How Much Do Livable Sheds Cost?

What are livable sheds?

A livable shed, also known as a shed home or shed house, is a shed that was converted into a living space. Basically, a shed with proper amenities for living like electricity, plumbing, insulation, etc.

Can you live in a shed?

There aren’t many obstacles in your way when it comes to living in a shed. The only major issue can be if your local regulations don’t permit it. For instance, in Australia, sheds are classified as a Class 10a building meaning it’s not habitable, but to live in them you must make them a “livable” Class 1a building by adding a shower, a sink, using the proper foundation, etc.

Another example of this is that in New York, there are building codes that state sheds must be a certain size and must have emergency exits. So just be sure to check your local codes and regulations before deciding to build a shed house. Here’s where you can find your state’s local codes and regulations.

Should you live in a shed?

Living in a shed can have many benefits, here are a few:

Affordability

If you’re trying to find a place to live on a budget, a livable shed is a perfect solution for you! Shed homes can only cost a fraction of the price of a house! Instead of paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for a house, you can make a shed livable for as low as $12,000. Shed prices also range from a few thousand to $10,000+, which means you can have a shed home for a total of only $17,000! Similarly, tiny house shells offer a savvy way to save money.

Portability

Given their small size, it’s no question that shed houses are portable. All you must do is load your shed onto the back of a trailer, and off you go! This allows for easy moving and extra flexibility in your life since you can take your home wherever you go. If portability is what you’re looking for, here’s a guide to buying a portable shed!

Reduced carbon footprint

Living in a shed home also allows you to be more environmentally friendly and leave a smaller carbon footprint. This is because shed houses are small, so it doesn’t cost much to heat or cool them, not to mention that you won’t need as many lights either because of their small size. This will help you save money on your utility bill as well.

Need more reasons to build a shed home? Click here!

Requirements for a livable shed and their costs

Electricity

Nowadays, electricity is one of the biggest necessities in our everyday lives. From charging our phones to heating our homes to making sure we can see when it gets dark, life without electricity would be a struggle.

For your shed house, you’ll need to have outlets to charge your electronic devices, lights for when it gets dark, and an electric AC/heater to stay comfortable year-round. Depending on the distance from the main house, wiring type, size of the shed, how much stuff you’d like to power, and if you want to do it yourself, prices for providing power to your shed can vary, starting from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand.

Insulation

Imagine sleeping outside in the middle of the Winter or Summer when the weather can get quite intense. Not only would this be unpleasant, but it can also be hazardous as you may face hypothermia or heat exhaustion.

You would want to insulate your shed especially if you will be living in it. This is because, without insulation, a shed only has thin walls which allow heat to transfer through itself easily. This means that extreme temperatures will have no problem making their way into your shed home unless you insulate your shed. Considering that insulation prices range from $.50 to $6.00+ per square foot, you can expect to pay $150-500+, depending on the size of your shed.

Plumbing

If you plan on living somewhere I’m sure being able to keep a proper hygiene routine is a must. You may also want to be able to wash your dishes after you eat. Therefore, you should consider installing a bathroom and a kitchen in your shed home. The water lines alone can cost you at least $1,000. Then you must consider the price of building a bathroom and a kitchen. Building a bathroom can run you $2,500 to $20,000+, and a kitchen can cost $5,000+.

Windows

Adding windows can be a great addition to your livable shed. Windows allow sunlight to shine into your shed house, sunlight has its own wide variety of benefits from boosting your serotonin levels to improving your sleep quality. Windows also give you the ability to open them and let the fresh breeze circulate throughout your cozy shed home. Window installation prices can vary depending on multiple things like the size of the window, the type of window, etc. You can expect to pay as low as $100 per window, all the way up to $1,200 per window.

Furniture

Quality furniture can turn your livable shed into a shed home. Adding a bed can give you a comfortable place to sleep or take a nap. A couch can be the perfect place to read a book or accommodate guests you may invite over. A sofa can start around $500, a bed can run you $1,000, a dining table set can cost around $400, etc. I only listed the essentials, and we are looking at a total just shy of $2,000.

Cosmetics

You may also want to consider adding some cosmetic items to your livable shed to add some life and character to your new home. You can buy a tv to keep you and your guests entertained, a painting or two to fix that blank space on the wall, a desk to get some work done, some books on a shelf to make it look like you read, and you can’t go wrong with a nice and soft rug! Depending on what you get your price can vary from $0 to around $1,000.

Conclusion

We hope you’ve gained some inspiration to go out and convert your shed into a livable shed/shed home, as well as now have a clearer understanding of the overall costs. From electricity to plumbing, converting your shed into a livable shed is not cheap, but it is cheaper than building or buying a house! Considering everything we covered today; you can expect to spend at least $12,000 (not including the shed’s price) to turn your shed into a livable shed. To get ideas on how to upgrade your livable shed with a porch, read this article. If you like the idea of tiny homes, check out this article! Also, here’s an article about 13 people who lived in a shed!

Check out some of our clients’ livable sheds and testimonials below: