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Created on 28.11.2023

Cubature: how is building volume calculated?

“Cubature” means building volume. Alongside living space and the number of rooms, cubature is an important measurement in the valuation of a property. How is it calculated?

Cubature = cubic metre specification (X m³)

The word cubature comes from the Latin word cubus (cube). Naturally, it isn’t only calculated for cube-shaped or rectangular houses; cubature can also be calculated for circular structures.

The basic calculation is length x width x height or, for non-right-angled outlines, floor plan x height.

The results of cubature calculations are always given in cubic metres (X m³).

If floors have different outlines, the volumes must be calculated individually and added together. Slants and slopes must also be taken into account.

Example of a cubature calculation

FloorDimensions (L x W x H)Volumes
Floor
Basement
 Dimensions (L x W x H)
10 x 8 x 2.7
 Volumes
216 m³
Floor
Ground floor
 Dimensions (L x W x H)
10 x 8 x 2.7
 Volumes
216 m³
Floor
Upper floor
 Dimensions (L x W x H)
10 x 8 x 2.7
 Volumes
216 m³
Floor
Attic (with gabled roof)
 Dimensions (L x W x H)
(10 x 8 x 2.0) +2
 Volumes
162 m³
Floor
Total building volume
 Dimensions (L x W x H)
none
 Volumes
810 m³

What counts towards the building volume?

The building volume is the sum of

  • Net volumes: “air volumes” in the building
  • Construction volumes: volumes of all building components (walls, floors, ceilings, roofs etc.)

Applicable to this are the dimensions from exterior wall to exterior wall and from the bottom of the cellar to the top of the roof.

But what is considered part of the building? First, the main building or main body of the building; secondly, any additional constructions:

Main building

  • Basement
  • Ground and upper floors
  • Roof incl. dormers

All these are included in the calculation, regardless of whether or not they are usable/habitable spaces (e.g. in the attic).

Additional constructions

Additional constructions are anything built directly onto the main building and enclosed on more than two sides, such as:

  • Garages
  • Car ports
  • Covered seating areas
  • Sheds
  • Sheltered areas
  • Conservatories
  • Covered entrances

These are not counted in the building volume

  • Open terraces, balconies
  • Open-air spaces (e.g. open-air roof terraces and entrance halls)
  • Chimneys
  • Outdoor steps
  • Outdoor ramps
  • Installation shafts
  • Free-standing additional constructions
The image shows a house with the elements counted in the building volume coloured green, i.e. basement, ground floor, upper floor and attic. The elements of the house not counted in the building volume are coloured red, i.e. the balcony and the open-air terrace.
The cubature is the building volume in m³.

Questions and answers

  • The regulations for calculating building volume are set out in SIA standard 416 “Areas and volumes of buildings”. This standard came into effect in 2003. It simplified and replaced the now superseded SIA standard 116.

  • Usually, the cubature can be found on the building insurance certificate or the blueprints. Don’t have the building insurance certificate to hand? An electronic excerpt can be ordered from your cantonal building insurance office. One exception: in the Canton of Aargau, the cubature is no longer given for new assessments.

  • Anyone who owns property in Switzerland must usually take out building insurance in case of fire and other natural hazards. Exceptions are the Cantons of GE, TI and VS, where insurance is voluntary.

    Cubature is the key measurement for calculating the building insurance value. This is the amount you would receive from the building insurance company if your house had to be rebuilt – for example, after a fire. It is usually based on the replacement value.

  • To calculate the building insurance value, the cubature is multiplied by a factor that varies depending on the quality of the building.

  • The two values have nothing to do with each other and can differ greatly. The building insurance value is purely a building value and relates only to the materials and construction costs. Determining the market value is very different: this is impacted by the features and quality of the building as well as the land value, location and many other factors.

More on the subject

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