Cheapest Off-Grid Cabin Kits, Tiny Houses, & Container Homes
Cabin kits have been a great way to get a home out in the seclusion of the wilderness, but they don’t have to set you back an arm and a leg. If you are looking for just the bare necessities, you can get a cabin kit for extremely cheap. It may be just a roof and four walls, but it will make for a great off-grid shelter, the perfect bug out location, or just a weekend getaway to get unplugged.
Material costs have been going up lately, so it is a little tougher to find cabin kit deals. We keep this list updated even as costs go up, periodically reviewing for accuracy so you can find the best deal on a cabin kit for your vacation retreat or bug out getaway.
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In this latest update of off-grid cabin kits, prices have been updated, and additional selections have been added. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Disclosure»
Cabins, Sheds, Workshops, & Tiny Homes
Since we first started hunting down and tracking the prices of off-grid cabin kits in 2017, the offerings have changed dramatically. Tiny homes became a huge thing, which drove down their price. Sheds and workshops have always offered ways to erect structures with less red tape. Lastly, hangers, barndominiums, and container homes have started gaining traction with the higher cost of lumber.
We’ll dive into each of these options in order of their starting price for a kit.
DuroSpan Hangar
DuroSpan hangers are massive for the price- with one big caveat. The kits do not ship filled in on the ends of the tubular frame. This does offer some interesting customization options, as you can see below.
Cheapest Hanger Barndominium
The base model is a whopping 800 sqft of whatever you can dream up. Sure, it’ll take some more materials to close in the ends and add whatever amenities you want, but you can’t beat the price or the strength of these structures. It’s also 18 feet high at the peak of the hanger, so you can easily add a loft.
The 800 sq ft base model is only $6,999, but of course, you can go up in size to an industrial warehouse if you want. You can find a wide range of sizes at the lowest prices at DuroSpan on eBay.
Traditional Cabin Kit
Traditional cabin kits haven’t gone anywhere and are still a great deal if you can provide a little elbow grease.
Cheapest Cabin Kit
The ‘Charmer’ is the cheapest because it is extremely small at just 93 square feet, slightly smaller than a 9′ x 12′ layout. The good thing is that it is easier to assemble than some of the larger models and requires fewer materials (and cost) to finish. With a price tag of just $6,250 (plus tax and freight), this is the least expensive cabin kit you can find- although it is also the smallest.
Browse the rest of the catalog at BZB Cabins, where they ship all over the United States.
Moon Houses
Moon houses are like cabin kits, but instead of walls and a roof, they are a unique dome shape. You’ll need sheathing, a vapor barrier, and shingles to cover the exterior to finish the structure.
Cheapest Moon House
The dome cabin from EcoHouseMart isn’t huge at 330 square feet, but it does have plenty of overhead room for a loft area. The kit does not include floor sheathing or OSB siding, so you will need to source some more materials to complete it. Even still, $8,490 for a framed 330 sq. ft. dome structure is pretty damn good.
No freight cost added on makes this a steal if you want something cheap that you will need to put some work into to customize. It is not an option if you are looking to just have something arrive with everything you need. The flexibility of this kit does mean more work to get it completed.
The modern kitchen and loft they show in the listing are amazing. You can learn more about the cabin and other sizes at EcoHouseMart on eBay.
Prefab Container House
You can find prefab houses folded to container sizes and shipped from China now. They don’t start as inexpensively as some of the other kits, but there is less work to do to complete the home once you have it delivered and unfolded.
Cheapest Prefab House
The cheapest folding container house is $6,798 at the time of this update- but that price fluctuates often with the tariff situation and rising demand. The 20-foot model arrives in about a month and is one of the cheapest complete options, depending on how much you are charged locally to set it up (need it trucked and lifted into place). Once it’s on the footers and expanded, you have 400 square feet of living space!
Oddly enough, they are sold on Amazon, which gives you better service and support when buying from China.
Cheap Used Cabins
Believe it or not, some people are looking to get rid of their cabins. With logs weighing a few hundred pounds each, it’s not easy work. Because of this, most used cabins are sold ridiculously cheap if you do all the disassembly and transportation off the lot. You can find these deals on eBay, Craigslist, or the classified section in your local papers.
Be prepared to show up with a crew, since they get priced low, so the owner doesn’t have to do much. Disassembling an old cabin can sometimes take even longer than assembling a brand-new kit, so plan accordingly.
You can find some used cabin kits on eBay for about half the price of a new one, depending on the freight needed.
DIY Cheap Cabin Plans
Kits make building a cabin easy because they come with instructions and prepared materials. If you just get the instructions, you can locally source your materials, giving you some flexibility.
If you are looking to build an inexpensive cabin, tiny home, or other structure, you’re going to have to go small. Costs scale with size, so keeping the home just large enough to house your family is best. Finding ways to utilize outdoor spaces is a great idea to save money- no need for a living room inside if you can gather and be comfortable outside.
You’ll want to check out several cabin plans before settling on the one best for you, and the Big Book of Small Home Plans does that best. It has over 360 plans of various structures, all under 1,200 square feet.
Comparison Table
| Off-Grid Home Type | Manufacturer | Cheapest Option* | Home Area | Work to Complete |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barndominium/Hanger | DuroSpan | $6,999 | 800 sqft | Very High |
| Cabin Kit | BZB Cabins | $6,250 | 93 sqft | High |
| Moon House | EcoHouseMart | $8,490 | 330 sqft | High |
| Prefab Container House | Link (China) | $6,798 | 400 sqft | Medium |
Cabin Kit Pros vs. Cons
If you are looking for a smart way to get unplugged and off-grid, a cheap cabin kit is the way to go. With some land and a cabin kit, you can carve out your own little getaway that can last generations.
The best part is that you can do all of this for about the same cost as dragging your family on a vacation. I don’t know about you, but I would pick a permanent retreat over chasing the kids around a theme park for a week or two. If you’re having trouble convincing your better half that building a cabin getaway is the move for you, I’ve made a quick pros and cons list to help your case:
| Pros of a Cheap Cabin Kit | Cons of a Cheap Cabin Kit |
|---|---|
| Inexpensive | The cheaper the kit, the smaller the cabin |
| Can build it anywhere | Must buy land and place foundation |
| Can customize floor plans and layouts easily | Some supplies may not be included |
| Building a cabin can be a family bonding experience | Requires a LOT of work to build |
| An affordable vacation getaway | |
| A bug out location option | |
| A way to get unplugged and off-grid in a busy world | |
| A lasting legacy that can outlast you |
Hopefully, those bullets can help with the decision process. If you have any suggestions, let us know in the comments at the bottom. Keep on reading to see the five cheapest cabin kits we could find, with the cheapest coming in right under $6000.
The Final Word
Building an off-grid cabin can be a fun project and pay off in the long run as well. There are plenty of sizes to look at, and the costs scale pretty much based on size. If you are skipping the main amenities for your cabin, you can save a lot of money by ‘roughing it’ off-grid. This can be a bonding time for your family, and help you all be more confident in your self-sufficiency skills.
If you need some free land or other cheap gear, here are some more articles our readers find useful:
- How to Get Free Land in the US (and Canada)
- How to Get a Free Survival Map of Your Local Area
- Bug Out Bag List | 44 BOB Essentials
If you know anyone who thinks a cabin house or bug out plan is just out of reach, feel free to share with them. I was surprised by how cheap cabin hunting can go, and they may be, too.
Keep exploring, stay prepared, and be safe.
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If I wanted one of the cabins and wanted it delivered to Kentucky what is the process and how long would it take? Do the kits come with directions to install? Thank you – Tom
Are these still available and is the price still $3,990. Please email me with updates and information. I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks
Delivery to McCormick SC?
Can these kits be financed?
Do they come with elecrial wiring and plumbing?
I’d like a traditional kit about 18′ x 18′ or approximate. “Front view”, front and back door.