Redefining “Enough Space” – Average House Size Around The World
How big is your house? Is it big enough? Is there an optimum house square footage of space per person? This post takes a look at the average house size around the world and asks how much space is enough.
The New York Times published a piece about Graham Hill’s 420 square-foot (39 square-metre) apartment in which he argued that having less space and less stuff can create room in your life for more important things (remarkably this figure is close to Hong Kong and India’s average house size).
From a carbon emissions point of view you got the feeling that his travel habit probably negated much of the benefits of having less stuff (as pointed out byChristie Aschwanden). But that aside it raised an interesting question: how much square footage is enough space for a house? Below we compiled figures from different statistical sources that include CommSec, RBA, UN, US Census, European Housing 2002, European Housing 2002, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canadian Home Builders Association, Infometrics, and the Japan Statistical Yearbook.
A few caveats. First, one caveat is that many of the figures are from surveys of self-reported house sizes. This means figures could be unreliable due to the way people report numbers. Second, almost certainly we are mixing apartments and free-standing dwellings. Third, there will no doubt be great regional variation within a country for example the US is a huge country with differences from state-to-state. Nevertheless this is reasonable as a picture using a broad brush stroke. We also cover the contributors to the carbon footprint of a house here if you’re interested.
Average House Size By Country
If you asked all the people of the world whether they would prefer a bigger or smaller house I’d guess almost everyone would plump for more square footage. That makes perfect sense for people living in small and overcrowded spaces, but is there a point at which we have enough space?
To get a little perspective I’ve put together a graphic to illustrate how big the average new home is around the world. The figures are in square footage of usable floor space, and include data for both houses and flats.
In the countries I could get data for the average new home varied in size from 45 m2 (484 ft2) in Hong Kong up to214 m2(2,303 ft2) in Australia.
The average house size in the US was 225 m2(2426 ft2) in 2017. The average house size in the UK is relatively small at76 m2(818 ft2) while the average house size in Canada is quite big at 181m2(1,948 ft2). For China the data only reflects urban properties, which now average 60m2(646 ft2)and have almost doubled in size in the last 15 years.
The same information, updated with new sources of information is given in this table below, conveniently given house sizes in different countries using both square feet and converted to equivalent square meters as a measure of the house area.
Average US House Size Has Been Increasing Over Last 50 Years
In the US, the average house size has been increasing since the 1970s. The peak was actually in 2015 at 2467 sq ft (229 sq meters) and then it dropped slightly over the next two years. Here we show a chart of the trend over time up to 2017. New data from 2021 indicate that things haven’t changed much – the average house size was 2,273 sq ft which still puts it below the 2015 peak.
Still, one thing for sure is that larger houses demand more heating and cooling. Unless increased demands are offset by gains in efficiency or renewable sources, we will see greater carbon emissions from residential energy needs. One thing to note – house sizes change slowly. In a span of 10 years, the average increased from 2250 to 2400 sq ft for the US.
There are other ways to mitigate both heating and cooling demands. These include better insulation, and better heating and cooling technology. On ShrinkThatFootprint we cover ways to reduce heating and cooling demands.
Average House Square Footage Of Floor Space Per Person
There are all sorts of reasons for these differences. Wealth levels,urbanization rates, land access and climate all play a part. Nonethelessthe scale of the differences is pretty fascinating. The thing that is really missing from this picture is people. We can take our analysis a little further by looking at how much floor space this equates to per person.
Using data on average household size we can estimate floor space per inhabitant for new homes. This analysis is a bit rough and ready, as it assumes new homes are being built for the averagehousehold. Nonetheless it is useful because it helps to control for the considerable differences in household size between countries.
Here are the figures in square-meters.
At just 15 m2(161 ft2) a person in Hong Kong has just a quarter of the floor space of the average Australian or American.
The Graham Hill House Is Not So Remarkable In Certain Countries
If Graham Hill lives by himself then his trendy 39m2(420 ft2) is similar to someone from Sweden. In fact in the range from 30-45m2(323-484 ft2) are the averages for Italy, the UK, Japan, Spain, Sweden, France and Greece.
At our place we have 110 m2(1,184 ft2) for a family of four, which is27 m2(291 ft2) per person. Having previously lived in a few different flats of 50-60 m2as a couple this feels pretty palatial, and is certainly more than enough for us. But 30 m2per person is much more generous in a four person family than it is in a studio apartment for one.
In London they have a new minimum space standard as part of the London Plan. For new flats the minimum standards are 37m2(398 ft2)for one person, 50 m2(538 ft2)for two people in one bedroom, 61 m2(657 ft2) for three people with two bedrooms, 70m2(753 ft2) for four people in two bedrooms and74 m2(797 ft2) for four people in three bedrooms. Are these enough space?
In my mind if you have decent ceiling heights, good windows, clever storage and not too much stuff a little space can go a long way.
Smaller Houses Take Less Energy To Build And Keep Habitable
A smaller home requires less embodiedenergy to build, has lower heating and cooling needs, needs fewer furnishings, takes less time to maintain and requires less work to fund.
In terms of carbon emissions small is beautiful. But how small is too small?
How much space do you think is enough?
Sources Of Data
There is no uniform source of data on house sizes.
Most data was curated from a select number of sources: Japan Statistical Yearbook, European Housing 2002, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canadian Home Builders Association, Infometrics, US Census.
Data for India was obtained from a 2008 India Times article that cited a figure from a government report National Sample Survey Organization.
Lindsay Wilson
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I founded Shrink That Footprint in November 2012, after a long period of research.For many years I have calculated, studied and worked with carbon footprints, and Shrink That Footprint is that interest come to life.
I have an Economics degree fromUCL, have previously worked as an energy efficiency analyst atBNEFand continue to work as a strategy consultant atManeas. I have consulted to numerous clients in energy and finance, as well as the World Economic Forum.
When I’m not crunching carbon footprints you’ll often find me helping my two year old son tend to the tomatoes, salad and peppers growing in our upcycled greenhouse.
On average, many realtors and interior designers estimate that in 2022, given the possessions and lifestyle expectations of modern Americans, you should aim for about 400 to 600 square feet per person. To find out how big of a house you need, multiply 600 square feet by the number of people in your household.
On average, many realtors and interior designers estimate that in 2022, given the possessions and lifestyle expectations of modern Americans, you should aim for about 400 to 600 square feet per person. To find out how big of a house you need, multiply 600 square feet by the number of people in your household.
The median size of homes across the United States is 2,014 square feet. However, this number varies significantly depending on where you live. For example, while the average home size in Colorado is about 2,500 square feet, the average home size in New York is only about 1,500 square feet, or 1,000 sq ft less.
Australia. Australia is the leading nation with an average of 2,032 square feet. The construction of large houses in the country is attributed to limited land supplies and housing affordability. ...
United States. The United States is second in house size by country. ...
In 1949, the typical single-family home was just 909 square feet—by 2021, it had shot up to 2,480 square feet. While U.S. homes are getting larger on the whole, they still vary drastically depending on the location.
You may get a spacious living room as well as three bedrooms apartments and two bathrooms in a 1200 square feet apartment. This offers plenty of living space for a family without feeling cramped.
How big is 1,500 square feet, really? It's about the size of three two-car garages. You usually get three bedrooms, enough to stretch out for an office and a guest room or to care for your small family.
But over the course of the 20th century, government policy, the invention of cheaper, mass-produced building materials, marketing by home builders, and a shift in how people regarded their houses—not just as homes, but as financial assets—encouraged ever larger houses.
Although the size of the average American home has grown bigger and bigger, household sizes have actually decreased. That means most of us are living large with fewer people.
The average number of occupants in each home fell, while the average size of a new single-family home ballooned - from just 909 square feet in 1949 to 2,480 square feet in 2021.
So, what truly gives a home mansion status? For starters, mansions are large. The typical real estate definition of a mansion is a home that offers at least 5,000 square feet of space and at least five to six bedrooms. Mansions typically sit on small acreage (homes set on vast amounts of land are considered estates).
The overall national average is 46 square metres. The municipality with the biggest average home size was found to be Beuren in the Eifel, with an average size of 75,2 square metres per person. The smallest homes are to be found in Raunheim in Hesse, where the average size is 34,3 square metres.
Bigger isn't necessarily always better, but smaller can still be expensive if you buy a modern home with a variety of fancy upgrades on a large piece of property. If you plan for higher expenses and lived with the reality of them for half a year, you may be ready to invest in a larger home.
A small home is a home under 2500 square feet (232 square meters). These homes are designed to hold an individual with room to spare or perfect for a medium to large family. They are often in established neighborhoods with multiple rooms, garages, yards, and many other aspects.
The average house size for a family of four to live comfortably is around 2400 square feet. It is widely believed that each person in a home requires 200-400 square feet of living space.
In the U.S., most real estate specialists consider a home to be a mansion at or above 8,000 square feet in size. Historically speaking, a mansion would be a home of about 5,000 square feet or above.
When it comes to the amount of square footage that is ideal, it is dependent on the individual. Studies have, in the past, shown that 100 to 400 square feet of space is ideal for most people – if they're living alone – but there are plenty of people who would be very uncomfortable in a space of that size.
The typical 1,500 sq. ft. floor plans have two to three bedrooms in the layout. The benefit of choosing your own home plan is deciding what size you would like each room to be.
Generally speaking, smaller homes will sell at more per square foot than larger homes. As a home gets larger in size, the price per square foot often drops. This is another danger of using prices by square footage to put a value on a home.
Birgu — one of the oldest areas in Malta — was crowned the winner, with 79% of people saying that the houses in this area are completely breathtaking. In second place came Bibury, England, famed for its honey-hued stone cottages, while Tuscany in Italy rounded off the top three.
Single-detached houses are generally larger in Ontario
In Ontario, the median above-grade living area of a single-detached house is 1,520 square feet, compared with 1,430 in British Columbia and 1,150 in Nova Scotia. Across the three provinces, row houses are similarly sized.
The size of the average dwelling in multi-dwelling buildings is 68 square metres, while the size of the average one- or two-dwelling building is 122 square metres. Nearly 931 000 (46 percent) of Swedish one- or two-dwelling buildings were built between 1961 and 1990.
The shift away from structural brick began after World War II. Mid-century consumers wanted suburban homes that looked distinct from their urban counterparts and newer building codes no longer required brick. That, meant less demand for both the material and the masons needed to install it.
The United States is not building enough homes to account for the number of people setting up their own households. As a result, there is a sizable shortage of new homes after more than a decade of under-building relative to population growth, according to a new analysis from Realtor.com released Wednesday.
The Ranch House is America's Most Commonly Sold Home
Ranch-style housing is the most popular across 20 states. This American classic was built in such quantities in the mid-twentieth century that it prevails through sheer force. The ranch house offers space and, occupying just one floor, cradle-to-grave accessibility.
Even after people move to a bigger house, it may not take long for them to start to feel like they don't have enough. Surveying almost 1,000 people who chose to upsize their home, my research found that housing satisfaction initially increased after a move by 1.2 points on a seven-point scale.
Highlights. The average lifespan of a newly constructed house is 70–100 years. Factors such as weak housing materials and damaging weather exposure can shorten a home's lifespan. Routine repair and maintenance can improve the longevity of a home.
The average life span of a house in the United States is about 50-70 years. Houses can last for decades if they are well-maintained and have been constructed with quality materials. A poorly built home may not last more than 20 years.
35% of homeowners have lived in their homes for 10 to 15 years. 16% have lived in their homes for less than five years. The average length of homeownership years is eight years.
There is not one specific size for a McMansion type of home. Generally speaking, these homes are larger than the median size of a newly built single-family home, which according to the U.S. Census Bureau for 2021, was 2,532 square feet. 1 Most McMansions between 3,000 or 5,000 square feet or larger.
These days, properties priced at $5 million and above are considered luxury homes in the most expensive housing markets in the country. Trulia's research found that 4.3 percent of homes in the country's 100 largest metro areas are valued at $1 million and up.
Many people who want a big house don't actually want a big house at all – they want the things they believe a big house can provide. Some of these desires can be fulfilled by owning a large home. This includes the ability to have lots of family over, entertain friends, have enough space to raise a large family, etc.
How Much Space Does A Family Need? The average house size for a family of four to live comfortably is around 2400 square feet. It is widely believed that each person in a home requires 200-400 square feet of living space. The average cost to build a home of that size will range between $147,000 to $436,000.
What is the Floor Area Ratio (FAR)? In an R1 zoned lot with a Lot Size of 5,000 square feet, the Total Development Potential for a one-story Single Family Dwelling is 2,600 square feet. For a two- story Single Family Dwelling, it is 4,940 square feet and for a three-story Single Family Dwelling it is 7,020 square feet.
A family of four should fit comfortably in a house with three to four bedrooms. Consider an additional room for every one to two children or if you plan on your family growing.
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