If you are a first time renter, you may find renting an apartment in New York a daunting task.  At Think Properties, we believe that all of our clients should have a better understanding of apartments with respect to size, quality, and classification.   In New York, apartment definitions are often loosely interpreted, and may be misleading.  For example, a 1 Bedroom apartment with a wall may be advertised as a two bedroom.  Similarly, an alcove studio with a French door might be called a 1 Bedroom.  At Think Properties, we make an extra effort to educate our clients while helping them find the apartment that best suits them. 
The following definitions may be helpful for you in your search:

Studio Apartment:
A studio apartment is a self-contained, small apartment, which combines living room, bedroom and kitchenette into a single unit, barring a bathroom.  Bathrooms are generally in a separate room, though instances of strange bathroom setups within a single room have been reported.  Studio apartments generally range from about 200 to 500 gross square feet.  These apartments generally fetch the lowest rents on an apartment scale.  However, they are generally the most expensive per square foot.  A studio’s premium comes from the privacy that is enjoyed by the renter.  If you are not too keen on having your own place and want to save, we recommend a roommate situation, where you will get more space for the same amount of money you had planned for a studio.

Alcove Studio:
An alcove studio is a studio apartment with an alcove, usually for dining or extra sleeping place.  Alcoves may or may not be bigger than regular studios and can range from 350 to 600 gross square feet.  Alcove studios are often referred to as “L-Shaped Studios.”

Junior One Bedroom Apartment:
The Junior One Bedroom apartment is an often misconstrued apartment among new renters. Essentially, the “junior one” is an alcove studio.  The only difference is that the “alcove” area has a window.  If one were to have a wall up in that windowed alcove, it would be a separate bedroom, though it may not necessarily be a legal sized bedroom.  The size of this type of apartment usually ranges from 350 to 700 gross square feet.

One Bedroom Apartment:
One Bedroom apartments are self explanatory.  They consist of a legal sized and windowed separate bedroom from the rest of the apartment.  The bathroom may or may not be accessible from the bedroom.  The size of these apartments can range anywhere from 390 square feet to 1200 square feet.

Junior 4:
A Junior 4 is a term specific to the New York City rental market.  It is simply a One Bedroom with a separate dining area.  The number 4 refers to the number of rooms, though room counts can be a misleading way to search for an apartment.  A kitchen for example, if in a separate room, would be considered a room in itself.  We recommend our renters to look at this from a bedroom perspective to avoid any confusion.  The size of a “junior 4” can range anywhere between 500 Gross square feet and 1000 gross square feet, though there have been reports of larger units.

Convertible 2-Bedroom:
A Convertible 2-Bedroom is also known as a "flex 2" apartment.  This is a large 1-bedroom with a dining room or enough space to create a wall for a second bedroom.  It is important to understand that this does not guarantee two bathrooms.  A convertible-2 may only have one complete bathroom.   A lot of new construction condominiums have convertible two bedroom apartments with 2 bathrooms, one with a shower and tub, the other with just a shower.  Many “Junior 4’s” are also referred to as Convertible 2-BR apartments, which can also be confusing.

2-Bedroom:
2 Bedroom apartments have multiple classifications.  The only consistency is that it contains two separate bedrooms and a living room that may or may not have a separate dining area.  A “True 2” generally refers to a Two Bedroom Two Bathroom apartment.  If you see “true two” expect a larger apartment with two bathrooms. You should also expect higher prices. 

Convertible 3-bedroom:
This apartment is generally a 2 Bedroom apartment that has a windowed dining room large enough to partition into a 3 Bedroom.  3 Bedrooms are tricky as they may or may not have a common area such as a living room.

Classic Six:
“Classic Six” is a term used primarily in New York.  Considering current standards for room sizes, classic six should be interpreted as a 2 Bedroom apartment with an extra tiny room.  Most of these apartments were built pre-war and that tiny room represents a maid or nanny room, and may or may not have windows in it.

3-Bedroom:
3-Bedroom apartments should have three separate bedrooms and at least two full bathrooms, with a separate living room or dining area.

Loft:
A loft, by definition, should be a large open space with few or no walls.  Most lofts were born out of conversions from commercial office and industrial buildings to residential spaces.  Most lofts have very high ceilings and large windows.  Lofts can be subdivided to anywhere from 1 to 5 bedrooms.  Lofts can be confusing as many developers or landlords will assume a unit to be a loft simply because it is located in an area with a lot of lofts.  Be careful when looking at loft apartments, as they may be misleading.  Sometimes, landlords or sellers will use the word loft to indicate that the bedroom itself is part of a lofted ceiling.  In such a case, the apartment has very high ceilings and a staircase is constructed to an area that cuts the room height in half to create a bedroom, creating a mezzanine effect in the apartment. 

Furnished Apartment:
Furnished apartments are apartments that come with furniture inside of them and are generally rentable for shorter terms at a premium price.  Furnished apartments may or may not include additional utilities, cable service, and internet.  These are good for those that are relocating or may need short term space.  Most furnished units will rent at a term no less than one month.