Average Apartment Size in San Francisco

Updated 31 July 2026 · RentCafe market-trends data (Yardi Matrix), last updated 2 July 2026

Typical San Francisco apartment

727 ft²

≈ 67.5 m²

Smaller than the US national average of 908 ft² (84.4 m²), but a touch larger than a typical New York City apartment (~700 ft²).

San Francisco has a reputation for small, expensive apartments, and the price reputation is deserved. On floor area, though, the typical SF rental is 727 square feet, or about 68 square metres, which is a little roomier than New York and only modestly below the US average. The table below breaks the city down by apartment type in both square feet and square metres.

Average San Francisco Apartment Size by Type

Apartment type	Average ft²	Average m²
Studio	459	42.6
1-bedroom	680	63.2
2-bedroom	1,016	94.4
3-bedroom	1,286	119.5
SF all types	727	67.5
US national average	908	84.4

By-type and citywide averages: RentCafe San Francisco market trends (Yardi Matrix), last updated 2 July 2026. US national average is RentCafe's 2024 figure. Figures cover professionally managed rental apartments, not the full housing stock.

Type Notes

Studio

459 ft²

The most budget-friendly SF option, trading floor area for a central location. Well above California's 150 sq ft efficiency-unit floor.

1-bedroom

680 ft²

The workhorse of the SF rental market. Roomier than a typical NYC one-bedroom (693 sq ft citywide but often smaller in Manhattan).

2-bedroom

1016 ft²

Crosses the 1,000 sq ft mark, larger than the US two-bedroom average. Common for roommates and small families in the outer neighbourhoods.

3-bedroom

1286 ft²

The largest standard rental category. Concentrated in the Sunset, Richmond, and other family neighbourhoods with older single-family and flat conversions.

Legal Minimum Apartment Size in San Francisco

There is no single blanket minimum floor area for a whole dwelling unit. California and San Francisco set the rules at the habitable-room level, and both permit compact "efficiency dwelling units":

·An efficiency dwelling unit must have a living room of at least 150 sq ft (13.9 m²), occupied by no more than two people.
·It must include a kitchen sink, a cooking appliance, refrigeration, and a separate closet, each with a clear working space of at least 30 inches.
·Local agencies cannot set a minimum that would prohibit an efficiency unit as defined by state law.

Source: California Health & Safety Code § 17958.1 (efficiency units) and the San Francisco Building Code, § 1208 (interior space dimensions).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average apartment size in San Francisco?

The average San Francisco apartment is 727 sq ft (about 68 m2), per RentCafe's market-trends data (Yardi Matrix) last updated 2 July 2026. That is smaller than the US national average of 908 sq ft (84.4 m2) but larger than a typical New York City apartment at around 700 sq ft. San Francisco and New York have both been adding larger new units, nudging their averages up in recent years.

What is the average size of a 1-bedroom apartment in San Francisco?

A typical San Francisco one-bedroom rental is about 680 sq ft (63.2 m2), based on RentCafe's July 2026 listings data. Studios average 459 sq ft (42.6 m2), two-bedrooms 1,016 sq ft (94.4 m2), and three-bedrooms 1,286 sq ft (119.5 m2).

How big is a studio apartment in San Francisco?

The average SF studio is around 459 sq ft (42.6 m2) per RentCafe's July 2026 listings data, comfortably above California's 150 sq ft (13.9 m2) minimum for an efficiency dwelling unit. Studios are the cheapest way into the city's expensive rental market, prioritising location over space.

How does a San Francisco apartment compare to New York?

San Francisco apartments are slightly larger on average than New York City apartments: about 727 sq ft (68 m2) in SF versus roughly 700 sq ft (65 m2) in NYC. The gap is small. Both cities have high land values and dense, older housing stock that keep unit sizes well below the US national average of 908 sq ft.

What is the legal minimum apartment size in San Francisco?

California's Health and Safety Code (Section 17958.1) lets cities permit 'efficiency dwelling units' with a living room of at least 150 sq ft (13.9 m2), occupied by no more than two people, with a kitchen sink, cooking appliance, refrigeration, and a separate closet. San Francisco's Building Code (Section 1208) applies the same 150 sq ft floor. There is no single blanket minimum for a whole dwelling; the rule is set at the habitable-room level.

Are San Francisco apartments getting bigger or smaller?

Bigger, modestly. After years of compression, San Francisco has been one of the US cities adding larger new rental units, pushing the citywide average up. New construction near transit and in redeveloping districts tends to include more two- and three-bedroom units than the older studio-heavy stock.

Convert a San Francisco Apartment Size

Square Metres (m²)

Square Feet (ft²)

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

Average Apartment Size in NYC

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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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