Average Bedroom Size: Guide to Standard Dimensions

Bedrooms serve as a place of rest and relaxation, and you want to be sure your bedroom is large enough to be comfortable and accommodate everything it needs to. Whether you’re buying or building a new home or remodeling your current one, knowing the average bedroom size can help you plan your project and ensure your bedroom meets your needs. We break down average bedroom sizes and dimensions, and what factors affect bedroom size.

What Is the Standard Bedroom Size?

The average U.S. bedroom size is around 132 square feet, with primary bedrooms often being larger, with an average of about 224 square feet, and secondary bedrooms smaller at an average of 120 square feet. Common dimensions for bedrooms range from 10-by-10 feet to 14-by-16 feet.

Average Bedroom Size by Type

While many older homes have bedrooms that are all similarly sized, modern homes normally have a primary bedroom that’s larger than other bedrooms that are used as kids’ bedrooms, guest bedrooms, or home offices.

Primary Bedroom Size

Primary bedrooms are larger than other bedrooms, averaging between 200 and 400 square feet. Primary bedrooms may also include walk-in closets, en suite bathrooms, or other features to set them apart from other bedrooms in the house. King-size beds are just over 42 square feet, so a larger primary bedroom allows plenty of room for a bigger bed as well as space to move around it.

Kids’ Bedroom Size

Children’s bedrooms and nurseries are typically much smaller than primary bedrooms, averaging between 100 and 150 square feet, or 10-by-10 feet to 10-by-15 feet. A twin bed is less than 20 square feet and can more easily fit in a smaller room than other common bed sizes. 

Guest Bedroom Size

The average guest bedroom measures 10-by-12 to 10-by-15 feet, or 120 to 150 square feet. Guest bedrooms are often a minimum of 120 square feet to comfortably accommodate a full-size bed. Since these bedrooms may be multipurpose, accommodating a home office or other secondary usage, a little extra space can go a long way.

How to Calculate Bedroom Size

When trying to determine the ideal bedroom size, take factors into account like bed size, intended room use, storage space, and more. High ceilings can help a smaller bedroom feel bigger, and built-in storage solutions can maximize storage space without taking up valuable square footage. 

Factors That Influence Bedroom Size

Other factors can affect bedroom size, like your home’s age, the layout and floor plan, and local building codes. Here’s how these things can influence bedroom size.

Home Age

Older homes built prior to the 1970s and ‘80s tend to have smaller, more uniformly sized bedrooms, and larger primary bedrooms are less common in older homes. New builds commonly include a large primary bedroom or suite and smaller secondary bedrooms, but if you’re buying an older home, expect smaller bedrooms overall.

Floor Plan

Your home’s layout can also influence bedroom size. Traditional home styles like raised ranches, Craftsman homes, Victorians, and Colonials often feature smaller bedrooms with a slightly larger primary bedroom, if any. Adding a larger bedroom in some floor plans may involve extensive remodeling, adding a room above your garage, a bedroom addition, or knocking down walls between existing rooms.

Building Codes

Some areas may have strict requirements about what is allowed to be called a bedroom. In most cases, there needs to be a point of egress like a window or exterior door for a room to be listed as a bedroom, but your municipality may also have codes that dictate minimum bedroom size as well. 

What to Do if You Have the Wrong Size Bedroom

If your bedroom isn’t big enough for your needs, consult a local home remodeling pro to create the room of your dreams. A bedroom remodel costs an average of $3,500 to $40,000, depending on the extent of the work and what’s on your bedroom remodel checklist. Adding space to existing bedrooms can help increase your home’s value and make it a more comfortable, restful environment for you and your family.