Are you considering having a prefab home constructed? Would you like an idea of prices based on different materials, quality, and design? In the following cost guide, we'll look at the price ranges for prefabricated homes such as those built with steel, timber, glass, and uPVC, as well as those offered by popular brands such as Huf Haus and Baufritz.
This article will also break down how long the installation process should take as well as exploring additional topics, including a closer look at the various types of prefab homes and their pros & cons. Our cost guide will prove useful on your journey to purchasing your own.
A prefabricated home is a structure that is pre-built off-site before being delivered to private property where it can be installed. Prefab homes are also known as flat pack homes. They are popular since they can easily be customised, as well as offering a cheaper price tag. In addition, they can be constructed faster than traditional homes.
On average, the prefabricated home price could land anywhere from £85,500 to £385,000 to purchase one and have it installed on your land. However, the average price ranges vary depending on the materials, quality and size of the prefab house. You could purchase a budget prefab home for about £1000 per square metre, but the cost will reach as high as £3500 per m2 for a premium prefab construction.
In terms of size, for a budget prefab home, you'd be looking at a price tag of approximately £55,000 for a 55m2 construction. While an 80m2 structure will cost around £80,000, £95,000 for a 95m2 prefab budget home, or £150,000 for a 150m2 option.
Should you prefer a mid-quality prefab home, it'll likely set you back around £99,000 if the prefab home is 55m2, £144,000 if it's 80m2, £171,000 for a 95m2 build, or about £270,000 for 150m2 construction.
In the case of a premium quality build, it's going to cost roughly £165,000 for a 55m2 flat pack home, £240,000 for an 80m2 flat pack home, £285,000 for a 95m2, or £450,000 for a 150m2 build. As you can see, the size and quality of a prefab home will play a significant role in shaping the cost.
As for designs, the cost of building a prefab home from Huf Haus is around £2400 to £3500 per m2. The smallest option offered by Huf Haus is 160m2, so for this, you'd pay about £384,000 to £560,000 in total.
In the case of a Baufritz prefab home, it is about £2200 per square metre, or in total, £355,000 for a 160m2 building. Scandia Hus modular homes are around £1800 per m2 or about £280,000 for a 160m2 construction.
With Potton, you will pay roughly £1350 to £1500 per m2. Should you want a 150m2 home, as is about the size of their Kelshall design, you'd pay approximately £213,750. For a 256m2 design (the Framlingham to be specific), you'd pay around £364,800 in full.
Another significant cost-factor is material. For an average timber prefab home, its supply and construction cost will probably end up around £710 to £740 per m2, with the cost estimation rising to £770 to £820 per m2, in the case of a steel frame house.
Should you want a brick prefab home, it's likely to set you back roughly £1400 per m2. A uPVC home should cost around £700 to £1000 per m2, while the cost of building a prefabricated property made of glass will come to around £2000 per m2.
In terms of the material costs, the price of a timber frame would land between £80 and £110 per m2. For a steel frame, you're looking at a cost of around £140 to £190 per m2, with a brick frame setting you'd pay £50-62 per brick, or £21 per kg plus additional material costs. The materials for a uPVC home will likely cost about £100 to £300 per m2 and for a glass home, £1600 per square metre.
The labour cost will usually be charged per square metre. To have a prefabricated home installed, will, on average cost about £600 per m2 or roughly 1/3rd of the total cost with the supply cost making up the remaining two thirds.
The overall cost will depend not only on the materials used, the size of the property and the quality of the prefab home, but also additional factors such as where you live, whether groundworks are required and how accessible the location is.
The reason that your location matters is because labourers charge different amounts across the UK, with the north of England having some of the cheapest rates, while London and southeast feature some of the dearest rates.
| Standard | Size | Total Installation Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | 55m2 | £55,000 |
| 80m2 | £55,000 | |
| 95m2 | £55,000 | |
| 150m2 | £55,000 | |
| Mid-Quality | 55m2 | £99,000 |
| 80m2 | £144,000 | |
| 95m2 | £171,000 | |
| 150m2 | £270,000 | |
| Premium | 55m2 | £165,000 |
| 80m2 | £240,000 | |
| 95m2 | £285,000 | |
| 150m2 | £450,000 |
| Brand | Size | Total Installation Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Huf Haus | 160m2 | £384,000 to £560,000 |
| Baufritz | 160m2 | £355,000 |
| Scandia Hus | 160m2 | £280,000 |
| Potton | 150m2 | £213,750 |
| 256m2 | £364,800 |
| Material | Size | Total Installation Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Timber | 80m2 | £58,000 |
| 150m2 | £108,750 | |
| Steel | 80m2 | £63,600 |
| 150m2 | £119,250 | |
| Brick | 80m2 | £112,000 |
| 150m2 | £210,000 | |
| uPVC | 80m2 | £58,000 |
| 150m2 | £108,750 | |
| Glass | 80m2 | £160,000 |
| 150m2 | £300,000 | |
| Timber | 80m2 | £58,000 |
| 150m2 | £108,750 |
As discussed, there are various options when it comes to purchasing a prefab home. In each of the following subsections, we'll break down these types by looking at their features, pros & cons and average costs. First, we'll look at types based on material, and then brand/design.
Plenty of flat pack homes are constructed with timber frames. The most common option is that of a platform frame.
This involves the use of large prefab frames, also known as cassettes which come with dimensions of about 2.4m x 3.6m. In general, it is usually easier and quicker to build a home using timber frames than it is with say steel or bricks & mortar.
Timber homes tend to be more eco-friendly than the alternatives, plus they generally offer a high degree of energy efficiency. On the downside, timber homes are prone to rot and do not provide great sound insulation.
Further, they lack the solidity and strength of a steel or brick house. You will probably pay between £710 and £740 per m2 for a timber prefab home.
✔ Less expensive than a steel prefab home
✔ Quicker and easier option
✔ Eco-friendly
✔ Energy efficient
✖ Poor sound insulation
✖ Not as strong as a steel or brick house
If you're looking for a durable and robust home, you should go with a steel option. Steel frames are not prone to rot, regardless of humidity and, unlike timber frames, steel is not at risk of a termite infestation. It also offers greater protection against adverse weather.
You might pay somewhere in the range of £770 to £820 per m2 to have a steel prefab home erected. A popular provider of steel prefab homes is Bauhu.
✔ Sturdy and resilient
✔ Durable
✔ Protects against adverse weather and rot
✔ Not overly expensive
✖ Not as cheap as a timber home
✖ Can be more challenging to install than a wooden prefab home
The main advantage of a prefab home made with bricks & mortar is that they absorb humidity in a way that other options don't. They also keep the risk of mould & mildew to a minimum. Bricks are long-lasting and reliable. They can be repurposed too. In addition, they are fire and weather resistant. Brick homes are low-maintenance and eco-friendly.
However, they are expensive and lack the range of colours you may get with another option. On average, between materials and labour, a brick prefab home will cost around £1400 per m2.
✔ Can easily absorb moisture
✔ Durable and fire/weather-resistant
✔ Eco-friendly
✔ Low-maintenance
✖ Costly
✖ Not a particularly big range of colours to choose from
Unplasticised polyvinyl chloride (uPVC) is a strong but lightweight and relatively inexpensive material. You will likely pay around £700 to £1000 per m2 for a uPVC prefab home.
Among the benefits of uPVC homes are their durability, affordability, energy efficiency, and the fact that they are low-maintenance. uPVC is also versatile and long-lasting. On the other hand, it is a brittle material, and it is not the best option for the environment.
✔ Strong
✔ Lightweight
✔ Durable
✔ Affordable
✔ Energy-efficient
✖ Brittle
✖ Not the most environmentally-friendly option
One of the key advantages of a glass prefab home is the beauty that it offers. It can also maximise indoor light. Glass is a lightweight option, and it prevents rooms from retaining too much heat on warm days.
It is also versatile. A glass home will, of course, require plenty of upkeep. Dirt and window blotches will make imperfections in its exterior more easily noticed than would be the case with other types of prefab homes.
You'd likely pay about £2000 per m2 to have a glass prefab home installed.
✔ Fantastic aesthetic
✔ Lightweight
✔ Prevents overheating in rooms
✖ Requires plenty of cleaning/up-keep
✖ Expensive
This German flat pack house design is one of the most prominent prefab houses on the UK market. It costs about £2400 per m2 to have a basic Huf Haus prefab house installed. The smallest Huf Haus option is 160 square metres.
In total, this would cost £385,000 to construct. With upgrades and additional options to consider, Huf Haus offers a max price of about £3500 per metre squared. The modern design of Huf Haus flat pack homes is brought to life with a post and beam system. Huf Haus designs contain plenty of glass.
✔ Modern prefabricated homes
✔ Possibility of upgrades and extra options
✖Expensive
The cost of a Scandia Hus is about £1800 per m2. This adds up to approximately £280,000 for a 160m2 home.
Scandia Hus is one of the few prefab home companies that provide an online guide with build costs.
✔ Not as expensive as Huf Haus
✔ Plenty of options to choose from
✔ Provides an online cost guide
✖ More expensive than some competitors
Next, we have Baufritz. The starting price to have a Baufritz timber design constructed is £1500 per m2. However, you'll need to hire contractors locally for the installation of the electrics, bathroom, kitchen, plumbing, etc.
In total, you'll probably end up paying around £2200 per metre squared. And, for a 160m2 home, that would make for an estimated total cost of about £355,000.
Of course, additional costs will apply, including stamp duty and any land expenses. These homes are fairly eco-friendly and energy-efficient.
✔ Popular timber design
✔ Eco-friendly
✔ Energy efficient
✖ Expensive for a timber design
Lastly, we have Potton. This manufacturer of timber-framed houses and bungalows are a part of the company Kingspan. Like Scandia Hus, they have a price guide on their site.
On average, it will cost around £1350 per m2 to have a Scandia Hus build installed. If you require a project manager, you'll need to add about 11-12% to this total.
✔ You can choose from classic and contemporary designs
✔ Sustainable option
✖ Still relatively expensive for timber material
Firstly, you'll need to choose an appropriate brand based on your preferences and budget. You'll also want to choose a design and materials that suit your needs. For a more modern look, a steel frame system may be most suitable. For a traditional look, perhaps timber is the best bet.
Get in contact with some companies that match your ideas and request a quote. In many cases, you'll be able to purchase a customised design.
Of course, since this is a prefab home, you'll need to put a lot of thought into its layout and ensure you cover all the bases (insulation, functionality, spaciousness, etc.). Though, the brand you choose to work with will be able to help you with this if you're unsure of anything.
Don't forget to check about things that matter to you. For instance, you may be concerned with how eco-friendly a given design is. You may want to project manage the construction yourself. But, if not, at this point of the process, you should hire an appropriate and experienced project manager.
How much of the building will be pre-built before arrival varies depending on the manufacturer. Much of the time, the first day will see the electrics and damp proof work undertaken as a starting point.
Usually, the ground floor will be installed next with both exterior, and internal walls added, and then the flooring and ceiling. If it's a timber frame home this will be faster, than say, if you are having a brick prefab home constructed, which will involve laying 1000s of bricks. A steel frame home would also take longer to build than a wooden home.
In most cases, the stairs and precast chimney will need to be installed next. This would be followed by the installation of any additional levels and then, the roofing area.
Once the structure is fully established, you have the bare bones of your prefab home in place, but you will now need to add the various fixtures and fittings. At this point, you'll probably need to source contractors locally, such as kitchen installers, an electrician, plumber, etc.
New household fittings may include lighting, a range cooker, fridge & freezer, boiler, countertops, and much more. Before you know it, an empty, perhaps barren plot of land has turned into a vibrant, warm, home!
You will also need to consider what the costs of the groundworks might be, as this may be classed as an additional fee. For planning permission, approval may cost around £150 to £200, and up to as much as roughly £400. Don't forget about building regulations too. For building approval/inspection, you can expect to pay somewhere in the ballpark of £200 to £500.
Of course, further additional costs can arise depending on how much work you wish to have performed inside your home following construction. You may also want some work to be undertaken outdoors. For instance, it will likely cost about £700 to have a new shed installed, £800 to £1000 for a garden fencing installation, or roughly £150 to get an outdoor security light fitted.
The work of constructing a prefab home as a whole is not considered an appropriate DIY project. Unless you have plenty of previous experience in construction, then it's best to leave the key building work to professionals.
Of course, some of the work, including any gas, plumbing, or electric fittings, will often require certified or/and experienced professionals to perform it, on a legal basis.
However, there'll still be plenty you can do as a DIY enthusiast, including adding internal fittings and fixtures, fitting new flooring, painting, and decorating among other alterations. Once you know precisely what is involved, understand all of the safety steps needed and have the legal right to do so, go for it!
Whether you perform one small job DIY, or several tasks, building regulations and planning permission approval may be needed. But, this is going to depend on the task. For instance, in the case of planning permission, if you want to install a fence, should it have a height of more than 2 metres, you will need approval.
Planning Portal provides an extensive breakdown of what work is considered permitted development (i.e. does not require planning approval), and what does require approval.
As for the building regulations, take a look at the 'Approved Documents' via gov.uk, for further information.
In some cases, a professional will need to sign off on work you have performed. There are, of course, many dangers associated with performing any work as a DIY project. For starters, it could simply go wrong. This is why it's essential to understand the ins and outs of the job.
Only take on work, if you're completely sure of your ability to perform the task at hand. Should you perform a botched installation, or paint job, etc., you'll end up wasting time and money, as you'll need to hire a professional to come by and fix it.
However, there are more serious risks to consider also, ranging from dealing with heavy materials to possible dangerous chemicals, or substances. Always ensure that you know what safety precautions are needed for a DIY task, and then take the appropriate safety measures, whether that means buying safety gloves, or having someone hold the bottom of a ladder while you are using it.
Prefab homes come with a range of pros and cons, as does the construction. If you plan to project manage, you will be under a certain degree of pressure to run the building process well and to ensure that you make the right decisions from day to day. Even with plenty of professionals around you to offer advice, this could make for a stressful time.
Further, having a prefab home built is time-consuming, and it's not easy to make changes to it on a structural/fundamental level once construction is complete. Should you fail to receive approval for any necessary planning permission or building regulations, you'll need to look at why your application(s) were rejected, and apply again, with appropriate changes to your proposals.
We have hundreds of homeowners each day checking the prices on YourJobCost before hiring a tradesperson. That way they've already got a good idea of how much they should be quoted.
They should last as long as any home, really. So, about 60 years or more.
Flat pack homes are built off-site and then delivered to private land for construction/installation.
Huf Haus are one of the best brands on the market. But it will really depend on your preference.
Not particularly. Most are made of materials like timber or steel.
The starting price is about £2400 per m2, but it could cost as much as £3500 per m2.
