What is a kitset home?

A kitset home is supplied as a set of pre-cut components and materials that are delivered flat-packed and assembled on your site, usually by a builder you arrange.

What is a prefab home?

A prefab (or modular/transportable) home is built as a complete structure in a factory or yard, then transported to your site and craned into place on prepared foundations.

Which is faster, kitset or prefab?

Prefab is generally faster on site, because the home is built while your site work happens in parallel and arrives largely complete. A kitset still needs the full assembly and fit-out done on your section.

Is a kitset home cheaper?

A kitset supply price can look lower because it usually excludes labour, foundations and fit-out. Compare the total delivered or turnkey cost rather than the supply price alone.

Kitset vs prefab homes in NZ: what's the difference?

Both approaches move part of the build off your section — but they hand you very different amounts of work. Here's how kitset homes and prefabricated (modular/transportable) homes compare in practice.

Side by side

	Kitset home	Prefab / modular home
What you receive	Pre-cut components and materials, flat-packed	A completed building, transported whole
Who builds it	You or a builder you arrange, on your site	Our team, in our yard
Work on your section	Full assembly, fit-out and finishing	Foundations, craning and connections
Weather risk	Construction exposed to the weather	Built under cover, minimal on-site exposure
Typical timeframe on site	Months of on-site building	Days to weeks once the site is prepared
How it's priced	Usually a supply price; labour and site work extra	Ex factory, delivered to site, or turnkey — all inc GST
Best suited to	Owners with building experience or their own builder	Owners who want one team and a predictable result

Comparing the cost properly

A kitset supply price and a prefab home price are rarely comparing the same thing. To compare fairly, work out the total cost to a finished, liveable home — including labour, foundations, services and finishing.

That's why we quote three ways, all inc GST: home price – ex factory, delivered to site, and turn key (excluding local services). You can see exactly where the line sits between our work and yours.

Get a site-specific price

Which should you choose?

A kitset may suit if…

You have building experience or your own builder lined up.
You're happy managing trades, consents and inspections.
Your site has easy access and plenty of working room.

Prefab may suit if…

You want one team responsible for the build.
You'd rather minimise disruption on your property.
You want a clear price before work starts.

Common questions

What is a kitset home?: A kitset home is supplied as a set of pre-cut components and materials that are delivered flat-packed and assembled on your site, usually by a builder you arrange.
What is a prefab home?: A prefab (or modular/transportable) home is built as a complete structure in a factory or yard, then transported to your site and craned into place on prepared foundations.
Which is faster, kitset or prefab?: Prefab is generally faster on site, because the home is built while your site work happens in parallel and arrives largely complete. A kitset still needs the full assembly and fit-out done on your section.
Is a kitset home cheaper?: A kitset supply price can look lower because it usually excludes labour, foundations and fit-out. Compare the total delivered or turnkey cost rather than the supply price alone.

Prefab homes NZ → how factory-built homes compare to building on site.
Modular homes NZ → homes built in sections and joined on your site.
Build cost per square metre NZ → why comparing supply price alone is misleading.
Transportable homes NZ → built off site, trucked and craned onto your foundations.

See what we build

Browse our prefab home designs and the builds we've completed and have underway around New Zealand.

View designs Prefab homes NZ