Yurt Size Calculator
Seven ways to answer "how big of a yurt do I need" — from occupants and yurt diameter to deck, insulation, stove and layout.
100% client-side — your numbers never leave this page
No inputs needed — press Calculate to see all six standard yurt sizes side by side.
Standard yurt sizes and yurt square footage
Manufacturers sell six standard yurt diameters. Official yurt square footage and center heights (Pacific Yurts): 12 ft — 115 sq ft; 14 ft — 155 sq ft; 16 ft — 200 sq ft; 20 ft — 314 sq ft; 24 ft — 452 sq ft; 30 ft — 706 sq ft. A 20 ft yurt peaks at 11 ft in the center, a 30 ft yurt at 14 ft 2 in.
How the calculator works
By occupants multiplies people × floor space per person (default 100 sq ft for full-time yurt living) and picks the smallest standard yurt diameter that fits. Diameter specs derives yurt square footage (πr²), circumference, wall and cone-roof area, interior volume and sleeping capacity from any yurt diameter between 12 and 30 ft and a yurt wall height of 5–7 ft. Deck / platform sizes a round yurt deck with the usual 1 ft overhang rule and counts 4×8 plywood sheets. Insulation totals wall plus roof area with a waste allowance. Wood stove applies the heater rule volume × ΔT × 0.133 with an insulation multiplier to give yurt wood stove size in BTU/hr and kW. Kitchen + bath splits the floor into zones so you can sanity-check a yurt layout and compare yurt floor plans before you commit.
Quick reference
| Use case | Rule of thumb |
|---|---|
| Full-time yurt living | 100 sq ft per person |
| Weekend / glamping | 60 sq ft per person |
| Yurt platform size | Yurt diameter + 2 ft |
| Yurt wall height | 6 ft standard (5–7 ft range) |
| Stove sizing | cu ft × ΔT(°F) × 0.133 × insulation factor |
Frequently asked questions
How big of a yurt do I need for full-time living?
Allow about 100 sq ft per person for full-time yurt living. That means 2 people fit a 16 ft yurt (200 sq ft official), 4 people need a 24 ft yurt (452 sq ft), and 6 people need a 30 ft yurt (706 sq ft). For weekend or glamping use you can go cozier, around 60 sq ft per person.
How is yurt square footage calculated?
A yurt is a circle, so floor area is pi x radius squared. A 20 ft yurt has a 10 ft radius: 3.1416 x 100 = 314.16 sq ft, which manufacturers round to 314 sq ft. A 30 ft yurt is 3.1416 x 225 = 706.86 sq ft (marketed as 706), and a 16 ft yurt is 201.06 sq ft (marketed as 200).
What are the standard yurt sizes?
Most manufacturers, including Pacific Yurts, sell six standard diameters: 12 ft (115 sq ft), 14 ft (155 sq ft), 16 ft (200 sq ft), 20 ft (314 sq ft), 24 ft (452 sq ft) and 30 ft (706 sq ft). Center roof heights run from 9 ft on a 12 ft yurt to 14 ft 2 in on a 30 ft yurt.
How tall are yurt walls?
Standard lattice-wall yurts have 6 ft walls (some makers offer 5 ft or a 7 ft tall-wall option). Because the roof is a cone, headroom rises toward the center: a 20 ft yurt with 6 ft walls peaks at 11 ft, and a 30 ft yurt peaks at 14 ft 2 in.
What size platform or deck does my yurt need?
Build the round platform about 2 ft wider than the yurt (1 ft of overhang each side) so wall drip lands on decking. A 20 ft yurt needs a 22 ft deck: 380.13 sq ft of decking, about 69.12 ft of perimeter, and 12 sheets of 4x8 plywood for the floor.
What size wood stove do I need for a yurt?
Use volume x temperature rise x 0.133 x insulation factor = BTU/hr. A 20 ft yurt holds about 2,408.55 cu ft; with a 60 F rise and reflective-only insulation (factor 2.0) you need about 38,441 BTU/hr (11.3 kW) - a medium stove. Uninsulated canvas yurts need roughly 3x the output of an insulated one, so never size from floor area alone.
How much insulation does a yurt need?
Insulate the wall band plus the cone roof. A 20 ft yurt with 6 ft walls needs about 376.99 sq ft of wall insulation and 351.24 sq ft of roof insulation - 728.23 sq ft net, or about 801.05 sq ft with a 10% waste allowance (roughly 200.26 linear ft of 4 ft-wide roll).
Can a yurt fit a kitchen and a bathroom?
Yes, in a 20 ft or larger yurt. In a 24 ft yurt (452.39 sq ft), a 20% kitchen zone is 90.48 sq ft and a 10% bath zone is 45.24 sq ft, leaving 316.67 sq ft of living space. As a rule of thumb, plan 60+ sq ft for a functional kitchen and 35+ sq ft for a full bath; below that, step up a size or add a second utility yurt.