FREE DOWNLOAD · 8-PAGE GUIDE
KASITA CRAFTERS — FREE GUIDE
KASITA CRAFTERS — FREE GUIDE
The Tiny Home
The Tiny Home
Cost Guide
Cost Guide
A transparent breakdown of what a prefab tiny home actually costs — from foundation to finish, with real California numbers and no contractor markups.
A transparent breakdown of what a prefab tiny home actually costs — from foundation to finish, with real California numbers and no contractor markups.
01
01
The four real cost buckets — unit, delivery, site prep, permits
The four real cost buckets — unit, delivery, site prep, permits
02
02
Unit pricing for every Kasita model
Unit pricing for every Kasita model
03
03
Site prep and permit cost ranges
Site prep and permit cost ranges
04
04
Three real all-in cost examples
Three real all-in cost examples
05
05
Financing options and what to expect
Financing options and what to expect
Kasita Crafters — homes for everyone
Kasita Crafters — homes for everyone
kasitacrafters.com
kasitacrafters.com
INTRODUCTION
There's a middle option.
There’s a middle option.
If you've priced a custom ADU in California, you've seen quotes north of $180,000 and 18–24 months of permitting. If you've scrolled Facebook Marketplace, you've seen $8,000 sheds that won't survive three winters.
If you’ve priced a custom ADU in California, you’ve seen quotes north of $180,000 and 18–24 months of permitting. If you’ve scrolled Facebook Marketplace, you’ve seen $8,000 sheds that won’t survive three winters.
Kasita sits in the middle: factory-built tiny homes from $25,000, delivered in weeks, built to a real design standard. This guide breaks down exactly what that costs — every line item, no markups, no surprises.
Kasita sits in the middle: factory-built tiny homes from $25,000, delivered in weeks, built to a real design standard. This guide breaks down exactly what that costs — every line item, no markups, no surprises.
THE HONEST PROMISE
Every number in this guide is a real range we'd actually quote. Your free evaluation confirms the exact figure for your lot.
Every number in this guide is a real range we’d actually quote. Your free evaluation confirms the exact figure for your lot.
From $21.5k
Finished unit
~2–3 wks
Delivery
$1.8k–$3.2k/mo
Rental potential
Kasita Crafters — Tiny Home Cost Guide
Kasita Crafters — Tiny Home Cost Guide
Page 01 of 07
Page 01 of 07
OVERVIEW
Four numbers decide your budget.
Four numbers decide your budget.
Almost every cost falls into one of four buckets. Two are fixed by the model you choose; two depend on your property. Here's the lay of the land before we go deep.
Almost every cost falls into one of four buckets. Two are fixed by the model you choose; two depend on your property. Here’s the lay of the land before we go deep.
1
The unit
The finished structure — your model, factory-built to spec.
The finished structure — your model, factory-built to spec.
$21.5k–$50k
2
Delivery
Included within our Glendale–San Diego service area; quoted beyond it.
Included within our Glendale–San Diego service area; quoted beyond it.
Included
3
Site prep
Getting your ground ready — grading, pad, and utility stubs.
Getting your ground ready — grading, pad, and utility stubs.
$3k–$12k
4
Permits & fees
City permits and impact fees. Varies widely by jurisdiction.
City permits and impact fees. Varies widely by jurisdiction.
$2k–$8k
Kasita Crafters — Tiny Home Cost Guide
Kasita Crafters — Tiny Home Cost Guide
Page 02 of 07
Page 02 of 07
UNIT PRICING
Every model, every price.
Every model, every price.
Starting prices below include delivery within our service area. Each is the finished, factory-built structure — the rest of this guide covers what it takes to install it.
Starting prices below include delivery within our service area. Each is the finished, factory-built structure — the rest of this guide covers what it takes to install it.
MODEL
MODEL
SIZE
SIZE
BEST FOR
FROM
FROM
Luxury 1 Bed
400 sqft
400 sqft
ADU · rental · guest
$26,000
Luxury 2 Bed
600 sqft
Family · investors
$38,000
Studio Model
160 sqft
160 sqft
Studio · Airbnb
$29,800
$29,800
Backyard Office 9×13
Backyard Office 9×13
~120 sqft
~120 sqft
Home office · studio
$21,500
$21,500
Office 13×30
Office 13×30
~390 sqft
~390 sqft
Large studio · shop
$50,000
$50,000
Digital Plans
Digital Plans
DIY · contractor
$50–$500
$50–$500
Prices shown are starting points for a base configuration. Upgrades (kitchen, bath finishes, wheel base) are quoted separately during your evaluation.
Prices shown are starting points for a base configuration. Upgrades (kitchen, bath finishes, wheel base) are quoted separately during your evaluation.
Kasita Crafters — Tiny Home Cost Guide
Kasita Crafters — Tiny Home Cost Guide
Page 03 of 07
Page 03 of 07
SITE PREP
Preparing your ground.
Preparing your ground.
Site prep is the most variable cost — it depends entirely on your lot. Here are the typical line items and what each tends to run in California.
Site prep is the most variable cost — it depends entirely on your lot. Here are the typical line items and what each tends to run in California.
LINE ITEM
LINE ITEM
TYPICAL RANGE
TYPICAL RANGE
Grading & leveling
Grading & leveling
$1,500–$5,000
$1,500–$5,000
Foundation pad — gravel, piers, or slab
Foundation pad — gravel, piers, or slab
$1,500–$6,000
$1,500–$6,000
Water connection
Water connection
$500–$2,500
$500–$2,500
Sewer tie-in or septic
Sewer tie-in or septic
$1,000–$6,000
$1,000–$6,000
Electrical — panel & trenching
Electrical — panel & trenching
$1,500–$4,000
$1,500–$4,000
Utility permits
Utility permits
$300–$1,500
$300–$1,500
RULE OF THUMB
Most backyards land between $3,000 and $12,000. A flat lot with nearby utilities is cheapest; a sloped lot far from hookups sits at the top of the range.
Most backyards land between $3,000 and $12,000. A flat lot with nearby utilities is cheapest; a sloped lot far from hookups sits at the top of the range.
Kasita Crafters — Tiny Home Cost Guide
Kasita Crafters — Tiny Home Cost Guide
Page 04 of 07
Page 04 of 07
PERMITS & FEES
What the city charges.
What the city charges.
California's ADU laws have streamlined approval, but local fees still vary. Here's what to expect — and where you may be exempt.
California’s ADU laws have streamlined approval, but local fees still vary. Here’s what to expect — and where you may be exempt.
PERMIT / FEE
PERMIT / FEE
TYPICAL RANGE
TYPICAL RANGE
Building permit
Building permit
$1,000–$4,000
$1,000–$4,000
Plan check
Plan check
$500–$1,500
$500–$1,500
Impact & utility fees
Impact & utility fees
$0–$3,000
$0–$3,000
School / misc. fees
School / misc. fees
$0–$1,000
$0–$1,000
TYPICAL ALL-IN PERMIT COST
TYPICAL ALL-IN PERMIT COST
$2,000–$8,000
$2,000–$8,000
GOOD NEWS
California exempts many ADUs under 750 sqft from impact fees entirely. We confirm your specific city's rules during your free evaluation.
California exempts many ADUs under 750 sqft from impact fees entirely. We confirm your specific city’s rules during your free evaluation.
Kasita Crafters — Tiny Home Cost Guide
Kasita Crafters — Tiny Home Cost Guide
Page 05 of 07
Page 05 of 07
REAL EXAMPLES
Three all-in budgets.
Three all-in budgets.
Here's how the four buckets add up for three common projects. Your numbers will differ — but this is the shape of a real budget.
Here’s how the four buckets add up for three common projects. Your numbers will differ — but this is the shape of a real budget.
Backyard office
Office 9×13 · flat lot · utilities close
Office 9×13 · flat lot · utilities close
Unit
Unit
$21,500
$21,500
Site prep
Site prep
$4,000
$4,000
Permits
Permits
$2,500
$2,500
All-in estimate
All-in estimate
~$28,000
~$28,000
Rental studio
Luxury 400 sqft · standard backyard
Unit
Unit
$26,000
Site prep
Site prep
$8,000
$8,000
Permits
Permits
$5,000
$5,000
All-in estimate
All-in estimate
~$38,000
~$38,000
Family 2-bed
Luxury 600 sqft · sloped lot
Luxury 600 sqft · sloped lot
Unit
Unit
$32,000
$32,000
Site prep
Site prep
$10,000
$10,000
Permits
Permits
$6,000
$6,000
All-in estimate
All-in estimate
~$48,000
~$48,000
Kasita Crafters — Tiny Home Cost Guide
Kasita Crafters — Tiny Home Cost Guide
Page 06 of 07
Page 06 of 07
YOUR NEXT STEP
Ready to get your real number?
Ready to get your real number?
This guide gives you the ranges. A free 20-minute evaluation gives you the exact figure for your lot — model recommendation, site-prep estimate, permit outlook, and financing options, all in writing.
This guide gives you the ranges. A free 20-minute evaluation gives you the exact figure for your lot — model recommendation, site-prep estimate, permit outlook, and financing options, all in writing.
FINANCING AVAILABLE
From ~$420/mo on approved credit
1
Book a free 20-minute property evaluation
Book a free 20-minute property evaluation
2
We confirm zoning, model fit, and your all-in number
We confirm zoning, model fit, and your all-in number
3
You get an honest quote in writing — no pressure
You get an honest quote in writing — no pressure
Get your real number.
Get your real number.
We'll give you an honest, all-in quote in writing — free, in 20 minutes.
We’ll give you an honest, all-in quote in writing — free, in 20 minutes.
BOOK YOUR FREE EVALUATION →
Kasita Crafters — Tiny Home Cost Guide
Kasita Crafters — Tiny Home Cost Guide
Page 07 of 07
Page 07 of 07