What defines a barrier-free bungalow?
Short answer: A barrier-free bungalow compliant with DIN 18040-2 has no steps or thresholds in the living area, offers door widths from 80 cm (from 90 cm for wheelchair use), a floor-level shower as well as at least 120 × 120 cm of movement space in front of each sanitary fixture.
Prefabricated houses in bungalow design meet these requirements for barrier-free construction most easily by design, since the entire living area is on one level. Stairs, which become an obstacle in old age, are eliminated, and all rooms are connected on one level and free of thresholds. This makes the bungalow the first choice for senior-friendly and forward-looking living.
Barrier-free bungalow floor plans for couples – 60, 70 and 80 sqm
For a two-person household – whether a senior couple, a couple without children or a single person with a guest room – prefab house consultants recommend 60 to 80 square metres of living area. The following overview presents common room layouts.
60 sqm – compact bungalow for two people
- Open living/dining area with kitchenette (approx. 28 sqm)
- Bedroom (approx. 14 sqm)
- Barrier-free bathroom with floor-level shower (approx. 8 sqm)
- Hallway/cloakroom (approx. 6 sqm)
- Storage room (approx. 4 sqm)
from €89,900 turnkey | from €69,000 as a shell house
70 sqm – bungalow including a guest room
- Living/dining area with kitchen (approx. 30 sqm)
- Bedroom (approx. 14 sqm)
- Guest room / study (approx. 10 sqm)
- Barrier-free bathroom (approx. 8 sqm)
- Hallway and utility room (approx. 8 sqm)
from €109,000 turnkey | from €84,000 as a shell house
80 sqm – spacious senior-friendly bungalow
- Generous living/dining area (approx. 32 sqm)
- Bedroom (approx. 16 sqm)
- Guest room (approx. 12 sqm)
- Barrier-free bathroom with shower and bathtub (approx. 10 sqm)
- Utility room (approx. 5 sqm)
- Hallway/cloakroom (approx. 5 sqm)
from €129,000 turnkey | from €99,000 as a shell house
What costs are involved in a barrier-free bungalow as a prefabricated house?
Senior-friendly prefabricated bungalow – costs by living area, as of June 2026
| Living area | Shell house (from) | Turnkey (from) |
|---|---|---|
| 50 sqm | from €54,000 | from €74,900 |
| 60 sqm | from €69,000 | from €89,900 |
| 70 sqm | from €84,000 | from €109,000 |
| 80 sqm | from €99,000 | from €129,000 |
| 90 sqm | from €114,000 | from €149,000 |
| 100 sqm | from €129,000 | from €169,000 |
The barrier-free equipment (floor-level shower, wider doors) costs around 3,000 to 8,000 euros more than the standard bungalow. All figures are non-binding starting prices from the manufacturers, excluding land and additional construction costs.
This equipment is crucial for senior-friendly living
A barrier-free bungalow for seniors should have the following features:
- Floor-level shower – step-free, with anti-slip tiles and an optional shower seat.
- Threshold-free transitions – indoors as well as out onto the terrace.
- Door widths from 80 cm – from 90 cm for wheelchair use.
- Ground-level entrance – threshold of no more than 2 cm, with a ramp on request.
- Grab rails in the bathroom – pre-installed or retrofittable thanks to reinforced walls.
- Electric roller shutters – operated without any physical effort.
- Wider hallways – from 120 cm for use with a rollator.
- Low window sills – from 60 cm, so the view stays clear even when seated.
Funding for building a barrier-free bungalow
The KfW funding “Altersgerecht Umbauen” (Age-appropriate Conversion) supports barrier-free construction through the programme (KfW 159) with low-interest loans of up to 50,000 euros per residential unit. Compliance with DIN 18040-2 is a prerequisite. In addition, many German federal states offer their own grants or loans for barrier-free new builds – in North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg there are independent state subsidies with grants of up to 15,000 euros. Anyone who additionally achieves a KfW Energy-Efficient House standard can combine these funding pots with the new-build subsidy.
Barrier-free bungalows in a price comparison
Answer 4 quick questions about your project – we match them with vetted manufacturers and send you up to 3 suitable price quotes for barrier-free bungalows free of charge, tailored to your living area and budget. Non-binding, with a response within 24 hours.
