Block types

Slab block – long narrow corridor-style block with 4 to 40+ units per floor.
Point block – 4 apartments per floor, no corridors, being placed at distance from other blocks.
Atrium block – a term introduced in 1990s denoting blocks with more than 4 units per floor but without long corridors.
Since late 1990s block types are no longer used officially. HDB blocks are now a mixture between point and atrium blocks having 4 to 12+ units per floor, long corridors but without rooms facing to corridors, and the blocks are placed close each other so they looks like a slab block when viewed from street.

Flat types (old list)

I made myself this list in 2011 after seeing a list of “HDB flat types & models” that was wrong and incomplete, original author is unknown but it was copied by many blogs. The below list is my original work for publication on www.teoalida.com, do not copy it without my approval!

Flat type abbreviation: STD = Standard, I = Improved, NG = New Generation, S = Simplified, A = Model A. Some people wrongly abbreviate Standard as S instead of STD.

Flat type naming represent approximate size in sqm and number of rooms, NOT the floor plan layout. Do not associate below sample layouts with flat types, other different layouts do exists with same flat type naming.

1960s-1970s flat types (refuse chute in kitchen)
1-Room Emergency (1960-?) – all demolished
2-Room Emergency (1960-?) – demolished except 5 blocks
1-Room Standard (1960-?) – no evidence if it existed, in my opinion should exists
2-Room Standard (1960-1970) – around 41 sqm, one WC/shower sample floor plan
3-Room Standard (1960-1970) – around 50-55 sqm, one WC/shower sample floor plan
4-Room Standard (1960-1970) – around 70-75 sqm, one WC/shower, sometimes separate sample floor plan
1-Room Improved (1966-1978) – supposedly 33 sqm but multiple layouts exists sample floor plan
2-Room Improved (1966-1978) – usually 44 sqm, separate WC and shower sample floor plan
3-Room Improved (1966-1978) – usually 60 sqm, separate WC and shower sample floor plan, 3½-Room I Modified 69 sqm
4-Room Improved (1966-1980) – usually 82-84 sqm, separate WC and shower sample floor plan
5-Room Standard (1974-1980) – 117-123 sqm, two toilets sample floor plan
1970s-1980s flat types (refuse chute in kitchen)
3-Room New Generation (1976-1989) – usually 67 sqm, two toilets sample floor plan, 3½-Room NG Modified 82 sqm
4-Room New Generation (1976-1989) – usually 92 sqm, two toilets sample floor plan
5-Room Improved (1977-1990s) – usually 121-123 sqm, two toilets sample floor plan
3-Room Simplified (1984-1989) – usually 64 sqm, two full-size toilets sample floor plan
4-Room Simplified (1984-1989) – usually 84 sqm, two full-size toilets sample floor plan
3-Room Model A (1982-1989) – usually 73-75 sqm, two full-size toilets sample floor plan, 3½-Room A Modified 88-90 sqm, rare
4-Room Model A (1982-1990s) – usually 105 sqm, two full-size toilets sample floor plan
5-Room Model A (1982-1985) – usually 135 sqm, two full-size toilets sample floor plan, just few built, being replaced by Executive Apartment
5-Room Model A Maisonette (1983-1984) – most 140 sqm, some up to 155 sqm (TWO floors) (sample floor plan), just few build, being replaced by Executive Maisonette
Executive Apartment (1984-1990s) – usually 142-146 sqm (ONE floor) sample floor plan
Executive Maisonette (1984-1990s) – most 147 sqm, some up to 160 sqm (TWO floors) sample floor plan
Multi-Generation (1987) – 132 sqm / 151-171 sqm, most 166 sqm (ONE floor, 2 entrances) sample floor plan
4-Room / 5-Room / Executive “Jumbo” (1992-1996) – around 90-192 sqm (adjoined by HDB, fresh leases), 1 entrance, 2 or 3 full-size toilets.
4-Room / 5-Room / Executive Adjoined Flat (any year) – around 90-175 sqm (adjoined by owners, original leases), 2 entrances unless owner walled one, 2 kitchens unless owner converted one into something else, up to 4 toilets.
more floor plans
Early 1990s flat types (centralized refuse chute, no household shelter)
4-Room Model A (1993-1998) – usually 100-108 sqm
5-Room Improved (1993-1998) – usually 120-128 sqm
5-Room Model A (1993-1998) – usually 133-137 sqm
Executive Apartment (1993-1998) – usually 142-150+ sqm (1 floor)
Executive Maisonette (1993-1998) – usually 144-146 sqm, penthouse maisonettes up to 215 sqm (2 floors)
sample floor plans
Late 1990s-present flat types (with household shelter)
Studio Apartment – 35 / 45 sq m (2001-present)
2-Room Model A – 45 sq m (2008-present)
2-Room Flexi – 45 sq m (introduced in 2015 BTO)
3-Room Model A – 60 sq m (2002-2008), 65 sq m (2008-present)
4-Room Model A – 100 sq m (1998-2000), 90 sq m (2000-present)
4-Room Model A2 – 90 sq m (1998-2000), 85 sq m, some 80 sq m (2000-present), only in SERS blocks
5-Room Improved – 120 sq m (1998-2000), 110 sq m (2000- present)
Executive Apartment – 140 sq m (1998-2000), 125 / 130 sq m (2000-2005)
Executive Maisonette – 140 sq m (1998-2000)
3gen flat – 115 sqm (introduced in 2013 BTO, completed 2017), 4 bedrooms, 3 toilets, home ownership restricted for couples + 1 additional family relative
Note: the naming system (Improved / Model A) is no longer used in sales brochures since 1998, but is still displayed in the Resale flat prices.
sample floor plans

Beware of HDB naming system!

HDB flat types (4-Room, 5-Room, etc) does NOT indicate actual number of rooms, it define flat size in square meters. The total flat floor area is (too) standardized after 1998, probably for pricing reasons. Individual room sizes may vary very much, for example: in 1985-2000 period, some 4-Room Model A had 3 small bedrooms and a living room big enough to build a 5th room (example), while some 5-Room Improved from same period had only 3 (but big) bedrooms and a living room (example).

Before 1988, all 5-Room and Executives had 3 bedrooms and a large room with separate living and dining areas, Executive had an additional utility/maid room.

From 1988 to 2000, all 5-Room and Executives had 4 bedrooms or 3 bedrooms + study, but Executives had larger living room, sometimes separate living and dining areas.

After 2000, the 5-Room are nothing else than 3 bedroom flats with larger livingroom, while Executive Apartments have 3 bedrooms plus an open study area. Since Executive Apartments were phased out in 2005, the study area was reintroduced in 5-room flats.

My opinion: too much standardization in flat sizes, the naming system (Improved, Model A) should be dropped from resale transactions or replaced with a new name, because since 1998, ALL 4-Room are Model A and all 5-Room are Improved. This creates confusion with the 1970s Improved and 1980s Model A flats, also the today 5-Room flats are nothing else than a larger 4-Room, being the smallest flats named 5-Room in HDB history.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Studio and 2-Room

Floor plan is similar, BUT…
Studio are restricted to age 55+, sold with 30-year leases, with built-in kitchen cabinets, wardrobe, elderly-friendly features, cannot be sold in open market.
2-Room can be purchased by anyone, sold with 99-year leases, with bare rooms. 2-Room can be purchased by singles too since July 2013.

Studio Apartment and 2-Room were replaced by 2-Room Flexi in 2015 that can be sold with either 99-year lease for anyone, either short lease (15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45-year) to elderly.

What is the difference between 4-Room and 5-Room

The difference is 20 sqm, where these 20 sqm are added vary much, larger living room including study corner, larger bedrooms, or in few cases, an extra bedroom!

What is the difference between Standard and Premium HDB flats

Premium contract: renovated flats with installed doors, tiles, wall paint, kitchen cabinets.
Standard contract: flats with raw concrete waiting for your renovation, doors optional.

Premium flats were introduced in mid-1990s all over towns, beside renovated flats, they also feature better outdoor landscape, and in some cases, basement carpark. Most premium flats have full-height windows, but this is not a rule. Since late 2000s only good locations (near MRT or near waterfront) feature premium flats. In 2014 only 1 of the 32 BTO launched was premium (in january). Since May 2015 BTO, brochures no longer indicate if flats are standard or premium. Does anyone know if HDB is still building premium flats?

What is the difference between BTO and DBSS flats

BTO are sold by HDB at subsidized prices while DBSS are sold by profit-hungry private developers at super fucking crazy outrageous high prices.
Beside this, DBSS imitate condos including their bad features, such as smaller rooms but big balcony and A/C ledge, they have NO advantage over BTO flats.
DBSS flats are supposedly higher quality than BTO premium flats, but news reports showed residents upset about quality especially in later DBSS projects.

buy HDB loan, season parking, rental

Excel database

Download FREE sample:
List HDB projects SAMPLE .xlsx (BTO, DBSS, HS, CRC)

Buy full database + FREE updates:

Excel table include all HDB projects built after 1991: 185 projects with centralized refuse chute (completed 1991-1998), 181 projects with household shelter (completed 1997-2004 including SERS), 406 BTO projects (launched 2001-present), 13 DBSS projects (launched 2006-2012) 35 SERS projects (launched 2004-present), 10 projects sold exclusively via Sale of Balance Flats.

Basic info: data freely viewable in this page: town, project name, launch date, estimated completion date, total number of units, links to brochures (since 2009).

Flat details: all of the above plus block numbers, contract type (standard / premium flats), number of units breakdown by flat type, selling prices of flats (BTO & DBSS only), also statistics to calculate number of flats launched by year.

For even more details, see the big HDB Database detailed to block level (1 row per block and 66 columns of data), including all blocks ever built since 1930s, even the demolished ones. See also other databases made by me.

History of BTO flats

The Registration for Flat (queue selling system) was suspended in 2002 due to unsold flats. Walk In Selection introduced in March 2002 allowing people to book unsold flats anytime. It ended in February 2007 and was replaced by balloting exercises named Quarter-Yearly Sale of 2/3-Room flats and Half-Yearly Sale of 4-Room and bigger flats, which in 2010 were combined in Sale of Balance Flats, which sell leftover flats from past BTO and SERS projects, plus old flats repurchased by HDB. Because some flats are completed and you can collect keys immediately after balloting, so many people apply for SBF and in towns with low number of flats 100+ people battle for one flat.

Build-To-Order was introduced in April 2001 to become main supply of HDB flats. Flats are offered for sale before being built. Tender for construction is called only if at least 70% of units have been booked (50% since 2011), otherwise the project is canceled and may be re-launched when will be more demand, with a different name and sometimes different design. The first projects enjoyed low interest, 5 of them being cancelled, but once Walk in Selection ended, BTO projects became oversubscribed, and since 2008 HDB launch 2 BTO projects every month. Since 2015 BTO flats are launched for sale in February, May, August, November. Due to Coronavirus circuit breaker, May 2020 BTO been deferred and on 29 May HDB press release said that will be combined with August BTO.

HDB publish a press release in December each year, announcing supply for next year, based on past year application rates. The supply can be adjusted in mid-year too and it reached a peak of 27,000+ flats in 2012. But since HDB does not forecast demand, there is always a lag between supply and demand, since Walk-in Selection ended in 2007 people who are eligible for new flats but do not accept the 3-4 year waiting time of BTO system, or fail at balloting, go to resale market, consequently resale flat prices doubled from 2007 to 2012 and the prices of new flats grew according to resale prices.

HDB claimed that cleared supply backlog and decided to move to a steady supply, announcing in December 2016 a supply of 17000 BTO flats for year 2017, a dangerous strategy that I was expecting to cause undersupply and another price bubble during 2020s. It also contradict a 2013 report announcing a supply of 700000 new homes by 2030.

Some people thinks that Registration for Flat system was better because everyone was getting a flat based on queue order, not based on luck like at BTO balloting. Registration for Flat had a disadvantage: you did not knew location or time you were getting the keys. BTO show you location and estimated completion date, and the priority schemes give people in urgent need for a home higher chances at balloting so BTO is better was better IF the flat supply matched demand, otherwise BTO is a lottery rather than a reliable housing scheme.

Among people visiting my website and talking with me, some informed me that applied for BTO 5+ times without success, then bought a resale flat, or went directly to resale market (despite of being eligible for BTO) to avoid wasting time in BTO lottery where only 1 of 4.4 first timers and only 1 of 18 second timers win a prize with 4 years delivery time (this is average application rate for BTO launches between Feb 2019 to May 2021).

Since 2018 HDB launched few BTO projects with shorter waiting time (2.5 years) because construction started before sale launch, but in my opinion at least half, if not all BTO must have construction started in advance so the waiting time will be 2 years, to reduce demand for resale flats by turning buyers towards BTO (how many people like waiting 4 years for BTO to be built?). Inevitably some flats will remain unsold, but they can be always re-offered via Sale of Balance Flats during construction or after completion, to people who are in immediate need of a flat.

Possible upcoming / future BTO locations

In 2001-2005 BTO projects were offered only in Punggol, Sembawang and Sengkang (the most recent 3 towns, started after 1997), but over years BTO projects were launched all over island on any available land, including mature towns. Try spotting empty land parcels on Interactive map of HDB blocks (we cannot know how soon a land parcel will be developed as BTO, some parcels end being sold to private developers instead). On same map you can click each block to view launch date, estimated completion date, number of floors, number of units, links to download HDB brochures and typical unit floor plans, etc.

HDB announced on 29 August 2013 the Public Exhibition on New Housing Areas: Bidadari (estate within Toa Payoh town, first BTO early 2015), Tampines North (first BTO late 2014), Punggol Matilda (first BTO Sep 2013). Tengah New Town was announced in 2016 and got first BTO launch in 2018. 3 more areas were announced in 2021: Ulu Pandan, Mount Pleasant, and Keppel Club. Due to high demand for public housing and current towns getting full, new towns like Seletar and Simpang are likely to be announced during 2020s, and the closure of Paya Lebar airbase in 2030s will make space for another HDB town.

BTO flat size

BTO flats follow internal area standards introduced for blocks completed in 2000: Studio and 2-Room comes in 2 sizes (35 / 45 sqm), 3-Room (65 sqm), 4-Room (90 sqm), 5-Room (110 sqm), 3gen (115 sqm), with few exceptions: Pinnacle @ Duxton, SkyVille and SkyTerrace @ Dawson were smaller, Punggol Sapphire, Treelodge and Bayview had bigger 5-room. Total area shown in HDB Resale Transactions include also A/C ledge (2-3 sqm) and balcony (3-4 sqm) where it is present.

Many people asked me if I have a table indicating which BTO have balcony. The Excel prices table does answer: if BTO project have (some) 4-room flats with balcony, it will show 92-95 or 93-96 sqm, if no flat have balcony, it will show 92 or 93 sqm. Same for other flat types.

How to get PDF brochures

In early 2010 I got idea to save BTO brochures from HDB InfoWeb in my computer and later I uploaded them on my website, because we need them and HDB is deleting them once BTO is completed.

HDB provided downloadable PDF brochures at the day of BTO launch until March 2014. Since July 2014 only a small amount of info is provided at launch, detailed PDF brochures are published in MyHDB page for invited applicants when selection starts 2-3 months later (1 month later since 2020).

Once a visitor who applied for BTO gave me the URL to one brochure, I was able to guess URL for others, example: http://www.hdb.gov.sg/fi10/fi10321p.nsf/w/BuyingNewFlatBrochure201407PG?OpenDocument, replace the year-month numbers and 2-letter town code to get brochures for other towns. By this way I found detailed brochures back to September 2012. HDB redesigned their website in 2015 and deleted earlier brochures.

URL pattern from 2015 to 2017: http://esales.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eap001.nsf/0/16FEBBTO_pdf_selection_2402 (replace 16FEB and 2402 with the number in URL at initial BTO launch).

URL pattern from 2017 to Feb 2023: http://www20.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eap001.nsf/0/23FEBBTO_pdf_selection/

Not being able to find May 2023 brochures using above pattern, in July 2023 I put a message on top of page hoping that applicants will give us new URL pattern, and after a month (in mid-August) someone gave me URL:
https://assets.hdb.gov.sg/residential/buying-a-flat/finding-a-flat/sales-brochure/23MAYBTO_pdf_selection/bedok_south_blossoms.pdf
(I don’t know whenever does exist an index page with all brochures for each launch, or at future launches we need to guess / type manually name of each BTO to get brochure)

June 2024 BTO brochures may be available near end-July under URL https://assets.hdb.gov.sg/residential/buying-a-flat/finding-a-flat/sales-brochure/24JUNBTO_pdf_selection/teban_breeze.pdf (if HDB does not change link pattern again).