What is Foot Traffic?
The number of people who pass by or enter a specific commercial location over a period of time.
Definition
Foot traffic (also called pedestrian traffic or visit counts) measures the volume of people visiting or passing through a commercial location. In modern CRE, foot traffic data is collected through mobile device location signals by platforms like Placer.ai, which provide visit counts, dwell times, peak hours, visitor origin, and cross-visitation patterns. Foot traffic is one of the strongest predictors of retail performance because it represents the pool of potential customers. However, raw traffic volume must be evaluated alongside traffic quality — whether visitors match the target customer profile. Key metrics include total visits, visits by day/hour, year-over-year trends, and visitor demographics. High foot traffic with declining trends is a red flag; moderate traffic with strong growth may indicate an emerging opportunity.
Example
A retail location with 45,000 monthly visits, peaking during lunch hours on weekdays, indicates strong office-driven traffic ideal for fast-casual dining concepts.
Related Terms
Learn more about foot traffic in practice
Foot Traffic Analysis Guide