Are you trying to figure out how big a one-bedroom apartment you need? Generally speaking, a 1-bedroom apartment should be at least 450 square feet. Anything less than that is usually considered a studio apartment.
By way of example, a 2 car garage in a house is about 400 square feet so having something a little larger than that makes sense.
Anything upwards of 700 square feet is generally considered a large 1 Bedroom Apartment. 1,000 square feet would be a very large 1-bedroom.
The average one-bedroom size is probably around 600 square feet. As a rule of thumb, the nearer a community is to the central business district (i.e. downtown), the smaller a 1-bedroom apartment usually becomes.
Of course two bedroom apartments should be much larger.
How Much Do I Pay for a 1-Bedroom Apartment?
The rent you pay for a 1-bedroom apartment will depend on a raft of factors including location, size of the apartment, and amenities included. A larger 1-bedroom apartment will have more space which means it might cost a little more. If the apartment is in an older building or further away from the core of downtown or the urban market, then you may be able to get a good deal for more space.
If you rent in the heart of a big city, you can expect to find smaller apartments that will cost you more than in areas further away from the central business district. This is because you are paying for the convenience of the area from reducing commute times to work to easy access to public transport to bustling eating and drinking precincts within walking distance.
How to Decide What Size 1-Bedroom Works Best for You?
Reasons for more size:
If one or more of the following are true, you may want to opt for a larger 1 bedroom apartment (all else being equal)
- Two or more people living in apartment
- Plan to have children or expand family
- Entertain often
- Need additional storage
- Want a larger kitchen
- Need extra room for a study or office
Reasons for less size:
All things being equal, you may be able to opt for a smaller 1 bedroom apartment if one or more of the following is true:
- Just 1 occupant (you) and/or significant other
- Do not have a lot of stuff
- Do not cook a lot
- Do not work from home
- Do not plan to expand family
How to Find Out How Large a 1-Bedroom Apartment Is?
In most instances, the property listing will have the apartment size listed in the description. But if this is not readily available (which happens sometimes), your best bet is to pick up the phone and call the landlord or listing agent to find out this information.
If pictures of the apartment layout are not available online, get some information about what it contains so you can make an informed decision on whether to tour it or not.
It’s always best to get this information before scheduling an apartment tour so you know what to expect without any surprises. If it doesn’t fit into your lifestyle needs, then you don’t need to waste time planning a tour in the first place. When you do tour the apartment, find out how the size of the apartment your touring compares to the apartment that you would actually live in, as apartment complexes typically have different floor plans and layouts, and the model apartment might be different from the apartment you will be living in.
Summary
A one bedroom apartment should be at least 450 square feet. Anything upwards of 700 square feet is generally considered a large 1 bedroom. 1,000 square feet would be a very large one bedroom.
The closer you are to a central business district (i.e. downtown), the smaller a one bedroom usually becomes.
Keep in mind your lifestyle, such as how many people are living in the apartment, need for storage, need for an extra room for a study or how office will impact how large of a 1 bedroom you need.
At Fidelity Management, our 1 bedroom Northeast Philadelphia apartments start around 780 square feet and some of them are as large as 874 square feet. If you are looking for a 1 bedroom apartment for rent in Northeast Philadelphia, give us a call and check out our range of floor plans.
