How Much Does It Cost to Build a Tiny Home on Wheels? The Full Picture

There's a big difference between buying a tiny home and building one. When you build, you control every single decision — from the trailer to the kitchen countertops. But that control comes with a price tag that looks different depending on how you approach it. 
So let's get specific. How much does it actually cost to build a THOW? We'll walk through the whole thing — materials, labor, timeline, and all the stuff that tends to catch people off guard. 

The Bottom Line Up Front 
Building a tiny home on wheels costs $30,000 to $80,000 on average if you're hiring a professional builder. If you're doing most of the work yourself, you can bring materials costs down to $15,000 to $30,000 — but you'll be investing serious time and sweat equity on top of that. 
Custom builds with premium finishes can push well past $100,000. It all depends on your choices.

The Cost of the Trailer 
Every THOW starts with a trailer, and this is one place where you genuinely should not try to save money. A proper tiny home trailer costs $4,000 to $11,000. The length, width, steel gauge, and design all affect the price. 
There are three main hitch styles: bumper pull (most common, attaches to the back of a truck), gooseneck (extends over the truck bed), and fifth wheel (similar to gooseneck but with a hinged plate). Each has different towing requirements and weight limits. 
A custom trailer — like the ones we build at Cocoon Homes — can cost more, but the design advantages are real. Ours has a removable tongue, no interior wheel wells, and four-corner leveling jacks. Those aren't just nice features; they change how the home looks and feels once it's set. 

Materials: Where the Money Actually Goes 
Here's a realistic breakdown for a mid-range THOW build (roughly 200–250 sq ft): 

That adds up to roughly $33,000 to $84,000 in materials and labor for a professionally built home. Sound familiar? That's right in line with what the industry data shows. 

Labor: The Biggest Variable 
Labor typically makes up 40% to 60% of your total build cost. If you're hiring out everything — framing, plumbing, electrical, finishing — that's a significant chunk of your budget. Contractors in high-cost-of-living areas charge more. Contractors with tiny home experience charge more, too — but they're worth it, because tiny homes require a specific skill set that not every general contractor has. 
If you're doing a hybrid approach — handling framing and finishing yourself but hiring out electrical and plumbing — you can bring labor costs down meaningfully. Just don't DIY the stuff that requires permits and inspections. That's where mistakes get expensive and dangerous. 

Timeline: How Long Does It Actually Take? 
A professional build typically takes 4 to 8 months from design to move-in. That includes design, permitting, material sourcing, and construction. Prefab and kit builds can be faster — sometimes 2 to 4 months — because a lot of the work is done in a factory. 
A full DIY build takes longer. Most people are looking at 6 to 12+ months, especially if they're building on weekends and evenings around a regular job. 

What About Off-Grid Systems? 
If you want to go off the grid — solar, rainwater collection, composting toilet — add another $10,000 to $25,000 to your budget for a full off-grid setup. Solar panels alone can run $5,000 to $15,000, depending on the system size. A composting toilet is relatively cheap ($500–$1,500), but the rainwater and greywater systems add up. 
Going off-grid is a lifestyle choice as much as a cost one. If you're planning to park in a location without easy utility access, it might not be optional. 

The Real Cost of Building vs. Buying 
Building gives you control, customization, and a brand-new home with no history. But it also takes time, requires project management skills, and can go over budget if you're not careful. 
Buying a pre-built THOW is faster and simpler — but you're locked into someone else's design choices.
At Cocoon Homes, we build custom THOWs from $55,000 to $115,000, and we walk you through the entire process — design, permitting, construction, delivery, and land development. We also handle land development at cost, which is a line item that catches a lot of builders off guard. 
If you're thinking about building, start by talking to us. Get in touch at mycocoonhomes.com 
Costs based on 2025 data from HomeAdvisor, HomeGuide, Jack Cooper, and AZ Big Media. Varies by region, materials, and build scope.