17 Small Cabins You Can DIY or Buy for $300 and Up

Fact checked by Emily Estep

Small, cozy cabins are the essence of escape fantasies and retirement dreams for those who long to get away from it all. Once a symbol of humble, backcountry origins, today building your own DIY small cabin is an aspirational goal for those looking to downsize and reconnect with the great outdoors.

There are various styles of cozy cabins including A-frame, rectangular, mobile, prefab kits, and custom blueprints.

Small cabins vary greatly in design, with some being built for year-round use and others as off-grid homes for vacationing or short-term accommodations. Prices vary accordingly, starting at around $300 for DIY plans and reaching up into the hundreds of thousands of dollars for turnkey models depending on size and custom features.

Whether you're looking for a classic log home or a sleek modern cabin, here are 17 stylish small cabins that you can buy or DIY.

DIY Tiny Cabin

Builder Jay Shafer ignited the modern tiny home movement when he published "The Small House Book" in 2010. If you're looking to build a fun-size cabin and have no idea how to get started, Shafer's Tiny Home Builders website offers free study guides, downloadable building plans, and a calendar of upcoming workshops for build-it-yourself novices.

• Cost: Plans range in price from $197 to $397

• Size: Range in size from about 96 to 260 square feet

• Beds/baths: 1-2 bedrooms, 1 bathrooms
  

Modern A-Frame Cabin

This modern A-frame bunk cabin from DEN includes a loft bedroom, an optional kitchenette, a mini-split for AC and heating, 14-foot ceilings, and a skylight and glass facade with French doors that allow natural light to flood the interior. The cabins sleep two and can be built alone or in pairs or multiples to accommodate friends and family. The company sells basic or detailed plans depending on your needs and has a calculator to help you determine build costs in your area.

• Cost: From $199-995 for plans

• Size: 196 square feet

• Beds/baths: 1 bedroom, 0 bathrooms
  

Inexpensive DIY Cabin

Don't call this teensy cabin that features a cedar wood frame and clear polycarbonate roofing a she-shed. Derek Diedricksen, the tiny homebuilder behind this one-of-a-kind structure, describes it as a backwoods reading room.

Relax Shacks shares how the little hut cost less than $300 to make using mostly recycled and found materials, and includes interior photos for ideas on how to design a cabin for less.

• Cost: Less than $300
  

• Size: 8x8 feet

• Beds/baths: 0 bedrooms, 0 bathrooms
  

Hobbit House Cabin

If you dream of owning a small cabin in Maryland, you can purchase one from Hobbitat Spaces. The building company creates modern dwellings wrapped in reclaimed wood that specifically meets the state's building codes.

To get a taste of the cabin life, you can book a stay in the Moonshadow cabin (pictured above) at Blue Moon Rising in Deep Creek Lake, MD that is loaded with features including reclaimed Douglas fir paneling and a salvaged claw-foot tub.

• Cost: Plans cost $225 to $300, while custom plans range in cost from $2,000 to $3,500

• Size: Range from 225-1200 square feet depending on the model

• Beds/baths: 1 bedrooms, 1 bathrooms
  

DIY Log Cabin

Looking to live like Henry David Thoreau? You can DIY this small cabin by Joalex Henry. The expert do-it-yourselfer who built this haven single-handedly shares what you need to know about cabin construction, from picking the best logs to preventing wood rot with a coat of cooking oil. His little abode is made using mostly reclaimed materials, a boon for the wallet and the environment.

• Cost: $2,500 or less

• Beds/baths: 0 bedrooms, 0 bathrooms
  

Prefab Arched Cabin Kits

Budget-minded DIYers will appreciate the selection of prefab metal buildings from Arched Cabins. How resilient are these galvanized steel structures? All can withstand wind speeds of up to 150 mph and up to 30 pounds per square foot of snow. Each DIY kit comes with a construction manual and phone number for the company's building support team. While all orders also come with everything needed to complete the exterior, foundations and finished cabin interiors aren't included.

• Cost: Starts at $9,240
  

• Size: 480 square feet

• Beds/baths: Bedrooms and bathrooms will vary based on your plans
  

Contemporary Prefab Cabin

This state-of-the-art prefab is a timber frame cabin from FabCab called TimberCab 550. It ships as a kit of pre-cut building materials designed for on-site assembly by a licensed contractor. The company says its unique approach to prefab construction slashes weeks off building time while reducing material waste.

• Cost: Price depends on your custom quote, but a deposit of $10,000 is required to start any project
  

• Size: 550 square feet

• Beds/baths: 1-2 bedrooms, 1-2 bathrooms, depending on the layout
  

Prefab Guest Cabin

If you have a lakefront cabin without space for visiting friends, the folks at Summerwood Products, a company that designs and sells small structures, suggest adding a prefab "bunkie," or prefab guest house with a bathroom. Depending on style and size, the micro-cabin sleeps two or more people.

• Cost: DIY bunkie kits with pre-cut materials start around $14,000, with pre-assembled kits starting at around $17,000

• Size: From 80-216 square feet

• Beds/baths: Bedrooms and bathrooms will vary based on the layout chosen
  

One Room Cabin

Pin-Up Houses claims that virtually any able-bodied person with basic DIY skills can build The Cheryl Cabin in three weeks. While the single-room cabin doesn't include a kitchen and bathroom, it does celebrate the great outdoors with floor-to-ceiling windows and a small wood deck for outdoor entertaining.

• Cost: Around $27,700 (the building plan is available for $29)
  

• Size: 100 square feet

• Beds/baths: 0 bedrooms, 0 bathrooms
  

Yurt-Shaped Cabin

Sidney, NE-based Freedom Yurt-Cabins makes yurt-shaped cabin kits that can be built in 3-5 days. Features include solid walls, integrated flooring, insulation, a bolt-together design, and a wood ceiling that lends the interior a log cabin feel. The Yurt-Cabins come in a range of sizes, from 12 and 18 walls, making them suitable for backyard home offices, granny flats, or vacation rentals.

• Cost: From $29,900 for a 12-wall model

• Size: 217 square feet

• Beds/baths: 1 bedroom, 0 bathrooms
  

Small Log Cabin Kits

If you're not an experienced builder, using a DIY kit like The Serenity Log Cabin package by Conestoga can make the process a lot easier. The cabin getaway packs a private bedroom, living area, and bathroom. Adding a kitchenette is optional.

• Cost: Starts at $39,998

• Size: 280 square feet

• Beds/baths: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
  

Small Cedar Cabin

The Nostalgia Cottage by Tiny Portable Cabins comes with all the basics found in many studio apartments, and includes a small porch.

• Cost: Starts at $46,000, with upgrades like built-in furniture, radiant heating, or an air conditioner costing extra

• Size: 10.6x24 feet

• Beds/baths: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom

Tiny Forever Home

Forever Tiny Homes, based in Northern California, builds tiny homes designed to last. Their website offers a "Tiny House Builder" that allows you to customize and try out different sizes and styles of tiny homes until you find one that works best for you. It's a smart way to settle on an ideal setup before committing.

• Cost: Starts at $64,500

• Size: Range in size from 20-32 feet long

• Beds/baths: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom

Tiny House Trailer Cabin

Ditching the city for cabin living doesn't mean saying farewell to household conveniences like a state-of-the-art kitchen, say the folks at Escape, a company that builds award-winning park model homes and travel trailers.

Its basic package, the Traveler, includes a drool-worthy kitchen decked out with maple cabinetry, full-size Energy Star appliances, and panoramic windows. Every Escape retreat is built to withstand extreme weather, from heat waves to blizzards.

• Cost: starts at $79,411

• Size: 269 square feet

• Beds/baths: 1 bedroom, 1 bathrooms
  

Small Cabin on Wheels

The Basecamp by Backcountry Tiny Homes is a small cabin on wheels brimming with floor-to-ceiling storage solutions for all of your outdoor gear, from snow skis and sleeping bags to climbing ropes and hiking backpacks. We particularly love the rooftop deck for enjoying the scenery.

• Cost: Turnkey price is $101,500; price for an unfinished interior is $54,500

• Size: 386 square feet

• Beds/baths: 1-2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
  

Modular Micro Cabin

The Wedge by Wheelhaus is a modular cabin built on a trailer chassis that qualifies as a recreational vehicle, so you can place it anywhere RVs and mobile homes are allowed.

Some of the cabin's striking features include exterior siding made of reclaimed snow fencing, large trapezoidal windows, tall ceilings, and a sleek Euro-style glass shower with floor-to-ceiling tile.

The Wedge can sleep up to three people and is wired for the internet. You can vacation in this one at Fireside Resort, in Jackson Hole, WY to try it out.

• Cost: $175,000

• Size: 400 square feet

• Beds/baths: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
  

Black Scandi-Style Cabin

This sleek black modern farmhouse cabin is inspired by Scandinavian design. The one-bedroom, one-bath cabins include vaulted ceilings, a laundry room, and a deck along the backside of the house.

This is one of three models offered by DEN—known for its digital cabin plans—that is part of a new full-service homebuilding platform, BuiltBy DEN, currently available in the Hudson Valley and the Catskills of NY for those looking for a more turnkey experience.

• Cost: Starts at $199,000

• Size: 500 square feet

• Beds/baths: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
  

Small Cabin Building Tips

• Off-grid vs. on-the-grid: When building a cabin, deciding whether to choose a rustic off-grid or more comfortable on-the-grid structure that includes plumbing, electricity, temperature control, and wifi hookups will help determine your budget. It will also help you to decide whether the property you are planning to build on is suited to your project—or make it easier to narrow your options if purchasing land.

• Building the cabin’s foundation: It’s important to build a solid foundation to keep your cabin secure and durable over the long term. Consider the main types of house foundations and their uses before planning your cabin build.

• Building a portable cabin on a trailer wheelbase: If you are planning to build a portable cabin on a trailer wheelbase, be sure you have the advanced DIY skills necessary to complete the project. Building a small cabin can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months depending on the scope of your project and whether you build it yourself or hire professional help.

• Purchasing or finding land: When looking for land upon which to build your cabin, be sure to check local laws and permitting guidelines before purchasing. The wrong location may not be suitable for important elements like electrical and plumbing, or these necessities may be significantly more expensive to install on certain lots.

• Cost of extra features: When building a budget for your cabin, be sure to consider the cost of extra features, which can up the end cost dramatically. Start with a wish list of both non-negotiables and extra features. Basic components like plumbing and electrical wiring will increase cost, as will small cabin extras like heat, air conditioning, and wifi hookups.
  

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to build a small cabin by yourself?

The cost of building a small cabin yourself will vary depending on many factors, from materials to labor costs to extra features. Depending on whether you are building it yourself from reclaimed materials or a kit, hiring a professional, or buying a turnkey prefab model, a small cabin can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several hundred thousand dollars.

What is the average size of a small cabin?

Small cabins start at the truly tiny (around 100 square feet), and depending on your idea of what “small” means can range up to 1,000 square feet or even more.

Is it less expensive to build a cabin or house?

Generally speaking, it’s less expensive to build a cabin, because cabins are usually smaller than houses. But all is relative, depending on both size, materials, labor costs, and the price of land. According to Angi, the average cost of building a 500-square-foot log cabin is $75,000, whereas the average cost of building a house is $297,954.

What is the best shape for a cabin?

There is no one "best" shape for a cabin. The shape you choose should be specific to your wants and needs. That said, the most common shape for a cabin is a rectangle.

Read the original article on The Spruce.