3-room HDB flat types were an integral component of the public housing scheme in the early 1960s, when the Housing Development Board (HDB) was set up to provide low-cost housing and move people out from squatters.
Today, there are over 1 million HDB flats across 24 towns and 3 estates, accommodating close to 80% of the resident population, of which around 17% live in 3-room flats. Over the years, residents were not only offered different (and bigger) flat types but also a few variations from the initial 3-room model that evolved over the years to the changing needs and aspirations of homeowners.
Here’s a look at the different variations of 3-room HDB flats that are available to homebuyers.
Read Also: 4A, 4S, 4I: Why Are There So Many Types Of HDB 4-Room Flats In Singapore
Buying A 3-Room Flat Directly From HDB
HDB flat buyers who are keen on a 3-room unit can purchase directly from HDB if they meet the conditions set under any of the couples and families schemes. Additionally, 3-room flats may either have a lower monthly household income ceiling requirement of $7,000 or a higher ceiling of $14,000, depending on the project. Typically, projects in mature towns have a higher income ceiling.
Each 3-room HDB flat comes with two bedrooms, one of which is a master bedroom with an attached bathroom. There is an additional common bathroom, along with a living/dining room and a kitchen. In recent times, 3-room flats have been designed with an open kitchen concept comprising a dry kitchen and a combined kitchen/utility space. This allows homeowners more flexibility to partition the space (as indicated by the dotted lines) according to their preferences.
Moreover, each unit also has a household shelter-cum-storeroom that has strengthened walls, floors, ceilings, and a specially designed door.
Source: HDB – Plantation Edge I & II
Overall, a 3-room flat offers a compact living space that could be an ideal living accommodation for those with a small family size.
Understanding The Different 3-Room Variations Available On The Open Market: 3STD, 3I, 3NG, 3S, And 3A
The open (or resale) market is another way that eligible residents can buy a 3-room flat. Over the years, there have been many variations of the 3-room flat type, which are often recognised by their different acronyms.
3-Room Standard (STD)
The first variation of 3-room flats is known as standard (STD) and was built roughly from 1960 to 1973. The sizes for this variation of units are typically around 54 to 71 sqm (or 581 to 764 sqft).
Unlike the new 3-room units today, this model type does not come with an attached master bedroom toilet. Instead, the common bathroom has separate shower and water closet (WC) facilities. Additionally, these units may not have storerooms unless they have undergone home improvement upgrading projects (HIP).
3-Room Improved (3I)
Following the initial model, the 3-room Improved (3I) variation built around 1966–1988 is slightly bigger than its predecessor, ranging from 60 to 76 sqm (645 to 818 sqft).
However, much of the design, including the shared refuse chute in the kitchen and separate toilet and bath facilities, remains the same as the 3STD model.
3-Room Terrace Houses
A unique 3-room flat type that was built by the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) around 1968–1972 is the terrace house. These are the only landed houses in the stock of public housing flat types, making them highly sought-after and among the upper end of resale transactions.
Located at Jalan Bahagia (Whampoa) and Stirling Road (Queenstown), these 3-room maisonettes sized around 90–155 sqm (968–1,668 sqft) have separate toilet and bath facilities, a storeroom, and two-bedroom rooms on the second floor.
3-Room New Generation (3NG)
Some major changes to the features of 3-room flats were initiated with the New Generation (NG) model. Built from roughly 1976 to 1989, these units were sized between 67 to 88 sqm (721 to 947 sqft).
Units under this model offered two modern-day toilets, one attached to the master bedroom.
3-Room Simplified (3S)
Another variation of 3-room flats that were built in the 1980s was the Simplified (S) model. These types of flats also featured two full-sized toilets, but at a generally smaller size of 65 sqm (699 sqft) than the 3NG model.
3-Room Premium Apartment
Another type of 3-room variation offered to flat buyers in the mid-1990s were the premium apartments. These models were built with a higher quality of home finishing and offered full-height windows, tiling, wall painting, built-in wardrobes, and doors.
They also offer a more premium exterior façade with manicured gardens and communal facilities. These model of flats ranges in size from 65 to 68 sqm (699 to 731 sq ft), with some recent ones built in 2016–2017, such as those at McNair Towers (Whampoa).
3-Room Model A (3A)
After a hiatus in the 1980s, HDB only resumed building new 3-room flats in 2004. These flats are classified as Model A (3A) and have an average size of between 60 and 68 sqm (645 to 731 sq ft). They also feature modern facilities such as a centralised chute outside the unit and a household shelter.
Summary
Generally, the type of 3-room model does not affect the flat pricing as opposed to the location, unique attributes of the flat, and lease balance. However, as a buyer, you may wish to consider the model closely, as the flat features, size and layouts differ for older flats compared to the newer flats built in the 1990s.
| Flat Variation | Size (sqm) | Built Period | Flat Features |
| 3-Room Standard (STD) | 53–71 sqm | 1960–1973 | – Two bedrooms – Shower and bath are separated – No attached master bedroom toilet – Living/dining – No storeroom |
| 3-Room Improved (3I) | 60–76 sqm | 1966–1986 | – Two bedrooms – Shower and bath are separated – No attached master bedroom toilet – Living/dining – No storeroom |
| 3-room Terrace Houses | 90–155 sqm | 1968–1972 | – Maisonette unit with two bedrooms on second floor – Living/dining – Shower and bath are separated – Storeroom |
| 3-Room New Generation (3NG) | 67–88 sqm | 1976–1989 | – Two bedrooms – Two full sized toilets; master bedroom with attached bathroom – Living/dining – Storeroom |
| 3-Room Simplified (3S) | 65 sqm | 1984–1989 | – Two bedrooms – Two full sized toilets; master bedroom with attached bathroom – Living/dining |
| 3-Room Premium Apartment | 65 sqm | 2016 | – Two bedrooms – Two full sized toilets; master bedroom with attached bathroom – Living/dining – Household shelther – Centralised refuse chute |
| 3-Room Model A (3A) | 60–62 sqm 65–70 sqm |
2002–2008; 2008–present |
– Two bedrooms – Two full sized toilets; master bedroom with attached bathroom – Living/dining – Household shelther – Centralised refuse chute |
Estates That Have The Highest And Lowest Proportion Of 3-Room Flats To The Different Dwelling Types
Another consideration to take note of when buying a resale 3-room flat is the supply of such flats in the estate of choice. When there is a higher supply of a particular flat type, the prices might generally be more competitive than at estates with a limited supply of them.
Typically, most housing estates in Singapore consist of a mix of both public and private housing types. For HDB flats, they include 2-room flats, 3-room flats, 4-room flats, 5-room flats, and executive flats, while for private housing, they include condominiums and landed properties.
Among these different dwelling types, the following estates have a higher proportion of 3-room flat types:
- Ang Mo Kio (33.97%)
- Queenstown (29.32%)
- Toa Payoh (28.04%)
- Clementi (26.86%)
- Geylang (24.92%)
While the following estates have the lowest proportion of 3-room flat types:
- Pasir Ris (0.58%)
- Bukit Timah (1.06%)
- Choa Chu Kang (3.46%)
- Sengkang (4.27%)
- Sembawang (4.69%)
Read Also: Which Are The Most And Least Dense Housing Estates In Singapore?
Most Expensive And Cheapest Estates For 3-Room HDB Flats
Here’s a price reference for 3-Room HDB flats based on the median home prices and rent (for the whole unit) across all the towns:
| Towns | Median Price | Median Rent |
| Ang Mo Kio | $385,000 | $2,700 |
| Bedok | $370,000 | $2,700 |
| Bishan | * | $2,800 |
| Bukit Batok | $385,000 | $2,600 |
| Bukit Merah | $439,500 | $3,000 |
| Bukit Panjang | $400,000 | $2,600 |
| Bukit Timah | * | * |
| Central | $470,000 | $3,080 |
| Choa Chu Kang | $391,500 | $2,300 |
| Clementi | $397,500 | $2,900 |
| Geylang | $330,000 | $2,700 |
| Hougang | $390,000 | $2,580 |
| Jurong East | $380,000 | $2,680 |
| Jurong West | $360,000 | $2,700 |
| Kallang/Whampoa | $385,000 | $2,700 |
| Marine Parade | * | $3,000 |
| Pasir Ris | * | * |
| Punggol | $470,000 | $2,800 |
| Queenstown | $389,400 | $3,000 |
| Sembawang | $447,500 | * |
| Sengkang | $465,000 | $2,900 |
| Serangoon | $420,000 | $2,700 |
| Tampines | $420,000 | $2,880 |
| Toa Payoh | $350,000 | $2,800 |
| Woodlands | $374,000 | $2,500 |
| Yishun | $385,000 | $2,650 |
Source: HDB – Q32023 Statistics
*Indicates insufficient data.
The average 3-room resale flat costs $397,560, while the average cost of renting a whole 3-room unit is $2,750.
Based on the latest Q32023 median statistics, the most expensive 3-room flats are in the following estates:
- Central and Punggol at $470,000
- Sengkang at $465,000
- Sembawang at $447,500
On the other hand, the cheapest 3-room flats are in the following estates:
- Toa Payoh at $350,000
- Jurong West at $370,000
- Woodlands at $374,000
Read Also: HDB Rental Guide For 2H2023: Which Are The Most Affordable (And Most Expensive) HDB Estates In Singapore
Future Of 3-Room Flats
While most of us may crave bigger dwelling spaces, the reality is that our household sizes are shrinking. According to the latest government statistics, the average household size in 2022 has shrunk to 3.09 from 3.15 in the previous year. As such, we may see a higher demand for such flats from buyers who wish for a more compact living.
Furthermore, given our limited land space, HDB may offer 3-room flat types in higher proportion for new developments at prime (or choice) locations to offer more families a chance at living in such locations. These reasons lend credence to the staying power and demand for 3-room flat types in our public housing system.
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