Whether you have a small plot of land or you are just looking for a compact, cozy house, our selection of some of the best prefab and modular bungalows might help you in your search. With aesthetic influences ranging from coastal to mountain, the are bungalows on our list to satisfy a number of tastes. Additionally, to help buyers in their search for a prefab or modular bungalow to build, we have answered some of the key questions around the cost to build, the timeline, and important distinctions between site-built, prefab, and modular construction. If you would like assistance building your own prefab bungalow, speak with a member of our prefab concierge team.

Understanding Prefab and Modular Bungalows

What is a prefab bungalow? What is a modular bungalow? And what’s the difference between the two?

A bungalow-style house is characterized by characteristics such as one story, sloped roofs, an open living plan, and typically, a front porch. Technically speaking, a prefab bungalow refers to any bungalow that is built using prefabricated construction techniques. This includes modular construction, kit home building, panelized home construction, and manufactured construction.

Modular bungalows are a subset of prefab construction where box-like module(s) are built off-site, shipped, then set, and finished at the final build site. So, there is very little difference between the two as both will have the design elements of a bungalow. The only outlier would be manufactured bungalows which are built to a different building code than traditional, residential buildings. And while manufactured homes may be cheaper, they sometimes can not be financed like other site-built or prefab homes and their value appreciates differently over time.

How much does a prefab bungalow home cost?

The bungalows included in our list have turn-key costs ranging from $327,000 to $745,000. These estimates are based on the all-in costs to build each home, not including land. It is worth noting that there are both more affordable and higher-end, fully-custom prefab bungalows beyond those that are included on our list, depending on your budget and preferences.

To determine what it will cost for your own prefab bungalow, there are a number of factors to consider:

Land
Permitting fees
Site preparation - site assessment, excavation, utilities, foundation
Home cost - modules, panels, kit components from the builder
Delivery - many prefab companies serve large areas of the U.S., if not the whole country. It is worth inquiring if they have regional manufacturing facilities or if they ship materials from their headquarters, in which case, long-distance shipping costs can add-up
Installation/set - setting modules on a foundation & tying them together, or the assembly of the materials kit or panels
Finishes - depending on the company and your project’s needs, some modular homes can be delivered in a highly-finished state (around 90% complete). This means homes can arrive on-site complete with flooring, cabinetry, electrical, and plumbing; this requires little on-site work for the home to be move-in ready. Kit homes and panelized homes require significantly more on-site work to assemble and finish, increasing the local cost section of your budget

How long does it take to build a prefab or modular bungalow?

Like other styles of prefab and modular homes, a prefab bungalow can often be built quicker than a site-built home. While the exact timeline of your project will be determined by the length of the design/engineering process, permitting approvals, off-site build times, and on-site assembly & finishing, it is our experience that a prefab bungalow can be move-in ready anywhere between 9-16 months. If you are in a hurry, however, there are some companies (particularly for tiny homes and ADUs) that list build times as short as 3 - 4 months.

Prefab and Modular Bungalows For Sale

Bungalow by Purcell Timber Frame Homes

The Bungalow by Purcell Timber Frame Homes is a 1,600 square foot cottage that is built using a timber frame structural shell that is packaged, shipped, assembled, and finished on-site. With 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, the Bungalow is a traditional bungalow with a combination of timber frame and modern design elements. Purcell Timber Frame Homes’ design has interesting features such as covered decks and a second-floor bedroom with an en-suite bathroom.

Purcell Timber Frame Homes is based in Nelson, B.C., and can work with buyers throughout Canada and the United States. Although regional cost differences will affect the cost of building a Bungalow, we estimate that buyers in mid to high-cost areas can expect to pay around $745,000 to build the Bungalow bungalow by Purcell Timber Frame Homes, not including land.

Xyla by Unity Homes

The Xyla by Unity Homes is a 1,032 square foot cottage that is built using a structural panel system. With 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom, the Xyla is a smaller home with multiple floor plan variations to choose from. This can increase the size of your Xyla to up to 1,823 sqft and 3 bedrooms. Unity Homes’ design has features such as a simple, refined bungalow and cabin architecture with a small, functional floor plan.

Unity Homes is based in Walpole, New Hampshire, and can work with buyers throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern U.S. Although regional cost differences will affect the cost of building a Xyla, we estimate that buyers in mid to high-cost areas can expect to pay $350,000 to build the Xyla bungalow by Unity Homes, not including land.

Craftsman Bungalow by Impresa Modular

The Craftsman Bungalow by Impresa Modular is a 771 square foot cottage that is built using modular construction. With 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom, the Craftsman Bungalow is an affordable and functional bungalow-style home that can be set in one day. Impresa Modular’s home has interesting features such as an open-plan living area and a covered front porch.

Impresa Modular is based in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and can work with buyers throughout the entire U.S. via a network of builders. Although regional cost differences will affect the cost of building a Craftsman Bungalow, we estimate that buyers in mid to high-cost areas can expect to pay $327,000 to build the Craftsman Bungalow bungalow by Impresa Modular, not including land.

1.1 Option Series by Method Homes

The 1.1 Option Series by Method Homes is a 922 square foot cottage that is built using modular construction. With 1 bedroom and 1.5 bathrooms, the 1.1 Option Series is a smaller home with options and upgrades for both aesthetic and functional customization. Method Homes’s house has interesting features such as a covered porch and a compact, yet functional interior.

Method Homes is based in Seattle, Washington and can work with buyers throughout the Western U.S. Although regional cost differences will affect the cost of building a 1.1 Option Series, we estimate that buyers in mid to high-cost areas can expect to pay around $462,000, not including land.

Key Takeaways of Building a Prefab or Modular Bungalow Home

Just like site-built bungalows, prefab and modular bungalows are characterized by: one story, sloped roofs, an open living plan, and typically, a front porch
As with most types of residential construction, the turn-key cost of your bungalow will be heavily influenced by several factors: location & local labor cost, standard vs. custom, site work costs, and degree of finishes. That being said, buyers with mid to high-end costs can expect turn-key pricing from $400 - $600 per square foot, while low-end costs can range from $200 - $400 per square foot
Similar to cost, the timeframe to build your bungalow will be largely determined by factors like permitting time, standard vs. custom, and whether or not your selected company has a backlog of orders. While some modular homes can be built in as little as a few weeks, the entire process: from the time you put your deposit down until your bungalow is move-in ready is often between 9 - 16 months
There are a number of builders that sell prefab and modular bungalow homes including Purcell Timber Frame Homes, Unity Homes, Impresa Modular, Method Homes, and