Typical Shenzhen apartment layouts

A practical reference for what a studio, 1BR, 2BR, or 3BR looks like in Shenzhen — by floor area, room sizes, kitchen and bathroom count, and what to check before signing.

Sizes are reference ranges. New Nanshan and Futian builds skew larger; older stock and Bao’an / Longhua skew smaller.

Studio

Floor area: 25 to 45 sq m.
Living arrangement: Single open space with a sleeping area, often a kitchenette, sometimes a small balcony.
Bathroom: One, walk-in shower.
Kitchen: Kitchenette with 1 or 2 burners and a small fridge. Full kitchens at the top end.
Storage: Limited; usually a wardrobe and under-bed.
Best for: Solo founders, engineers on rotation, students.

What to check: ceiling height (some are <2.6m and feel low), window direction (south-facing is the SZ default), and whether the unit has a dedicated work desk or you will need one.

1BR

Floor area: 50 to 80 sq m.
Living arrangement: Separate bedroom, a living area, a closed-plan kitchen.
Bathroom: One, walk-in shower.
Kitchen: Closed-plan with a 4-burner gas hob, range hood, small to medium fridge. Open-plan western kitchens exist in newer buildings but cost more.
Storage: A wardrobe in the bedroom, usually a hallway cupboard, occasionally a balcony for storage and laundry.
Best for: Solo professional, couple without kids, long-term remote worker.

What to check: where the washing machine sits (balcony is most common; bathroom in older stock), and whether the kitchen has a window (Shenzhen humidity makes ventilation matter).

2BR

Floor area: 70 to 130 sq m.
Living arrangement: Two bedrooms, separate living and dining area, closed-plan or semi-open kitchen.
Bathroom: One or two. Two is increasingly standard above 90 sq m.
Kitchen: Full closed-plan kitchen with 4-burner gas hob, range hood, medium fridge. Some newer units offer an open-plan kitchen island.
Storage: Wardrobes in both bedrooms; sometimes a built-in entryway shoe cabinet (玄关柜).
Best for: Couple with one child, couple working from home (one bedroom as office), small family.

What to check: whether the second bedroom is a real bedroom or a “study” sized for a single bed only.

3BR

Floor area: 100 to 180 sq m.
Living arrangement: Three bedrooms, separate living and dining, often a balcony and a service balcony.
Bathroom: Two as standard, three in larger units (often with a master en-suite and a maid’s room en-suite).
Kitchen: Full kitchen, sometimes with both a Chinese cooking area (closed, with gas hob) and a Western prep area.
Storage: Wardrobes in all bedrooms, hallway storage, sometimes a separate maid’s room (~5 to 8 sq m).
Best for: Family with two or more children, expat household with guests, founder team co-living.

What to check: whether the third bedroom is a usable bedroom or a 5 sq m “maid’s room” with no window.

Maid’s room (保姆房)

Common in 3BR+ units. Typically 5 to 8 sq m, near the kitchen, with its own (often shared) bathroom. Designed for live-in domestic help (ayi). Can be repurposed as a small office or storage if you do not employ live-in help.

Outdoor space

Balcony (阳台). Most apartments have at least one. Often used for laundry rather than seating.
Service balcony (生活阳台). Smaller second balcony off the kitchen, used for sinks and storage.
Terrace. Rare except in penthouse units or compound-edge ground-floor units.

Kitchen specifics

Gas hob is standard (4 burners, sometimes 5). Electric induction is rare except in serviced apartments and some new builds.
Oven. Not standard. A built-in oven is a premium feature.
Dishwasher. Increasingly common in 2BR+ newer builds; not universal.
Fridge size. Defaults to small. Bring or buy a larger one if you cook western.
Range hood. Standard; Chinese cooking generates a lot of smoke and ventilation matters.

Bathroom specifics

Walk-in showers are the norm. Bathtubs are rare and seen as a premium / family feature.
Toilets are western style; squat toilets are uncommon in residential units.
Hot water is typically gas-heated, on demand. Some units use solar pre-heat with electric boost.
Floor drain is standard; the bathroom is designed for full water exposure.

What to check before signing

Ceiling height (anything under 2.7m feels low for tall foreigners).
Soundproofing (knock walls; high-rises are usually concrete but interior walls vary).
Water pressure (run the shower at peak times).
AC age (older split units are noisy and inefficient).
Window direction and floor (south-facing high-floor is the local premium).
Wifi viability (check whether the building permits foreign-brand routers).
Lift count and lift waiting times at rush hour (test it).

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