How Much Does a Treehouse Cost?

Average Treehouse Costs

Treehouse Costs by Size

Treehouses come in a wide range of sizes and styles, and their costs can vary significantly depending on the material, layout, and who does the work. That said, you can loosely estimate the cost of a treehouse by size: anywhere from $75 to $200 per square foot. This range assumes a semi-custom build with basic features using a local general contractor.

Here’s how that shakes out in common treehouse sizes:

Prefab vs. Custom Treehouse Costs

Prefab treehouse kits can cost significantly less than custom designs, sometimes saving up to 60%. With a prefab kit, you might not even need to hire a carpenter to handle the installation if you’re comfortable with heights and have some moderate skills with tools.

Prefab Treehouse Price

You can find prefab treehouses online for as low as $625, but you could pay as high as $6,000 for larger kits with more features. You can also find blueprints for treehouses online at affordable prices (around $50); you’d then just need to buy the lumber, screws, and other materials to build the basic treehouse yourself.

If you contract a local handyperson to assist with assembling the treehouse, you can factor in an additional $3,000 for labor.

Custom Treehouse Cost

You can hire specialized treehouse companies to design a custom treehouse for you at a significant cost, anywhere from $25,000 to $100,000 for custom builds. Their fees include:

• Custom plans

• Materials

• Installation

However, their services do not generally include the cost of tree removal; if you need to have nearby trees removed to accommodate the treehouse, budget for the cost of an arborist separately. Hiring a local landscaping company to oversee a larger project that includes a treehouse could streamline your construction.

Cost to Build a Treehouse to Live In

To build a treehouse to live in, prices can range from $75,000 to over $400,000. On average, a project of this caliber costs around $240,000. The size of the structure, along with its finishes and features, influences the total. The skill level of the builder, price of permits, and site characteristics also factor into the final price.

For a livable treehouse, you’ll need to budget for several contractors:

Treehouse Cost Factors

More than just the size and level of customization can impact your overall treehouse cost. Treehouse prices can also vary based on local labor rates, lumber costs, the height of the treehouse, and any prep work needed.

Labor Cost to Build a Treehouse

Labor costs for building a treehouse vary significantly depending on where you live and the type of contractor you need to hire. More customized treehouses with partially or fully finished interiors will fetch much higher labor costs.

In general, you should plan to spend between $100 and $150 per hour for labor. A small, prefab or partially custom treehouse might take a local carpenter or another contractor 20 to 30 hours for a labor cost of $2,000 to $4,500.

Materials

Lumber costs have gone up significantly in recent years, but your overall treehouse cost can still vary depending on the type of wood you choose. Experts often recommend cypress, redwood, or cedar for treehouses:

Height

While each treehouse build has several variable costs to consider, professionals will typically charge more the further from the ground the treehouse sits. More risk is involved, and they may need to bring in more scaffolding and related gear.

Design Complexity

Basic prefab treehouses cost significantly less than fully customized treehouses. As you add more design complexity to the construction, including multiple levels, unique shapes, or even interior features that require electrical or plumbing, your costs will increase.

Tree Prep Work

To prepare for treehouse construction, you may need to remove nearby trees or pay to have the current tree trimmed. Trimming trees costs about $200 to $760 per tree. Depending on the landscaping of your property and the equipment you need to accommodate, you may also need to budget for the cost of trimming bushes and shrubs or even the cost of clearing land.

Permits

When building a treehouse on your property, you may need to acquire a special permit. Contractors can arrange for this and may build it into their cost, but if you’re DIYing a treehouse, you’ll need to factor in the price of building permits.

DIY vs. Hire Treehouse Builders

Some homeowners with moderate construction skills may consider building a treehouse themselves. When using a prefab kit or doing a basic construction, DIY can make sense. 

However, if you are uncomfortable with heights, aren’t great with tools (or don’t have access to the right tools), or just want to ensure adherence to strict safety protocols for your treehouse, hire a handyperson or, even better, a company that specializes in treehouses. If going the custom route for a medium to large treehouse, it always makes sense to hire professional contractors.