Storey vs. Floor — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 6, 2024
Storey refers to any level part of a building with a floor, whereas floor is the surface of a room on which one stands.
Difference Between Storey and Floor
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Storey and floor are terms often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings in the context of buildings. A storey is a level part of a building that has a floor and possibly a ceiling above another floor level, serving as a unit of measure for the height of buildings. It includes all rooms, corridors, and spaces at that level, whereas a floor specifically refers to the surface of a room or space on which one stands and moves. It's the actual physical layer that separates different levels of a building.
When counting the total number of levels in a building, we use the term storey. This includes all habitable spaces, as well as basements and attics if they are designed for human occupancy. On the other hand, when referring to the surface on which furniture, carpeting, or people are directly placed, we use the term floor. This distinction helps in architectural and real estate discussions, where the overall structure of a building is discussed using storeys, and interior design or construction details refer to floors.
In terms of construction, a single storey may contain one or more floors, depending on the design of the building. For example, a mezzanine or loft within a storey would add an additional floor without increasing the storey count. Conversely, the ground floor is always the first floor in American English, but in British English, the floor at ground level is the ground floor, and the next one up is the first floor, illustrating how the usage of these terms can vary by region.
The terms are also used differently in various types of buildings. In residential settings, storey often refers to the levels including living spaces, whereas in commercial buildings, floor usage can be more specific, referring to tenant spaces within a particular storey. This differentiation is important for real estate listings, architectural plans, and legal documents, where precise language is necessary.
In emergency situations, the distinction between storey and floor becomes crucial for safety communications. Emergency responders use storeys to understand the overall structure of a building for navigation and planning, while floor indications help in locating specific areas or people within those storeys. This distinction ensures clarity in communication, which is vital in critical situations.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A level part of a building, counting all its rooms and spaces.
The surface in a building on which one stands.
Usage
Used to describe the vertical levels of a building.
Used to refer to the physical surface within a building space.
Counting
Indicates the total number of levels in a building.
Refers specifically to the walking surface of a particular level.
In Construction
May encompass multiple floors (like mezzanines).
Refers to a single, flat surface area.
Regional Differences
Consistent in meaning, but numbering may vary (ground floor vs. first floor).
Generally consistent, but implications vary in real estate and architecture.
Compare with Definitions
Storey
Includes all rooms and spaces on a particular level.
The second storey contains both the kitchen and living room.
Floor
The surface of a room on which people stand.
The floor was covered in beautiful hardwood.
Storey
A level of a building.
The library is located on the third storey.
Floor
Directly supports furniture and occupants.
The dance floor was packed with people.
Storey
Can have multiple floors within it.
The loft adds another floor to the existing storey.
Floor
Refers to the actual construction layer separating levels.
We need to replace the tiles on the kitchen floor.
Storey
Used in architectural and real estate contexts.
The plans show a building with six storeys.
Floor
Important in interior design and construction.
They chose a vinyl floor for the bathroom renovation.
Storey
A division used to measure building height.
The new skyscraper has 50 storeys.
Floor
A specific level within a building when referring to the ground on which one stands.
Her apartment is on the fourth floor.
Storey
A storey (British English) or story (American English) is any level part of a building with a floor that could be used by people (for living, work, storage, recreation, etc.). Plurals for the word are storeys (UK) and stories (US).
Floor
The body of assembly members
A motion from the floor.
Storey
A part of a building comprising all the rooms that are on the same level
A three-storey building
Floor
A floor is the bottom surface of a room or vehicle. Floors vary from simple dirt in a cave to many-layered surfaces made with modern technology.
Storey
Variant of story2.
Floor
The surface of a room on which one stands.
Storey
A floor or level of a building or ship.
For superstitious reasons, many buildings number their 13th storey as 14, bypassing 13 entirely.
A multi-storey car park
Floor
The lower or supporting surface of a structure.
Storey
(typography) A vertical level in certain letters, such as a and g.
The IPA symbol for a voiced velar stop is the single-storey 10px, not the double-storey 10px.
Floor
A story or level of a building.
Storey
(obsolete) A building; an edifice.
Floor
The occupants of such a story
The entire floor complained about the noise.
Storey
See Story.
Floor
A level surface or area used for a specified purpose
A dance floor.
A threshing floor.
Storey
Structure consisting of a room or set of rooms comprising a single level of a multilevel building;
What level is the office on?
Floor
(Basketball) The court viewed as the playing area for taking free throws, in contrast to the foul line
The forwards made only six shots from the floor.
Floor
The surface of a structure on which vehicles travel.
Floor
The part of a legislative chamber or meeting hall where members are seated and from which they speak.
Floor
The right to address an assembly, as granted under parliamentary procedure.
Floor
The area of an exchange where securities are traded.
Floor
The part of a retail store in which merchandise is displayed and sales are made.
Floor
The area of a factory where the product is manufactured or assembled.
Floor
The ground or lowermost surface, as of a forest or ocean.
Floor
A lower limit or base
A pricing floor.
A bidding floor.
Floor
To provide with a floor.
Floor
(Informal) To press (the accelerator of a motor vehicle) to the floor.
Floor
To knock down.
Floor
To stun; overwhelm
The very idea floored me.
Floor
The interior bottom or surface of a house or building; the supporting surface of a room.
The room has a wooden floor.
Floor
Ground (surface of the Earth, as opposed to the sky or water or underground).
Floor
The lower inside surface of a hollow space.
Many sunken ships rest on the ocean floor.
The floor of a cave served the refugees as a home.
The pit floor showed where a ring of post holes had been.
Floor
A structure formed of beams, girders, etc, with proper covering, which divides a building horizontally into storeys/stories.
Floor
The supporting surface or platform of a structure such as a bridge.
Wooden planks of the old bridge's floor were nearly rotten.
Floor
A storey/story of a building.
For years we lived on the third floor.
Floor
In a parliament, the part of the house assigned to the members, as opposed to the viewing gallery.
Floor
Hence, the right to speak at a given time during a debate or other public event.
Will the senator from Arizona yield the floor?
The mayor often gives a lobbyist the floor.
Floor
(nautical) That part of the bottom of a vessel on each side of the keelson which is most nearly horizontal.
Floor
(mining) A horizontal, flat ore body; the rock underlying a stratified or nearly horizontal deposit.
Floor
(mining) The bottom of a pit, pothole or mine.
Floor
(mathematics) The largest integer less than or equal to a given number.
The floor of 4.5 is 4.
Floor
(gymnastics) An event performed on a floor-like carpeted surface; floor exercise
Floor
(gymnastics) A floor-like carpeted surface for performing gymnastic movements.
Floor
(finance) A lower limit on the interest rate payable on an otherwise variable-rate loan, used by lenders to defend against falls in interest rates. Opposite of a cap.
Floor
A dance floor.
Floor
The trading floor of a stock exchange, pit; the area in which business is conducted at a convention or exhibition.
Floor
(transitive) To cover or furnish with a floor.
Floor a house with pine boards
Floor
To strike down or lay level with the floor; to knock down.
Floor
To hang (a picture on exhibition) near the base of a wall, where it cannot easily be seen.
Floor
To push (a pedal) down to the floor, especially to accelerate.
Our driver floored the pedal
Floor
To silence by a conclusive answer or retort.
Floor an opponent
Floor
To amaze or greatly surprise.
We were floored by his confession.
Floor
To finish or make an end of.
Floor a college examination
Floor
(mathematics) To set a lower bound.
Floored division
Floor
The bottom or lower part of any room; the part upon which we stand and upon which the movables in the room are supported.
Floor
The structure formed of beams, girders, etc., with proper covering, which divides a building horizontally into stories. Floor in sense 1 is, then, the upper surface of floor in sense 2.
Floor
The surface, or the platform, of a structure on which we walk or travel; as, the floor of a bridge.
Floor
A story of a building. See Story.
Floor
The part of the house assigned to the members.
Floor
That part of the bottom of a vessel on each side of the keelson which is most nearly horizontal.
Floor
The rock underlying a stratified or nearly horizontal deposit.
Floor
To cover with a floor; to furnish with a floor; as, to floor a house with pine boards.
Floor
To strike down or lay level with the floor; to knock down; hence, to silence by a conclusive answer or retort; as, to floor an opponent.
Floored or crushed by him.
Floor
To finish or make an end of; as, to floor a college examination.
I've floored my little-go work.
Floor
The inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room or hallway);
They needed rugs to cover the bare floors
Floor
Structure consisting of a room or set of rooms comprising a single level of a multilevel building;
What level is the office on?
Floor
A lower limit;
The government established a wage floor
Floor
The ground on which people and animals move about;
The fire spared the forest floor
Floor
The bottom surface of any a cave or lake etc.
Floor
The occupants of a floor;
The whole floor complained about the lack of heat
Floor
The parliamentary right to address an assembly;
The chairman granted him the floor
Floor
The legislative hall where members debate and vote and conduct other business;
There was a motion from the floor
Floor
A large room in a stock exchange where the trading is done;
He is a floor trader
Floor
Surprise greatly; knock someone's socks off;
I was floored when I heard that I was promoted
Floor
Knock down with force;
He decked his opponent
Common Curiosities
Can a single storey have more than one floor?
Yes, a single storey can have multiple floors, such as a loft or mezzanine within it.
How does floor differ from storey?
Floor refers to the physical surface on which one stands within a building, whereas a storey refers to the entire level, including all its rooms and spaces.
How are storeys counted in a building?
Storeys are counted by the number of levels within a building, including basements and attics if they're designed for human use.
What is a storey in a building?
A storey is any level part of a building that includes rooms and spaces designated for occupancy or use.
Is the ground floor the same as the first floor?
In American English, the ground floor is the same as the first floor, but in British English, the ground floor is at street level, and the first floor is the next level up.
Does the meaning of floor and storey vary internationally?
The basic definitions don't vary, but the numbering system (ground floor vs. first floor) can vary between regions.
Do all buildings have the same number of floors and storeys?
No, the number of floors and storeys can vary depending on the building's design and structure.
Why is the distinction between storey and floor important?
The distinction is important for architectural, real estate, and safety communications to ensure clarity and precision.
Are there legal implications in the differentiation between storey and floor?
Yes, especially in real estate transactions and building codes, where precise definitions affect compliance and valuation.
Can a building have multiple floors but be considered a single storey?
Yes, if it includes split levels or mezzanines within one vertical space, it may still be considered a single storey.
Why might a building's storey count not match its floor count?
This could be due to design features like mezzanines or split levels that add floors without increasing the storey count.
How do emergency responders use the terms storey and floor?
Responders use storeys to understand the building's structure for navigation, while floor indications help locate specific areas or people.
What role does floor play in interior design?
The floor is crucial in interior design for aesthetic, functional, and safety considerations within a space.
How do architectural plans differentiate between storey and floor?
Plans specify storeys to indicate building levels and use floor to detail the layout and materials of those levels.
How does the definition of floor affect building maintenance?
Maintenance plans must account for the specific materials and usage of floors to ensure safety and durability.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
