Costing worked example
Floor Space Cost at 90% space utilization: a worked example
What does the result look like when space utilization reaches 90%? The full calculation is worked below with real intermediate numbers. Use when comparing layout options, machine cells, storage areas, or make-versus-buy scenarios.
The inputs for this scenario
- Occupied floor space: 850 ft² (unchanged)
- Facility cost: 18 $ / ft² / yr (unchanged)
- Annual output: 95,000 units / yr (unchanged)
- Space utilization: 90 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 78)
- Annual occupied hours: 4,200 hr / yr (unchanged)
Working through the calculation
- Applying the documented formula (Annual space cost = square feet × cost per square foot) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
- At this operating point the engine returns 0.18 $ / unit for space cost per part, the number this scenario is built around.
- At this operating point the engine returns 15,300 $ / yr for annual space cost.
- At this operating point the engine returns 17,000 $ / yr for effective space cost.
- At this operating point the engine returns 4.05 $ / hr for cost per occupied hour.
How this compares with the baseline
- Against the tool's baseline example, where space utilization sits at 78% and the headline result is 0.21 $ / unit, this scenario comes in 13.33% below the baseline at 0.18 $ / unit.
- A figure at this level is achievable when space utilization is genuinely sustained, not just peaked for a shift. It allocates space cost on a straight-line basis and does not capture shared aisles, mezzanine value, or the option value of freed-up floor for new work.
Results at a glance
- Space cost per part: 0.18 $ / unit (headline result)
- Annual space cost: 15,300 $ / yr
- Effective space cost: 17,000 $ / yr
- Cost per occupied hour: 4.05 $ / hr
Run it with your numbers
- Every input above is editable in the live Floor Space Cost calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.
Last reviewed 2026-05-12.