What Is a 3½ or 4½? Quebec Apartment Sizes Explained

If you are looking for an apartment in Quebec for the first time, the listings can be confusing. Instead of "1-bedroom" or "2-bedroom", you see 3½, 4½ or 5½. This is how apartments have been described in Quebec for generations, and once you understand the system, it takes seconds to read any listing.

This guide explains what each size means, how the rooms are counted, what each size typically costs and the other listing terms you will see, from "semi-furnished" to "upper duplex".

The short answer

The number counts the main rooms. The kitchen, the living room and each bedroom count as one room each.
The "½" is the bathroom. Every apartment has one, so every size ends in ½.
To find the number of bedrooms, subtract 2. A 3½ has 1 bedroom, a 4½ has 2 bedrooms and a 5½ has 3 bedrooms.
The system is about rooms, not square footage. Two 4½ apartments can be very different in size.

How Quebec apartment sizes are counted

A Quebec apartment size is the number of rooms plus a half for the bathroom. The kitchen and the living room are counted as two rooms, and every room after that is a bedroom.

Here is what each size means, listed as size · rooms · bedrooms:

1½: one main room with a kitchenette, plus a bathroom · studio
2½: a main room plus a separate kitchen or living area, plus a bathroom · studio or a small 1-bedroom layout
3½: kitchen, living room, 1 bedroom, plus a bathroom · 1 bedroom
4½: kitchen, living room, 2 bedrooms, plus a bathroom · 2 bedrooms
5½: kitchen, living room, 3 bedrooms, plus a bathroom · 3 bedrooms
6½: kitchen, living room, 4 bedrooms, plus a bathroom · 4 bedrooms

A few things to keep in mind:

A second bathroom usually does not change the number. A 4½ with two bathrooms is still listed as a 4½, often with a note such as "2 salles de bain".
A "double living" counts as one room. In older Montreal apartments, you will often see a large living room split by an arch or columns. It is still one living room.
Open-concept layouts can blur the count. When the kitchen and living room share one space, some landlords still count them as two rooms. Check the photos or the floor plan.

How much does each size cost?

Rents vary a lot by city, but the size system is the same everywhere. Here are CMHC's average rents by unit size in Greater Montreal in October 2025, listed as size · average rent paid by all tenants:

Studio (1½ or 2½): $1,005
1 bedroom (3½): $1,131
2 bedrooms (4½): $1,346
3 bedrooms or more (5½ and up): $1,626

These averages include tenants who have been in the same apartment for years. Units currently listed for rent usually cost more. In Montreal, advertised 3½ apartments averaged roughly $1,600 to $1,770 a month this fall, depending on the source.

Regional cities are much lower. In Saguenay, for example, CMHC's 2025 averages were $762 for a 3½, $985 for a 4½ and $1,054 for a 5½.

For more detail by area, see our guides to Montreal rent by neighbourhood and the cost of living in Quebec's major cities.

Which size is right for you?

1½ or 2½: a good fit for one person who wants to keep costs low, often students or people new to the city.
3½: the most common choice for one person or a couple who want a separate bedroom.
4½: popular with couples who want an office or guest room, roommates, and small families. It is often the best value per room.
5½ and up: families, or groups of roommates splitting the rent.

If you are sharing with roommates, remember that a 5½ gives three people their own bedroom while sharing one kitchen, living room and bathroom.

Other terms you will see in Quebec listings

Quebec listings use a few words of their own, often in French even on English sites. Here are the most common, listed as term · meaning:

Non chauffé, non éclairé: heating and electricity are not included; the tenant pays Hydro-Québec directly
Chauffé, éclairé: heating and electricity are included in the rent
Tout inclus: heating, electricity and hot water are included, and sometimes internet or appliances
Semi-meublé: the stove and refrigerator are included
Meublé: furnished, with the main furniture provided
Électros inclus: appliances included (usually stove and refrigerator, sometimes washer and dryer)
Entrée laveuse-sécheuse: hookups for a washer and dryer, but the machines are not included
Bas, haut or milieu de duplex/triplex: the ground, top or middle floor of a small building with two or three units
Demi sous-sol: a partly below-ground unit, usually with smaller windows and lower rent
Plex: a small building with two to five units, very common in Montreal and Quebec City

Whether heating is included makes a real difference to your monthly budget. Our guide to electricity costs in Quebec apartments shows what to expect.

Tips for renters

Check the bedrooms, not just the number. Ask whether each bedroom has a window and a closet, especially in older units.
Look at the floor plan or photos. Two apartments with the same number can feel very different depending on the layout.
Confirm what is included. "Semi-meublé" and "tout inclus" can change the real cost of an apartment by a lot.
Use the filters. On Rentack, you can search directly by number of bedrooms: a 3½ is a 1-bedroom, a 4½ is a 2-bedroom and a 5½ is a 3-bedroom.

Tips for landlords

List both formats. Writing "4½ (2 bedrooms)" helps newcomers and English-speaking renters understand your listing right away.
Mention the details renters ask about. Square footage, which floor, whether the bedrooms have windows and the number of bathrooms reduce back-and-forth questions.
Be clear about what is included. Stating "chauffé" or "non chauffé" and which appliances are included brings in better-qualified inquiries.

Browse apartments by size in Montreal: 3½ / 1-bedroom, 4½ / 2-bedroom and 5½ / 3-bedroom, or in Laval and Trois-Rivières.

FAQ

What is a 3½ apartment in Quebec?

A 3½ is a one-bedroom apartment. It has a kitchen, a living room and one bedroom, and the "½" is the bathroom.

What is a 4½ apartment?

A 4½ is a two-bedroom apartment, with a kitchen, a living room, two bedrooms and a bathroom. It is one of the most common apartment sizes in Quebec.

What is a 5½ apartment?

A 5½ is a three-bedroom apartment, with a kitchen, a living room, three bedrooms and a bathroom. It is popular with families and roommates.

What does the ½ mean in Quebec apartments?

The ½ stands for the bathroom. It is counted as a half room, so every Quebec apartment size ends in ½.

Is a 1½ the same as a studio?

Yes. A 1½ is a studio where the living, sleeping and kitchen areas share one main room, plus a bathroom. A 2½ usually has a separate kitchen or living area as well.

Does a second bathroom change the size?

Usually not. A 4½ with two bathrooms is still called a 4½, and the listing will normally mention the second bathroom separately.

How many bedrooms does a 6½ have?

A 6½ has four bedrooms, plus a kitchen, a living room and a bathroom.

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