The size of a master bedroom will vary dramatically according to the type of house you have, the location of the house, and the architectural design of the home. In general, the bigger the house is, the bigger the master bedroom will be, but this is not always the case.
Here we explore the average size of master bedrooms and look at how to determine what master bedroom size you need.
Average Master Bedroom Size
The best size for a master bedroom can vary depending on your own personal preferences and specific needs. As a general guide, a master bedroom should be large enough to provide both comfort and functionality. A good target size for a master bedroom is around 200 to 350 square feet.
This size allows for a spacious and comfortable sleeping area and can accommodate a king-size bed, nightstands, dressers, seating, and potentially even a walk-in closet or an en-suite bathroom.
The average size of a master bedroom in the United States is around 14 feet by 16 feet, which equates to 224 square feet of floor space. There are minimum size standards for bedrooms in the US, with 70 feet of floor space representing the smallest size of bedroom that is allowed. This would be the equivalent of a room measuring 10 feet by 7 feet.
The master bedroom is usually the largest room in the home, where the main inhabitants of that home will sleep.
Choosing a Master Bedroom Size
If you’re trying to work out what size master bedroom you need, it can be useful to think about what furniture and other items you need to accommodate and work back from there. If you can figure out how much square footage your furniture is going to take up, you can get a good idea of whether or not a specific master bedroom size is going to be suitable for you.
In a typical master bedroom, you will want a large bed, such as a king or queen-sized bed. These measure roughly 5 feet by 6 feet, which means they will take up 30 square feet of floor space, You will also need some nightstands and a dressing table, which will require an additional 18 to 20 square feet of floor space.
If the master bedroom has a built-in closet or walk-in closet then you don’t need to worry about having space for a freestanding closet, however, if you do need to account for this, you’ll want around 10 to 20 square feet of floor space to accommodate a freestanding closet.
All of these furniture items require, in total, around 70 square feet of floor space. If you plan to add a walk-in closet to the master bedroom, this should be a minimum of 4 feet by 5 feet, which will take 20 square feet of floor space, bringing the total floor space needed to 90 feet.
Bear in mind you may also want extra items of furniture such as a chest of drawers or an ottoman, or possibly a side table with a chair for reading. You’ll also need vacant floor space around the furniture so that you can comfortably move around the room. For this reason, a master bedroom size of at least 150 is ideal, though in most cases, even bigger will be necessary.
What Do You Need in a Master Bedroom?
When determining how big you need your master bedroom to be, select the furniture pieces you will want to accommodate to help you figure out the space required. You can always cut back on some less essential items if they aren’t going to make the best of a space.
Bed
The centerpiece of any master bedroom is the bed. You can choose from various sizes, such as a king-size or queen-size bed, depending on your space and comfort needs. Typically the bed in a master bedroom will be positioned in the middle of a wall, which means you also need to account for space to walk around the three other sides of the bed.
Nightstands
Nightstands on either side of the bed provide a convenient place to put bedside lamps, books, or other items you may need within reach. If you have a small master bedroom you could instead consider floating shelves for keeping your book or lamp, as these won’t take up any floor space.
If you don’t need storage, you could also instead use standing lamps or wall lamps on either side of your bed and eliminate the need for nightstands altogether.
Dresser or Chest of Drawers
These provide storage for clothing, such as folded items, socks, and undergarments. A dresser or chest of drawers can also serve as a surface for displaying decor. If you have a walk-in closet then a chest of drawers may not be necessary, however, most master bedrooms consider these pieces of furniture to be essential.
Wardrobe or Closet
A wardrobe or closet is essential for hanging and organizing clothing. Some master bedrooms have walk-in closets with shelves and hanging space, while others make use of freestanding wardrobes.
A master bedroom with a walk-in closet is highly sought after, not only because it provides a sense of luxury and ultimate organization, but it also gives you somewhere to get dressed in private.
If you have a bedroom with a walk-in closet then the size of the master bedroom won’t need to be as big, because you won’t need to accommodate as many items of furniture. In master bedrooms with a walk-in closet, you can get away with a simple layout of just a bed and matching nightstands.
Vanity or Makeup Table
If space allows, a vanity or makeup table can be a valuable addition for getting ready, applying makeup, and storing cosmetics and jewelry. If you have an en-suite bathroom, then you may not feel the need to have a vanity table since you can store cosmetics in there instead.
You may also be fortunate enough to have a walk-in closet dressing room area, which could be large enough to accommodate a vanity table.
