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Coffin Homes

Short answer: Hong Kong's high housing costs have pushed about 220,000 people into roughly 110,000 subdivided units (SDUs). The median SDU in the 2021 census was 11 m², about 6 m² per person.

At the extreme are 'coffin' cubicles: wooden, bed-sized compartments in partitioned flats, with a lockable door and little else. They're too low to stand in, and residents share kitchens and toilets. Per square foot, these tiny spaces rent for more than private flats. Hong Kong has regulated 'cage home' bedspace apartments since 1994. A new Basic Housing Units Ordinance, in force from March 1, 2026, sets minimum standards for subdivided flats (at least 8 m², a window and a toilet), but it doesn't cover bedspace or coffin-cubicle housing.

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What should you know about Coffin Homes?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. About 220,000 people in Hong Kong live in subdivided flats. The median unit is 11 m², and 'coffin' cubicles are roughly the size of a single bed.

    DD-046-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit B (How small)

  2. Per square foot, Hong Kong's coffin homes rent for about four times the rate of private flats.

    DD-046-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit C (Paying more per foot)

Video transcript: Coffin Homes: In Hong Kong, Some Homes Are Barely Bigger Than a Single Bed

DID YOU KNOW? Coffin homes in Hong Kong are extremely small, partitioned living spaces that cater to residents who can not afford the city's sky-high housing costs. Often no more than a few square meters, these units are just large enough to fit a bed, exposing residents to cramped conditions, health risks, and limited privacy. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 16.9s Reel ·

Video coming soonCoffin Homes · Instagram Reel
Coffin Homes: In Hong Kong, Some Homes Are Barely Bigger Than a Single Bed Instagram Reel · · 16.9s

The write-up

In Hong Kong, some homes are barely bigger than a single bed. About 220,000 people live in subdivided flats. 'Coffin' cubicles are the smallest.

  1. Exhibit A

    How many people

    A government survey counted about 110,400 subdivided units housing about 108,400 households and 220,000 people, close to the 2021 census figures (108,200 units, 215,700 people). The NGO SoCO estimates nearly 250,000.

  2. Exhibit B

    How small

    The median subdivided unit was 11.0 m² in 2021, with 6.0 m² per person. Coffin cubicles are far smaller: wooden pods roughly the size of a single bed, 'not much bigger than a ping-pong table'.

  3. Exhibit C

    Paying more per foot

    A 2022 SoCO survey found subdivided flats rented for a median HK$50 per sq ft. Coffin homes cost about HK$140, compared with about HK$35 for private homes.

  4. Exhibit D

    Who lives there

    Many residents are low-income households who earn just over the limit for public housing or are waiting in its queue. Many spend at least half their income on rent.

  5. Exhibit E

    Cage homes and the law

    After 'cage homes' spread in the 1980s, Hong Kong passed the Bedspace Apartments Ordinance in 1994. Any flat with 12 or more rented bedspaces must be licensed for fire safety, structural safety and hygiene. Only seven are licensed, with about 726 bedspaces.

  6. Exhibit F

    New minimum standards

    The Basic Housing Units Ordinance took effect on March 1, 2026. Subdivided flats must meet minimum standards (at least 8 m², a window and a toilet) to be let legally. Bedspace and coffin-type housing falls outside it.

Questions people ask about Coffin Homes

About how many people live in Hong Kong's subdivided units?

A government survey counted about 220,000 people.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (How many people) · Stakeholder consultation on proposed regulatory regime for Basic Housing Units (Hong Kong SAR Government, 2025); Beyond the stigma: A sociologist's journey into HK's subdivided units (Hong Kong Free Press, Feb. 2025)

What was the median size of a subdivided unit in the 2021 census?

That's about 6 m² per person.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (How small) · 2021 Population Census Thematic Report: Persons Living in Subdivided Units (Census and Statistics Department); Hong Kong struggles to improve conditions in tiny, crowded homes (Reuters); Life in Hong Kong's shoebox housing (South China Morning Post)

Per square foot, how do coffin homes compare with private flats?

That's about HK$140 vs HK$35 per sq ft (SoCO 2022).

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Paying more per foot) · Hong Kong struggles to improve conditions in tiny, crowded homes (Reuters)

Which 1994 law regulates 'cage homes'?

It covers flats with 12 or more rented bedspaces.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Cage homes and the law) · Stakeholder consultation on proposed regulatory regime for Basic Housing Units (Hong Kong SAR Government, 2025)

What minimum floor area does the 2026 Basic Housing Units law set?

Units also need a window and a toilet. Coffin cubicles aren't covered.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit F (New minimum standards) · Basic Housing Units Ordinance (Housing Bureau, BHU website); Beyond the stigma: A sociologist's journey into HK's subdivided units (Hong Kong Free Press, Feb. 2025); Hong Kong struggles to improve conditions in tiny, crowded homes (Reuters)

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. About how many people live in Hong Kong's subdivided units?

    1. About 2,000
    2. About 220,000
    3. About 2 million
    4. About 7 million
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. About 220,000 A government survey counted about 220,000 people. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (How many people) · Stakeholder consultation on proposed regulatory regime for Basic Housing Units (Hong Kong SAR Government, 2025); Beyond the stigma: A sociologist's journey into HK's subdivided units (Hong Kong Free Press, Feb. 2025)

  2. What was the median size of a subdivided unit in the 2021 census?

    1. 2 m²
    2. 11 m²
    3. 45 m²
    4. 100 m²
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. 11 m² That's about 6 m² per person. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (How small) · 2021 Population Census Thematic Report: Persons Living in Subdivided Units (Census and Statistics Department); Hong Kong struggles to improve conditions in tiny, crowded homes (Reuters); Life in Hong Kong's shoebox housing (South China Morning Post)

  3. Per square foot, how do coffin homes compare with private flats?

    1. Much cheaper
    2. About the same
    3. About four times more expensive
    4. Free
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. About four times more expensive That's about HK$140 vs HK$35 per sq ft (SoCO 2022). Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Paying more per foot) · Hong Kong struggles to improve conditions in tiny, crowded homes (Reuters)

  4. Which 1994 law regulates 'cage homes'?

    1. Basic Housing Units Ordinance
    2. Bedspace Apartments Ordinance
    3. Buildings Ordinance
    4. Landlord and Tenant Ordinance
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. Bedspace Apartments Ordinance It covers flats with 12 or more rented bedspaces. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Cage homes and the law) · Stakeholder consultation on proposed regulatory regime for Basic Housing Units (Hong Kong SAR Government, 2025)

  5. What minimum floor area does the 2026 Basic Housing Units law set?

    1. 2 m²
    2. 8 m²
    3. 20 m²
    4. None
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. 8 m² Units also need a window and a toilet. Coffin cubicles aren't covered. Source: Write-up · Exhibit F (New minimum standards) · Basic Housing Units Ordinance (Housing Bureau, BHU website); Beyond the stigma: A sociologist's journey into HK's subdivided units (Hong Kong Free Press, Feb. 2025); Hong Kong struggles to improve conditions in tiny, crowded homes (Reuters)

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Coffin Homes." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-046, last updated Nov 23, 2025. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/coffin-homes/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/coffin-homes/ · Last updated

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