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Building turnkey: what turnkey houses cost in 2026

Buying a house turnkey – but what does that actually mean? We explain what is behind “turnkey”, show turnkey prefab house prices for every budget – from the small house up to €150,000 through the bungalow to the city villa – and warn against the typical cost traps. Plus: free quotes from suitable manufacturers.

Request turnkey quotesPrefabricated houses by budget

€2,300 – 3,500/m²

Turnkey prefabricated houses 2026 – depending on fit-out and energy standard.

Not a protected term

Every provider defines “turnkey” differently – only the performance specification counts.

€20,000 – 60,000 savable

With a shell house and self-build work – if you have the time and skill.

Budget +25 – 35%

The plot, foundation slab and ancillary building costs are added to the catalogue price.

Turnkey houses: what lies behind the most popular building promise

“Building turnkey” is the most sought-after wish in house building – and at the same time the most frequently misunderstood term in the industry. Because it is not legally protected: one manufacturer delivers the house ready to move into including floor coverings, another understands by it only the technically finished envelope with interior plaster. Between “turnkey”, “ready to move into”, “painter-ready” and “shell house” there can quickly be €40,000 to €80,000 of difference. The only reliable benchmark is the construction and performance specification – it belongs under scrutiny before every signature.

On prices, the following applies in 2026: turnkey prefabricated houses cost, depending on size, fit-out and energy standard, around €2,300 to €3,500 per square metre of living space. The dream offers sought online – “small prefabricated house up to €50,000 turnkey" or “the cheapest turnkey prefabricated house” – exist in reality only with very small areas or an incomplete scope of delivery. Realistic are: micro houses from about €100,000, compact houses up to €150,000, classic family houses from €200,000. Our budget table shows what is really possible in each price class.

Turnkey by budget: from €50,000 to over €1,000,000

Budget (excluding plot)Realistically possibleTypical examplesNote
up to €50,000No turnkey residential houseGarden module, kit micro house without fit-outA “small prefabricated house up to €50,000 turnkey” is a marketing promise – unrealistic without a plot & foundation slab
up to €100,000Micro house / small timber house (25 – 50 m²)Single-person home, tiny house permanently mountedA turnkey bungalow up to €100,000 only as a mini variant – see modular house & micro house →
up to €150,000Compact house 60 – 90 m²small single-family house, larger shell housePrefabricated house up to €150,000 turnkey: simple fit-out, compact floor plans
€150,000 – 250,000Single-family house 90 – 130 m²classic family house, small bungalowthe heart of the prefab house market
€250,000 – 400,000Single-family house 130 – 180 m², city villa, bungalow 120 m²upmarket fit-out, PV & heat pump includedincl. Efficiency House 40 standard usually realistic – to KfW subsidies →
€400,000 – 600,000Premium city villa / architect house 180 – 250 m²individual floor plans, double garage, smart homethe factory architect plans with you individually – see luxury & design prefab house →
€600,000 – 750,000Design house 220 – 300 m²Bauhaus style, gallery, exclusive sample selectionnatural stone, real wood, fireplace & wellness area – see luxury & design prefab house →
€750,000 – 1,000,000+Luxury villa 280 – 400+ m², freely plannedpool & spa, floor-to-ceiling glass façades, bespoke fit-outsee the dedicated luxury prefab house page →

Guide values as of 2026, without guarantee – in each case plus plot, foundation slab/basement and ancillary building costs (15 – 20%).

Modern turnkey bungalow with a flat roof, large terrace and garden – single-storey living in a prefabricated house bungalow
Prefabricated house bungalows are among the most sought-after turnkey house types – single-storey, low-barrier, age-appropriate.

Bungalow, timber house & co. turnkey

Turnkey bungalows are particularly in demand: single-storey, low-barrier and, at 100 to 120 m², realistic from about €250,000 – the much-sought “bungalows turnkey up to €100,000" are only available in mini format. Turnkey timber houses are also on trend: they cost barely more than other prefabricated houses, but score on eco-balance and indoor climate. And anyone who wants to stay flexible combines: a weatherproof envelope from the factory, interior fit-out as self-build work – the shell house bridges the gap between budget and convenience.

  • Bungalow 100 – 120 m² turnkey: from approx. €250,000
  • Timber house turnkey: ecological, from approx. €2,400/m²
  • City villa turnkey: from approx. €320,000
  • Shell house instead of turnkey: €20,000 – 60,000 saving

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Frequently asked questions about building turnkey

Answers on turnkey houses, prices, scope of services, the shell house and safeguards – as of 2026.

What does “turnkey” really mean for a prefabricated house?
“Turnkey” (schlüsselfertig) is not a legally protected term – every provider defines it themselves. Usually it means: the house is ready to move into except for painting and floor coverings; outdoor works, the foundation slab and ancillary building costs are almost always missing. What matters is solely the construction and performance specification: it states in black and white which trades are included. Never compare quotes by the word “turnkey”, but by this list.
What does a turnkey prefabricated house cost in 2026?
Turnkey prefabricated houses cost around €2,300 to €3,500 per square metre in 2026, depending on size and fit-out. A compact single-family house of 100 m² therefore comes in at €230,000 to €350,000 – plus the plot, foundation slab or basement and 15 to 20 percent ancillary building costs. Low-cost compact houses start around €150,000, very small houses around €100,000.
Is there a prefabricated house up to €150,000 turnkey?
Yes, but compact: for up to €150,000, turnkey houses with around 60 to 90 m² of living space are realistic in 2026 – with simple fit-out, no basement, no plot. Anyone who wants more space can contribute self-build work with a shell house and thus save €20,000 to €60,000. Beware of offers well below this: the foundation slab, building services or entire trades are usually missing.
The cheapest turnkey prefabricated house – what do I need to watch out for?
With the cheapest offer, the scope of delivery counts: is the foundation slab included? Which heating (heat pump or only electric)? Which windows, which energy standard? Are sample selection, transport and assembly in the fixed price? A seemingly cheap house becomes expensive if items are added later. Have the construction and performance specifications checked by an independent party (e.g. the Bauherren-Schutzbund owners' protection association) before you sign.
Turnkey, ready to move into, painter-ready, shell house – the differences?
Ready to move into means: move in without any further work. Painter-ready: the walls still need painting, the floors laying. Turnkey usually lies in between and varies by provider. With a shell house, the manufacturer provides the weatherproof envelope including windows and roof, while you carry out the interior fit-out as self-build work. The more self-build work, the cheaper – but also the longer the build time.
Is building turnkey more expensive than self-build work?
On paper, yes: depending on scope, a shell house saves €20,000 to €60,000 compared to a turnkey house. In practice, many building families underestimate the time and skill: 500 to 1,000 working hours for the interior fit-out are normal, and mistakes cost warranty. Anyone tied up in their job is often better off financially with a turnkey house and a clear fixed price.
Which costs are added to the turnkey house price?
Added to the house price are: the plot including incidental costs (real-estate transfer tax, notary), the foundation slab or basement (€15,000 to €60,000), ancillary building costs such as surveying, permit, utility connections and insurance (15 to 20 percent), outdoor works and, where applicable, floor coverings and painting. As a rule of thumb, you should add 25 to 35 percent to the catalogue price to arrive at your total budget.
How do I protect myself when building turnkey?
Four building blocks: first, a contract under consumer building-contract law with a binding construction and performance specification. Second, a completion and warranty guarantee from the manufacturer. Third, independent construction supervision with handovers per building phase. Fourth, a realistic payment schedule based on construction progress – never high advance payments. Reputable prefab house manufacturers meet all four points without discussion.
What does a turnkey prefabricated house cost per square metre in 2026?
Turnkey prefabricated houses come in at around €2,300 to €3,500 per square metre of living space in 2026, depending on fit-out and region – excluding basement and plot. A simple compact house is at the lower end of the range, a high-quality architect house at the upper end. For a 120 m² house, this works out at roughly €276,000 to €420,000 for the house price alone. As of 2026.
Turnkey prefabricated house prices: how do they differ by house size?
At 100 m², around €230,000 to €350,000 is realistic in 2026, at 140 m² about €322,000 to €490,000, and at 180 m² roughly €414,000 to €630,000 – in each case excluding plot, foundation slab and ancillary building costs. The price per square metre falls slightly as the area increases, because fixed costs for the kitchen, bathroom and building services are spread across more space. All values are ranges, as of 2026.

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Plan total costs incl. incidental costs realistically.

Prices and guide values as of 2026, without guarantee. “Turnkey” is not a legally defined term – the individual construction and performance specification of the provider is always authoritative.Prefabricated House is an independent comparison portal and arranges non-binding quotes; we additionally recommend independent contract and construction supervision.

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