This post shows you the top prefab home companies and what to consider when choosing manufacturer.

Prefab homes (modular & ADUs) offer faster move-in times and potentially lower costs thanks to factory precision and less on-site waste. It’s a compelling alternative to traditional builds.

These advantages, coupled with the growing availability of high-end, customizable designs, are making prefab homes a compelling choice for many home buyers.

However, navigating the world of prefab home manufacturers can be daunting.

With so many options available, how do you find the right company that aligns with your budget, desired style, and local regulations?

This guide simplifies the process by outlining key factors to consider and providing a curated list of top prefab home manufacturers across various regions.

Table of content

• What to Consider When Choosing manufacturer
• Top 10 prefab home manufacturers
• The advantages of using modular home manufacturers

What to Consider When Choosing One of the Best Modular Home Manufacturers

With a growing number of prefab home manufacturers, choosing the right one requires research. This is especially crucial depending on your location.

By understanding the prefab process and exploring various companies, you’ll ensure you find a builder who aligns with your needs and preferences.

Prefab vs. Modular vs. Stick-Built Homes

Prefab. Modular. Stick-built. What does it all mean? All of these designations refer to structures built and assembled with specific techniques.

• Prefab: Short for prefabricated, prefab is a term used to describe homes built in factories and delivered to home sites. They include mobile and manufactured homes (those built on metal chassis and delivered to the site), modular homes built in two or more sections, or even kit homes assembled and disassembled in a factory and shipped to the customer.
• Modular: Modular homes are factory-built homes that are shipped in two or more sections and placed on a permanent foundation. These homes come in a wide range of sizes and designs.
• Stick-built: Homes built on-site, board by board, are known as stick-built homes. All of the framing and finishing is performed on-site. This is the most traditional and popular method of construction, though it’s slowly giving up its share of the home-building market to modular construction.

Price Range

The average modular home ranges between roughly $40 to $80 per square foot as a base price and $100 to $200 including installation.

Smaller homes with builder-grade features like vinyl flooring and laminate counters will cost near the lower end of the range.

Large models made from several sections that include higher-end finishes will cost toward (or more than) the top of that range.

All in with site preparation, utilities, taxes, fees, and more, customers can expect to pay between $72,000 and $144,000 for a 1,800-square-foot home.

This is less than the cost to build a similar size and style stick-built home, which costs between $180,000 and $360,000.

Home buyers will want to note that these costs include the price to purchase the land.

And specialized multi-family modular home manufacturers may fall into entirely different price points due to thicker firewalls and framing.

Customization Options

Modular homes follow specific plans, and manufacturers typically offer anywhere from just a handful to 20 or 30 floor plans and designs.

However, many builders also allow home buyers to customize the floor plan to best suit their needs.

Also, beyond changing floor plans, almost all modular home manufacturers offer custom finish options. For example, a shopper may be able to choose between carpet, vinyl, hardwood, or tile for their flooring.

Similarly, they’ll be able to opt for granite countertops over laminate if they should choose and their budget allows. Siding and roofing colors are customizable, as are entry doors and add-ons like decks and porches (which are built on-site).

Financing Options

In general, financing a modular home is fairly similar to financing a stick-built home. Buyers can go the route of traditional mortgages, construction-to-permanent loans, or personal loans.

The exception to this rule is that some lenders will not offer traditional mortgages on modular homes.

Some modular home companies actually partner with lenders specializing in modular home financing.

While interest rates may be higher than those through a traditional lender, this financing option allows the buyer to build a home, move in, and refinance the home through a standard lender, if they wish.

Construction and Shipping Times

Modular homes are typically much faster to construct than stick-built homes.

Materials are generally delivered to one location (the factory), and tools are always available where they need to be. Climate control also allows the crew to work more comfortably and minimizes any weather-related delays.

This efficiency allows the typical manufacturer to build a modular home in 3 to 4 months of actual construction compared to the 7 or 8 months required to build a stick-built home. However, luxury modular home manufacturers may take significantly longer.

Shipping times will vary based on several factors. The home site’s proximity to the facility, the number of sections, and freighting availability all play a part.

Folks that live outside of the factory’s designated shipping area may have to pay additional fees to have their homes delivered as well.

Site Preparation and Installation

Site preparation is the responsibility of the property owner, not the manufacturer. This means that any excavation, septic, well drilling, electrical service, and foundation work need to be performed before the modular home is delivered.

In many cases, the homeowner will hire a general contractor to handle these tasks.

Installation is another story. Some modular home manufacturers have their own crews who install the sections of homes, while other manufacturers may hire the job out to contractors.

Homeowners might also be responsible for finding a crew. In any case, installation may account for $25,000 to $50,000 of the project.

Warranties

All home builders are mandated to provide a minimum warranty on materials and labor.

The mandated period is usually 1 year regardless of whether the home is stick-built, manufactured, or modular. However, some modular home builders offer extended warranties that may cover the home for between 2 and 10 years.

Also, home buyers will want to understand that all of the appliances and mechanical systems in the home will carry their own warranties.

The homeowner will likely receive a folder full of manuals and warranty information upon the final walk-through with the manufacturer or contractor.

Home buyers will want to know that it’s not uncommon for modular home customers to call their manufacturer within the first few months for small issues, as little snags are normal.

The manufacturer will typically send someone to the home to repair or resolve the issue. However, this is why it’s important that the manufacturer offers excellent customer service.

Top Prefab Home manufacturers

With all of that background on choosing the best modular home manufacturer, it’s time to get down to business.

For shoppers who’d rather not perform an internet search for “local modular home manufacturers,” here is a list of modular home manufacturers that are trusted options.

Koto Design

Koto is a well-known firm that creates prefab homes and cabins with aesthetic wood-clad exteriors and geometric forms.

The Koto prefab cabins come in a variety of styles and layouts with modular architecture and are ideal to be used as holiday rentals, extra living accommodations, or home offices. The company designs and creates custom-made prefabricated structures with minimal environmental impact by using sustainably sourced timbers. 

The cost of these cabins can range from $35,000 to $500,000, depending on the size and amenities provided. The 15-square-meter tiny cabin, Pari is listed for £35,000 ($42,855), while the four-bed, three-bath Piha House costs £400,000 ($489,772).

Country: United Kingdom

Service area: The UK, Europe and the USA

Boxabl 

Las Vegas-based startup Boxabl is another popular prefab home builder that came into the limelight after creating a tiny house for Elon Musk.

At the core of Boxabl’s design is Casita – a 30 x 20-foot rectangular Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) that comes in folded form factor. It is transported to locations in stacked form, then unfolded and connected to build a house.

The 20′ x 20′ Boxabl Casita includes a full-size bathroom, kitchen, appliances, and big windows. Each casita is made from steel, concrete, and EPS foam while structurally laminated panels are used for walls, floors, and roofs. Boxabl claims the Casita is able to withstand fire, hurricane-force winds, and heavy snow and rain. Moreover, it is quite affordable, starting at $49,500.

Country: The US

Service area: Worldwide delivery

Nestron

Singapore-based Nestron is a new-generation company that creates tiny living spaces for modern homeowners.

Their tiny houses come fully prefabricated and are delivered as ready-to-use units with built-in furniture and smart home systems.   

Nestron’s Cube One unit can be customized for single-person use or for a big family. It provides low-cost, small-sized, simple, and flexible houses. Its smooth lines and minimalist layout make the Cube series perfect for large-scale use in modern urban spaces. You can get its exteriors, interiors, and colors customized to form a unique and dynamic design.

The base price of Cube One is $52,000 and goes up to $120,000, depending on the model and customization you choose.

Country: Singapore

Service area: Worldwide delivery

MUJI

MUJI began with the term ‘encapsulated’ homes in 1980. They have created products that may be considered substandard as per the conventional criteria.

Concentrating on three priorities, such as streamlining processes, selection of materials, and simplification of packages, the company has established itself with more than 7,000 premium products. 

In 2020, MUJI released a single-story prefab home known as Yō no Ie (or Plain House). It boasts a large outdoor deck for encouraging both indoor and outdoor living. This particular housing structure has been created for rural settings and is the firm’s very first dwelling without any stairs. 

The 74-square-meter housing structure is suitable for the growing needs of low-profile houses in suburban Japan. The retail company wishes to offer a wide range of living spaces with distinct choices in terms of facilities and features. The price of Yō no Ie (or Plain House) starts at 15,980,000 yen (approximately $155,622).

Country: Japan

Service area: Japan

DublDom

DublDom was established in 2013 by Russian architect Ivan Ovchinnikov to develop modular wooden houses.

The architect’s mission was to build a scalable and affordable architectural design for a stylish family home. He completed his vision within eight years by creating over 1,000 houses in Europe and Russia.  

The company uses advanced technology for creating one DublDom within 6-7 days, with an installation period of one week. Each of the five housing designs ranging from a modern cabin to a five-bedroom home is made using sustainable materials and wood. DublDom is priced at $80,000, but the cost may vary depending on the customization.

Country: Russia

Service area: Russia, Europe and The US 

Tini

Spanish firm Tini is well-known for customizing homes to individual requirements. One of its popular tiny homes is called Tini M. Located in Cuenca, this tiny home is one of the first houses the company created for young homeowners who wanted a small house that can be built within a few days rather than waiting for years for construction.

After seeking several alternatives in the industrialized house market, the homeowners opted for Tini M which took only 100 days to complete construction.

The price of Tini M starts at 54,500 € ($59,388) and may vary depending on the number of custom features and type of the model (ranging from Tini XS, Tini S, Tini M, and Tini L to Tini 2M and Tini 3M).

Country: Spain

Service area: Europe, the USA and Canada

Ark Shelter

Netherlands-based ARK-Shelter is another renowned prefab home manufacturer. They are well-known for their Ark Lodge modular family home.

In 2016, the company created this 155-square-foot modular home that includes two separate bedrooms on either side of the property. Each bedroom includes a huge window to provide maximum outdoor views to the inhabitants while pouring in natural light. 

In 2018, the company came up with a new Ark Shelter Prefab Cabin with five door openings for more access to the surroundings. Another feature of this well-curated and versatile floor plan includes a large living space with maximum glass windows. It even has convertible spaces, like a trundle bed for accommodating guests for overnight stays.

Moreover, this particular lodge has big terraces. There is one terrace on each side of the property and can be custom-made for enjoying time with nature. The Ark-Shelter model of 3m x 9m costs around €60,000 ($64,455).

Country: Belgium

Service area: Europe

Abodu

Abodu prefabricated home manufacturer is on a mission to inspire property owners to rethink the potential of every inch of their land.

The firm aims to impress clients with stunning backyard homes by making homeowners think how easy it is to create desired living spaces. ​Whether you need a space to work from home, put up rent, or as a holiday home for your family, Abodu takes care of all the options.

Abodu helps homeowners add extra space to their existing ones. The company offers various prefabricated cabins, such as Dwell House, and various versions of Abodu, including Abodu One, Abodu Two, and Abodu Studio. The price of Abodu One starts at $268,800 and can increase depending on the model you choose. Nonetheless, each selected unit is minimalist yet practical in its own way.

Country: The US

Service area: 30-day delivery in select CA cities

Lumicene

French-based Lumicene uses its signature curved-glass window to create its modern nature getaways. The firm’s popular prefab construction is the Lumipod Prefab Cabin. It is a 183-square-foot circular shelter with an aluminum frame that’s clad in burnt wood planks to blend with the surroundings. 

The cabin sits on four screw piles and is positioned on the terrain to have minimal impact on the surroundings. The interior is lined with plywood and features a closet, bedroom, and bathroom, while the floor-to-ceiling glazing envelopes the entire space for an immersive experience. For seamlessly connecting the inhabitants with the wilderness, the window slides open effortlessly to let in the great outdoors.

The cabin can be created within six months and is available in sizes ranging from 5.5 to 8 meters in diameter. However, you can customize it as per your preference. Contact the manufacturer for price.

Country: France

Service area: Europe

Zennihome

Arizona-based startup Zennihome has created Denizen, which is one of the three best housing propositions. The other two are the huge Citizen and the even larger ZenCity, which are bigger versions of the Denizen. This particular prefab home is more like a Lego block that can be created for making larger structures, either vertically or horizontally. 

ZenniHome was the first to recognize that tiny homes are a fantastic illustration of multi-functionality. However, the majority of people find tiny living to be an impractical solution for the long term, thus ZenniHome set a new objective for itself: to maximize usefulness with a small footprint.

Therefore, the firm created a space with little room yet maximum facilities, thanks to its patented technique of building the housing with robotic technology. The company hopes to launch the prefab home at the price of $90,000 for the Denizen, and $125,000 for the Citizen.

Country: The US

Service area: 48 states of The US and Canada

The Backcountry Hut Company

The Backcountry Hut Company is renowned for unique tiny housing designs, like System 00, System 01, System 02, and System S. All of them are available in various designs and sizes. These houses are inspired by the rustic wilderness of Canadian outdoor culture and are created to nestle within the woods or beside a lake. 

Each design offers a flexible floor plan with modular features to accommodate small groups or a family. The ground floor of these prefab hours often encourages fluidity between outdoor and indoor living. Or you can use them as an extension of your house for storage, home office, or sleeping. The price of System 00 housing design starts from CAD $56,495 and can increase depending on the model you choose. 

Country: Canada

Service area: Canada and the United States

OOD Mirror Houses & Cabins

Estonia-based OOD is known for creating stunning prefabricated mirror houses and hotels. The clients can use these factory-built units for housing or as an Airbnb. The compact cabins are created with 200 square feet of space with a bed, bathroom, and kitchenette, but the sizes can be increased.

Each rectangular unit comes finished with insulated and mirrored glass, enabling it to reflect the surrounding views, no matter where you place it. Besides its one-of-a-kind exterior, it features heated flooring, a large TV touch screen, Wi-Fi, and Bose sound system. The price for the 227-square-foot house is $125,000.

Country: Estonia

Service area: Worldwide delivery

The Advantages of Using One of the Best Modular Home Manufacturers

Material and labor shortages can punt deadlines down the field. The biggest modular home manufacturers generally have a handle on any shortages, ordering large quantities of materials ahead of time.

While modular home buyers won’t be totally protected from any delays, there may be a better chance of staying on track when going with one of the top modular home manufacturers.

Modular home manufacturers have a reputation for employee turnover, which could lead to inexperienced craftspeople building the homes.

The best modular home manufacturers offer competitive wages and amiable working conditions, retaining staff for longer and promoting potentially better craftsmanship.

The best modular home manufacturers are typically more eco-friendly than stick-built constructors. The factory building process is highly efficient and minimizes waste as much as possible.

Scraps from one stage of the project are typically recycled into another step down the line.

• There is more control over materials and labor shortages.
• Employee satisfaction and retention are typically better.
• The modular home process is highly efficient and minimizes waste.

FAQs