FAR, RAJUK’s incentive framework allows additional FAR for specific conditions, generally including:
- Plot unification / amalgamation with adjoining plots
- Green building certification
- Transit-oriented development, for plots near a transit corridor
- Affordable / low-cost housing components
- Surrendering land for road widening on sub-standard roads
The exact bonus percentage depends on plot size and which incentive category applies. As one data point: the 2025 DAP amendment (SRO 468-Ain/2025, Table 3.28) sets a plot-size incentive of up to 0.65 for plots between 15 and 20 katha — a figure specific to that size band, not a number that carries over to a different plot. Total FAR (Base + Bonus) is also capped: it can never exceed the maximum FAR set for that density block, however many incentives stack on top of each other.
Maximum Ground Coverage (MGC)
FAR tells you the total floor area you are allowed. Maximum Ground Coverage tells you how much of the ground footprint you are allowed to build on — usually a percentage of the plot area, after setbacks are applied. The two work together: allowable floor area divided by ground floor footprint gives an approximate floor count, before lift/stair core and balcony deductions are factored in.
Calculate Your Allowable Floor Area
Enter the Plot FAR and Area FAR from your own plot’s LUC or DAP density-block sheet — this calculator only does the arithmetic. It does not look up, estimate, or guess your plot’s actual FAR values, because those are specific to your road width and density block.
FAR & Floor Area Calculator
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I get my plot's exact Plot FAR and Area FAR?
From your RAJUK Land Use Clearance (LUC) application, or the current DAP density-block chart for your ward. These figures are plot- and location-specific and are revised by gazette amendment, so a number from a different plot or an older document is not reliable.
Can bonus FAR push me above the maximum FAR for my area?
No. Base FAR plus every bonus you qualify for is still capped at the maximum FAR set for your density block — incentives cannot push a project past that ceiling.
Does FAR include parking and verandah space?
Generally no — ground-floor parking, rooftop area, and verandah space are typically excluded from the floor area counted against FAR, though the exact exclusions should be confirmed against the current Imarat Nirman Bidhimala for your submission.
Is this calculator an official RAJUK tool?
No. It is an educational tool that applies the standard FAR formula to numbers you provide. It does not connect to RAJUK, does not know your plot's actual FAR, and is not a substitute for your Land Use Clearance or an architect's review.
Where This Fits Into Your Project
FAR is one input into a design, not the whole decision — road width, setback, parking ratio, and your program all interact with it, and the figures themselves are updated periodically under the RAJUK Act 2026 (Act 67 of 2026) and successive DAP amendments. Mark D Studio runs this calculation against the current gazette for every plot before design starts, as part of our RAJUK approval process. If you want your own plot checked against the current rules, get in touch.
Related Reading
- RAJUK Building Plan Approval in Dhaka: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Construction & Architecture Terms Explained: A Bangladesh Glossary
- How to Choose the Right Architect in Dhaka: A Client's Checklist
- Our Service Areas Across Bangladesh