The "Braunschweig"-class ships were long at the waterline, and overall. The ships had a beam of , and a draft of . The beam was constrained by logistical considerations, as it was the widest that could be accommodated by the locks at the entrance to the "Kaiserliche Werft" (Imperial Shipyard) in Wilhelmshaven. The ships had thirteen watertight compartments and a double bottom that extended for 60 percent of the length of the hull. The ships displaced at their designed weight, and at a full load. The ships were fitted with a pair of heavy military masts that carried searchlights.