The short answer
Buildable area is what remains of your plot after the front, rear and side setbacks required by the society or development authority, capped by the maximum ground coverage. A 5 marla (25 × 45 ft) plot with a 5 ft front and 3 ft rear setback has a 925 sq ft footprint, or 1,850 sq ft over ground plus one floor.
How buildable area is worked out
- Plot area — front width × depth.
- Footprint after setbacks — (width − two side setbacks) × (depth − front setback − rear setback).
- Coverage cap — many byelaws also limit ground coverage to a percentage of the plot; the smaller of the two figures is your footprint.
- Total covered area — footprint × number of floors.
The page tells you whether your footprint is limited by the setbacks or by the coverage cap, so you know which rule to discuss with your architect.
Setbacks are set by your society
Each housing society and development authority (RDA, CDA and others) publishes its own building byelaws. The presets here are typical values for common plot sizes; replace them with your society’s official figures before finalising a design. Our approved maps and NOC guide explains how map approval works.
225 or 272.25 sq ft marla?
Societies in Islamabad and Rawalpindi generally use a 225 sq ft marla, while land revenue records often use 272.25 sq ft. The toggle lets you see your plot either way.
How to use the buildable area
- 1Choose a plot preset or type your plot’s front width and depth in feet.
- 2Enter the front, rear and side setbacks from your society’s byelaws.
- 3Set the maximum ground coverage and the number of floors.
- 4Read the footprint, ground coverage and total covered area.
Frequently asked questions
+How much can I build on a 5 marla plot?
On a typical 25 × 45 ft 5 marla plot with a 5 ft front and 3 ft rear setback, the footprint is about 925 sq ft, or roughly 1,850 sq ft across ground plus one floor. Your society’s byelaws decide the final figure.
+What are setbacks in house construction?
Setbacks are the minimum open distances you must leave between your building and the plot boundary at the front, rear and sides. They are set by the society or development authority and checked during map approval.
+Does a 10 marla plot need side setbacks?
Many byelaws start requiring side setbacks from around 10 marla upwards, but it varies by society. Check the approved byelaws for your block.
+Is the mumty (stair tower) counted in covered area?
It is usually treated separately and limited in size by byelaws. This calculator does not include it.