What a foldable home really costs delivered, line by line

The gap is the story

Every foldable home in our catalog is advertised at a base price. Not one of them can be delivered, sited, connected and occupied for that number. The gap is typically 50–130% of the base price, and it is almost entirely predictable if you break it out.

The line items

• Freight. Highway transport runs roughly $4–$9 per loaded mile in the US depending on width and escort requirements. Imported units add ocean freight, port fees and duty — budget $12k–$40k for a European or Asian unit.
• Crane or forklift. Hinged and craned units need lifting equipment for a half day. $1,200–$4,000 typical.
• Site work. Clearing, grading, and an engineered pad or piers. $6,000–$30,000 depending on soil, slope and access.
• Utilities. Water, sewer or septic, and electrical service. Septic alone can exceed $20,000. This is the single most underestimated line.
• Permits and plan review. $1,500–$12,000 depending on jurisdiction, plus engineering stamps where the manufacturer does not supply them.
• Finish work. Steps, decking, skirting, tie-downs, HVAC condenser pads, and the appliances the base model omitted.

The rule of thumb

For a US site with reasonable access and existing utilities nearby, plan on base price × 1.6. For raw land with no services, plan on base price × 2.2 and expect the site work to cost more than the building on the cheapest units.

How to use this

When a maker publishes a base price, ask three questions in writing: what is included in the delivered unit, what is the freight quote to my zip code, and what documentation do you supply for plan review. A maker that answers all three quickly is a maker worth buying from.