In most Nepali houses, a bedroom is 10 × 12 ft to 12 × 14 ft, a room door is 3 × 7 ft (main door 3.5 × 7 ft) and a window is about 4 × 4 ft. The window sill is usually 2.5 to 3 ft above the floor, the lintel is at 7 ft, and the floor to floor height is 9 to 10 ft.
These are common practice figures that designers and builders use, not legal rules. Minimum sizes and heights are set by your municipality's building bye-laws and the National Building Code, so check those before you finalise a plan.
Standard size of room, door and window in Nepal: common values
| Item | Common size (ft) | Approx. metric |
|---|---|---|
| Bedroom | 10 × 12 to 12 × 14 | 11.15 to 15.61 m² |
| Kitchen | 8 × 10 to 10 × 12 | 7.43 to 11.15 m² |
| Bathroom with toilet | 5 × 7 | 3.25 m² |
| Main door | 3.5 × 7 | 1.07 × 2.13 m |
| Room door | 3 × 7 | 0.91 × 2.13 m |
| Bathroom door | 2.5 × 7 | 0.76 × 2.13 m |
| Window | 4 × 4 | 1.22 × 1.22 m |
| Window sill height | 2.5 to 3 | 0.76 to 0.91 m |
| Lintel level | 7 | 2.13 m |
| Floor to floor height | 9 to 10 | 2.74 to 3.05 m |
How the heights fit together
The 7 ft lintel level is the key line. Door tops and window tops are kept at the same level so that one lintel band can run around the building. That band also ties the walls together, which helps in earthquakes.
With a 3 ft sill and a 4 ft tall window, the window top lands at 3 + 4 = 7 ft, right at the lintel. With a 2.5 ft sill, either use a 4.5 ft tall window or accept a small gap of masonry above it.
Above the lintel there is a band about 6 inches deep, then wall up to the slab. With a 10 ft floor to floor height and a slab of about 5 inches, the clear height of the room is roughly 9.5 ft.
Check the bye-laws and building code
Each municipality publishes building bye-laws that set minimum room sizes, ceiling heights, setbacks, and light and ventilation needs. Kathmandu Valley municipalities and others outside the valley can have different numbers, so get the current copy from your ward or municipal office.
For the structure, NBC 205 covers small reinforced concrete buildings and sets limits such as storey height, beam span and column size. NBC 206 deals with architectural design requirements. A licensed engineer should check that your plan meets these before you submit it for naksa pass.
To budget a plan with these sizes, use the house construction cost estimator. The staircase calculator helps fit stairs into a 9 to 10 ft floor height, and the tile calculator gives flooring for each room.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard door size in Nepal?
Room doors are commonly 3 × 7 ft and main doors 3.5 × 7 ft. Bathroom doors are often 2.5 × 7 ft. These are common choices, not legal sizes.
What is the minimum bedroom size?
It depends on your municipality's bye-laws. A 10 × 12 ft room is a common practical size for a bed, wardrobe and walking space.
Why is the lintel at 7 ft?
A 7 ft door clears most people comfortably and leaves room above for the lintel band and wall up to the slab within a 9 to 10 ft storey.
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