A 2-bedroom apartment in the United States generally averages around 800 square feet. A 2-bedroom is generally considered large when it is 900+ square feet. Once you are over 1,000 square feet for a 2-bedroom that is a nice size. 1,200 square feet would be considered a very large two bedroom.
A typical 2-bedroom apartment has a distinct living area (or combination living and dining area), one or two bathrooms, a kitchen, and two bedrooms. If the space is larger, you may have additional features like:
- a distinct dining area
- storage
- laundry room
- large wardrobes
- a small study or den
Is 800 square feet considered big for a 2-bedroom apartment?
800 square feet is about average for a 2-bedroom apartment, but if you are located in a major downtown urban city like New York, Philadelphia or Washington D.C., then 800 square feet is a nice size.
Is 1,000 square feet big for a 2 bedroom apartment?
Yes, 1,000 square feet is considered a nice size for a 2-bedroom apartment, especially in a downtown major city environment. Even 800 to 900 square feet in a major U.S. city is considered a nice size.
How Much Does a 2-Bedroom Apartment Rental Cost?
The cost to rent a 2-bedroom apartment will depend on several factors. Some of them include:
- apartment location city and proximity to downtown
- size of the apartment
- features and amenities available in the apartment complex
- interiors of the apartment (whether budget or premium)
Apartments in bustling cities like Philadelphia and New York come at a premium, even for the tiniest of spaces, especially if you live in the city center or in a nearby neighborhood. These apartments are usually higher in demand for their convenience and proximity to workplaces.
How to Check the Size of a 2-Bedroom Apartment
Most property listings describe the apartment in greater detail, including how big the apartment is. Sometimes the pictures may also give you an idea of the apartment size and features available. If for whatever reason this is all unclear, then check with the landlord or listing agent before viewing the property. Here are some questions to ask:
- What is the overall size of the apartment?
- Do the bedrooms have enough space for dressers, bedside tables and anything else I might want to add in there?
- Is there space anywhere to set up a home office?
- Does the bathroom come with a separate shower and bathtub or is the shower over the bathtub?
Avoid scheduling an apartment tour before you get all the information you need in order to use your time most efficiently.
What Else To Consider:
It also depends on your lifestyle and how much stuff you have. Consider the following:
1. How many people will be living in the apartment?
If just you and the other is a study, that is quite different than a 4 person family.
2. How much “stuff” you have?
If you don’t have a lot of stuff, including furniture and clothes, you may be able to get away with a smaller space.
3. How long you plan to live there?
If you plan to reside in the apartment for many years, size will probably matter more to you.
4. Do you like the layout?
Size alone is not the only factor. The layout of a floor plan is also important – are the bedrooms in the correct location. Is there good closet space? Is there an open floor plan? Visualize your lifestyle and if the layout feels cramped or if it works for your lifestyle.
What About Age of the Building:
Interestingly, while not always true, there are some trends to consider when trying to find a large 2 bedroom apartment.
That is the age the building was built.
For example, in Philadelphia (and likely true in other markets) according to our analysis on apartment sizes, the largest 2-bedroom apartments were built between 2001 and 2014. Contrarily, the smallest 2 bedroom apartments were built in the early days of 1950s and 1960s. In most recent years, 2 bedroom apartments have gotten smaller, but are still larger than the 1950s and 60s era.
Summary
2 bedroom apartments that are 900+ square feet are generally considered large. 1,000+ square feet is a nice size and 1,200 square feet would very large. Consider though your market (i.e. major U.S. city you should expect smaller sizes) as well as lifestyle, such as how much stuff you have, length of time you plan to reside, number of people in apartment, and floor plan layout.
At Fidelity Management, our 2 bedroom Northeast Philadelphia floor plans average around 1,023 square feet. To learn more about our 2 bedroom apartments for rent in Northeast Philadelphia, check out our wide variety of floor plans and styles.
