When you think of a bedroom, you probably think of a room someone sleeps in – maybe with a window or closet, too. But what actually makes a bedroom a bedroom?
While you can technically sleep anywhere in a house, certain legal requirements dictate what rooms can formally be referred to as “bedrooms” when assessing a home.
Whether you’re looking for a starter home or your forever home, bedrooms are a major selling point for homes and can have a significant impact on a property’s value. That said, if you’re buying a three-bedroom home, you would probably be very disappointed to find that one of the bedrooms was actually just a closet under the staircase.
National and local building codes make sure homes aren’t sold with falsely advertised bedrooms – and also to make sure that the bedrooms that do exist are safe to live and sleep in. To be classified as a legal bedroom in real estate, a room must meet specific requirements for the following:
Room codes and regulations may vary a little from state to state, but for the most part, bedrooms follow the guidelines found in the International Residential Code (IRC).
For a room to count as a true bedroom, it must have at least 70 square feet of floor space with a minimum of 7 feet in one direction. If a room is intended for multiple occupants, there should be a minimum of 50 square feet per person.
A bedroom must also contain at least one method of egress – which is an emergency exit. If a bedroom does not contain a door that opens to the outside, it must contain a window people can access during an emergency.
To be considered a bedroom, a room must have a window that opens at least halfway. It should also be at least 24 inches tall and 20 inches wide and have a minimum opening area of 5.7 square feet. This window must also be no more than 44 inches from the floor unless a step or other permanent installation allows easy access to the window.
A low ceiling may also disqualify a room from being considered a true bedroom. Some states require that at least half of the ceiling in a bedroom must be a minimum of 7 feet tall.
A bedroom must be accessible from at least one common point in the house such as a hallway or living room. In most cases, a room cannot be considered a bedroom if it is only accessible through another bedroom in the home.
Most states require bedrooms to have heating and cooling elements to keep the room comfortable and safe. In warmer states, laws may require a bedroom to have only a cooling unit while heating units may be the only requirement in some cooler states. Be sure you fully understand what is required of bedrooms in your area.
The same regulations that apply to regular bedrooms still hold true with bedrooms located in home basements as well. That means it can sometimes be difficult for basement rooms to qualify as true bedrooms because at least one method of egress that leads directly outdoors is required. The requirement for a window to be no more than 44 inches from the floor can be bypassed in a basement room by using a permanent ladder, but if there are no windows at all, it can’t be called a bedroom.
Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of a home, including the basement, and should also be installed near and within each sleeping area or bedroom in a home, according to the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code.
The absence of a smoke alarm in a bedroom won’t disqualify it from being a true bedroom, especially if the room is in an older home, but it is a good thing to install for safety reasons as soon as possible.
The same regulations that apply to regular bedrooms still hold true with bedrooms located in home basements as well. That means it can sometimes be difficult for basement rooms to qualify as true bedrooms because at least one method of egress that leads directly outdoors is required.
The requirement for a window to be no more than 44 inches from the floor can be bypassed in a basement room by using a permanent ladder, but if there are no windows at all, it can’t be called a bedroom.
If you’re looking to convert extra space in your home into a spare bedroom, make sure that it meets all the above requirements as well as any local regulations. Remember room restrictions don’t always mean a room has to be built with the intention of becoming a bedroom for it to qualify as one – sometimes, you can get creative.
An attic can make a perfectly good bedroom as long as it meets ceiling height requirements and has an acceptable window. A former living room or den is also often a good candidate for a bedroom, since it likely has methods of egress and meets other requirements already.
If you’re struggling to divide up space for a new bedroom, remember that you can utilize room dividers or other large sheet-like objects like pegboard, too. As long as the room as a whole connects to a hallway and has appropriate methods of egress, it shouldn’t matter much how you decide to alter the layout.
Whether you’re buying a home, selling it or just curious, it’s important to know what counts as a true bedroom to avoid confusion. If you’re thinking of adding a bedroom to your home, be sure to research the bedroom requirements in your state to make sure your addition complies with national and local codes.
If you’re ready to begin the home buying process, start your mortgage application online with Rocket Mortgage ® today.
Sidney Richardson is a professional writer for Rocket Companies in Detroit, Michigan who specializes in real estate, homeownership and personal finance content. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism with a minor in advertising from Oakland University.
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