← All FAQs

How do I report ceiling height in UAD 3.6 when the ceilings vary?

“If a house has 8-foot ceilings in the bedrooms and a 12-foot living room, do I enter one ceiling height or several? And how do I measure a sloped or vaulted ceiling?”

Last checked: Oct 20, 2026. Guidance can change, so check the official pages linked below before relying on this.

Plain-English answer

1. Ceiling height is reported once for the whole unit, not room by room. It lives in the Unit Interior section, Interior Features table, on the “Walls and Ceiling” row. That row always shows, and the GSEs say “The information in this row applies to all walls and ceilings in the unit” [1, p. 141].
2. Yes, you can (and should) list more than one height. Field 10.045 is “Ceiling Height(s): The approximate ceiling height(s) in the unit, rounded to the nearest foot.” The allowed entry is “Choose one or more allowable answers” [1, p. 141]. The data spec lets a report carry up to six ceiling-height values per unit, one for each choice (CEILING_HEIGHT cardinality 0:6) [2, Unique ID 0700.0050]. So for the example above, you would select both 8 Ft. and 10 or more feet.

   Our reading: the GSEs don't spell out a numeric example like this one. It is our reading of “choose one or more” plus the 0:6 limit, not quoted wording.

3. The choices are: Less than 7 feet, 7 Ft., 8 Ft., 9 Ft., 10 or more feet, and 2 or more stories [1, p. 141]. “10 or more feet” means “ten or more feet but does not extend into a second story” [2, UAD Enumerations]. A room open to the floor above fits “2 or more stories.”
4. How to measure: “Ceiling height is measured at its highest point, consistent with standard measurement practice” [1, p. 141; also 3]. Round to the nearest foot [1, p. 141].
5. Ceiling style works the same way, more than one is allowed. Also field 10.045: “Ceiling Style: The style(s) of ceilings in the unit,” choose one or more of Barrel, Beams, Cathedral, Coffered, Drop, Flat, Tray, Vaulted, or Other (Describe) [1, pp. 141–142]. For any single ceiling that is not quite flat, Freddie Mac's FAQ says to pick “the style that best aligns with the predominant ceiling shape,” and use Other with a description if nothing fits [3]. So: one best-fit style per ceiling, but select every style that is present in the unit.
6. Both fields are always required. Height and style are “Always required” [1, p. 141].
7. Low or odd ceilings may also belong elsewhere. If ceiling heights “do not meet the typical market standards, and / or impact the livability of the dwelling,” the Functional Obsolescence section has a “Ceiling Height” functional issue (field 11.000), with commentary on the impact [1, pp. 149–150].
8. In your software: the screens differ by vendor, but the official spec allows multiple values. If your form only lets you pick one, ask your vendor. We haven't checked any vendor's screen.

Sources

• [1] Fannie Mae / Freddie Mac, UAD Specification Appendix F-1: URAR Reference Guide, v1.4, March 10, 2026. Chapter 10 Unit Interior, “Walls and Ceiling,” fields 10.044–10.048 (pp. 141–142); Chapter 11 Functional Obsolescence, field 11.000 (pp. 149–150). Official. Download (zip), linked from Freddie Mac's UAD page
• [2] Fannie Mae / Freddie Mac, Appendix A-1: URAR Delivery Specification, v1.4, March 10, 2026. Sheet “UAD Delivery Spec 1.4”: CEILING_HEIGHT, cardinality 0:6 (Unique ID 0700.0050); CEILING_STYLE, cardinality 0:12 (0700.0108). Sheet “UAD Enumerations” for value definitions. Official. Download (xlsx)
• [3] Freddie Mac UAD 3.6 FAQ, “If a ceiling isn't completely flat or has minor slopes or varying pitches…” Official. https://sf.freddiemac.com/faqs/uad-and-forms-redesign
• [4] AppraisersForum, “UAD 3.6 ceiling height question.” Appraiser discussion, not official; background only. Its “report them all” view matches [1] and [2]. https://appraisersforum.com/forums/threads/uad-3-6-ceiling-height-question.243237/

Limits. Not legal advice. Lender and client instructions control. This covers how to report only. It gives no advice on value or fees. Software screens differ by vendor.