Standard room sizes in Indian houses
Room sizes in Indian house plans are remarkably consistent, because they are driven by furniture that is also consistent: a 6 × 6.5 ft double bed, a 2 ft deep wardrobe, a 2 ft kitchen counter. Here is what those add up to.
Bedrooms
A 10 ft dimension takes a 6.5 ft bed plus a 2 ft wardrobe plus circulation. Below 10 ft in either direction you start losing the wardrobe wall.
| Room | Minimum | Comfortable | Generous |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master bedroom | 10 × 11 | 12 × 14 | 14 × 16 |
| Second bedroom | 9 × 10 | 11 × 12 | 12 × 14 |
| Children bedroom | 9 × 10 | 10 × 12 | 11 × 13 |
| Guest room / study | 8 × 10 | 10 × 11 | 11 × 12 |
Living, dining and kitchen
| Room | Minimum | Comfortable | Generous |
|---|---|---|---|
| Living / hall | 10 × 12 | 13 × 16 | 16 × 20 |
| Dining (4 seats) | 8 × 8 | 10 × 11 | 12 × 13 |
| Dining (6 seats) | 10 × 10 | 11 × 13 | 13 × 15 |
| Kitchen | 7 × 8 | 9 × 11 | 11 × 13 |
| Utility | 4 × 6 | 5 × 7 | 7 × 9 |
| Store | 4 × 5 | 5 × 7 | 6 × 8 |
Toilets, stairs and circulation
| Space | Minimum | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|
| Toilet (WC + basin) | 3.5 × 6 | 4.5 × 7 |
| Bathroom (with shower) | 4 × 6 | 5 × 8 |
| Attached toilet | 4 × 7 | 6 × 8 |
| Straight staircase | 3 × 12 | 3.5 × 14 |
| Dog-leg staircase | 6 × 9 | 8 × 10 |
| Passage / corridor | 3 ft wide | 3.5–4 ft wide |
| Pooja room | 3 × 3 niche | 5 × 6 room |
| Car porch (1 car) | 10 × 16 | 12 × 18 |
| Car porch (2 cars) | 17 × 18 | 18 × 20 |
Wall thicknesses and heights
- External wall: 9 inches (230 mm) in brick or block.
- Internal partition: 4.5 inches (115 mm).
- Floor to ceiling: 10 ft is standard, 9 ft is the practical minimum, 11–12 ft in a hot climate if you can afford it.
- Door heights: 7 ft standard. Window sill: 3 ft in habitable rooms, 4–4.5 ft in toilets and kitchens.
- Plinth: 1.5–2 ft above road level, more if the site floods.
A rule of thumb for checking a plan
Circulation — passages, lobbies, stair wells — should land somewhere between 8% and 14% of your floor area. Under 8% and you are probably running rooms through each other. Over 14% and you are paying to build corridor.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard bedroom size in India?
A master bedroom is typically 12 × 14 ft, with 10 × 11 ft the practical minimum. A second bedroom is usually 10 × 12 ft.
What is the standard kitchen size in an Indian home?
Around 8 × 10 to 9 × 11 ft for a separate kitchen. A 7 × 8 ft kitchen works with a single L-shaped counter and is common in smaller flats.
What is the standard ceiling height in India?
10 ft floor to ceiling is standard. Nine feet is the usual minimum in bye-laws; higher ceilings help a lot in hot climates.