San Diego Apartment Sizes Stayed Stagnant in 2025
Local renters saw no change in new apartment sizes, even as national unit averages grew.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Apartments
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The average new apartment size in San Diego remained at 827 square feet in 2025, landing the city 72nd out of 100 cities nationwide. This stability stands in contrast to national trends, where average new unit sizes increased by 13 square feet during the same year.
Why it matters
While developers elsewhere are building larger units to compete for tenants, space in San Diego new construction remains limited compared to the national average of 910 square feet. This trend reflects broader regional density challenges, with future projects under construction averaging even smaller at 704 square feet.
San Diego ranked 72nd nationally with 827 square feet, trailing other California markets like Fresno at 980 square feet and Irvine at 950 square feet. New construction currently in progress is trending downward, with an average size of just 704 square feet.
The players
San Diego
A major California housing market that currently ranks 72nd out of 100 cities for new apartment size.
The details
New apartment sizing is driven by developer competition and regional land costs, which allow for larger footprints in Southern markets like Tallahassee compared to coastal California. In contrast to 2015 when local unit sizes were increasing, the current landscape in San Diego is seeing a shift toward denser, smaller projects. These figures reflect the average square footage of units completed throughout the calendar year.
Timeline
2015: San Diego apartment sizes were recorded as increasing.
2025: The average new apartment size in San Diego remained at 827 square feet.
The Home Front
San Diego's current apartment size data marks a clear departure from the national trend where average unit sizes expanded in 2025. This stagnation highlights a persistent mismatch between local housing density pressures and the larger floor plans seen in more affordable real estate markets.
If you are planning to relocate, research the specific square footage of new-construction units rather than relying on historical neighborhood averages. Monitor future listings for project-specific floor plans, as units under construction are currently averaging smaller footprints.
The takeaway
San Diego renters should expect new construction to prioritize higher density, as projects currently underway are trending toward smaller square footages. Keep this 704-square-foot average in mind when comparing current rental listings against older building stock.
Further reading
For more insight into how your living space compares to city-wide trends, read our Apartments section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by San Diego Union-Tribune.
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