About a decade ago, Australia started building the biggest houses we’d ever built. So it might not surprise you that today, the average house size in Melbourne, for instance, is way larger than it used to be.
We can look at the Covid-19 pandemic as one of the elements that amplified our need for bigger houses. Spending more time at home begged for more space to work, work out and play. Families started looking to add more rooms to existing homes so that every member could have their own space.
So if you’re looking for the average house size in Australia, we’ve looked to the 2020/21 CommSec Home Size Report for some answers. And here’s what we found.
Related articles:
- 2022 Guide: Building a Tiny House in Australia
- Why Are Houses Becoming So Much More Expensive to Build?
- 5 Ways to Build a Home for Cheap
- Exceptional Melbourne Apartments for Rent
What is the average house size in Melbourne?
According to the report, the average apartment size in Victoria has seen more growth over recent years than houses. In fact, the state has recorded the largest apartments in the country at 156.8m².
The most common and sought after size of house in Melbourne are 3-bedroom houses, especially in suburbs like Richmond.
What is the average house size in Australia?
The report states that between 2020/21, the average free-standing house in Australia was 229.3m². That’s almost 3% smaller than the 7-year high that preceded it. There is no clear data about the current average house size in Melbourne.
In terms of the layout, the average house size in Australia has three bedrooms and sits on a block size of 414m².
Houses are actually much more popular in Australia than apartments, with only one occupied apartment for every five occupied houses.
How do you measure the size of a home?
While there are many ways you can measure the size of a home, the most commonly used measurements in the square meterage of the floor area. This gives the most accurate perspective on the liveable areas of the home.
It is calculated by multiplying the length with the width of each room and adding the all the results.
The square meterage of the home however, doesn’t take into account the land around it. A large portion of Aussie houses built are on a plot of land which isn’t necessarily proportionate to the size of the structure.
For example, farmhouses themselves might be small, but they often rest on large pieces of land used to cultivate–and well, farm—as opposed to suburban dwellings where the structure usually takes up most of the plot of land.
Thirdly, another way to measure the size of a house is by who lives in it. Divide the size by the number of inhabitants and there you have it! Most will agree that the ideal amount of living space per person is between 55-65m².
This also depends on whether you’re counting an adult or a child. When searching for a family home, consider that what might seem like a small house for adult flatmates to share might be perfect for a small family.
So if you’re on the hunt for a 3-bedroom home, you’ll want the total size to be no less than 168m² which is a decent amount smaller than the average Australian home. Clearly, this is an indicator that we like our space!
Where are the biggest and smallest houses in Australia?
ACT currently comes in first with the largest houses built in Australia. Victoria on the other hand has the biggest apartments.
Tasmania has the smallest new houses built in Australia in 2020/21, with an average house size of 176.5m².
How big are Australian homes compared to the rest of the world?
Homes in Australia, and in particular houses, are some of the biggest in the world. The United States barely takes first place, with an average home size 231m², only marginally larger than in Australia.
In Europe, homes are much smaller, with a continent average at 30-45m². The United Kingdom wins the title of smallest homes in the European region, with a floor area of the average newly constructed property at 76m².
But it looks like one of the trends in Australia, as in the rest of the world, is towards smaller houses which are more environmentally sustainable . More of us long for homes that are easier to maintain on smaller lot sizes. Also, buying cheap land for sale and building on it allows us to keep to a budget and any eco initiatives that we care about.
We’re also having fewer children, lessening the need for the aspirational McMansion. Inner-city living is generally more convenient, and this tendency also signifies a decrease in the average house size. Large apartments are favoured instead, which explains the increase in their average size.
Home buyers prioritise affordability, which not only affects the size of the home but also the energy usage. A smaller home means less consumption, and our tiny house piece can tell you all about that.
What’s the average house size in Australia by house type?
3 bedroom house
This is the most popular layout in Australia—three bedrooms with a total of 175m² on average. Of course, you may find 3-bedders higher or lower than the national average.
These 3-bedroom houses are generally built on a land size of 474m².
Almost half of all houses in Australia are 3-bedders, but this number is dropping in favour of 4-bedroom houses.
A little extra info? The cost of building a house in Melbourne is around $2,000 – $4,300 per sqf.
4 bedroom house
4-bedroom houses are the most comfortable, at an average of 223 and 260m², and still relatively affordable considering the addition of an extra bedroom. They’re less common and therefore more sought after.
While this might go against the environmentally conscious trends, homebuilders are seeing a rise in 4-bedroom homes which also include a “master ensuite, walk-in-robes, butler’s pantry, home theatre room, formal study and/or study nook, mud room and alfresco dining”.
Townhouse
You’ll find townhouses very popular in the suburbs of capital city. Known for their space-efficient modern design, usually terraced and across multiple floors, you can really maximise the number of bedrooms as well.
Young professionals and university students in share houses prefer this type of build, which currently takes up 10% of all housing in Australia. Victoria has the largest townhouses in Australia, averaging 155m² of space.
Apartment
The average size of a newly constructed apartment in 2020/21 was 138.3m², which is the highest in eleven years. This makes the average Australian apartment of the largest globally. The state of Victoria takes the cake of largest average apartment size of 156.8m².
This varies from studios, going as low as 24m² in the inner-city, to 65m² for 2-bedroom units.
Average house size across Australia
You won’t be surprised to know that homes in the regions are larger than homes in the cities. Rural homes are the largest, then suburban homes, city townhouses then units.
