True Cost Guide Architects & Engineers How Much Does It Cost to Build a Bungalow?

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Bungalow?

Typical Range:

$120,000 - $175,000

Cost data is based on research by HomeAdvisor.

Updated March 30, 2022

Reviewed by Ezra Laniado, Expert Contributor.

Written by HomeAdvisor.

If you prefer a one-story home with comfortable amenities and affordable heating, cooling, and maintenance, a bungalow might be what you are looking for in a new build. These smaller cozy homes are charming, unique, and come in various styles, making them affordable at many price points. The typical cost to build a 1,000-square-foot bungalow runs between $120,000 to $175,000 and can reach as high as $660,000 for an ultimate bungalow with luxurious finishing and custom features. Most homeowners pay around $150,000 for a 1,000-square-foot bungalow.

Average Cost to Build a Bungalow
Estimating Bungalow Building Costs
Average Cost to Build a Bungalow by Location
Cost to Build a Bungalow Yourself
Construction Costs by Square Feet
Construction Costs by Type
Construction Costs by Bungalow Style
Construction Costs by Bungalow Size
Bungalow Building Cost Factors
FAQs

Average Cost to Build a Bungalow

Average Cost	$150,000
High Cost	$175,000
Low Cost	$120,000

Estimating Bungalow Building Costs

Material Prices

Materials play a significant role in the cost of building a bungalow. Here are the prices of some of the most commonly used materials:

Lumber: $1–$5 per square foot
Concrete: $4–$8 per square foot
Roofing: $100–$1,000 per square
Drywall: $10 per sheet
Siding: $2–$15 per square foot
Flooring: $1–$5 per square foot

Labor Costs

To build a bungalow, you will need plenty of professionals, including plumbers, electricians, engineers, and roofers. When you work with a contractor or a builder, they will be responsible for subcontracting other professionals.

Below are the rates of different professionals you'll be most likely to use when building a bungalow. Consult with a local general contractor for an exact quote and more details about hiring and invoicing specific professionals and tradespeople for the project.

Professional	Cost
Architects or Interior Designers	$50 – $250 per hour
Structural Engineers	$100 - $200 per hour
Licensed Plumbers	$45 – $200 per hour
Licensed Electricians	$50 – $100 per hour
Flooring Installers	$0.50 – $15 per square foot
Insulation professionals	$0.25 – $0.50 per square foot
HVAC Professionals	$35 – $200 per hour
Carpenters	$15 – $150 per hour
Painters	$20 – $50 per hour
Professional Roofers	$1 – $5 per square foot $40 – $80 per hour
Siding Contractors	$1 – $4 per square foot
Landscapers	$50 – $100 per hour for a crew of two

Permits

While the permit cost varies from area to area, the average building permit cost to build a bungalow is between $1,200 to $2,000.

Foundation

The foundation price depends on the type of foundation, but generally, the foundation can cost anywhere between $4 to $25 per square foot.

Framing

The cost to frame the walls of your bungalow cost between $7 and $16 per square foot.

Siding

The cost of siding depends on the material you choose. While brick can cost between $10 to $30 per square foot, vinyl siding ranges from $3 and $12 per square foot.

Drywall

Drywall installation can cost between $1.50 to $3 per square foot, for your walls and ceilings.

Painting

To finish your interior, painting the walls will cost runs $2 to $6 per square foot.

Average Cost to Build a Bungalow by Location

The average cost to build a bungalow varies from region to region, depending on material availability, terrain, and other essential building factors. Here is a list of cities and average build costs to help give an idea of the approximate cost in your area:

Ventura, CA: $389,000
Eugene, OR: $243,000
Ft. Collins, CO: $409,000
New Braunfels, TX: $301,000
Kansas City, MO: $366,000
Cleveland, OH: $283,000
Riverview, FL: $386,000
Fuquay-Varina, NC: $330,000
Portland, ME: $283,000

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How Much Does It Cost to Build a Bungalow Yourself?

Building a whole house structure has many moving parts and requires expert planning and implementation at every project stage. Because of the many moving parts, this type of project is best suited for a home building contractor. If you are looking for ways to make it more budget-friendly and save about 15% to 25% in project costs, you could decide to handle some of the interior and exterior finishing details yourself, such as landscaping, painting, and flooring.

How Much Does it Cost to Build a Bungalow by Square Foot?

Most custom-built bungalows can cost between $120 and $175 a square foot, while modular bungalows can cost $80 to $100 a square foot.

The average size of a bungalow is around 1,500 square feet. You can build smaller or bigger bungalows of 3,000 square feet or more for the ultimate bungalow, costing $220 per square foot. The size will be influenced by your parcel of land, project budget, and other customizations discussed with your general contractor.

How Much Does Bungalow Construction Cost by Type?

There are two main ways to approach bungalow construction.

Modular Bungalows

Modular bungalows are faster and more economical to build. After picking from prefab plans and features, the bungalow is built off-site in a factory in one, two or more pieces. The crew receives the readymade pieces at the job site. The builders will then assemble the pieces and connect them to the poured foundation on-site.

A modular bungalow costs between $80 and $100 a square foot and can reach $150 per square foot for a bungalow with all of the options and luxury furnishings.

Stick-Built Bungalows

Stick-built is the traditional way to build a home where the home is built on-site, on top of the foundation. The building is framed and finished in one area, and homeowners and contractors make custom choices for the design and materials.

A stick-built bungalow costs between $120 to $175 a square foot and can reach $220 a square foot for a high-end build.

How Much Does Bungalow Construction Cost by Style?

When you hear the word bungalow, you probably think of the Craftsman-style bungalow (or the American bungalow). However, homeowners have a variety of bungalow styles to choose from, including architecture influenced by different designers and cultures.

Each type has unique characteristics and a different size range, which can affect the total cost. Here is the average cost to build some of the most popular bungalow styles, based on their average size:

Type	Average Cost to Build (Modular)	Average Cost to Build (Stick-Built)
Craftsman	$96,000 – $120,000	$144,000 – $210,000
Ranch	$120,000 – $150,000	$180,000 – $262,500
California	$144,000 – $180,000	$216,000 – $315,000
Prairie Style	$144,000 – $180,000	$216,000 – $315,000
Cape Cod	$148,000 – $185,000	$22,000 – $323,750
Ultimate	$300,000 – $450,000	$525,000 – $660,000

How Much Does Bungalow Construction Cost by Size?

Square Feet	Modular-Built	Stick-Built
800	$64,000 – $80,000	$95,000 – $140,000
900	$72,000 – $90,000	$110,000 – $157,500
1,000	$80,000 – $100,000	$120,000 – $175,000
2,000	$160,000 – $200,000	$240,000 – $440,000
3,000	$300,000 – $450,000	$525,000 – $660,000

What Factors Influence the Cost to Build a Bungalow?

Many factors affect the final cost of building a bungalow. Understanding these factors will help you determine how to plan and design your bungalow process accordingly.

Construction Type

Bungalows are either built as modular or stick-built. The modular method is typically less expensive and faster to build.

Prep Work

The prep work before building a bungalow runs between $4,500 to $6,000.

You’ll have to hire an architect or a designer to design and render drawings for the permit. The cost to hire an architect runs between 5% to 15% of the construction cost. Additionally, building permits will need to be paid for and obtained from your local municipality. In some cases, permits require approval from a structural engineer before submitting them to your city office.

Location

The location affects many aspects of building a bungalow, including the price to purchase land and prep it. Keeping the area in mind will influence other deciding factors like foundation, labor cost, and style.

Style

Bungalows were influenced by many cultures and designers worldwide, resulting in distinctive styles with many variations.

While the cost to build a bungalow may still have a similar average per square foot for different styles, some styles have higher prices because of the details and different materials. Specific types of tiles, fixtures, or fancy materials will increase the total cost. “In general, the materials chosen for the project ‘finishes’ weigh significantly on the overall budget and final cost,” said Ezra Laniado, Expert Home Building Contributor and Founder of Landmark Construction & Development Group.

Number of Stories

Bungalows are commonly known to be one-story homes. However, some bungalows come with a partial second floor under the sloping roof—or a half story. Larger bungalows with 2-story (an airport bungalow) or 3-story (a prairie bungalow) can have slightly higher building costs.

Number of Rooms

Bungalows are typically smaller houses, but they can be built to have any number of bedrooms to fit your family’s needs. While most bungalows have two or three bedrooms, ultimate bungalows may have five or six bedrooms, contributing to the higher total cost of $660,000.

FAQs About Building a Bungalow

What is a bungalow?

The bungalow is a one-story home with a sloping roof and a veranda. Bungalows come in various styles with many details using distinct materials, which set them aside from other homes.

What are the pros and cons of bungalows?

Pros:

Bungalows are generally small and cozy homes
They are easy to keep up and inexpensive to heat and cool
Accessible since they are primarily one-story

Cons:

Not recommended for someone who wants a big open layout because they feature a more narrow design
Home additions are not always easy with bungalows

What is the difference between a bungalow and a house?

There are many types of houses, and a bungalow is one type. Bungalows represent the small and cozy house style that many families enjoy and appreciate. The cost to build a house is different from building a bungalow, which is mainly attributed to the size of the structure’s footprint.