How do you define high-rise and low-rise?
In the world of real estate and construction, the definition of high-rise and low-rise is often discussed. With the acceleration of urbanization, the high classification of residential buildings has become the focus of attention of home buyers and investors. This article will combine the hot topics and structured data of the entire network in the past 10 days to analyze in detail the definition, difference and related standards of high-level and small-level.
1. Definition of high-rise and low-rise

According to China's "General Principles for Civil Building Design" (GB 50352-2019) and related specifications, the classification of high-rise and small high-rises is mainly based on the building height and number of floors. The following are specific definitions:
| Building type | Layer range | Height range (meters) |
|---|---|---|
| small high-rise | Floor 7-11 | 24-33 |
| high-rise | 12th floor and above | greater than 33 |
2. The difference between high-rise and low-rise
In addition to the differences in number of floors and heights, there are also significant differences between high-rise and small high-rises in terms of living experience, shared area, fire protection requirements, etc.:
| Comparative item | small high-rise | high-rise |
|---|---|---|
| Elevator configuration | Usually 1-2 parts | At least 2 (including fire elevators) |
| Sharing rate | 15%-20% | 20%-25% |
| Acquisition rate | 80%-85% | 75%-80% |
| fire protection requirements | Ordinary fire protection facilities | A refuge floor is required (over 100 meters) |
3. Analysis of recent hot topics
In the past 10 days, discussions on the entire network about high-level and small-level executives have mainly focused on the following aspects:
1.Impact of new regulations: In 2024, some cities will introduce new regulations requiring residences over 80 meters to set up refuge floors, causing developers to be more inclined to build small high-rises.
2.Residential preferences: Data from a real estate platform shows that the transaction volume of small high-rise residential buildings in Q2 of 2024 increased by 12% year-on-year. Home buyers pay more attention to the housing acquisition rate and the advantages of low density.
3.security controversy: A high-rise fire incident in a certain place triggered a discussion on the design of fire escapes. Small high-rise buildings have attracted more attention due to their high evacuation efficiency.
4. How to choose high-rise or small high-rise
Based on actual needs, it is recommended to refer to the following decision matrix:
| Requirement type | Recommended choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Limited budget | high-rise | The unit price is usually lower than that of small high-rise buildings |
| Improve living | small high-rise | Lower floor area ratio, higher privacy |
| investment rental | high-rise | There are more small and medium-sized apartments with strong liquidity |
| Elderly care needs | small high-rise | Short elevator waiting time and quick emergency response |
5. Future development trends
According to industry analysis, the residential market may show the following trends in the future:
1.height limit policy: More cities will limit residential heights to less than 80 meters, promoting small high-rises to become the mainstream.
2.Technology upgrade: High-rise buildings will use more prefabricated technologies to reduce public housing costs and narrow the gap in housing availability with small high-rise buildings.
3.hybrid development: The combination model of "high-rise + small high-rise" within the same community will be increased to meet the needs of different customer groups.
To sum up, the definition of high-rise and small high-rise is not only related to building regulations, but also directly affects the quality of living and asset value. It is recommended that home buyers make a choice based on their own needs and comprehensively consider core factors such as floor height, housing acquisition rate, and fire protection configuration.
check the details
check the details