COVID-19 and WFH impact: Average flat size in top 7 cities increased by 10% in 2020

New Delhi, January 21, 2021: In a major trend reversal in the post-COVID-19 pandemic world, ‘bigger is better’ is once again the catch-phrase on the Indian housing market. The average apartment sizes in the top 7 cities have risen by 10 percent on a yearly basis – to 1,150 sq. ft. in 2020 from 1,050 sq. ft. in 2019, ANAROCK data suggested.

The average apartment size is still highest in Hyderabad at 1,750 sq. ft. among the top cities – approx. 2x bigger than that in MMR where, at 932 sq. ft., average sizes continue to be the lowest. MMR nevertheless saw the maximum rise of 21 percent – from 773 sq. ft. in 2019 to 932 sq. ft. in 2020. Pune came next with a 12% annual increase in average apartment sizes – from 878 sq. ft. in 2019 to 986 sq. ft. in 2020, according to the data.

Developers were quick to catch on that size matters again and the second half of 2020 saw average apartment sizes in the top 7 cities increased by approximately 10 percent. MMR and Pune, which had the smallest average flat sizes among all top cities, saw the maximum increase in 2020 over the previous year – by 21 percent and 12 percent, respectively.

Bengaluru’s average apartment size also increased by 3 percent – from 1,280 sq. ft. in 2019 to 1,320 sq. ft. in 2020.

In NCR, average apartment size was 1,290 sq. ft. in 2020 as against 1,250 sq. ft. in 2019 – a y-o-y increase of 3 percent, it said.