die  Wohnfläche

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈvoːnˌflɛçə/

🏠 What exactly is 'die Wohnfläche'?

The German term die Wohnfläche refers to the sum of the calculated floor areas of rooms belonging exclusively to a dwelling. It's a central concept in German real estate and rental law, often serving as the basis for calculating rent, utility costs, or purchase prices.

Typically included in the Wohnfläche are:

• Living rooms, bedrooms, children's rooms, dining rooms
• Kitchens
• Bathrooms and toilets
• Hallways within the apartment
• Storage rooms within the apartment
• Conservatories (heated) and swimming pools (if fully enclosed)

⚠️ Often not included, or only partially included, are:

• Balconies, loggias, terraces (usually 25% or 50%)
• Basement rooms, attics (unheated), garages
• Stairs with more than three steps
• Rooms with a ceiling height under 2 meters (partially counted between 1 and 2 meters, not counted below 1 meter according to the Wohnflächenverordnung - WoFlV)

The exact calculation can be complex and is often regulated by the Wohnflächenverordnung (WoFlV) or according to DIN standards (e.g., DIN 277), with the WoFlV being primarily used in social housing and often applied in the free market as well.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar: Feminine and (almost) always singular

The word Wohnfläche is a feminine noun. Therefore, the article is die.

It's a compound noun formed from wohnen (verb: to live/dwell) or Wohnung (noun: apartment/dwelling) and Fläche (noun: area/surface). Since the base word Fläche is feminine (die Fläche), Wohnfläche is also feminine.

Singular Declension

Note on the plural: The plural form die Wohnflächen is rarely used because one usually talks about the total area of a *single* unit. It might appear when summing up or comparing the separate living areas of multiple apartments or buildings, but it's uncommon in everyday usage.

Example Sentences

1. Die Wohnfläche dieser Wohnung beträgt 85 Quadratmeter.
   (The living area of this apartment is 85 square meters.)
2. Bei der Berechnung der Wohnfläche wurden die Balkone nur anteilig berücksichtigt.
   (In the calculation of the living area, the balconies were only partially included.)
3. Der Mietpreis richtet sich nach der Wohnfläche.
   (The rent is based on the living area.)
4. Wir suchen eine Wohnung mit einer Wohnfläche von mindestens 100 m².
   (We are looking for an apartment with a living area of at least 100 m².)

📐 When and how to use 'die Wohnfläche'?

The term die Wohnfläche is primarily relevant in the following contexts:

• Real estate listings: Specifying the size of an apartment or house for sale or rent.
• Rental agreements: The Wohnfläche is often the basis for the rent amount and the allocation of utility costs (Nebenkosten). Discrepancies can lead to rent reductions.
• Building planning and architecture: Calculating and documenting the habitable areas of a building.
• Insurance: Sometimes relevant for calculating insurance premiums (e.g., home contents insurance).

Distinction from similar terms

• Nutzfläche (Usable floor area): Includes *all* usable areas of a building, such as basements, attics, hallways outside the apartment, boiler rooms, garages, etc. The Wohnfläche is a subset of the Nutzfläche.
• Grundfläche (Floor area / Footprint): Refers to the area a building occupies on the property (built area) or the total area of a room without considering deductions for sloped ceilings etc.
• Brutto-Grundfläche (Gross floor area - BGF): Includes the total floor area of all levels of a building, including construction areas (walls etc.).

🚨 Be cautious, as listings sometimes use imprecise terms. In contracts, the exact definition and calculation method (e.g., according to WoFlV) are crucial!

🧠 Mnemonics for Wohnfläche

For the article (die): Think of die Fläche (the area/surface). Many German nouns ending in "-äche" are feminine (die Fläche, die Sprache). Since Wohnfläche fits this pattern, it's die Wohnfläche.

For the meaning: Imagine you wohnen (live/dwell) on a certain Fläche (area). It's the space where your living happens, not the basement or garage. So: Wohnen + Fläche = Living Area (Wohnfläche).

🔄 Similar and Opposing Terms

⚠️ Be careful with terms like Grundfläche or Nutzfläche in advertisements – they might represent a larger area than the actual Wohnfläche which is relevant for rent calculation.

😂 A Little Joke

(DE) Fragt der Vermieter den neuen Mieter: "Und, sind Sie mit der Wohnfläche zufrieden?" Antwortet der Mieter: "Naja, die Fläche ist okay, aber das Wohnen darauf ist etwas hart... ich glaube, Sie haben den Teppich vergessen!"

(EN) The landlord asks the new tenant: "So, are you satisfied with the Wohnfläche (living area)?" The tenant replies: "Well, the Fläche (area) is okay, but the Wohnen (living) on it is a bit hard... I think you forgot the carpet!"

📜 Square Meter Poetry

(DE)
Die Wohnfläche, klar definiert,
Quadratmeter, fein sortiert.
Wo Leben spielt und Freude lacht,
Ist sie die Basis, gut bedacht.
Vom Amt geeicht, im Plan gezählt,
Was wirklich zur Behausung fehlt,
Ist nicht dabei, nur was man nutzt,
Wo man sich räkelt und verputzt.

(EN Translation)
The living space, clearly defined,
Square meters, finely assigned.
Where life unfolds and laughter rings,
It is the base, well-thought-out things.
Measured by rules, counted in plan,
What's truly missing from the span,
Is not included, just what's used,
Where one relaxes and feels amused.

🤔 Little Riddle

(DE)
Ich messe Raum, doch bin kein Maßband breit.
Ich steh' im Vertrag, zur Mietenszeit.
Mal fehlt der Balkon, mal zählt er nur halb,
Bin wichtig beim Kauf, schon anderthalb.

Was bin ich? (Lösung: die Wohnfläche)

(EN Translation)
I measure space, but am not a measuring tape wide.
I stand in the contract, at rental tide.
Sometimes the balcony's missing, sometimes counts as half,
I'm important when buying, more than enough.

What am I?
(Answer: die Wohnfläche / the living area)

🧩 Other Information

Word Composition

Wohnfläche is a compound noun:

• wohnen (verb stem) / Wohn- (determining part): Relates to dwelling, living in a space.
• Fläche (base word): Refers to a two-dimensional extent, an area or surface.

The base word Fläche determines the gender (feminine) of the entire compound word.

Calculation Trivia

The precise calculation of the Wohnfläche can be tricky. Did you know that according to the German WoFlV regulation, chimneys, wall projections, or free-standing pillars with a footprint of more than 0.1 m² must be deducted? Or that niches below a certain depth might not count? Details matter!