Assembly Required: 15 DIY Kit Homes

Big or small, contemporary or traditional, kit homes are an intriguing alternative for homebuyers today. Most kit homes are designed to be swiftly assembled by even novice do-it-yourselfers, and the price per square foot runs as low as $20 (and as high as $400). We've pulled together some of our favorite kit homes, and the tour starts here!

Custom kit homes from New Avenue come in a range of configurations, from small studio cottages to larger two-bedrooms with over 2,000 square feet. Most models use 90% less energy than a traditional home, exceeding the requirements for LEED Gold certification. 

$225 to $400 per square foot

The circular layout plans of Deltec prefabricated kit homes result in distinctive, adaptable, and durable living structures. These unique buildings are shipped in pieces, and their panelized construction system particularly suits first-time homeowner-builders.

$28 to $60 per square foot

Wood Joiners practices the art of "vernacular architecture" and offers an array of building projects, all intended to create a positive carbon flow through the use of sustainably harvested wood. They can even help out with desks, trestle tables, cabinets and chairs to furnish interiors!

$75 to $150 per square foot

Montsweag Brook Corporation's Bungalow in a Box relies on pre-cut, custom-designed small house kit components that are so easy to assemble, completion is possible within a matter of days. Sizes and styles range from the 12-by-16-foot "Studio" to the 16-by-24-foot "Madison Loft."

$75 to $100 per square foot

Available in several easily transportable sizes, the Tiny Green Cabin is a customizable steel- or wood-framed kit home that includes myriad eco-friendly details, from low-VOC paints and locally harvested lumber to recycled denim insulation. Solar panels and composting or sawdust toilets are optional.

Starting at $25,000

These customizable small house kits are available either pre-cut to save money or pre-assembled to save time. Cabins come standard with lovely features like red cedar siding and plenty of door and window options are available a la carte. Buyers can visualize their creations at the Summerwood Custom Design Center.

$49 to $174 per square foot

Specializing in kit homes that you can tow wherever you go, Tortoise Shell Home offers green and sustainable homes like this bare Galapagos model, which is composed of 30% recycled materials and boasts an efficient gray water system.

Starting at $4400

The folks at Jamaica Cottage Shop offer a kit for their 16’ x 20’ Vermont cottage, a 'roll your own' residence that takes two people roughly 40 hours to construct. The interior can be outfitted a number of ways; a sleeping loft can be added for maximum efficiency.

$12,999

Even if you've got your heart set on hardwood flooring, it's worth considering the alternatives. Sometimes, materials that only look like wood can be just as good as—or even better than—the real thing. Explore your options now!