Occupant Load Calculator
Enter floor area (sq ft or m²) and a space function to get the occupant load, then add rooms and fixed seating into a mixed-use total with exit-count and egress-width planning checks.
Occupant load = floor area ÷ occupant load factor, the square feet per person that IBC Table 1004.5 assigns to the space function, with any fraction rounded up to a whole person.
Use the Occupant Load Calculator
Space Parameters
Fixed seating (Section 1004.6)
One occupant per seat, per 18 in of bench, per 24 in of booth.
Fixed-seat load: 0
Results
Enter space parameters and click Calculate.
Occupant Load of This Space
Floor Area
Load Factor
Capacity Width Components
Level component per selected exit (0.2 in/occ)
Stair component per selected exit (0.3 in/occ)
Capacity arithmetic is not a compliant-width determination. A 32 in clear door minimum and a commonly applicable 44 in stair minimum (sometimes 36 in for occupant loads below 50) are separate checks with exceptions.
Exit-count planning checkpoint
Code basis: 2024 IBC Table 1004.5 factors (same as 2018/2021 except the new IT equipment row); capacity factors per Section 1005.3; single-exit limits per Table 1006.2.1; exits per story per Table 1006.3.3. Verify the adopted edition, local amendments, gross/net classification, common path, travel distance and exit distribution.
Building / floor total (mixed use)
The occupant load of a floor is the sum of its spaces. Add each room or seating area.
No spaces added yet.
Total occupant load:
IBC Table 1004.5 — Occupant Load Factors (2024)
Same values in the 2018 and 2021 editions except the information technology equipment row. 1 m² = 10.764 sq ft. Fixed seating, malls (Section 402.8.2) and bowling lanes follow their own rules.
| Function of Space | sf/occ | m²/occ | Area Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assembly without fixed seats — concentrated (chairs only) | 7 | 0.65 | net |
| Assembly without fixed seats — unconcentrated (tables and chairs) | 15 | 1.39 | net |
| Assembly without fixed seats — standing space | 5 | 0.46 | net |
| Stages and platforms | 15 | 1.39 | net |
| Assembly — gaming floors (keno, slots, etc.) | 11 | 1.02 | gross |
| Assembly — exhibit gallery and museum | 30 | 2.79 | net |
| Skating rinks, swimming pools — rink and pool | 50 | 4.65 | gross |
| Skating rinks, swimming pools — decks | 15 | 1.39 | gross |
| Library — reading rooms | 50 | 4.65 | net |
| Library — stack area | 100 | 9.29 | gross |
| Airport terminal — waiting areas | 15 | 1.39 | gross |
| Airport terminal — baggage claim | 20 | 1.86 | gross |
| Airport terminal — baggage handling | 300 | 27.87 | gross |
| Airport terminal — concourse | 100 | 9.29 | gross |
| Business areas (offices) | 150 | 13.94 | gross |
| Concentrated business use (call centers, trading floors; Section 1004.8) | 50 | 4.65 | gross |
| Courtrooms — other than fixed seating areas | 40 | 3.72 | net |
| Information technology equipment facilities (new in 2024) | 300 | 27.87 | gross |
| Educational — classroom area | 20 | 1.86 | net |
| Educational — shops and other vocational rooms | 50 | 4.65 | net |
| Day care | 35 | 3.25 | net |
| Exercise rooms | 50 | 4.65 | gross |
| Locker rooms | 50 | 4.65 | gross |
| Industrial areas | 100 | 9.29 | gross |
| Group H-5 fabrication and manufacturing areas | 200 | 18.58 | gross |
| Institutional — inpatient treatment areas | 240 | 22.30 | gross |
| Institutional — outpatient areas | 100 | 9.29 | gross |
| Institutional — sleeping areas | 120 | 11.15 | gross |
| Mercantile (sales floor, any story) | 60 | 5.57 | gross |
| Mercantile — storage, stock, shipping areas | 300 | 27.87 | gross |
| Residential (dwellings, apartments, hotels) | 200 | 18.58 | gross |
| Dormitories | 50 | 4.65 | gross |
| Accessory storage areas, mechanical equipment rooms | 300 | 27.87 | gross |
| Parking garages | 200 | 18.58 | gross |
| Warehouses | 500 | 46.45 | gross |
| Kitchens, commercial | 200 | 18.58 | gross |
| Agricultural buildings | 300 | 27.87 | gross |
| Aircraft hangars | 500 | 46.45 | gross |
Spaces with one exit (Table 1006.2.1)
| Occupancy | Max occupant load |
|---|---|
| A, B, E, F, M, U | 49 |
| S | 29 |
| R-2, R-3, R-4 | 20 |
| R-1 | 10 |
| I-1, I-2, I-3, I-4 | 10 |
| H-4, H-5 | 10 |
| H-1, H-2, H-3 | 3 |
Common path of egress travel limits in the same table also apply.
Exits per story and egress width
| Occupant load per story | Minimum exits |
|---|---|
| 1–500 | 2 |
| 501–1,000 | 3 |
| More than 1,000 | 4 |
Table 1006.3.3; single-exit stories follow Table 1006.3.4. Width: 0.3 in per occupant for stairways and 0.2 in for other components, or 0.2 in and 0.15 in in buildings sprinklered throughout with an emergency voice/alarm communication system (not Group H or I-2).
Quick answer
Occupant load = floor area ÷ occupant load factor, the square feet per person that IBC Table 1004.5 assigns to the space function, with any fraction rounded up to a whole person. Use gross or net area as the table specifies, and for a building with several uses add the load of each space.
Examples
| Use (IBC factor, sf) | Area | Occupant load |
|---|---|---|
| Assembly, chairs (7 net) | 1,400 sf | 200 |
| Assembly, tables (15 net) | 1,500 sf | 100 |
| Business/office (150 gross) | 6,000 sf | 40 |
| Mercantile sales floor (60 gross) | 6,000 sf | 100 |
| Classroom (20 net) | 900 sf | 45 |
| Residential (200 gross) | 2,700 sf | 14 |
| Accessory storage (300 gross) | 3,000 sf | 10 |
Pick a space function, enter the area, and add rooms or fixed seats to build a whole-floor total with exit and egress-width checks.
Summary
This planning tool calculates design occupant load using the factors in 2024 IBC Table 1004.5, which match the 2018 and 2021 editions except for the information technology equipment facilities row added in 2024. Areas can be entered in square feet or square meters. Rooms and fixed seating (Section 1004.6: one occupant per seat, 18 inches of bench or 24 inches of booth) can be added into a mixed-use total. The tool shows egress-capacity width components (with the sprinkler and voice/alarm reduction where it applies), an exit-count checkpoint per Table 1006.3.3, and the single-exit space limit per occupancy group from Table 1006.2.1, without claiming code compliance.
How it works
- Select the space function (e.g. assembly, business, mercantile); the occupancy group for the single-exit check is filled in automatically and can be changed.
- Enter the floor area in square feet or square meters, using gross or net area as the function requires.
- The calculator divides area by the Table 1004.5 factor and rounds any fraction up to a whole occupant.
- Click "Add to building total" for each room, and use the fixed-seating box for seats, benches (18 in per person) and booths (24 in per person).
- Review the egress capacity widths (0.3 in stairs / 0.2 in other, or 0.2 / 0.15 when sprinklered with an emergency voice/alarm system) and the exit-count checkpoints.
Use cases
- Determine occupant load during building permit applications.
- Total a mixed-use floor, such as a restaurant dining room, kitchen and storage, before sizing exits.
- Count fixed seats, pews and booths in an assembly space.
- Check whether a room can have a single exit door for its occupancy group.
- Estimate egress-capacity width components for early design, sprinklered or not.
- Convert a metric floor plan (m²) into an IBC occupant load.