Before I went to college, I didn’t know much about any type of dorm besides a double dorm. I didnât know that there are four different types of dorm rooms with varying sizes and layouts, giving students way more living options then they probably knew about before applying.
In general, the size of college dorms rank in this order from biggest to smallest: quad style dorm rooms (190 – 299 square feet), triple style dorm rooms (190 – 298 square feet), double dorm rooms (190 – 228 square feet) and single dorm rooms (170-198 square feet).
Just because a dorm room is bigger, however, doesnât mean youâll get more personal space inside of it, thanks to roommates. Thatâs why I divided each ranking by both square feet and personal space.
Ranked By Square Feet
1. Quad Style Dorm Rooms
Quad style dorms are usually the biggest dorm rooms youâll find out there, no matter what school you go to. On average, they range from 190 – 299 square feet or more.
Here is an example of what a quad style dorm could look like. They are usually this big because, as the name suggests, four people are meant to live here. Not all of these dorms are set up the same way, however. Some of them have beds like these, but others opt for bunk beds, or maybe even two different rooms where a pair of students will sleep in one room and the other sleeps in the one next door.
2. Triple Style Dorm Rooms
Triple style dorm rooms can sometimes be the second biggest type of dorm room that you see. Other times, however, theyâre the size of double dorm rooms and two beds are stacked on top of one another (a.k.a, bunk beds). On average, they range from 190 – 298 square feet or more. Here is an example of a triple dorm room thatâs bigger than a double dorm. Next, hereâs an example of a double with bunk beds, making it a triple. These arenât the only two set-ups youâll find however.
Colleges are more fancy and creative with their living spaces than you might think. Since this is true, you should try to take a look at what the triple dorms in the college that you want to attend look like. You can do this online if you have the option, or for an even better feel, you can get a tour of the dorms in-person. Bottom line is, if you donât want any surprises, donât dive into a living space head first without getting to know your campus beforehand.
3. Double Dorm Rooms
Since double dorms are the most common type of dorm room, I probably donât need to tell you the average square footage..but I will anyway. Itâll usually range from 190 – 228 square feet. Hereâs an example of what that could look like. This could obviously vary. For example, When I lived in a dorm room it was a suite style one, so it was a little bigger than the other double dorm options on campus. But this isnât as wild as it gets.
There are a lot of different ways that a double dorm can be set-up. To avoid any surprises, unless you want them, you should visit your schoolâs website to get the specifics on what kind of double dorm you can expect. Better yet, go visit the campus to see the dorms in person. Since this type of room is so common, youâll likely be shown it during a campus tour without having to ask, unlike the other, less common dorm types.
4. Single Dorm Rooms
This is usually the smallest type of dorm that youâre going to get. On average, they range from 170-198 square feet. Hereâs an example of what that looks like. A single dorm can appear bigger if it comes with a private bathroom, but other than that they donât really vary that much in size outside of the normal range.
Unlike double, triple and quad style dorms that can be set up in various ways depending on what school you go to, single dorms tend to stay fairly the same no matter what school youâre at. This can be an advantage if you prefer to know what to expect without having to look at the dorm. If youâre not a fan of traditional dorm setups, then a single dorm might not be for you.
Ranked By Personal Space
1. Single Dorm Rooms
Even though youâre not going to get the most physical space in a single dorm, youâll definitely have the most personal space, seeing as the whole thing is yours. If youâre used to having your own room at home, then you can pretty much treat the dorm like you would your room. Youâll still have to follow a couple of rules of course, but other than that you can enjoy your extra privacy and the freedom that comes with it. On the other hand, not having a roommate in exchange for extra personal space can make for a lonely year of college.
For many freshmen, their roommate becomes the first person they get to know the campus with, so not having a roommate will rob you of that opportunity. Additionally, youâll have to buy everything for the dorm yourself, adding to the already expensive cost of living in a single dorm. Youâll also have to clean it yourself. If having the additional freedom and privacy of a single dorm is enough to outweigh these couple of negatives, then sign up for a single dorm as soon as you can because theyâre always in demand.
Want to know more pros and cons of living in a single dorm? Check out this post!
2. Double Dorm Rooms
If you donât land a single dorm, then a double dorm is a somewhat close second. Like I said before, different colleges have different ways of setting up double dorm rooms. You can either get a good amount of elbow room or feel like youâre right on top of one another. If youâre looking to get a shot at having more room to yourself, aim for a dorm with a suite style bathroom. This will give you a better chance of the dorm being bigger.
If youâre unfamiliar with what itâs like to live in this type of dorm, read this to get a feel for it. Even if you end up having more room to yourself, youâll always have to share half of the room, so if youâre not used to sharing space or living with a roommate in general, then read this guide on how to get used to doing that. Sharing a space with someone has its perks.
You can both save money by splitting your shopping list between one another and sharing your stuff with one another. You can also split the chores between two people instead of having to clean everything yourself. This leaves you with extra time to get other important stuff done. Still not sure if you want a roommate or not? Check out this post to find out if having a roommate is the right lifestyle for you.
3. Quad Style Dorm Rooms
Quad Style Dorms have the second to least amount of personal space. Sharing a single room with four other college kids doesnât leave space for the most breathing room. Granted, you wonât all be there at the same time all the time, but your stuff will. Each of you are going to have your hygiene products, clothes, decor, electronics, luggage bags, extra bedding, and other things that youâll each need to function throughout the year.
You see how that can add up fast when you multiply it by four people? As Iâve mentioned with the previous dorm rooms, I strongly suggest sharing items and splitting up the shopping list between all four of you. On the bright side, youâll each be saving more money than people with less roommates. On another bright side, since you have to keep the dorm clean to make it a suitable place to live, youâll get to split the chores between four people.
This leaves each of you with more time to focus on your studies instead of housekeeping. When you think about it that way, maybe some colleges are smart to have quad style dorms. They save their students money and time, but on the flip side, they have to work harder to make sure they get along.
4. Triple Style Dorm Rooms
Even though this is in last place, it is interchangeable with quad style dorms in terms of how much personal space is available. Triple dorms come in last place if itâs set up in a bunk bed style fashion. As Iâve mentioned above, this means that youâll likely be staying in a double dorm room, but the only difference is that three people are staying in there instead of two. This takes a heavy blow to how much elbow room youâll have. If the three of you donât get along, then this can be a nightmare situation.
To learn how to get along with multiple roommates, check out this post. On the other hand, you might not mind the lack of personal space if youâre more of an extrovert and enjoy the company of other people. If people arenât your forte, however, at least youâll be able to save money by splitting the costs of dorm items. Youâll also have more people to split the cleaning chores with.