An interactive map “Made by Teoalida” with HDB blocks colored by year built, as alternative to official HDB Map Services. Blocks can recolored by number of floors.

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.

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