How to Read Apartment Floor Plans

When you’re in the early stages of apartment hunting and browsing through apartment listings, odds are you’ll come across apartment floor plans.

Apartment floor plans are some of the best ways to get a feel for the size and layout of an apartment without having to visit it in person. However, floor plans are only useful if you can read them.

This guide will teach you everything you need to know about apartment floor plans and how to read them. Let’s dive in!

What is a Floor Plan

A floor plan is a detailed rendering of an apartment’s layout from a birds-eye view. Apartment floor plans show an apartment’s fixtures, furnishings (if included), and features (doors, windows, walls, etc.).

Most listings, especially those in larger apartment complexes, have floor plans included in the apartment’s listing photos.

When you pair an apartment’s floor plan with images of the apartment itself, you can build a solid picture that helps you determine whether it would be a good fit for you.

Benefits of Reading Floor Plans

The greatest benefit of reading floor plans is that they provide an accurate representation of an apartment’s layout and size.

An apartment’s layout and room sizes will affect how or if your furniture will fit. Checking out the apartment’s floor plan will give you accurate information about square footage, dimensions, and storage.

You can measure your furniture before moving and determine whether it will fit and how much space you have to work with.

Better yet, you don’t even have to visit in person to make these assessments. As many renters are renting sight unseen, floor plans are a real boon.

Types of Floor Plans

Generally, you’ll encounter two types of floor plans during your apartment search: conventional floor plans and 3D floor plans.

Here are the differences between the two types of floor plans.

• Conventional Floor Plans: Conventional floor plans display apartments in two-dimensional form. Symbols and pictures in a conventional floor plan are completely flat. These plans are usually from a birds-eye view perspective that looks directly down on the apartment from above.
• 3D Floor Plans: As the name suggests, 3D floor plans display apartments rendered in three-dimensional form. These floor plans are much easier to read and understand because they better resemble and represent the apartment. It’s akin to looking at a dollhouse version of the apartment. This type of floor plan shows an aerial view of an apartment at an angle.

In short, conventional floor plans are basic 2D models, while 3D floor plans add more realistic details by using three-dimensional rendering to show an apartment.

Floor Plan Symbols

If you’re looking at an apartment floor plan, chances are you’ll have to decipher some floor plan symbols. Fortunately, once you get the basics down, reading floor plan symbols is a breeze.

Here’s a breakdown of the most common floor plan symbols and what they represent:

• Outer Walls: A thick solid line represents the outermost walls of your apartment, which you share with other residents, a hallway, or the outside.
• Windows: A break in a thick solid line (denoting outer walls) is a window. If there are multiple windows in one area, the line may start to look like a dashed line, but there’s a difference between the two.
• Interior Walls: Interior walls are represented by thin solid lines that feed off of the outer walls’ thick solid lines.
• Doorways: Quarter circles represent doorways. These symbols are usually pretty easy to decipher because they mimic the motion of a door swinging open. In fact, the direction of the arc represents the direction in which the door swings open.
• Fixtures/Furnishings: Fixtures such as large appliances and furnishings are usually drawn out. The drawings aren’t very detailed, but they aren’t too hard to figure out. You’ll find fixtures and furnishings in their corresponding rooms. For example, bathrooms usually feature a toilet, sink, and tub/shower.
• Measurements: Floor plans typically feature measurements such as square footage and room size.

Floor Plan Abbreviations

In addition to symbols, floor plans also feature a number of abbreviations. It’s important to understand the meanings behind each abbreviation, as they represent appliances, fixtures, and amenities.

Here’s a breakdown of the most common floor plan abbreviations and their meaning:

• Bath: Bathroom
• AC or A/C: Air conditioner
• DW or D/W: Dishwasher
• REF: Refrigerator
• SD or S/D: Smoke detector
• CL or CLOS: Closet
• WIC: Walk-in closet
• STOR: Storage
• HVAC: Heating, Ventilation, and air conditioning (basement apartments)
• TLT: Toilet
• W&D: Washer and dryer units
• PAN: Pantry
• LT or LTG: Light or Lighting

Keep in mind that abbreviations and symbols may vary with different floor plans. If you’re unsure about what an abbreviation or symbol means, reach out to the property manager or landlord for assistance.

Final Thoughts

Once you’ve become an apartment floor plan reading expert, you’ll be ready to start your apartment hunt to browse through all the floor plans your heart desires.

Start your search with Apartment List to get matched with apartments that meet all your needs — take the apartment quiz today!