What Is The Average Square Footage Of A House?

For many people planning to buy a house, a property’s square footage can significantly influence their home search. While understanding the average square footage of American homes can be a helpful starting point, it’s also a good idea to consider what size home will best fit your needs and lifestyle.

What Is The Average Size Of A House?

In 1973 (the earliest year census data became available), the average size of a single-family home in the U.S. was 1,660 square feet. By 2015, the average square footage climbed to 2,687 square feet, increasing by roughly 60%. In contrast, real median income only grew by 40% between 1973 and 2015.

In 2023, the median square footage of a new single-family home fell to 2,286 square feet, a nearly 15% reduction in 8 years.

The Benefits Of Buying A Home With More Square Footage

Several forces have increased the demand for larger homes in the United States.

Adding Square Footage Is Relatively Inexpensive In New Homes

From a builder’s point of view, the cost of materials per square foot to create additional space is a relatively small percentage of the overall cost of building a new house. For many builders, increasing square footage is an easy and relatively inexpensive way to enhance a buyer’s perception of a home’s value.

Consumer Demand

Homeowners are generally attracted to homes that offer space for amenities like big kitchens, walk-in closets, laundry rooms and en suite bathrooms. With more square footage, homes can fit more of everything.

Room To Grow

Extra square footage often means extra bedrooms and bathrooms. Whether one plans on raising a family or not, this extra space allows flexibility for family members and other guests to stay should the need arise.

The Drawbacks Of Buying A Home With More Square Footage

It’s also important to weigh potential disadvantages when deciding what type of home will work best for your lifestyle.

Higher Costs For Repairs

The bigger the house, the higher the cost of keeping it in working condition. Depending on the types of repairs and projects you need to take care of and whether you plan to make the repairs yourself or hire a professional, repairs can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. When budgeting for housing expenses, consider the average cost of services and materials in your area.

A smaller new home or home that has been renovated and reasonably well maintained should cost less in upkeeping.

More Expensive To Clean And Maintain

Aside from the cost of maintenance, it takes more time to clean and care for a larger home. Bigger homes typically mean more bedrooms to tidy and bathrooms to clean. Maintaining a larger home can take up a lot of your time and money.

Farther From Urban Centers

Bigger homes tend to be farther from urban centers, which can drive up transportation costs and commute times depending on one’s place of work.

Ask yourself whether the extra square footage in your home is worth the time and expense this might cost.

Higher Energy Costs

It should be no surprise that bigger homes typically have higher energy bills. If sustainability is a priority for you, a smaller home with energy-efficient features may be a better fit.

However, with newer homes built with energy-efficient features and older homes upgraded for lower energy consumption, you can find a large home to buy that runs more sustainably.

Inefficient Use Of Available Space

Many home buyers equate good design and functionality with size, assuming a larger house will accommodate them more comfortably. However, a thoughtfully designed small home can maximize every inch of space, while a large home can waste tons of space or have an inefficient layout that isn’t set up for modern interior design.

If you’ve just started looking for a home, pay attention to how rooms flow together. Look for storage built-ins and other space-saving features. Consider room dimensions and the challenges they may present. You may find a smaller home with efficiently designed spaces is actually easier to furnish.

Uncertain Resale Value

Many homeowners treat their homes as not only places to live, but potential real estate investment opportunities. There’s a common belief that a larger home may offer a higher resale value and increased home equity. However, as size drops down the list of homeowners’ priorities and affordability and sustainability take the top spots, the demand for homes with more square footage may decline.

What Square Footage Is Right For You?

To help narrow your home search, estimate an average home size by square foot to find the right-sized home for your needs. To help figure out the appropriate square footage, you’ll need to consider how you plan to use the home now and in the future.

Ask yourself the following questions before deciding on the square footage and type of house you want to buy.

How Much House Can You Afford?

How much house you can afford will depend on your current circumstances.

Consider your monthly budget when estimating how much house you can comfortably afford and the potential impact your lifestyle choices may have on your ability to pay for a home.

How Long Do You Plan On Living In The Home?

If the answer is forever, you’ll need to plan for a wide range of possibilities – which may justify buying a bigger home. If you’re really not sure whether you want or need a supersized home, consider a starter home versus a forever home, especially if you don’t plan to have children or have them right away.

Do You Plan To Grow Your Family?

If you have children or plan on starting a family soon, you’ll likely want a house with enough space to accommodate your family. You should also focus on the quality of the schools in the area, how family-friendly the area is and how much you may pay in property taxes.

Do You Plan To Share Your Home With Other Family Members?

Consider the home’s layout if you anticipate living with your parents or other relatives. You may need a home that allows you to create separate, dedicated spaces for your relatives and your immediate family. You may also need to consider issues like accessibility for family members with mobility issues.

Sometimes, a larger house isn’t the answer. Sometimes, the answer is a multifamily home or a property with enough space to build an accessory dwelling unit.

Do You And Your Spouse Plan To Stay In The Home?

If you and your spouse or partner plan to stay in the home as you grow older, accessibility and layout are probably bigger priorities than square footage. Consider whether a ranch or a bungalow-style home with the master bedroom and common areas on the same floor may be right for you.

How Much Outdoor Space Will You Need?

Because bigger houses sometimes have bigger yards, you can expect higher costs for landscaping and maintenance. Home buyers moving from an urban area to a suburban community typically dream of having a yard complete with a giant swing set, a garden and room for the dog to run. However, not everyone ends up using their yard as intended.

The Bottom Line

When buying a home, you’ll need figure out the average house square footage that will meet your needs.

Think deeply about what matters to you so you can create a budget and find the home that fits your life. If you’re gearing up for a house hunt, start the approval process to get a reliable estimate of what you can afford.