Did you know it’s possible to build your own dream mini casa in just two to three days? We’ve found you the best tiny house kits for any style, space, and budget.
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Remember that time when tiny houses are all the rage? You’ve probably seen those cute little home photos online or watched TV series like Tiny House, Big Living by HGTV, or Netflix’s Tiny House Nation .
Tiny Houses Are Still A Valid Option
But wait, tiny houses are still an exciting trend, especially for those who want to embrace a lifestyle of minimalism and simplicity.
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Because the idea – having less space (and thus, less stuff) creates more room for more essential things in life – is a dang appealing one!
Tiny house kits make building your dream home even easier and more convenient. Not to mention, it makes things so much faster! Imagine building your home like Lego!
You’ve got your own tiny house in just a couple of days!
Isn’t that the dream? No waiting time. No hassle. Just a large-scale DIY project!
What Is a Tiny House Kit?
Tiny house kits are tiny homes you can purchase online and have shipped to you. They usually include all the materials needed to build the bare bones of a small house. Think of it as a large-scale dollhouse, completely livable once done.
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At the most basic, these kits have everything needed for the house frame and exterior – lumber, roof, doors, windows, and necessary hardware . Others can include a bit more, like interior finishings such as flooring and trims, usually depending on the model you choose.
Although they all make “tiny” houses, these kits can range in styles, designs, and sizes. They are suitable for singles, couples, or even small families. They can also be built on a mobile trailer fixed with wheels or a modular home constructed on permanent foundations .
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And the major selling feature is that they are generally easy to assemble, come with step-by-step instructions, and don’t require any special building experience or equipment .
Best Tiny House Kit: 10 Models We Recommend
House kits make building your dream tiny house quicker than starting your new home from scratch.
If you are dreaming of a tiny home to live in full time, a studio or office space in the backyard, a workshop, writing dens, a pool house , or a guest house ready to go, these are our favorite tiny house kits.
1. KitHAUS’ K5 & K6 series
First on our list is the beautiful tiny home you’ll be happy to move into. Go big with your tiny home with the K5 and K6 series from KitHAUS . The company has been revolutionizing the pre-fab house industry since 2005.
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Their pre-fab modules can transform any open space in your yard into an anything-you-can-think-of hub – a fully-functioning house, escape pod, weekend retreat, guestroom, home office, yoga studio, etc.
Starting from a 235 square-foot basic structure, you can customize it into something larger for a setup with a complete bathroom and kitchenette.
Another huge selling point is their M.H.S. structural anodized aluminum framing, available in silver or bronze, your choice! But more importantly, it’s lightweight and resistant to rust, mold, and termites , built for the long term.
2. EZ Supply Modern 1-Bedroom
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This tiny home is one of the best modern house kits you can find, featuring plate glass walls to make the space more spacious than it actually is.
3. Yardadu Pre-fab Zen Office
If you are looking for a tiny house kit that offers luxe features, it pays to consider the Zen Office by Yardadu . They make over-the-top modern outdoor office pods to give you all the privacy and comfort you need while working, in the most fashionable way too.
It’s built for working as much as lounging, with a dedicated space to rest and unwind.
viaYardadu
It’s a 103 square feet modular office featuring an Architect-grade design but super easy to build on your own. The unit boasts a toughened glass wall design with sound insulation, fireproofing, ventilation, and lighting. The power supply is also ready, so you’re good to go.
4. Allwood’s Bonaire Cabin Kit
Imagine having a mini-resort right in your patio or yard. Isn’t that a dream? One you can turn into reality with the resort-style cabin kit from Allwood.
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Although it might take five days with two adults to set this unit up, the Bonaire model is as beautiful as a garden house or a guest house can get. It boasts a timeless design with a combination of top-quality Nordic spruce wood and features large windows to compliment any type of surrounding.
The 225 square feet space is often good enough in most applications. But in case you need a bit more to fit two bedrooms, you can get an extra 12 square feet interior room for a little over a thousand dollars. Or, opt for more area for a few more dollars if you want to fit in three rooms.
Better still, get this tiny house with their FDAT (Factory Deterrent Against Termites) feature for less than $400 if termites are a huge nuisance in your location.
5. Jamaica Cottage Shop’s Writer’s Haven
Who doesn’t want to have a hideaway, a pseudo lake house (even without a lake nearby), or just a place to be alone with your thoughts?
If that kind of space is what you’re dreaming about, consider the Writer’s Haven from Jamaica Cottage Shop .
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But what we think is the selling point of this little haven is the translucent roof panel and windows that allow so much natural light. Overall, it’s a great place for writing, reading, painting, thinking, or just relaxing, and it’s already fitted for you to do all that and more. It’s a 168 square feet inspirational hideaway with a built-in daybed and desk.
That’s not all because you can configure the kit to the kind of space you are looking for. It’s available as a frame-only kit, a complete pre-cut kit, or a 3- and 4-season house kit. We recommend going for the latter if you want a tiny home that offers year-round comfort.
6. Allwood’s Summerlight
viaBestTinyCabins
Like many of Allwood’s home kits, the Summerlight cabin boasts a timeless traditional design that will fit incredibly well in any pool or garden area. Again, it’s made of high-quality solid Nordic Spruce wood, and no interior finishing is needed. Meanwhile, the double doors and surrounding huge windows give the interior the most light and an airy vibe.
It has 150 square feet area that can be your next guest house, recreation center, outdoor game room, personal gym, or yoga studio.
If you think this cabin kit is the tiny home of your dreams, get a buddy, and you can assemble this unit with minimal tools in just three days or even less.
7. Jamaica Cottage Shop’s Vermont Cottage A
viaPrefab review
It may look a bit too small on the outside, but don’t let that fool you because it has enough space for the entire family or visiting guests.
Next on the list is another house kit from Jamaica Cottage Shop. This time, a slightly bigger 1-bedroom cabin-style with a 320 square-foot base area plus a loft area of 96 square feet. And don’t forget the porch out front!
If you’re dreaming of the best cottage-style simplistic home , the Vermont cottage is as charming as it gets. The open floor plan combined with a high ceiling is brimming with possibilities. Use the tiny cabin to create a full-fledged summer house, art studio, camp, country retreat, or even a 4-season living!
8. Jamaica Cottage Shop’s Church Street
Here’s another one from the same company, a quaint shed you can add in the garden, or anywhere really.
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When it comes to square footage, it’s not the biggest, with only 96 square feet. But the Church Street shed is a remarkable contender for its adorable features. It’s a stunning structure that will be the envy with its charming cottage-style exterior with a rustic appeal brought by exposed post and beam framing, shiplap pine sheathing, and asphalt roof shingles.
9. Summerwood’s Nomad Modern Bunkie
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Summerwood Products is a company with several decades of bringing pre-fab kits with classic and traditional or sleek and modern styles, or a combination of both, to your next office, studio, cabana, sheds, and workshops.
But they also have cabins and cottages like the Nomad , their modern take on the classic cabin with all the works to escape the hassle of city life. Choose the size you want, starting from 100 square feet, and opt to have a custom front porch. But all size options will give you the same high ceiling, large windows, and loft design will offer plenty of natural light for a bright and airy interior.
10. Summerwood’s Urban Studio
Surely not the least in terms of features, but absolutely the least when it comes to the price tag! It’s the best tiny home kit under $5,000 that we’ve found and really like.
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The Urban Studio , another from Summerwood, boasts a fresh, modern design to give you stylish outdoor living space. Turn it into a poolside studio, a relaxing space for entertaining guests, a home office studio, or just anything you like.
And like any Summerwood product, there are rooms for upgrades at a cost, like walls and roof insulation or switch to a transom window. They also have an enhanced siding package with seven layers of protection against moisture.
Shopping for Tiny House Kits? Here’s What to Look for
It may be a tiny house, but buying one is a big decision. Here are a few things you must look for before hitting that purchase button.
Floor Space
Tiny houses are typically between 1 00 to 400 square feet in size. However, they can have extra space if a porch or deck is included. Most of them will also offer additional square footage via a loft.
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When selecting a tiny house kit, one of the first things you should consider is how much room you need. And to help with that, you’ll have to know what you’ll need it for. For example, a small office will require less land area than a studio apartment with a kitchen and bathroom.
But besides the interior area of your tiny house kit, you’ll also need to take into account the size of the area where you’re going to build the unit. Keep in mind to check your local zoning requirements for any specified distance of your tiny house from your main house and other structures.
Materials Included
Tiny home kits range in prices depending on how “done” you want the house to be. Most kits come in levels like:
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- Basic tiny house kits: usually only includes the complete shell or housing envelope. These are generally empty sheds that may (at a bare minimum) or may not include fittings, and you’ll have to apply floor, wall, and ceiling finishes at your own cost.
- Standard kits: typically complete with standard fittings and minimal built-in furniture.
- Super Standard kits: come with standard fittings, built-in furniture, complete shower & bath, etc.
- Luxury tiny houses: come with a high price tag but has the high-end installations you need for a habitable home – fitting, built-in furniture, shower/bath, mechanical engineering, air conditioning, etc.
Before buying any tiny house kit, always review the kit’s features and material list. That way, you completely understand what you’re getting for your money and any other necessary costs.
Customization Options
Some manufacturers will offer different models of a particular kit, maybe with a bigger floor size or additional furnishing. Others will have room for customization with several additions, like higher ceilings, extra window options, lofts, decks, interior rooms, or different kinds of finishes at additional cost.
Listen, you will either love the idea of living in a tiny home or not. While tiny homes are cute enough to grab your imagination, they are not for everyone. So, before you join the tiny living movement, here are a few things to know about it and find out if a tiny house is really for you.
What are the pros of a tiny house kit?
Buying home kits is perfect for someone looking to build their tiny home without special construction know-how. Almost all kits are pre-cut, color-coded or number, and stacked to make assembly quick and easy.
All home kits come with everything you need to build the bare bones of your new dwelling, except for the tools, although you only need the basics – screwdrivers, drill, saw, hammer, etc.
By far, the best selling point is that you can complete the unit’s building process in just a few days with two adults, and the real fun begins. It suits every homeowner looking to be more hands-on and express their creativity.
What are the cons of a tiny house kit?
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Tiny home kit manufacturers will advertise that the kits already have everything you need to set up a nice dwelling in just days. And that’s mostly correct. However, they usually lack the major necessities that a habitable house requires, like spaces to run water and electrical components.
If you buy a tiny house kit to have a place to “live in,” expect extra work and cost to make the structure truly habitable.
While it’s an advantage that you can modify the structure once assembled, any modification or alteration you do might void the warranty.
How much would a tiny home kit cost?
Tiny house kits vary in prices greatly, depending on a few factors: square footage and their features and inclusions.
You can buy one tiny house kit for under $5,000. They are usually smaller and bare-bone ones. There are also larger home kits at $20,000 or more with complete interior furnishing or luxury tiny home kits for over $100,000.
Will it be cheaper to buy or build a tiny house?
Building a tiny home from scratch is almost always cheaper than buying a ready-made one that only needs assembling. But it involves plenty of construction know-how and takes so much time.
With that said, if you’re willing to pay a little bit more for convenience and less building time necessary, tiny home kits are a fantastic middle ground.
Final Thoughts on the Best Tiny House Kits!
Did you like our recommendations? Whether you are looking for a tiny home because you believe in simplicity and minimalism or you need extra room in your yard, we are confident you can find one that fits your needs from our list.
Have you ever wanted to live out your childhood dreams of living in a tree? Well, there are tree house rentals all over the world that are making that dream a reality.
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Long gone are the days when a tree house is something for kids to enjoy in the backyard. While this sort of tree house still exists, there are bigger, bolder, and more luxurious examples springing up worldwide. In fact, a tree house holiday is becoming quite the rage on sites like Airbnb .
We’ve compiled a list of 17 of the best tree house vacation rentals in the US and worldwide. For your next unique and truly unforgettable vacation getaway, keep on reading!
United States Treehouse Rentals
There is no shortage of wonderful getaways across the United States. However, the number of treehouse rentals has surged, with more people looking for a glamping getaway or an off-the-grid escape.
The following eight treehouses are prime examples of everything you could want in a retreat. Whether you’re from the pacific northwest or way down in Texas, we’ve got you covered.
Treehouse Utopia, Texas
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Treehouse Utopia is a truly fitting name for this collection of tree house vacation rentals. They are located in the town of Utopia, Texas, but they’re also home to many incredible luxury treehouses that’ll set your vacation apart from the rest.
The company has four treehouses that you can rent on a nightly basis: Chapelle, Carousel, Biblioteque, and Chateau. All of the tree houses sleep two adults and have full bathrooms and quirky decorations.
Treehouse Utopia built the Bilbioteque and Chateau treehouses nestled amongst the trees. But, they went for a different approach with the Chapelle and Carousel treehouses. They built both the Chapelle and Carousel treehouses next to bodies of water. This extra feature enhances the treehouse experience even further and, in our opinion, makes it even more magical.
Unfortunately (or fortunately, whichever way you look at it), these are adult-only treehouse cabins. So if you have little ones, they’ll have to stay with grandma and grandpa.
The Mohicans, Ohio
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The Mohicans is another treehouse resort with numerous luxury tree house rentals ranging in size and design. Their smallest tree house, the Little Red Treehouse, sleeps two people and has an outdoor shower, kitchen, and living area. The Mohicans originally built this treehouse to be featured on the Animal Planet/Discovery Channel Show Treehouse Masters .
Their larger treehouses sleep up to four people and are more modern in design. However, the one that takes the cake for us is the El Castillo luxury treehouse. El Castillo has leather furnishings, a spiral staircase, and an authentic stone shower.
All of the treehouses have heating and air conditioning systems installed, and most of them even allow pets!
The Treehouse on Lake Travis, Texas
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This next Texas treehouse in itself is absolutely stunning. But the view from its large open windows and generous porch area steals the show.
The Treehouse on Lake Travis is, you guessed it, a treehouse overlooking Lake Travis. This beautiful treehouse retreat has two bedrooms that can sleep four guests. It also has a vast open living area with a wood-burning fireplace and a full bathroom and kitchen area that’ll make you feel right at home.
And, if the treehouse wasn’t enough for you, you also have access to a swimming pool, a barbeque area, a hot tub, and steps down to the marina, where you can participate in water-based activities.
Treehouse with Ocean View, California
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If you decide to stay in a treehouse, your expected view is more than likely to be forests, trees, or open fields. But, this three-bedroom treetop property in California offers its guests views of the Pacific ocean.
When designing the property, the owner took inspiration from Japanese architecture and added Japanese-inspired sliding screen doors. However, our personal favorite features of the property are the floor-to-ceiling windows that let in a ton of natural light in every room.
A spiraled staircase transports you between the two floors, with the upper story having a large open balcony area where you can sit and enjoy a morning cup of coffee or an evening glass of wine.
Whippoorwill Retreat Treehouse, Georgia
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Although the owners of Whippoorwill Retreat Treehouse were slightly tight for space, they still managed to create a two-bed whimsical house up in the trees.
The first story in the treehouse features a living area, a small kitchenette, and a double bed that they strung from the ceiling. The second bedroom is on the second story and has the most incredible skylight positioned directly above the bed.
Whippoorwill Retreat Treehouse also has a balcony with a shaded seating area and a fire pit at the bottom of the slope that is the ultimate area for entertaining.
Tree Tops, Asheville
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The Tree Tops treehouse in Asheville is one of the coolest tree houses we’ve ever seen. This six-bedroom, four-bathroom house sleeps up to 10 people and has all the modern amenities you could ever want or need.
Inside the living area, you’ll find a beautiful gas-controlled fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows that give you incredible views of the surrounding forest area. It’s easy to forget you’re staying in the trees until you walk outside onto one of the house’s three balconies.
With an outdoor barbeque and adequate seating, this treehouse cabin is a fantastic option for entertaining large families or for a weekend away with your best friends.
Hickory Treehouse, Kentucky
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If you want to give your kids a weekend to remember, then the Hickory Treehouse in Kentucky is the place to go.
This treehouse vacation rental may only have one bedroom, but it can sleep up to six guests and comes with a kitchenette and a cozy living area. However, what makes this treehouse stand out from the rest is the slide that takes you from the wrap-around porch down to the ground below.
The Hickory Treehouse , in our opinion, is one of the best treehouse rentals for families with kids , as the surrounding area has over 200 acres of rolling hiking trails and activities for the little ones to participate in. With an alpine climbing area and a creek to explore, your kids can go to bed happy and content after a long day in the great outdoors.
Redwood Treehouse, Texas
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In technical terms, the Redwood Treehouse isn’t exactly a treehouse as it is built on stilts and has a fake concrete tree running through the center. But, concrete tree or real tree, we’re still going to count it.
The rustic treehouse sleeps eight guests and has a full kitchen, dining, and living area. On top of being equipped with everything you’d need for a peaceful getaway, the Redwood Treehouse also has a shared swimming pool, a cabana area, a kids playground, and a 60-foot dock at Lake Dunlap a short walk away.
You can also grill to your heart’s content on your private deck area – which comes complete with a grill.
Tree House Vacation Rentals Worldwide
Looking beyond the US, there are a plethora of fantastic tree houses that you can rent. So whether you want an outdoor kitchen or a romantic getaway with a spring-fed hot tub, there is a tree house on this list that checks all the boxes.
The following nine tree houses offer everything from the highest luxury down to a traditional rustic treehouse experience.
Luxurious Treehouse Villas and Suites, South Africa
viaGlampingHub
The Luxurious Treehouse Villas and Suites offer a unique treehouse getaway in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa.
All suites on the property are comprised of a luxury bedroom, a lounge area, a private deck, and your very own private infinity pool.
The villas, on the other hand, have two bedrooms, a kitchenette, and a private deck with a “moon” shower overlooking the lush forest surrounding the property.
Treetop Cabin With Hottub, Southwest France
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What’s better than a tree house? A tree house with a hot tub! This two-bed Treetop Cabin in Southwest France has a private deck area with a hot tub that overlooks the beautiful green fields of the property it is situated on.
As well as having a private hot tub, you also have access to a shared pool area and a small kids’ playground. These additional facilities make it an incredible and unique stay for small families with young children.
Regal Castle Treehouse, France
viaGlampingHub
Ladies and gentlemen, we present you with the breathtaking Regal Castle Treehouse that is just waiting for you to live out all your prince and princess dreams.
But no, seriously, this treehouse is incredible. So, gather up your kids and head to Dienné, France, to spend the weekend up in the trees in your very own castle. Not only does the treehouse castle sleep ten guests, but the owners also built it on an Environmental Amusement Park with alpine canopies, treetop zip lines, outdoor swimming pools, and a miniature golf course.
Arctic Treehouse Hotel, Finland
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What better way to wake up in the morning than opening the windows and taking in the incredible Finnish snow-capped pine trees? If that sounds heavenly, you can experience exactly that at the Arctic Treehouse Hotel .
The rooms at the hotel come in a range of variations. Some have only a bed and seating area, while others offer an additional kitchenette. But, whichever room type you choose, you’re guaranteed one-of-a-kind views from the giant window at the foot of your bed.
Treehouse Hideaway, England
viaGlampingHub
We’ve snuck in another rental which you may or may not class as a treehouse. This getaway treehouse up on stilts can sleep up to six people and has a large open dining and living area and a small kitchen.
From the outside, this treehouse is breathtaking and has a wide porch that wraps around the entire house to give you uninterrupted views of the Wiltshire countryside. The owners of the Treehouse Hideaway designed it with internal wood furnishings and sculpted a tree of lights that runs through the center of the dining table to make you feel even more like you’re living up in the trees.
Lion Sands Treehouses, South Africa
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The Lion Sands Game Reserve is home to four lodges and three magnificent treehouses that put you right out in the middle of the reserve. The Lion Sands Treehouses , Chalkley, Kingston, and Tinyeleti have open bedrooms and a large deck dining area where you can kick back, relax, and enjoy your downtime taking in the plant and wildlife surrounding you.
And don’t worry, the beds are covered with a mosquito net. So fingers crossed, that’s one animal you won’t encounter on your treetop getaway.
Hanging Treehouse, Sweden
viaGlampingHub
Quite possibly, the most unique treehouse on our list today is the Hanging Treehouse in Sweden. In some ways, this treehouse reminds us of a UFO. So, if you’ve ever dreamt of staying in a treehouse AND being abducted by aliens, you can live out both those fantasies at once.
Due to the Hanging Treehouse’s relatively small design, the owners kept the interior reasonably simple. Two adults can comfortably cozy up in the double bed. And if you have a mini glamper with you, they can camp out on the fold-out twin bed.
However, the best part of the treehouse is the wood-burning fireplace and the underfloor heating. Both elements keep you toasty and warm even throughout Sweden’s winter months.
Lake Manyara Tree Lodge, Tanzania
viaJourneysByDesign
The Lake Manyara Tree Lodge is home to nine stilted treehouse suites that give guests a true wilderness experience. Builders crafted the treehouses from local timber and makuti palm fronds. This construction blends them into the surrounding trees to create a level of intimacy and romance.
Each treehouse has a large bed, an elegant seating area, a full bathtub bathroom, and a balcony with chairs that puts you right out in nature. As the lodge is on a national park, you can head out on extraordinary safaris to witness the incredible animals that also call Lake Manyara home.
Bangkok Treehouse, Thailand
viaUniqhotels
The final treehouse rental to make our list is the Bangkok Treehouse in Thailand. The owners of Bangkok Treehouse must have heard that saying “less is more.” They took the most simple treehouse imaginable and turned it into an incredible experience mixed in with the trees.
Each room, we should say, has a double bed with a mosquito net. They also have a surrounding balcony that makes the perfect place to watch the sunset and rise. Considering you have no walls to block out the light, you’re guaranteed to wake up peacefully when the sun does, which is something we think everyone should try at least once in their life.
The property also has outdoor seating areas and rooms that feature walls if camping out under the stars isn’t your thing.
Final Thoughts on Tree House Rentals
If you’re lucky enough to be heading on a getaway, why not stay in a treehouse. It’s a truly unique experience that not many people would even think of, let alone set out to do. And with breathtaking tree house rentals like the ones we’ve mentioned today, you’re bound to have the most unforgettable night’s sleep way up in the trees.
As we wrap up this article today, we’d love to know if you’d be open to staying in a tree house? Also, if you have spent the night up in the trees, what was your favorite part? Let us know in the comment section down below!
