The bedroom is a personal space that should be functional, comfortable and stylish. When planning a home, bedroom size is a design element that can impact your comfort, sleep quality and decor.
Whether you’re looking to build a new house or renovate your current property, average bedroom size can offer a practical reference point that will allow you to maximize value. While square footage will vary, the right dimensions can also help you design a room that is suitable for your lifestyle.
To help you, we’ve compiled this guide on the average bedroom size in the United States. From small to standard and master spaces, these bedroom sizes will help you create the perfect space in your home.
Average Bedroom Sizes
The average bedroom size is about 132 square feet. While a standard room is relatively small, the average size of a master bedroom is about 224 square feet, fitting a king bed and walk-in closet. In the United States, the most popular bedroom dimensions are 10 x 10, 10 x 11, 11 x 12 and 12 x 12. Master bedrooms come in dimensions ranging from 12 feet by 14 feet to 14 feet by 16 feet.
The United States has one of the biggest average bedroom sizes in the world, second only to Australia. This can be directly attributed to the size of American homes. On average, a home in the United States measures about 2,164 square feet. The US is slightly edged out by New Zealand, with an average home size of 2,174 square feet, and Australia, with an average home size of 2,303 square feet.
Generally speaking, a bedroom will occupy about ten percent of your home. The bigger your house, the more space you have to allocate to a bedroom. In a country like Italy, where the average home size is 872 square feet, bedrooms will be much smaller as a matter of course.
Within the United States, bedroom sizes will vary by city. In major cities like Boston and New York City, space is at a premium and that is reflected in room sizes. The bedrooms in an 866 square-foot New York City apartment will typically be much smaller than the rooms in a 2,760 square foot home in Colorado Springs.
Bedroom Sizes In American Homes
Average Master Bedroom Size
Also known as the primary bedroom or owner’s bedroom, the master is almost invariably the largest bedroom in a home. On average, a master bedroom in the United States will measure 14 feet by 16 feet, for a total area of 224 square feet. In areas with smaller homes, you can also find master bedrooms measuring 12 feet by 16 feet (or 192 square feet) or 12 feet by 14 feet (or 192 square feet).
Master bedrooms are so spacious because they tend to feature other amenities beyond the sleeping space. A large master bedroom allows you ample space for necessary items like a dresser and nightstands and gives you space to construct a walk-in closet. With enough room and the right layout, you may also be able to set up a cozy sitting area or a work-from-home space.
Average Standard Bedroom Size
On average, the standard bedroom size is about 132 square feet, making these small rooms considerably different than master bedrooms. As a result, small bedrooms tend to lack luxury features like walk-in closets and attached bathrooms. Because they are smaller in size, standard bedrooms are usually assigned to young children or teenagers, or designated as guest rooms. If your home has more bedrooms than you need, you can also convert a standard bedroom into a home office or crafting area. What standard bedrooms lack in size, they can make up for in versatility.
Average Number of Bedrooms In A Home
In the US, the average home has 3 bedrooms. The number of bedrooms in a home will depend on the total square footage and the location (city vs suburbs). While single-family homes generally have more bedrooms, apartments and condos are smaller properties with fewer rooms altogether.
The US Census Bureau can help further break down the number of bedrooms in an American home by percent. In 2020, about 39.3% of homes in the United States had three bedrooms. Two-bedroom residences were second in popularity, with a 25.7% occupancy rate. Interestingly, 45.2% of new homes constructed since 2020 have contained 4 bedrooms or more, a trend that may reflect the fact that more people are working from home these days.
Legal Building Code Requirements For Bedroom Space
While bedrooms can vary in size based on several factors, there are regulations about the minimum size of a bedroom and these guidelines are different from state to state.
While there is no unified federal building code, the International Code Council (ICC) is a great resource for overall construction guidelines. The ICC is a global hub for model standards and codes as well as building safety solutions.
This organization releases a comprehensive publication each year called the International Residential Code (IRC) that codifies a multitude of requirements that residential structures should follow. Many state and local building codes are based directly on the foundational principles established in the IBC.
While not universally adhered to, the IRC has been adopted by several states and territories within the United States, including California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, Washington and Wyoming.
If you don’t live in one of those states, your minimum bedroom size may vary. Be sure to check your local building codes to learn more about requirements in your area.
Minimum Bedroom Size
According to IRC standards, a bedroom must be at least 70 square feet with a minimum of 7 feet on one side. This minimum bedroom size means a space must measure at least 7 feet by 10 feet and specifically pertains to rooms that will only be occupied by a single person. For each additional person you add to the space, you’ll need to expand the space by an additional 50 square feet, meaning a room for two people must have at least 100 square feet of floor space.
Again, this standard applies to the states and locales that follow the rules set out by the IRC. Other areas may have different requirements. Even though the state of New York has adopted the IRC, a bedroom in New York City must be a minimum of 80 square feet, including eight feet on either side as well as an 8-foot ceiling.
Minimum Bedroom Ceiling Height
Bedroom ceiling heights as specified by the IRC are interesting, in that only one-half of the ceiling must be seven feet tall. The rest of the ceiling can be lower. Presumably, this is to accommodate spaces like attic rooms that have sloped or slanted ceilings.
How To Make A Small Bedroom Look Bigger
Choose Light Bedroom Paint Colors
When choosing paint colors for a small bedroom, you’ll want to pick light or neutral shades while staying away from deep, dark colors. To make a space feel bigger, play around with pastels or stick to classic white. There’s science behind this design trick. Light colors reflect light, which can make a space feel brighter and airier. Dark colors, on the other hand, absorb the light.
If your bedroom features trim, painting it a little lighter than your walls will create depth and trick the eye into thinking the room is larger. If you’ve settled on a pale shade like a dove gray or a blush pink, paint your trim white to create a little contrast and visually break up the space.
Use Smaller Furniture Pieces
You may love to lounge in a California king-sized bed, but large-scale furniture can overwhelm a small space and even make your bedroom difficult to navigate. Stick to a queen or full-sized bed, and look for streamlined, low-profile pieces of furniture that have a small footprint.
One clever way to maximize your small space is to use wall-mounted furniture when possible. Floating nightstands have a sleek, modern feel and they don’t take up any of your limited floor space. To avoid table lamps, you can mount wall sconces above the nightstands to keep the space from feeling cluttered.
Pick The Right Interior Design Style
If you have a small bedroom, stylish decor can help spruce up the space and create a cool and welcoming vibe. Many interior design styles are well-suited to small spaces and it’s just a matter of finding which one appeals to you most.
A simple way to make a small bedroom feel bigger is to raise the furniture off the floor as much as possible. Having that visible space underneath the furniture will give the room a sense of flow.
If you like this elevated approach, midcentury modern design is an excellent option for decor. Midcentury modern pieces are known for their clean lines and for the slim, tapered legs that lift the furniture up, making them the perfect fit for a small bedroom.
Ironically, another great way to make a small bedroom feel bigger is to keep furniture lower to the ground. If you have more of a relaxed style, a boho bedroom may appeal to you. Skip the bed frame and headboard and put your mattress on the ground, and use stools instead of tall tables for your nightstands. If you have the room, a floor pouf can create additional seating while enhancing the boho vibe.
Find Creative Storage Solutions
When you have a small bedroom, you may find that there’s a limitation on how many pieces of furniture you can comfortably fit in the space. A creative solution to limited space can be finding multifunctional furniture pieces that serve more than one purpose. When choosing a separate bed and dresser, look for a bed with storage drawers underneath where you can stash your clothing. You can also get a headboard with built-in shelving which may eliminate the need for nightstands.
Get Reflective
Many interior designers rely on mirrors to create the illusion of space in small rooms. When you look at a wall your eye stops, but when you look in a mirror, you see a reflection of the other side of the room. This tricks your brain into thinking the space is more elongated.
Mirrors also pick up natural light and reflect it around which can make a room feel bigger and brighter. Positioning a floor-length mirror opposite a window will illuminate any dark corners and make the room feel more expansive.
Reach New Heights
When people are designing spaces, they tend to focus on furniture layout. For a comprehensive approach, you’ll want to remember that vertical space can play a vital role in the design process. Drawing attention up to the ceiling can make a room feel instantly more spacious. Use a tall headboard or hang artwork above the bed to bring the eyes upward.