From hiring an architect to pricey planning applications, building your own home can be a stressful and expensive task. But what if you could get your hands on detailed drawings that take the hard work and financial strain out of creating your dream home? Ideal for those looking to downsize, we’ve scoured the internet to bring you the best affordable tiny house plans, available to download right now. Click or scroll on to browse the most inspiring designs...
Got a spare $79 (£58)? Then the architectural plans for this little home on wheels could soon be yours. The Sweet Pea Tiny House is not only highly affordable but beautifully designed too. It was created for the architects' friend, who wanted to live simply, comfortably and spaciously, but also start a family someday.
Because of this, the tiny home had to be flexible and provide room to grow. The pocket-sized property comes with 136 square feet of inside space, equipped with a lounge, kitchen, bathroom and sleeping loft. French doors, skylights and windows allow plenty of light to filter inside, while the home's natural timber palette provides a warm, cosy finish.
The sleeping loft was built with as much space as possible to accommodate two adults, while the downstairs window seat, which comes with storage underneath, is a great sleeping option for kids. The plan package includes over 24 illustrations of the property, including exterior elevations, a floor plan and details of floor, wall and roof framing.
There are a huge variety of tiny house styles to choose from, but the Moschata by North American design company Small House Catalog has won lots of industry accolades for its eye-catching appearance. At 160 square feet, it contains an open-plan communal space, as well as a 60-square-foot sleeping loft.
The downloadable plan gives detailed instructions on how to build the tiny house, which contains a lounge, kitchen, bathroom, dining area and a corner home office. There’s plenty of space for everyday amenities too, including a fridge/freezer, shower and a tiny front porch.
A 3D overview, materials list, floor and loft plans, elevations, cross sections and plumbing plans are all included in the $79 (£58) download. The estimated cost to build is around $17,000 (£12.5k) and optimised plans are available for Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
If you're looking for something altogether more modern, then the Tiny House Cabin by DEN might just take your fancy. The plans for this sleek and sophisticated property can be bought for just $99 (£73), allowing you to create a gorgeous home on a shoestring budget. You can even pay in four, interest-free installments, making it even more affordable.
Inspired by modern mountain homes, the petite property benefits from a striking gabled façade, sky-high ceilings and a pared-back interior that's kitted out with everything you could need for daily living, or comfortable weekends away. Inside, the 144-square-foot retreat features a living space with a wood-burning stove, a chic kitchenette, a bathroom with a shower, and even an exterior deck.
A ladder leads up to the mezzanine bedroom, where a queen-sized bed can be found. Finished with sliding doors, skylights and carefully positioned picture windows, the property is light-filled and snug. The plans come with editable CAD drawings, as well as a 3D model, electrical and plumbing information and a full materials list. DEN estimates that it would cost just over $35,000 (£26k) to build the property, making this an affordable option for first-time buyers or those looking to live mortgage-free.
This 184-square-foot tiny house on wheels was designed as a bright and spacious home with a simple construction process. A set of clerestory windows and two skylights give this house its name, Hikari, which means ‘light-filled’ in Japanese.
An open-plan communal area contains enough space for a lounge and kitchen with a counter, storage units, sink, mini hob, full-sized fridge and two-seater breakfast bar. The bathroom is located at the back while a wooden staircase that leads up to the sleeping loft doubles up as a concealed fitted wardrobe.
The Hikari's 79-square-foot sleeping loft has enough space for a double bed and built-in shelving units. A second 23-square-foot loft can be used as a guest bedroom, lounge or additional storage space. The plan is available to download here for a mere $99 (£73).
This 207-square-foot tiny house on wheels features high ceilings and loft windows that open up plenty of wall space for storage. The house comfortably sleeps up to four guests at a time and can function as a holiday home or permanent residence.
There’s room for a kitchen with full-sized appliances and a functional bathroom with a conventionally-sized sink, shower and toilet. Estimated building costs for the entire house average at around $33,000 (£24.6k). You can get your hands on a digital plan for just $99 (£73), while the digital and printed version will set you back $299 (£220) and comes with a materials list and video tutorial. Get your hOme plan here.
If you're seeking a striking, stylish and flexible living space, then the Alpine Tiny House should tick all the right boxes. Available for $149 (£110), this tiny home has been described by designers DEN, as "a hotel room in the woods". Compact but wonderfully contemporary, the cosy cabin spans just 300 square feet across a single floor.
Bright, open and comfortable, the Alpine retreat was designed for human connection. It comes complete with a simple living room, with a wood-burning stove, a kitchenette, a spacious bathroom and a covered exterior porch, where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner.
While most tiny homes benefit from a loft level, this one features a fold-down Murphy bed to maximise your living space during the day. The cool, convertible fixture doesn't compromise on comfort and is perfect for those with mobility issues. DEN suggests that the model can be built for just over $73,000 ($54k) and its plans include all the details and specifications you need to get building your Alpine Tiny House immediately.
Let's just take a moment to admire this gorgeous tiny home. Featuring a modern black exterior, the Inzu is a Scandinavian-inspired design that offers space, style and minimalism in one – and you can get hold of its plans for just $149 (£110).
The contemporary cabin offers 497 square feet of inside space, kitted out with a porch, an open-plan living room with a lounge, dining space and kitchen, a loft bedroom and one bathroom. Plus points include the home's nine-foot cathedral ceiling and ample windows. It also offers a large exterior deck that spans almost the entire length of the property, where you could sip your morning coffees or host guests in the summer.
What's more, the Inzu was designed with sustainability in mind, thanks to its insulation options. Buyers can choose to install concrete or wood floors, and the plans include everything you need for your insulated slab foundation, mini-split heating and cooling system and tankless water system. Plans are delivered immediately as a PDF and are International Residential Code compliant.
If you're searching for a modern masterpiece with miniature proportions, The Conejito may just fit the bill. With digital plans priced at just $149 (£110) to download, its eye-catching design is nothing short of stunning.
Described as a “Little Rabbit House”, the property features just 304 square feet of inside space, comprising a cosy living room, dining space, kitchen and bathroom. Buyers can opt for any interior design scheme they like and can even take inspiration from this real-life tiny home, which was built in Joshua Tree, California, using the plans.
The design features a gorgeous bedroom and a second-floor deck where you can capture the view. The exterior porch can be utilised as a carport, or transformed into an alfresco dining space for warm summer evenings. The choice is yours! Plus, the home's warm-climate slab foundation can be converted for cold climates, while the plans accommodate the installation of an eco heat pump, a tankless water heater and HRV ventilation.
After building their own tiny house using highly expensive plans, Alexis Stephens and Christian Parsons decided to help other downsizers do the same, only with far more affordable plans. They set up TinyHousePlans, a one-stop shop for beautiful and detailed tiny house architectural plans. This one, The MiniMotives Tiny House, is available as a digital download for just $199 (£147).
The tiny house was designed by Macy Miller, an architectural designer, who began construction of her tiny home in 2011, undertaking the majority of the work herself. She completed the project for a little over $11,400 (£8.4k), thanks to the use of reclaimed materials. The 196-square-foot upcycled tiny home is light-filled and spacious with a crisp white colour scheme. Inside, you'll find a kitchen, a dining table, an office, a bathroom and two bedrooms – one for the adults and one for the kids.
Macy decided to team up with TinyHousePlans to help others recreate her gorgeous home. You can either opt for the digital plans or splash out on the printed version for $229 (£169). Each set of plans comes with 33 pages of drawings that include a materials list, floor and ceiling plans, elevations and framing plans, as well as the electrical, plumbing and millwork plans used in Macy's original home.
This incredible tiny home was designed by the experts at DEN. The strikingly contemporary A-Frame Retreat is just one of the company's inspiring designs and we've fallen head over heels for its unusual A-frame form, glazed gable and gorgeous contemporary interior. Let's step inside...
The perfect choice for those looking for a small footprint and a highly efficient design that doesn’t skimp on features, the tiny cabin boasts a beautiful open-plan ground floor, decked out with a lounge, kitchen, dining space and bathroom. A bedroom is tucked away at the back, while a spiral staircase leads up to a loft level, where a second bedroom can be found.
The property can sleep up to six people and its modern interior design is effortlessly cool. DEN estimates that you could build this pretty property for just over $195,000 (£145k) and the plans come with everything you need to get to work straight away. You can pick up the complete floor plan package, including customisable CAD plans, for this property for just $299 (£221), and you can even opt to pay in installments if your budget is tight.
For those in search of something a bit different, this 312-square-foot tiny house plan can be downloaded for $300 (£224). Features include a single-level open-plan interior, floor-to-ceiling windows and a 156-square-foot covered porch, where residents can relax while being shaded from the heat of the sun.
A downloadable PDF plan comes with detailed instructions on how to build the petite property, including elevations, floor plans, construction details and electrical plans. Though a flat roof limits the potential for adding a sleeping loft, it does make it far simpler to insert discrete solar panels.
Offering one bedroom and one bathroom, the snug design has plenty of potential for customisation. The company has also stated that they're more than happy to discuss modifications with clients, meaning you could create a totally bespoke space in a flash.
Loved this? Follow us on Facebook for more inspiring tiny homes