DIY Kit Homes We'd Build Right Now

Did you know you can buy a new house online? For as little as $500 you can buy the plans for a DIY kit home that you can finish to your own specs. If you've got more to spend, you can buy a kit with all the materials included for less than $20,000. From inexpensive prefab homes to groovy granny flats, and inspiring backyard studios, we found affordable home kits that have us daydreaming of greener pastures and new addresses.

Prices and availability are subject to change.

Related: Tiny Houses Across the Country for Every Budget

$500 from 84 Lumber

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Don't let the low price fool you: All you get are the blueprints to build a frame attached to a flatbed trailer. It's up to you to source, buy, and install the materials to build out and finish your tiny home on wheels. But then again, the whole point of a custom-build kit house such as this is to design it exactly to your specifications. This could be a challenging project for even a seasoned DIY-er, but one look at some of the finished homes featured on the retailer's Tiny Living website is enough to inspire anyone who can hold a hammer to take up the challenge.

Related: Teardrop Trailers and Tiny RVs to Hit the Open Road

$19,306 from EZ Log Structures

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Temagami is in Ontario's rugged northern wilderness region, and we can totally see this little like-named cabin perched beside a woodland Canadian lake — or in a suburban backyard. Either way, this cute cabin is compact: just 107 square feet of usable space on the ground floor plus a multilevel, cantilevered sleeping loft above. There's no kitchenette or bathroom included in these plans. Still, we're intrigued by the interlocking-wood-board construction of these European-built kits — kind of like Legos for big kids.

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$18,800 from Arched Cabins

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We're not sure which of Arched Cabins' funky structures we love best: This 960-square-foot model, which has a loft and can be designed with up to four bedrooms and three bathrooms, or the 8-foot-square cabin, which would make just about the coolest treehouse ever. This Texas-based company sells a range of kit cabins that can be customized and delivered to your door for setup, including tiny houses that can be mounted on trailers.

Related: Charming Tiny Home Communities Across America

$42,950 from Allwood Outlet

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When it comes to ordering a kit home, Allwood pretty much dominates the market, in part because it offers so many different structures. This cabin combines rustic Nordic spruce cladding with a simple midcentury-style elevation that would look at home in the woods or by the shore. The 540-square-foot open floor plan has one dedicated bedroom plus a sleeping loft that can accommodate two people. Some may balk at the placement of the bathroom, which can be accessed only from a separate external door, but at least you step out onto the covered front porch.

$25,213 from Mighty Small Homes

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Kentucky-based Mighty Small Homes is well known for its range of kit houses, including this trailer-mounted tiny home. It's a snug 192 square feet with room and can be customized with a loft space, skylights, and an add-on garage (which at 400 square feet would be bigger than the kit house itself). The DIY kit starts at $25,213, but it’ll likely cost some $75,639 to build. And if you'd rather let a builder assemble it, the cost starts at $126,065. (Though the bare kit price is lower!) 

$44,800 from Nomad Micro Homes

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This Canadian-built structure offers 182 square feet of space, including kitchen and bathroom, and the modular design can be linked with other Cubes to create large living spaces. They can be ordered with optional solar, water, and sewage systems for off-the-grid living anywhere a 20-foot shipping container can be sent, according to the company. Anyone got some Caribbean beachfront property they wanna lend us? 

$26,885 from Mighty Small Homes

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At 256 square feet, the smallest version of the Modern is indeed mighty small, but you can opt for floor plans of up to 1,200 square feet if you need something more than a simple studio with a half-bath. Unlike some prefab home builders, Mighty Small also offers upgrades such as metal roofs, an insulated garage, and interior hardwood flooring. Once your order is ready, it'll arrive at your site on a flatbed truck, and you've got two hours to unload, according to the fine print. Hire a contractor to put it together for you or do it yourself; just keep an eye on the clock. 

$75,900 from Tiny Heirloom

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This sleek 200-square-foot box is designed by a Portland, Oregon, company that specializes in tiny homes, and it's the only Tiny Heirloom model not designed to be towed about. Instead, the stay-put eXpanse is designed for homeowners who've been dreaming of operating a short-term rental or who crave a separate studio space where they can work and create. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the main living space — which is big enough for a queen-size bed — with natural light, and the tucked-away kitchenette comes with a small sink and under-cabinet fridge.

Related: Hobbit Holes, Missile Silos, and Other Cool Underground Homes