Storeys of a building
The British English word ‘storey’ (plural storeys) and the American English ‘story’ (plural stories) refer to a level element of a building that has a useable floor. The term may be used interchangeably with ‘floor’, ‘level’, or ‘deck’; however, it is usual for a building to be described as a ’ten-storey building’ while the individual storey may be referred to as the ‘tenth floor’.
‘Storey’ tends to exclude building levels that are not covered by a roof, such as a roof terrace. It is also not used to refer to the street level floor which is typically called the ‘ground floor’.
Most houses are two-storeys, while bungalows are single-storey. A multi-storey building is a building that has multiple storeys, and typically contains vertical circulation in the form of ramps, stairs and lifts.
Buildings can be classified by the number of storeys they have.
- A low-rise building is one which is not tall enough to be classified as mid-rise.
- Mid-rise buildings have five to ten storeys and are equipped with lifts.
- High-rise buildings are considered to have more than 7-10 storeys.
- Skyscrapers have 40 storeys or more.
- Super-slender buildings are pencil-thin and of 50-90+ storeys.
Storey heights tend to be based on the ceiling height of the rooms in addition to the floor thickness. They are commonly 3 to 4.5 m, but can vary significantly depending on the room type. Storey heights can also vary throughout a building.
Approved document B, Fire Safety, Volume 2, Buildings other than dwellinghouses (2019 edition), suggest that a 'storey' Includes any of the following:
NOTE: The building is regarded as a multi-storey building if both of the following apply. |
The Scottish Building Standards, Part I. Technical Handbook – Domestic, Appendix A Defined Terms, define a storey as: ‘…that part of a building which is situated between the top of any floor being the lowest floor level within the storey and the top of the floor next above it being the highest floor level within the storey or, if there is no floor above it, between the top of the floor and the ceiling above it or, if there is no ceiling above it, the internal surface of the roof; and for this purpose a gallery or catwalk, or an openwork floor or storage racking, shall be considered to be part of the storey in which it is situated.’
See also: Roof terraces and higher-risk buildings in relation to the definition of 7-storeys for higher risk buildings.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
The Architectural Technology podcast: Where it's AT
Catch up for free, subscribe and share with your network.
The Association of Consultant Architects recap
A reintroduction and recap of ACA President; Patrick Inglis' Autumn update.
The Home Energy Model and its wrappers
From SAP to HEM, EPC for MEES and FHS assessment wrappers.
Future Homes Standard Essentials launched
Future Homes Hub launches new campaign to help sector prepare for the implementation of new building standards.
Building Safety recap February, 2026
Our regular run-down of key building safety related events of the month.
Planning reform: draft NPPF and industry responses.
Last chance to comment on proposed changes to the NPPF.
A Regency palace of colour and sensation. Book review.
Delayed, derailed and devalued
How the UK’s planning crisis is undermining British manufacturing.
How much does it cost to build a house?
A brief run down of key considerations from a London based practice.
The need for a National construction careers campaign
Highlighted by CIOB to cut unemployment, reduce skills gap and deliver on housing and infrastructure ambitions.
AI-Driven automation; reducing time, enhancing compliance
Sustainability; not just compliance but rethinking design, material selection, and the supply chains to support them.
Climate Resilience and Adaptation In the Built Environment
New CIOB Technical Information Sheet by Colin Booth, Professor of Smart and Sustainable Infrastructure.
Turning Enquiries into Profitable Construction Projects
Founder of Develop Coaching and author of Building Your Future; Greg Wilkes shares his insights.
IHBC Signpost: Poetry from concrete
Scotland’s fascinating historic concrete and brutalist architecture with the Engine Shed.
Demonstrating that apprenticeships work for business, people and Scotland’s economy.
Scottish parents prioritise construction and apprenticeships
CIOB data released for Scottish Apprenticeship Week shows construction as top potential career path.
From a Green to a White Paper and the proposal of a General Safety Requirement for construction products.
Creativity, conservation and craft at Barley Studio. Book review.
The challenge as PFI agreements come to an end
How construction deals with inherited assets built under long-term contracts.
Skills plan for engineering and building services
Comprehensive industry report highlights persistent skills challenges across the sector.
Choosing the right design team for a D&B Contract
An architect explains the nature and needs of working within this common procurement route.
Statement from the Interim Chief Construction Advisor
Thouria Istephan; Architect and inquiry panel member outlines ongoing work, priorities and next steps.