What Is the Definition of a Bedroom? Make Sure You Know the Legal Bedroom Requirements

It turns out, you can’t simply place a bed in any room in your house and call it a bedroom.

There are, in fact, a number of legal bedroom requirements—and both homebuyers and sellers had best know them to avoid misunderstandings related to size and square footage.

These are the legal bedroom requirements and minimum bedroom sizes to take into consideration.

What makes a bedroom legal? Understanding the definition 

What legally makes a bedroom varies from state to state.

“Since a home and/or master bedroom can go through many incarnations over its life, sellers should be familiar with what makes a bedroom a legal bedroom prior to listing their home, to ensure there are no issues holding up the sale when a buyer has been secured,” says Carl Ekroth of Douglas Elliman in New York City.

Here are six ways you can tell if your room is a bedroom rather than just an average room:

1. Minimum bedroom size
2. Minimum horizontal footage
3. Two means of egress
4. Minimum ceiling height
5. Minimum window size
6. A heating and cooling element

What size does a legal bedroom need to be?

Size and the number of square feet you have matter and not only because you want to fit in a bed, nightstand, and other furniture.

This is the top issue, says Shaun Anders of Douglas Elliman.

Although sizes can vary from state to state, 70 to 80 square feet/floor space in size is generally the acceptable minimum, with a minimum of 7 feet in one direction. If you’re talking about a primary bedroom, or any space for multiple occupants, there should be a minimum of 50 square feet per person.

“Sellers in urban markets such as New York City and Chicago would love rooms of 5 by 7 square feet to qualify as a bedroom, but no go,” says Anders.

Additionally, at least half of the bedroom ceiling has to be at least 7 feet tall—meaning you can put a bed in a loft area with less than a 7-foot ceiling if the other section has a higher clearance.

Is it legal to have a bedroom without a window?

It’s not legal to have a bedroom without a window. It is a fire safety issue, as windows provide critical ventilation and an escape route, if necessary.

The window opening must be a minimum size, usually 5.7 square feet.

Additionally, there have to be two ways out of a bedroom. Traditionally, these would be a door and a window.

Ekroth adds that, in most markets, a skylight would also qualify as that means of egress. You’ll have to leap from your bed to this upper exit, but that’s another discussion.

What other features are part of a legal bedroom? 

Your “primary bedroom” needs to have heating and cooling amenities

It terms of a heater, a space heater won’t qualify—you must have a radiator or some other connection to the heat source in your house.

Cooling is another story; a simple a window that opens will do, though plopping an AC unit in said window during the summer months wouldn’t hurt.

Does a legal bedroom need a closet?

A bedroom does not need a closet (or a walk-in) to be considered official (forget the en suite bathroom). Your significant other might disagree, but legally, at least in most states, it does not.

Closets are expected in newer homes and definitely in primary bedrooms, but older ones might require a more creative approach to stowing your clothes.

So what can you call a room or space that doesn’t hit these average 7-foot requirements?

Based on your state, you could get away with calling it an “office,” “nursery,” or “bonus room.” Because bedroom or not, just about any indication of extra space will make most buyers’ eyes light up.

If your space is short a foot or two, you might consider an interior remodel project to add square feet and fit the bed you want (even a king-size bed or California king). But most homeowners will try to fit a standard full-size bed, twin bed, or queen-size bed, along with a dresser, in the space to accommodate the size average requirements. But don’t let dreams of more square feet in your average room put you off—a quick renovation in your home or apartment might be the solution, depending on your budget.

If you’re still not sure what makes a bedroom a bedroom, ask your agent before putting your home on the market. Don’t have one yet? Here’s how to find a real estate agent in your area.