Residential Density Calculator

Residential Density Formula

Worked Example

300 dwellings of 4.5 persons on a 2 ha site with 1.2 ha in plots:

1. Gross density = 300 DU ÷ 2 ha = 150 DU/ha
2. Population = 300 × 4.5 = 1350; 675 persons/ha

Gross population density: 675 persons/ha · Net density: 250 DU/ha · Net population density: 1125 persons/ha · Share of site in plots: 60 % · Area per dwelling (gross): 66.66666667 m²

GATE tip

Convert m² to hectares (÷ 10,000) before dividing: densities are almost always per hectare.

More Planning, Housing and Valuation Calculators

• Floor Area Ratio Calculator

  FAR = total built-up area / plot area

  floors at full coverage = FAR / ground coverage

  Example: A 1000 m² plot with FAR 2.5 and 40 % ground coverage: Maximum built-up area = 2500 m².

  Open the floor area ratio calculator →

• Years’ Purchase Calculator

  Value = net income × YP

  YP = 1/i (perpetual), (1 − (1 + i)^−n)/i (n years), 1/(i + s/((1 + s)ⁿ − 1)) dual rate

  Example: A freehold earning a net 1,20,000 a year at 8 %: Capitalised value = 1500000.

  Open the years’ purchase calculator →

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• The International System of Units (SI), 9th edition (SI Brochure), Bureau International des Poids et Mesures .

Last reviewed: 2026-10-15. Factors are stored exactly and computed with 50-digit decimal arithmetic. See how we verify conversion factors.