How big is a typical townhouse in Australia?
New townhouses built in Australia averaged 156.9 square metres of floor area in 2018-19, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). That is the most recent ABS figure this guide found that separates townhouses from apartments, which averaged 108.2 square metres, and from houses, which averaged 229.8. Individual townhouses range well either side of the average, and the figure is measured to the outside of the walls, not the internal living space. Figures were checked in October 2026.
Checked October 2026. Rules, rates and prices change, so confirm anything that matters with the source linked below.
Typical floor area
The ABS counts the floor area of new private-sector dwellings, using the external perimeter of the exterior walls and including attachments to the dwelling. It excludes unenclosed verandahs, carports and similar structures attached outside the walls. The ABS articles this guide read do not explicitly say whether garages are in or out.
| Dwelling type | Average floor area, 2004-05 | Average floor area, 2018-19 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houses | 236.3 m² | 229.8 m² | down 6.5 m² |
| Townhouses | 152.7 m² | 156.9 m² | up 4.2 m² |
| Apartments | 127.2 m² | 108.2 m² | down 19.0 m² |
The ABS says the apartment figure is biased upwards because it divides a whole building's floor area, including hallways and other shared space, by the number of dwellings.
Browse new townhouses
See the townhouse developments selling now, with bedrooms, prices and completion dates, city by city.
By state
The ABS has also published a state breakdown for 2021-22, but it combines townhouses and apartments in a group called "other residential dwellings". The average for that group was 137.0 square metres nationally, against 232.3 for new houses.
| State or territory | New houses | Other residential (townhouses and apartments) |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria | 240.8 m² | 150.1 m² |
| New South Wales | 239.4 m² | 118.7 m² |
| Queensland | 226.1 m² | 148.1 m² |
| Western Australia | 223.2 m² | 154.1 m² |
| South Australia | 213.4 m² | 159.8 m² |
| ACT | 258.9 m² | 125.8 m² |
| Tasmania | 182.4 m² | 109.4 m² |
| Northern Territory | 218.2 m² | 182.2 m² |
The second column mixes two dwelling types, so it is not a townhouse-only figure. Differences between states may partly reflect how many apartments each state builds.
Land and planning rules
Floor area is one measure and land is another. Planning rules for the land a townhouse needs are set by states and councils, and they differ.
- NSW: the NSW Department of Planning defines a dual occupancy as two dwellings on one lot. Council minimums vary. Randwick Council lists 275 square metres per lot for Torrens subdivision of a dual occupancy in the R2 zone outside heritage areas (400 inside them) and 275 square metres per dwelling for strata. Sutherland Shire Council says a dual occupancy site in its R2 zone must exceed 600 square metres.
- Victoria: the Townhouse and Low-Rise Code sets private open space at 25 square metres at ground level for each dwelling, tree canopy at 10 per cent of sites under 1,000 square metres, and site coverage by zone. A council guide to the code gives 65 per cent in the General Residential Zone and 70 per cent in the Residential Growth and Mixed Use zones, while the state's summary describes a range of 60 to 70 per cent.
- Western Australia: the Residential Design Codes Volume 1 require an outdoor living area for grouped dwellings with a minimum length and width of 4 metres, and set site area requirements by density code.
Other states set their own rules in local planning schemes, so the council is the place to confirm what applies to a particular site.
Worked example: three townhouses on 600 square metres
This is arithmetic only, not a planning assessment. Take a 600 square metre site in a Victorian General Residential Zone with three townhouses.
- Site coverage at 65 per cent: 600 x 0.65 = 390 square metres of building footprint across the site.
- Per townhouse: 390 divided by 3 = 130 square metres of footprint each.
- Over two levels, that footprint could hold up to 260 square metres of floor area per townhouse, before stairs and walls.
- Uncovered land: 600 minus 390 = 210 square metres for driveways, courtyards and trees.
- Private open space at 25 square metres for each of three dwellings: 3 x 25 = 75 square metres, leaving 135 square metres.
- Tree canopy at 10 per cent of the site: 600 x 0.10 = 60 square metres.
The ABS average of 156.9 square metres is within the 260 square metres that footprint could hold. Garages, setbacks, car parking and neighbour overlooking also take space, and the code covers those too.
Reading the areas on a floor plan
Different documents use different figures, so ask what each one includes.
| Figure | Ask whether it includes |
|---|---|
| Living area or internal area | Walls, stairs, and the garage |
| Total area or under roof | Garage, porch, alfresco and balcony |
| Land or lot size | Whether the title is Torrens or strata |
The land figure needs particular care. In a NSW strata plan, the lot is the space inside the walls, floor and ceiling, and anything outside the lot is common property, which the NSW Land Registry Services guide defines as any part of the parcel that is not a lot. So a courtyard can sit outside the lot on a strata title, and the plan shows how it is treated. The guide to Torrens and strata title explains the difference, and the guide to townhouse layouts shows how areas get used.
Common questions
- How many square metres is a typical townhouse?
The ABS average for new townhouses was 156.9 square metres in 2018-19, measured to the outside of the walls. Houses averaged 229.8 and apartments 108.2. Individual plans vary, so check the stated area in your plan and what it includes.
- How big is a three-bedroom townhouse?
The ABS articles this guide read do not give averages by bedroom count, and no official figure was found. Plan areas for three-bedroom townhouses vary with the number of storeys, garage type and layout. Ask for the internal area and the total area, and what each includes.
- Are townhouses getting smaller?
Not in the ABS data to 2018-19. Average new townhouse floor area rose from 152.7 square metres in 2004-05 to 156.9 in 2018-19, an increase of 4.2. Apartments fell by 19.0 over the same period and houses by 6.5. Later years are not covered by that series.
- How much land does a townhouse sit on?
It depends on the lot, the title and the project. Planning minimums for dual occupancies in Randwick range from 275 to 400 square metres per lot. In a strata scheme the lot may be only the building, with the land held as common property. Ask for the land area for your title type.
- Does the garage count in the floor area?
The ABS includes attachments to a dwelling but does not say whether garages are in or out. Builders and agents may include or exclude them, so ask. The listing or plan should say whether a figure covers living area only or everything under the roof.
Keep reading
- What are the common townhouse floor plans and layouts?
- What should you look for when visiting a townhouse display home?
- What are the pros and cons of buying a townhouse?
- How much land do you need to build three townhouses?
- Who owns and maintains a shared wall between townhouses?
- What is the difference between a townhouse and a duplex?
Sources
- Characteristics of new residential dwellings: 15 year summary, Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Average floor area of new residential dwellings, Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Applicant guide to dual occupancies, NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
- Dual occupancies, Randwick City Council
- Dual occupancy development, Sutherland Shire Council
- How the new Townhouse and Low-Rise Code works, Victorian Department of Transport and Planning
- Townhouse and Low-Rise Code guide for residents, City of Greater Geelong (council summary)
- Residential Design Codes Volume 1, WA Government
- What is common property, NSW Land Registry Services
This is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Get advice that suits your situation before you buy.