What Is a Duplex House? Definition, Benefits, and Floor Plan Ideas
With two separate living units under one roof, duplex houses are a smart option for families, investors, and anyone looking for versatile housing.
What is a Duplex House?
A duplex is a residential building with two separate living spaces, either side by side or stacked one above the other.
Duplex homes combine the ease of access and outdoor space you get with single-family homes, with the added sense of community that comes from living close to others.
They’re often more affordable than single-family houses, making them a smart choice for families, small businesses, and investors.
Benefits of Duplex Houses
The popularity of duplex homes is growing, and it’s easy to see why. Here are some of the main advantages:
- Rental income: Live in one unit and rent out the other for a steady source of passive income.
- Community feel: Be close to another household while keeping your own private space.
- Family flexibility: Perfect for extended families, aging parents, or adult children who need their own space.
- Lower costs: Shared structure and utilities mean construction and maintenance costs are usually lower.
- Energy efficiency: Shared walls improve insulation, which helps reduce energy use.
- Outdoor space: Unlike apartments, duplexes often have private or semi-private yards or patios.
Common Features
When exploring duplex house plans, it's crucial to consider specific criteria that align with your lifestyle and preferences.
For instance, you may prefer a single-story dwelling to avoid stairs, or a 2-story floor plan might better fit your smaller lot size. Determining the number of bedrooms you need is another essential factor in ensuring that your duplex home meets your family's requirements comfortably.
Number of floors
Depending on the available space and your preferences, duplexes can vary from comfortable single-story units to spacious multi-level dwellings catering to diverse family sizes and lifestyles.
Garages
Garages are another crucial feature to consider in duplex house plans. Many designs offer one or two garages, providing residents with secure parking spaces or additional storage.
A clever design choice involves positioning the garages in the middle of the building, with the living spaces on either side. This effectively acts as a buffer zone, minimizing noise transfer between the living spaces and ensuring a quieter environment for both households.
Number of bedrooms
Each side of a duplex usually contains a kitchen, living room, one or more bathrooms, and two to four bedrooms. Some duplexes have a mirrored floor plan where each side or level has the same layout and number of bedrooms, but other duplex house plans have different floor plans for each residential unit.
Other Features
Duplex homes often incorporate key features such as efficient storage solutions, modern kitchens, and well-designed bathrooms. These thoughtful inclusions enhance the overall functionality and comfort of the living spaces, making duplex homes highly desirable.
Draw Your Own Duplex Floor Plan
With the RoomSketcher app, you can draw, customize, and visualize layouts in 2D and 3D.
- Create professional floor plans with ease
- Explore mirrored or unique designs for each unit
- Add exact measurements to get accurate plans
- Visualize outdoor areas, garages, and storage
- Walk through the layout with Live 3D
Related Articles
Best Four-Bedroom Apartment Floor Plans
Four-bedroom apartments give you room to spread out. These layouts offer plenty of flexibility, whether you're a family or a group of friends. Explore popular four-bedroom layouts all created in the RoomSketcher app.
Best Five-Bedroom Apartment Floor Plans
Five-bedroom apartments come in many shapes and sizes. On one end of the scale, you’ll find compact layouts in college towns where students share the space to save on rent. We've rounded up the most popular floor plan layouts.
The 8 Best Floor Plan Software Tools for Builders
Looking for the perfect way to create accurate floor plans that meet building standards? Don't worry! We've tested and created this list so you can find your match.