Average Apartment Size in NYC

Updated 21 June 2026 · RentCafe analysis of Yardi Matrix data (Feb 2025)

Typical New York City apartment

700 ft²

≈ 65.0 m²

About 200 sq ft smaller than the US national average of 908 ft² (84.4 m²). Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens all cluster around 700-740 sq ft.

New York City apartments have a reputation for being cramped, and they are smaller than the US average, but the gap is narrower than most people expect. Across the three boroughs RentCafe reports, the typical apartment is around 700 square feet, or roughly 65 square metres. The table below shows the average by borough in both square feet and square metres.

Average Apartment Size by NYC Borough

Borough	Average ft²	Average m²
Manhattan	738	68.6
Brooklyn	708	65.8
Queens	702	65.2
NYC typical	~700	~65.0
US national average	908	84.4

Borough and national averages: RentCafe analysis of Yardi Matrix apartment data, published February 2025. RentCafe does not report separate averages for the Bronx or Staten Island. Figures cover professionally managed rental apartments, not the full housing stock.

Borough Notes

Manhattan

738 ft²

The largest of the three boroughs RentCafe tracks. New apartments built 2014-2023 average 737 sq ft, slightly bigger than older stock, reversing the city's long shrinking trend.

Brooklyn

708 ft²

Down about 21 sq ft over the past decade in new developments, but still roomier than Queens. Brownstone conversions vary widely.

Queens

702 ft²

Among the smallest big-city averages in the US, though new builds have grown by roughly 39 sq ft since 2015 as developers add larger units near transit.

Legal Minimum Apartment Size in NYC

There is no single blanket minimum floor area for an entire dwelling unit in the NYC Building Code or the New York State Multiple Dwelling Law. The rules set room-level minimums instead:

·At least one habitable room must be 150 sq ft (13.9 m²) or larger.
·Other habitable rooms must be at least 80 sq ft (7.4 m²).
·A 400 sq ft (37.2 m²) minimum applies only to the Quality Housing Program (contextual zoning districts R6 to R10), not to apartments in general.

Source: NYC Housing Maintenance Code § 27-2074 and the NYC Building Code, Chapter 12.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average apartment size in NYC?

The typical New York City rental is around 700 sq ft (about 65 m2). By borough, Manhattan averages 738 sq ft (68.6 m2), Brooklyn 708 sq ft (65.8 m2), and Queens 702 sq ft (65.2 m2), per RentCafe analysis of Yardi Matrix data as of February 2025.

How does a NYC apartment compare to the US average?

The US national average apartment is 908 sq ft (84.4 m2) as of 2024, so a typical NYC apartment is roughly 200 sq ft smaller, around 700 sq ft (65 m2). New York's high land values and dense, older housing stock keep unit sizes well below the national figure.

Which NYC borough has the smallest apartments?

Of the three boroughs RentCafe reports, Queens has the smallest average at 702 sq ft (65.2 m2), narrowly behind Brooklyn at 708 sq ft. Manhattan, often assumed to be the most cramped, actually has the largest average among the three at 738 sq ft.

What is the legal minimum apartment size in New York City?

NYC sets no single blanket minimum floor area for an entire dwelling unit. Instead, at least one habitable room must be at least 150 sq ft (13.9 m2) and other habitable rooms at least 80 sq ft (7.4 m2). A 400 sq ft (37.2 m2) minimum applies only to apartments built under the Quality Housing Program (contextual zoning districts R6 to R10), not to housing generally.

Is 700 square feet big for a New York apartment?

At 700 sq ft (65 m2), you are right at the city average, which is comfortable for a one-bedroom or a compact two-bedroom in NYC terms. It sits below the US national average of 908 sq ft but well above the city's many studios and micro-units, some of which fall under 400 sq ft.

Convert a NYC Apartment Size

Square Metres (m²)

Square Feet (ft²)

65 m² is approximately a two-bedroom flat in London.

Apartment Sizes by City

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Square Feet to Square Meters

Convert any apartment size from sq ft to m2 instantly.

About the author

Oliver Wakefield-Smith

Founder of Digital Signet, an independent research firm publishing data-led property, planning, and conversion tools. Content is sourced from ONS, Nationwide, RICS, MHCLG planning data, and UK building regulations. Confirm planning and regulatory figures with your local authority or a qualified professional.

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