Buyer decision tool
Buy vs. Build a Tiny House
Compare a real builder quote with your own build budget. The calculator deliberately uses your numbers instead of pretending every tiny house has the same national cost.
Buy path
Cash outlay from the numbers above.
Build path — cash
Cash cost including contingency, before valuing your own labor.
Build path — economic cost
This is a comparison framework, not a quote. It does not model financing interest, land acquisition, taxes, insurance, opportunity cost of construction delays, warranty value, resale differences or the risk that a DIY budget changes during the build. Use actual builder and supplier numbers whenever possible.