How Big Is 800 Square Feet?

Perhaps you’ve found yourself wondering, “How big is 800 square feet?” When visualizing an 800-square-foot apartment, imagine five parking spaces together. You'll have a decent amount of room to work with, especially if you're living solo. But it's not always easy to envision how it will all come together if you've never rented an apartment or are looking at an empty unit.

If you're not sure how to calculate the square footage of an apartment with a tape measure or how to plan for your apartment, we've got you covered. We’ve put together a guide for everything you need to figure out how to make an 800-square-foot floor plan work for you.

How to Calculate 800 Square Feet

It's important to know exactly how big your apartment is when you move in so you can plan for painting, furniture, and how it will work with a significant other or a roommate. So how much is 800 square feet? Here’s the easy way to figure it out:

1. Gather supplies: Gather your supplies to do your measurements, including a measuring tape, pencil or pen, calculator, and paper.
2. Measure the space: Measure all of the rooms in your apartment separately, including closets, kitchenettes, and bathrooms.
3. Do the math: In each room, take your measuring tape to measure its length and width and multiply those two numbers together to get its square footage.
4. Exclude unlivable spaces: Some rooms and spaces are excluded from the square footage of an apartment, including balconies or patios, which are not considered livable.
5. Add the sums: Once you've calculated the square footage of each room, add them all together to get your final number, which should be 800 square feet.

If your lease states that the square footage is 800 square feet and you measure 798, you might consider that an acceptable discrepancy. But if you’re missing a dozen or more square feet, you may be able to negotate the rent with your landlord.

What Does 800 Square Feet Look Like?

You measured your apartment, got your square footage, and realized it's not helping you visualize what you're working with. You can use a few visual cues to figure out what an 800-square-foot apartment layout will actually feel like.

An 800-square-foot apartment is about the size of three school buses together. Other people might visualize 800 square feet as an oversized studio apartment with a little extra room to spare. If you have a good handle on feet by width, you can visualize an 800-square-foot apartment as roughly 25 feet wide by 32 feet long.

Is 800 Square Feet Big for an Apartment?

An 800-square-foot single-family home is cozy, but it's a comfortable size for a two-bedroom apartment, with room for a kitchen and a small living space. If you're looking for a one-bedroom apartment, an 800-square-foot floor plan is comfortable, and you probably wouldn’t need a larger space unless you want to live with someone else.

Whether or not 800 square feet is big for an apartment also depends on your personal preferences. If you enjoy a lot of space, collect travel souvenirs, and have lots of clothes and shoes, 800 square feet may feel snug. You'll feel right at home if you lean toward a simple or right-sized lifestyle.

Tips for Living In 800 Square Feet

You can make the most of living in an 800-square-foot apartment with a few simple tips.

Make Use of Dual-Purpose Furniture

Dual-purpose furniture and storage can make your space more efficient and eliminate the need for excess stuff. Invest in a bookshelf that can double as a place to showcase artwork and serve as a room divider. A storage ottoman can tuck away blankets, pillows, and linens, and a coffee table can double as a dinner table with cushions as chairs.

Arrange Your Belongings Vertically

Leveraging vertical space can free up room on your floor and make your 800-square-foot apartment feel bigger than it is. Mount your TV or hang a vertical garden, use floating shelves, and add door hooks to stow folding chairs when not in use.

A bookcase with colorful storage bins is also an innovative solution to store mail, shoes, and seasonal clothing where no one can see what you've tucked away. Every room in your apartment can utilize vertical space, including your bathroom. Use a hanging shoe organizer to store makeup, hairstyling accessories, and other bathroom essentials.

Utilize Neutral Colors

If your landlord isn't picky about what colors you paint your wall, try a bright white or neutral tone to make your 800-square-foot apartment feel airy and open. You can accompany neutral furniture with a few splashes of color in your throw pillows or area rugs to infuse your personal style in your apartment.

Get Rid of Clutter

Clutter quickly overwhelms smaller areas and can make your space feel stifled. Contain the clutter by dealing with junk mail right away and spending five minutes a day clearing off surfaces. You can also grab some inexpensive bins and labels to sort everything as you go.

Make Your Move: Start Apartment Hunting

All you need are a few simple tools like a tape measure and a calculator to determine how big 800 square feet is. Once you're ready to sign your lease and move in, take the time to organize and decorate your space so everything feels orderly. Once you’ve made your apartment your own, you'll feel like 800 square feet is the ideal amount of space for you.

Ready to find the perfect apartment? Sign up for Apartment List and start looking for 800-square-foot apartments now. With us, you’ll spend 5 minutes and save 50 hours searching.