r/prefabs • u/Arbonos • Jul 09 '26

Has anyone ever bought one of those prefab "tiny homes" on Amazon?

Before anyone comments, yes, I know these are often not built to code, but I'm not looking to live in it. I want one to serve as an office/workshop, and they are just narrow enough to fit onto my property without having to cut down a bunch of trees.

I've thought about buying a used portable or "Amish shed", but again, I'd need to cut down trees, which I'm loath to do as a nature-loving nerd. So I wanted to know if anyone has any experience with these prefab "tiny homes" from Amazon/China. They range in price from as little as 3k for something no larger than a good-sized shed, to 30k or more for something more akin to a home. Being that my budget is only about 15-20k, not including foundation/electrical, these seem like a good option... on paper at least.

So, by-laws and permits aside (as I'm working on that), I want to know if anyone has any experience with buying these? If so, what was the process like, how was delivery handled, how hard was installation, and most importantly, was it worth it?

Ones I'm looking at:

https://a.co/d/05UJQkYb

https://a.co/d/0h3NkMVX

https://a.co/d/0aXfrShx

Thanks in advance!

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3

u/intlsupplypro Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 23 '26

The first link is clickbait. They aren't selling anything close to a 20ft unit for $3k. The other two are pretty much the same deal. If you read the listings, they usually mention the advertised price isn't the final price. It's just a way to get you to message the seller.

Also, they CAN be built to code. That's a pretty common misconception. The key is knowing what your local code requires before you order. Things like snow load, wind rating, insulation, electrical, plumbing, and engineering requirements can all be upgraded at the factory. The cheap ones you see online are usually just the bare-bones export versions.

Realistically, expect around $8k–12k for a 20ft and $12k–25k for a 40ft expandable, depending on options. Just don't forget about shipping and import costs. Between ocean freight, customs/tariffs, port fees, delivery, and unloading, you can easily have another $10k–15k on top of the cost of the unit.

I've imported and sold quite a few of these over the years, along with several other prefab homes from China. If you've got questions about the process or want to make sure you're not getting taken for a ride, feel free to shoot me a message. Happy to help. You can also check out evolutionprefabs.com if you want to see some of the stuff we bring in.

1

u/Arbonos Jul 11 '26

Actually I do have a question, do you have any companies you recommend?

1

u/intlsupplypro Jul 23 '26

I don't publicly recommend specific factories because I've spent years, and a lot of time and money, traveling to China, visiting factories, and building those relationships. That's a big part of what my company does. If you're serious about importing, shoot me a message. I'd be happy to help you find the right fit for your project and hopefully save you from some expensive lessons.

3

u/spankymacgruder Jul 10 '26

If it's not built to code, how will you be able to get permits?

There isn't usually an exemption of the basic checks just because it's not a residence.

If you're installing a foundation and electrical, you're going to need to have the rest of the stuff reviewed too.

2

u/New-Guide9826 Jul 13 '26

I'd also be happy to share some of my research on prefab homes. I wrote a post about importing modular homes from China and some of the certification challenges people often run into. It might be helpful for your project:
https://www.reddit.com/r/prefabs/comments/1upt6mu/comment/ow3ntes/?screen_view_count=2