Are you dreaming of living in a log cabin, but have no idea how to start building your own?
Perhaps the process of building a home from scratch seems too intimidating to you, or maybe you simply don’t have the time to dedicate to managing and overseeing a traditional log home build.
Prefab cabins are a fantastic solution to this. They offer a quick and easy solution to creating your dream home, quickly and effortlessly.
Pre-built in factories, modular cabins meet all the building regulations and will be delivered to you and built on your site usually within days.
Here are ten of the best prefab log cabins available right now and four additionnal pre built cabins.
Skip ahead to:
- The Top Fourteen of 2023
- The Benefits of Modular cabins
- Five Steps to Choosing The Best Pre fab cabins
- Popular Information
- How Are They Made?
- What are the Differences (Modular vs Prefab)
14 of the Best Prefab Cabins
14. System 00
System 00 from Backcountry Hut Company is a well designed small prefab A-frame cabin.
System 00 small prefab cabins features a charming A-frame design and an approximately 10 x 10 feet layout. Perfect for a single-bedroom sleeping prefab bunkie, this compact dwelling is delivered in flatpack form by truck (or even helicopter if you choose a remote location).
Backcountry Hut Company’s prefabricated assembly kit is one of the best options for an off-grid retreat cabin. Depending on the project site and intended use, this system may be built without a building permit.
13. Koto and Abodu Cabin
Koto, a British modular housing company, collaborated with American homebuilder Abodu to bring their latest version of prebabricated tiny homes to the US.
The Koto x Abodu pre built cabins are designed to be used as vacation homes, guest accommodations, or prefab backyard cottage.
This modular cabin stands out in the market for its unique and thought-provoking design that showcases the best of Scandinavian simplicity with Californian coastal influence. The cabin’s exterior features sleek lines and a natural wood finish that blends seamlessly into any environment. The interior space is designed to maximize natural light and create a sense of calm and tranquillity.
The Koto Abodu Cabin is also incredibly efficient, with a quick build time of just two weeks. Whether you’re looking for a permanent residence or a vacation home, the Koto Abodu Cabin is an excellent choice that combines beauty, functionality, and sustainability.
12. System 01
System 01 is a modular cabin concept developed by Canadian designers from Backcountry Hut Company.
It is a versatile and scalable modular design that can be easily assembled and disassembled to suit various environments and applications, from remote backcountry locations to urban settings.
The modularity of System 01 is one of its key features, allowing it to be customised and configured to suit specific needs and site conditions.
This modular design also enables easy transportation, installation and maintenance of the cabins, reducing the environmental impact of the construction process.
Overall, the Backcountry Hut Company’s modular cabin concepts offer a flexible and aesthetic solution for various living and working environments, focusing on modularity, versatility, and off-grid living.
11. The Nolla prefab cabin
Initially designed by Robin Falck with eco-friendly materials, the Nolla Zero Cabin is a minimalist A-frame cabin created for an off-grid and self-sufficient purpose.
Its less than 100 square foot living area features large windows offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscapes.
The cabin is planned to be easy to transport and maintain. Moreover, It can be assembled within just a few hours. It’s powered by solar panels and a small wood-burning stove for heating and cooking.
Overall, the Nolla A-Frame Cabin is an eco-friendly and mobile cabin offering zero-emission accommodations in unique and normally inaccessible locations amid nature.
10. The Tyron
The Tyron is a perfect cozy small home, which is ideal for a couple, a weekend getaway, or a lodge.
With just one bedroom and one bathroom on either side, the middle section has an open-plan living space with a beautiful kitchen.
This simple, small home is ideally sized for a cozy cabin nestled away in the woods. Its simplicity is what makes it so beautiful.
There is the option of adding a porch after the modular log home has been delivered to the site.
9. The Moose
This small, more intimate home is ideal for weekend getaways or can be used as a permanent residence for a couple.
Once you’ve designed the floorplan for The Moose, the prefab cabin will be delivered and placed onto your foundation.
This small home has a, gabled roof, with a porch which runs the length of the front of the building.
It can be delivered finished, with a complete kitchen, bathroom and all the electrics and plumbing installed, ready to move into straight away.
8. The Cape Cod Prefab Cabin
If you’re looking for a traditional log home, complete with dormers in the roof, this might be the ideal match for you.
The Cape Cod is perfect for areas that have heavy snowfall due to the roof’s steeper pitch. This roof is also great if you need additional storage space or an extra bedroom.
This modular cabin can be customized to create the exact floorplan and home that you need, and there is the option to have the home finished, including the interior, flooring, electrics, and kitchen.
7. The Musketeer
This is an excellent retirement home, with everything set out on one level. The Musketeer has a steep roof, which allows for plenty of storage space in the roof area.
It has a six-foot-deep porch that stretches the entire width of the home, perfect for relaxing outside on those warm evenings.
It is available in a multitude of layouts, from a one-bedroom house to a larger three-bedroom home.
6. The Chalet Prefab Cabin
If you have a plot of land with an amazing view, then you’ll want to make sure that your cabin enhances and makes the most of your surroundings.
The Chalet maximizes the surrounding views, with its abundance of glass windows and large deck area.
The front of the building is made almost entirely of glass, with two patio doors, and six huge trapezoid windows above to let in as much light as possible.
Similar to most modular models, it can be built in a few different sizes depending on the size of your family, and your requirements.
5. The Sportsman Prefab Log Cabin
If you’re looking for a compact home, or perhaps a second vacation home, The Sportsman cabin might be for you.
It is both affordable and practical, which makes it ideal for those who have a tighter budget.
This home looks like a traditional hunting or fishing cabin, with a covered porch on the gable end and a vaulted ceiling inside.
Towards the front half of the property is the kitchen and living area, and the back section can house either one or two bedrooms depending on the purpose and how many people will be living there.
4. The Settler Prefab Cabin
With a traditional gabled roof and a front porch that spans the entire width of the house, The Settler is an excellent, fully customizable home.
The bedrooms, bathroom, and kitchen are all tucked away along the back and side of the house, to allow for a large open living area.
This cabin can be designed and delivered to you in several sizes and layouts, from a two-bedroom, one-bathroom home, to a larger three-bed, two-bath home.
3. The Mountaineer Deluxe Prefabricated Cabin
This deluxe home is the ultimate log home, offering from 1,172 to 2,346 square footage of living space and it can be custom-designed to fit your exact requirements.
Each one of the Mountaineer Deluxe homes is built by experienced Amish craftsmen, ensuring that they are unique and of high quality.
With huge vaulted ceilings in the great room and a loft area that looks out over the room, this home is sure to provide the perfect backdrop for big social gatherings and more intimate family occasions.
2. The Legacy Prefab Cabin
With a steep gabled roof, The Legacy is the perfect log home for a mountain retreat, whether it’s a large vacation getaway or a family home.
This is one of the most visually beautiful log homes available, with the huge windows built into the gable roof which allows plenty of light to infiltration the cathedral great room.
The large footprint allows plenty of space for big families and creates a welcoming space.
This cabin can be designed with a large wrap-around porch, perfect for sitting out in the early morning or late evening.
1. The Homestead
The Homestead is a one-and-a-half-story modular home that can be designed to have between two and five bedrooms.
It has a large open plan floor space for the main living area which consists of the kitchen, a dining room, and a family room.
The second floor has generous bedroom space with dormers, which not only provides plenty of space but creates a modern look from the outside.
This prefab cabin is fully customizable, from the type of logs used, to the number of bedrooms and the roofing material options.
The Homestead is ideal for many different locations, from areas which experience heavy snow, to seaside resorts.
The Benefits of Choosing a Modular Cabin
Quick and Easy
Most companies will deliver your log home within a few months of the design phase being completed.
Due to the way it is built (usually in two or three sections) it can be put together and ready to move into in less than a week once it is on-site.
This is much easier and quicker than standard log cabin kits which are delivered to you in hundreds of pieces, for you to put together.
Expertise at Your Fingertips
Companies that offer modular cabins typically have decades worth of experience in building quality and long-lasting log homes.
If you’re building on a piece of land which is particularly tricky to access, modular companies have all the necessary equipment to navigate their buildings onto your site.
Customizable
Prefab cabins can be customized during the design phase, to allow you to create the home that you require.
Most companies will offer at least three or four different floorplan options for each log home design, giving you plenty of freedom to add or remove rooms, create more open-plan spaces, and add outside decks.
Building Regulations and Inspections
Most companies will adhere to the strictest building codes, and inspections will be completed during the build, in the factory.
Usually, the only inspections you’ll need are a site inspection before the build, and a second one to ensure the foundations and way in which the log home is placed on them, meet the correct criteria.
Uniform and Quality
Along with each manufacturer’s years’ worth of expertise will come a high-level quality of construction so you can be sure that your home will last for decades to come.
The way these homes are built ensures that all the logs are uniform which creates a neat and clean look. If you prefer the less uniform look of the rustic cabin, then a prefab build probably isn’t the best option for you.
Top Five Steps to Choosing the Best Prefab Cabin
Step One: Budget
Affordable Prefab cabins can cost anywhere from $25,000 to upwards of $300,000 for a large family home.
Your budget will depend on the purpose of the cabin, whether it’s a primary residence or a vacation home, and your personal circ*mstances.
Always work out what you can afford before starting your search, this way you’ll avoid getting into more debt than you can afford.
Step Two: Find a Company
There are hundreds of different log kit companies throughout America, but you want to find one who will prebuild the cabin at their factory, and bring it to your piece of land, at an almost complete phase.
Your final decision will be based on the company’s location and reputability, and the price of the modular log cabin kit.
Step Three: Choose the Floorplan
Once you know your budget and the company you want to work with, you can start to create the ideal floorplan.
If you let the manufacturer know roughly what you’d like, and how many floors and bedrooms, you’ll be given several options from their pre-existing floorplans.
If you can’t find anything that is right, most companies will be happy to work with you to design a different floorplan for one of their existing buildings.
Step Four: Prepare the Site
Most companies will require you to prepare the site, with adequate foundations which have been inspected by your local authority.
If you prefer to get hands on, you can lay the foundations for yourself, or you can hire a builder to build them for you.
Step Five: Delivery
Your new home will usually be delivered within 12-24 weeks of finalizing your floorplan.
Depending on how many sections your home has been built in and any extras which are being added to the home such as porches, or roof dormers, the process of putting the building together can take anywhere from one day to a couple of weeks.
Popular Information
What is a Modular Cabin?
This type of cabin is a building which is manufactured offsite, in a controlled factory setting.
Around 50-90% of the log cabin will be completed in the factory and it will then be transported to your address in large pieces.
Once it’s on your land it will be assembled and put together. Depending on the size, this process can take anywhere from a few hours to a week.
What is the difference between Prefabs and Modulars?
These terms are often used interchangeably for buildings that have been pre-built in a factory so the pieces can be quickly put together on site.
The technical difference is that a modular cabin is a type of prefab cabin. Another example of a type of prefab build is a panel-built home.
In short all modular cabins are prefabricated, but the opposite is not always true.
Summary
Prefab cabins are an excellent option for people who want to build a hassle-free log cabin, quickly and easily.
Hopefully, if you’re looking for a prebuilt cabin, one of these ten will be the perfect match for you.
From a one-bedroom cabin to a larger four-bed family home, prefabrications come in all shapes and sizes.
Follow our guide on how to choose the right one, and hopefully, you’ll be sat in your new home before you know it!
Are you thinking of buying a prefab cabin or do you prefer the traditional more rustic look of a hand-built log cabin?
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a vast amount of information on various topics, including prefab log cabins. I can provide you with information related to the concepts mentioned in this article. Here is a breakdown of the information you can expect:
The Top Fourteen of 2023
The article mentions the top fourteen prefab log cabins available in 2023. It provides a brief description of each cabin, including its features, design, and intended use. The cabins mentioned in the article are:
- System 00 from Backcountry Hut Company: A small prefab A-frame cabin suitable for off-grid retreats.
- Koto and Abodu Cabin: A collaboration between Koto and Abodu, offering prebuilt cabins with a Scandinavian simplicity and Californian coastal influence.
- System 01 from Backcountry Hut Company: A versatile and scalable modular cabin concept designed for various environments and applications.
- The Nolla prefab cabin: A minimalist A-frame cabin designed for off-grid and self-sufficient living.
- The Tyron: A cozy small home ideal for a couple or a weekend getaway.
- The Moose: A small and intimate home suitable for weekend getaways or permanent residence for a couple.
- The Cape Cod Prefab Cabin: A traditional log home with dormers in the roof, suitable for areas with heavy snowfall.
- The Musketeer: An excellent retirement home with a steep roof and ample storage space.
- The Chalet Prefab Cabin: A cabin designed to maximize surrounding views with an abundance of glass windows and a large deck area.
- The Sportsman Prefab Log Cabin: A compact and affordable cabin with a traditional hunting or fishing cabin design.
- The Settler Prefab Cabin: A fully customizable home with a traditional gabled roof and a front porch.
- The Mountaineer Deluxe Prefabricated Cabin: A deluxe log home with vaulted ceilings and a loft area.
- The Legacy Prefab Cabin: A log home with a steep gabled roof, ideal for a mountain retreat.
- The Homestead: A one-and-a-half-story modular home with customizable features and suitable for various locations.
The Benefits of Modular Cabins
The article also highlights the benefits of choosing a modular cabin. These benefits include:
- Quick and Easy: Modular cabins can be delivered and assembled within a few months, and the construction process is faster compared to traditional log cabin kits.
- Expertise at Your Fingertips: Companies that offer modular cabins have extensive experience in building quality log homes and have the necessary equipment to navigate challenging sites.
- Customizable: Prefab cabins can be customized during the design phase to meet specific requirements, including floorplan modifications and the addition of outside decks.
- Building Regulations and Inspections: Modular cabins adhere to strict building codes, and inspections are completed during the factory build process, reducing the need for additional inspections on-site.
- Uniform and Quality: Modular cabins are built with uniform logs, creating a neat and clean look, ensuring high-quality construction and durability.
Top Five Steps to Choosing the Best Prefab Cabin
The article provides a guide on how to choose the best prefab cabin. The steps include:
- Budget: Determine your budget based on the purpose of the cabin and your personal circ*mstances.
- Find a Company: Research and choose a reputable company that offers prebuilt cabins and delivers them to your site.
- Choose the Floorplan: Work with the manufacturer to select a floorplan that suits your needs or design a custom floorplan.
- Prepare the Site: Ensure the site has adequate foundations inspected by local authorities.
- Delivery: Your new home will be delivered within 12-24 weeks, and the assembly process can take from one day to a couple of weeks, depending on the size and complexity of the cabin.
What is a Modular Cabin?
A modular cabin is a building that is manufactured offsite in a controlled factory setting. The majority of the cabin, typically 50-90%, is completed in the factory and then transported to the site in large pieces. Once on-site, the cabin is assembled and put together, which can take anywhere from a few hours to a week, depending on the size.
The Difference Between Prefabs and Modulars
The terms "prefabs" and "modulars" are often used interchangeably for buildings that have been pre-built in a factory. Technically, a modular cabin is a type of prefab cabin. Another example of a prefab build is a panel-built home. In summary, all modular cabins are prefabricated, but not all prefabs are modular.
I hope this information helps you understand the concepts mentioned in the article. If you have any specific questions or need further clarification, feel free to ask!
