New York City has a reputation for offering tiny apartments at colossal prices. While there are spacious apartments available, they often come with a premium price. Therefore, many people who are new to the city, looking for their own space, or otherwise have limited budgets, may consider smaller studio apartments. Renters planning to spend plenty of time outside the apartment can also compromise on space with a smaller studio. When a studio offers a floor plan that is 200 square feet, it can be difficult to visualize the actual size of the area.
How to Measure Square Feet
Calculating square feet is a simple formula that considers the length and width of a space. In the case of measuring square feet for an apartment, someone must know how long and wide the room is. Luckily, studio apartments are fairly straightforward when it comes to their layout, making it easy to calculate the square footage.
To calculate the square footage of a studio apartment that’s one large square or rectangle, complete the following equation:
Square footage = Length x Width
For example, after using a tape measure to find the length and width of the room that is 20 feet by 10 feet, complete the following:
Square footage = Length x Width
Square footage = 20ft x 10ft
Square footage = 200 sq ft
Therefore, a room that is 20 feet by 10 feet measures 200 square feet. Some apartments offer measurements that are exact to the foot. However, some measurements may also include inches, like a length of 20’5”.
Inches and Online Calculators for Square Footage
Calculating the square footage can get difficult when inches come into play. The easiest way to calculate the square footage of a space with feet and inches is to calculate the length or width in inches, perform the calculation, and then convert back to feet.
However, renters can also use online calculators to complete this step.
Calculating Square Feet for an Alcove Studio
Alcove studios have a slightly different layout from a standard studio. Instead of one large room, the studio then contains a separate sleeping area. Since a wall and door do not separate the area, it remains a studio instead of a one-bedroom.
To calculate the square footage of a studio, simply do the length by width calculation for the two rectangular areas. Then, add those two sums together to get the total square footage. Some studios may offer more creative floor plans, and renters can calculate the square footage of each available area, then add them together to get the total square footage of a space. Remember that as the layout changes, it can become more difficult to comfortably fit furniture.
Learn more:
How Big is a 200-Square-Foot Foot Room?
200 square feet does not initially feel like an abundance of space. However, a studio apartment of this size still provides more furniture opportunities than a dorm room or micro studio. Additionally, renters will have the opportunity to decorate their space and make it feel like home.
The rental real estate market in New York City moves quickly, and it’s expensive to get a floor plan drawn for a unit. Since many units move on and off the market in a couple of days, most landlords and management companies do not pay to get floor plans for their units. Additionally, a 200 square foot apartment typically offers a lower rent, meaning it goes off the market even faster than the average-priced apartment. These factors mean that most listings will not indicate if they are 200 square feet. Renters will have to measure the space when they are in the unit.
Visualizing 200 Square Feet
The following Financial District apartment advertises a square footage of 436. However, this studio has two distinct areas: the entryway with a kitchen and bathroom, and the main living area. The advertisement includes a floor plan, which denotes the measurements as 12’ by 16’7”. Therefore, the square footage of this space is 199 square feet.
The following image showcases the 199 square foot living area for 116 John Street #2407:
Renters have room to place a couch, a coffee table, a small dining table, and a bed in this area. This living space could comfortably fit one person, but may be tight for two people looking to live together. Therefore, 200 square foot studios are typically more appropriate for solo renters.
How Much Does a 200 Square Foot Studio Cost in New York City?
The average rent for a New York City apartment in the spring of 2025 is $4,500. However, the rent for all studio apartments in the city is $3,525. As the size shrinks, the cost of the apartment decreases, relative to the location and amenities of the unit. An apartment’s price typically reflects three components: size, location, and amenities or quality of the unit. Two studios of the same size have different prices if one is in a pre-war walk-up that’s far from the train, and the other resides in a luxury building downtown.
Renters can calculate the anticipated average rent for a 200-square-foot apartment by looking at the average cost per square foot in their area. At the moment, a studio in New York City charges an average rent of $7.86/square foot. Multiply the size of the unit by the cost of the square foot, and the average anticipated rent for a 200 square foot apartment in NYC is $1,572 monthly.
Conclusion
Solo renters who want their own space can consider renting a 200-square-foot apartment. While these apartments offer a smaller floor plan, they still provide enough space for several pieces of furniture, and renters will comfortably exist in their space. Smaller apartments generally offer lower rents, but tenants could still pay more for a unit in a desirable area that has amenities. There are numerous studio apartments throughout New York City for renters to tour and rent, and many of them offer smaller floor plans.
