If you need more usable space without a slow, expensive build, a portable home is a pre-built dwelling delivered to your site — ready to live in. Prices run from $23,500 incl. GST for a compact cabin up to $64,000 incl. GST for a 40ft home. This guide gives you the straight answers: what they cost, your off-grid options, and how to choose the right size for your site.
Buying one is a big call, and the market doesn’t make it easy — quotes that leave out the real costs, vague off-grid promises, and suppliers who go quiet on the consent question. Our job here is to remove that fog so you can decide with confidence.
Why so many Kiwis are choosing portable homes
Traditional builds are slow and expensive, and the wait for consent and trades can stretch a year or more. A portable home answers the same need — a warm, permanent space — far sooner, and you can move or resell it later. Most of our buyers want one of six things: extra living space, guest or family accommodation, rental income, rural or staff housing, a work studio, or off-grid independence.
You shouldn’t need a massive mortgage and a year of delays just to get the room your life needs. That’s the whole point of this category — and the reason it keeps growing.
What is a portable home? (the NZ definition)
A portable home is a pre-built dwelling that arrives at your site ready to use. Unlike a flat-pack kit, it turns up complete. A typical unit includes:
- Full kitchen with cabinetry and a full bathroom
- Insulated walls, roof and flooring, with double-glazed windows
- Electrical installed to NZ standards (SDoC provided) and plumbing with NZ-standard fittings
- A reinforced entry door and steel-frame construction
Portable Dwellings’ homes come in 20ft, 30ft and 40ft options plus the compact Cabin — each customisable to suit your lifestyle, budget and site.
How much do portable homes cost in NZ? (2026)
Here’s the honest range. Final price depends on size, layout, upgrades, solar and delivery — but every figure below is incl. GST, and we quote it in writing before you commit.
The Cabin — from $23,500 incl. GST
Best for a teen retreat, sleepout, home office or guest space. Includes a basic bathroom, kitchenette, windows, insulation and flooring.
20ft Premium — from $38,500 incl. GST
Best for single living, couples, a small Airbnb, a bach or farm accommodation. Includes a full kitchen and bathroom, storage, double-glazing, reinforced door and insulation.
30ft (family size) — from $51,000 incl. GST
Best for small families, lifestyle blocks and long-term living. Full kitchen and bathroom, upgraded materials, layout options from 1–4 bedrooms.
40ft Premium (large family) — from $64,000 incl. GST
Best for full-time living, extended family, staff accommodation or long-term rental. Full kitchen and bathroom, large living space, built-in storage and premium finish options.
For the full price list and what drives the final number, see portable home prices in NZ.
Off-grid & solar options
Want independence from the grid, or a site where mains power would cost tens of thousands to connect? Our turnkey solar packages are sized to your usage — they’re not a one-size promise:
- 3.5kW solar + 10kWh battery — $12,499 incl. GST
- 5kW solar + 10kWh battery — $14,999 incl. GST
- 7kW solar + 15kWh battery — $19,499 incl. GST
Each includes solar panels, lithium battery storage, inverter and accessories. Optional add-ons: rainwater tanks, greywater systems, gas hot water, composting toilets and enhanced insulation. Off-grid performance depends on your actual power use and site, so we size the system to you — see the full breakdown on our off-grid homes page.
Council requirements
Council requirements vary by site and by council. Check with your local council on what’s needed for your site and send us their requirements — we’ll tell you what we can and can’t do before you commit to anything.
Built to NZ standards (materials & quality)
Always check what a portable home is actually built from before you buy. Ours use:
- Structural frame: high-grade steel framing built for NZ seismic and weather conditions.
- Cladding: standard steel panels, wood-style cladding, or premium metal finishes.
- Windows & doors: double-glazed aluminium windows, reinforced entry doors, optional aluminium sliders or French doors.
- Flooring: SPC or PVC, with an optional wood-look finish.
- Insulation: polyurethane / polyisocyanurate (PIR) panels, lab-tested to R-2.72 m²·K/W.
- Electrical & plumbing: electrical installed to NZ standards with an SDoC provided; plumbing to NZ-standard fittings.
Delivery across NZ
We deliver nationwide by Hiab truck, with a crane where access needs it. Your home is placed on site ready for connection — you arrange your own builder and tradespeople for levelling, foundations and utility connections.
Delivery is quoted for your address, based on location, access and crane requirements, and confirmed in your fixed quote. Transit insurance is included in the price.
Portable homes vs tiny homes — what’s the difference?
Many buyers compare the two:
| Feature | Portable Homes | Tiny Homes |
|---|---|---|
| Delivered fully built | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Movable | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Full kitchen + bathroom | ✔ Usually | ✔ Often |
| Insulation levels | Higher | Varies |
| Built for NZ conditions | Strong | Varies |
| Ideal for | Permanent living | Minimalist living |
Portable homes generally offer more space, stronger insulation and a more house-like feel. Comparing other options? See our container homes, expandable homes, or tiny homes in Christchurch.
How to choose the right portable home (buyer checklist)
- Measure your site — confirm access, space and foundation requirements.
- Choose your size — 20ft (compact) · 30ft (medium / family) · 40ft (full-time living).
- Select your layout — 1–4 bedroom options.
- Check consent — confirm your council’s requirements for your site and intended use.
- Decide on off-grid needs — solar, battery, water, heating.
- Confirm delivery access — your driveway and site must allow Hiab access.
- Get a written, GST-inclusive quote — so there are no surprises later.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need building consent?
Council requirements vary by site and by council. Check with your local council on what’s needed for your site and send us their requirements — we’ll tell you what we can and can’t do before you commit to anything.
Can the home run off-grid?
Yes — it’s off-grid capable with one of our solar packages (3.5kW, 5kW or 7kW + battery), sized to your power use and site.
Can I customise the layout?
Yes — layouts, doors, windows, kitchens and interior panels can all be customised.
How much does delivery cost?
It’s quoted for your address, based on distance and access. Send your site location for a fixed, all-in figure.
What upgrades are available?
Gable roof, deck, cladding, metal-reinforced wall panels, aluminium sliders, solar power and enhanced insulation.
See it in person — or get a price today
You don’t have to keep paying for space you don’t have, or gamble on a supplier who goes quiet on the hard questions. Send your preferred layout and site location and you’ll get a fixed, itemised quote — so you know exactly what you’d get and what it costs. Viewings are available by appointment.
More Space. Less Waiting.
👉 Send your preferred layout and site location for a fixed quote → Get a quote
Clear incl-GST pricing · custom layouts · electrical to NZ standards (SDoC) · off-grid capable when the system is sized to your site · delivered NZ-wide.
