80 m² of living area: what fits into a very compact prefabricated house
Short answer: A prefabricated house with around 80 m² offers space for two to three rooms – ideal for singles, couples and anyone who wants to build cheaply. With us you currently find 20 houses between 70 and 90 m². These manufacturer's prices apply "ex works" for the respective construction stage and include neither the plot nor additional building costs.
Building very compactly means using area consistently: an open living-dining-kitchen area feels considerably more generous on 80 m² than many small individual rooms. Less area also means lower construction, heating and maintenance costs over the entire period of use. That is exactly why this size is particularly sought-after by singles, couples and as a retirement home.
Floor-plan variants for a very compact house of around 80 m²: advantages and pitfalls
| Floor-plan variant | Advantages | To consider |
|---|---|---|
| Bungalow (one level) | Low-barrier, short distances, no stairwell | Needs more plot area, higher price per m² |
| Compact two-storey | Economical on the plot, cheaper per m² | Stairs needed, circulation area costs living space |
| Shell house (~80 m²) | Considerably lower catalogue price | Remaining fit-out as own work, time & material |
| Micro home / modular house | Very cheap, quickly erected | Plan the foundation & site development separately |
The house prices on this page are the providers' catalogue "from" prices (additional costs +15–20%). You calculate your realistic total sum including the plot in the cost calculator.
Cost per square metre: why small houses appear relatively more expensive
Anyone who compares the pure price per m² is sometimes surprised: small houses often cost more per square metre than large ones. The reason is purely arithmetical – expensive areas such as the kitchen, bathroom, building technology, floor slab and roof arise with every house and are spread over particularly little area at 80 m². The price per square metre is therefore only a rough guide value; more meaningful is what is contained in the construction stage and which additional building costs are added.
The prices of the individual houses depend heavily on the construction stage, fittings and energy standard. Always add the plot, site development, building permit and outdoor works to the house price – the guide to house-building costs shows how to do this.
20 very compact prefabricated houses around 80 m² with prices
These houses come from our curated database and are sorted in ascending order by catalogue "from" price (houses without a price are at the end). All images and details come from the manufacturers.
Checklist: plan a very compact house cleverly
On 80 m², every square metre decides living comfort. These points help to use the area optimally:
- Define the room programme honestly: are two rooms really enough today and in five years?
- An open living-dining-kitchen area instead of small individual rooms makes 80 m² feel noticeably more generous.
- Solve storage cleverly: fitted wardrobes and a utility corner save valuable area in a small house.
- Reduce hallways to a minimum – every saved circulation area becomes living space.
- Decide between a bungalow and a two-storey based on the plot layout and plot ratio (Grundflächenzahl, GRZ).
- Choose the construction stage deliberately: a shell house lowers the price but costs time and own work.
- Never confuse the catalogue 'from' price with the total costs – calculate the plot and 15–20% additional building costs separately.
Too small? Other living areas and budgets compared
Does 80 m² feel too cramped? Then plan a size larger with a prefabricated house with 100 m² or straight away a prefabricated house with 200 m² for large families. Anyone searching by budget will find what they need with the prefabricated house up to €100,000 or up to €200,000. For single-level living, a look at the bungalow is worthwhile.
Compare suitable offers for your compact prefabricated house
Answer a few short questions about the desired size, construction stage and region – we match with vetted manufacturers and send you suitable offers for a compact house free of charge. Non-binding and free of charge.
