Hospital Room Sizes: How Small Is Too Small?

The size of a hospital room can vary depending on the type of hospital, the number of beds, and regional differences. As of December 2024, the average US hospital size was nearly 354,000 square feet, with hospitals having 100 or fewer beds averaging under 200,000 square feet. While there is no standard size for a small hospital room, design requirements specify a minimum room area of 120 square feet for private rooms and 100 square feet for double-occupancy rooms. These rooms typically include a sleeping area, a toilet, and sometimes a shower, with access to a handwashing facility. To create a pleasant atmosphere, lighting and acoustics are also important considerations, along with the functionality of technical equipment and hygiene.

Room size regulations

Regulations for room size in inpatient facilities and units specify that each new patient sleeping room must have a minimum area of 120 square feet (11.15 sq m) per bed for private rooms and 100 square feet (9.29 sq m) per bed for double-occupancy rooms. These measurements exclude the area of the toilet room, as well as any permanently attached or built-in closets, lockers, or wardrobes.

Toilet rooms are an essential component of patient sleeping rooms, and regulations stipulate that each toilet room should serve no more than two beds and one resident room, unless the facility is located within an existing hospital or nursing home. The door to the toilet room should be side-hinged and swing outward, or it can be a sliding barn-style door without a bottom track, ensuring a clear opening of at least 32 inches (813 mm) in width.

In double-occupancy patient rooms, privacy is a key consideration. Regulations mandate that sleeping areas should be separated by a wall or partition to enhance acoustic and visual privacy. Each patient should have direct visual access to an exterior window at all times, and their privacy should be maintained with the use of doors or cubicle curtains. The room design should not restrict a patient's access to essential amenities, including the room entrance, resident armchair, toilet, bathroom, wardrobe, exterior window, or closet.

Beyond the sleeping rooms, inpatient facilities and units must also provide a range of additional rooms and amenities. These include a nurses' station, clean workroom, soiled workroom, nourishment station, clean linen storage room, and a multipurpose lounge for various activities.

Toilet access

Toilet rooms in hospitals must accommodate patients with restricted mobility and agility. This includes the provision of bedpans and handheld urinals, and bedside commodes, which are portable toilets that can be placed next to the bed. Extensive handrail systems and call cords are often installed to assist patients in moving between the bed and toilet.

In terms of space requirements, patient bathrooms have evolved over time. Older bathrooms from the 1970s might measure less than 20 net square feet and include only a toilet and sink. Today, the inclusion of a shower in acute care bathrooms has increased the standard size to 30 net square feet, with additional space required for ADAAG compliance, safe patient handling, and bariatric patient needs. The placement of the shower, sink, and toilet within the bathroom should be carefully considered to balance water penetration, patient accessibility, and infection control.

Design guidelines specify that each patient should have direct visual access to an exterior window from their bed and that toilet access should not be restricted. This balance between privacy and accessibility is a key consideration in hospital room design.

Lighting

While I wasn't able to find specific information about the size of a small hospital room, I can provide details about lighting in a hospital room.

The lighting in a hospital room is an important aspect of the patient experience and can even play a direct role in the quality of care they receive. The CIBSE guidelines for lighting in hospitals, published in their Lighting Guide 2 in 2008, provide detailed advice on lighting levels and design.

When it comes to lighting in hospital rooms, there are a few key metrics to consider. One is the Color Rendering Index (CRI), which measures the visual effect of a light source on the perceived color of objects it illuminates. In hospitals, a CRI of at least 82 is recommended, while in areas where higher color accuracy is important, such as exam rooms and operating rooms, a CRI of 90 or more is ideal.

Another important consideration is the correlated color temperature (CCT), which gauges how yellow or blue a light appears and is measured in Kelvin. In hospitals, a color temperature in the 2700K to 3000K range is generally recommended to create a warm and welcoming environment.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported in 2007 that 90% of hospitals were using compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), but LEDs have since taken over the marketplace. LEDs offer a range of benefits, including reduced energy usage and maintenance costs.

To ensure patient comfort and adequate lighting for reading and other tasks, a minimum lux level of 300 is recommended, with the task area illuminated around the patient's torso rather than the pillow area. Controls can also be implemented to allow only essential room lights to turn on when necessary, promoting better patient sleep without compromising the accuracy of tasks performed by nurses.

Technical equipment

Patient Sleeping Room

• Emergency nurse call station
• Hand washing facilities
• Toilet room with a water closet, grab bars, and a bedpan-rinsing device

Nurses' Station

• Charting space for clinical staff
• Hand washing facilities

Clean Workroom

• Work counter
• Hand wash facility
• Storage facilities
• Covered waste receptacle

Soiled Workroom

• Service sink with a rinsing device
• Work counter
• Hand-washing facility
• Storage facilities
• Covered waste and linen receptacles

Other Equipment

• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) Machine: Monitors and records electrical activity of the heart to detect problems like arrhythmias or heart attacks.
• Infusion Pump: Delivers fluids, medication, or nutrients directly into a patient's circulatory system.
• MRI Machine: Provides detailed images of the body's organs and tissues using magnetic fields and radio waves.
• Pulse Oximeter: Measures oxygen saturation levels in the blood, crucial for patients with respiratory or cardiac issues.
• Stethoscope: Used to listen to internal body sounds.
• X-Ray Machine: Allows doctors to view the inside of the body, especially bones, to diagnose fractures, infections, or tumors.
• Ultrasound Machine: Used for maternity, general surgery, and orthopedic purposes.
• Autoclave: Sterilizes equipment and supplies using high-pressure saturated steam.
• Centrifuge
• Refrigerator
• Microscope
• Incubator

Family accommodations

When it comes to family accommodations in a hospital, various factors come into play to ensure a comfortable and functional space for patients and their loved ones. Here are some considerations and guidelines for family accommodations in a hospital setting:

Space and Layout

The Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) provides recommendations for patient room sizes. While the ideal minimum size is suggested as 250 square feet, innovative designs have challenged this recommendation, proving that smaller spaces can be optimised through thoughtful planning. A typical patient room size ranges from 120 to 140 square feet, allowing adequate clearance around the bed. For family-centred rooms, the FGI recommends an additional 30 square feet for each family member expected to stay.

Amenities and Comforts

Lighting and Acoustics

Lighting plays a crucial role in creating a pleasant atmosphere that promotes patients' recovery. The Human Centric Lighting (HCL) concept mimics natural daylight and varies throughout the day to support patients' circadian rhythms. Warm white light creates a cosy and relaxing environment. Acoustics are also important, as noise from medical equipment or external sources can impact recovery. Sound-absorbing materials, such as acoustic ceilings and wall panelling, should be incorporated into the design to reduce noise levels.

Accessibility and Safety

Hospital rooms should be designed with accessibility in mind, ensuring barrier-free access and adequate space for movement. Doors should have a minimum clear width of 1.25 metres and a height of 2.10 metres to allow easy passage for patient beds and medical equipment. Slip-resistant floor coverings in bathrooms are essential for safety, and thresholds should be avoided for smooth transitions between spaces.

Technical Considerations

Technical equipment and infrastructure are vital aspects of hospital room design. Supply rails above beds should provide sufficient electrical sockets for medical devices, height-adjustable beds, and infusion pumps. Patient call-light components and connections for medical gases are also necessary. To accommodate mobile aids and ensure flexibility, furniture should be easily movable, and cupboards should be easily accessible. Hygiene is a key consideration, with frequently touched surfaces made of antibacterial materials to minimise the transmission of germs.

Frequently asked questions