Prefabricated House Cost

The cost of prefabricated houses varies significantly depending on the type, materials, and specifications. Below are specific classifications and cost ranges:

I. Common Types and Costs of Prefabricated Houses in China

1. Prefabricated Panel Houses

   • Cost Range: RMB 300-600 per square meter, with a total budget of approximately RMB 30,000-60,000 for a 100㎡ house.
   • Characteristics: Primarily made of lightweight materials, with a simple structure suitable for temporary buildings or low-cost housing. However, they have relatively weak durability and earthquake resistance.

2. Prefabricated Houses (By Structural Type)

   • Light Steel Structure: RMB 1,500-2,500 per square meter.
     Utilizing galvanized steel plates or cold-formed thin-walled steel sections, these houses are lightweight and quick to construct, suitable for low-rise residential or commercial buildings.
   • Wood Structure: RMB 2,000-3,500 per square meter.
     Primarily using wood as the main material, these houses offer excellent environmental performance but require attention to fire and insect prevention treatments. They are mostly used for villas or tourism and resort projects.
   • Concrete Structure: RMB 3,000-4,000 per square meter.
     With high strength and good durability, these houses are suitable for multi-story residential or public buildings, with costs close to those of traditional cast-in-place concrete structures.

II. International Case: Cost of Prefabricated Houses Exported from China to the United States

• Bare House Price: USD 15,800 (approximately 70㎡), with a total landed cost of USD 28,689 (less than RMB 200,000) including transoceanic transportation, tariffs, customs clearance, and inland hoisting fees.
• Cost Advantage: This price is approximately one-third to one-half of the cost of self-built houses in the United States, mainly due to the high efficiency and scale advantages of industrialized production of prefabricated houses in China.

III. Cost Comparison Between Prefabricated Panels and Cast-in-Place Floor Slabs (Taking Floor Slabs as an Example)

• Prefabricated Panels:
  • Total cost range: RMB 80-150 per square meter (priced per piece) or RMB 100-120 per square meter (for large projects).
  • Advantages: Standardized factory production ensures quality control and short construction periods, suitable for projects with tight deadlines.
• Cast-in-Place Floor Slabs:
  • Total cost range: RMB 200-500 per square meter (for ordinary residential buildings).
  • Characteristics: Require on-site formwork, pouring, and curing, offering high flexibility but higher labor and material costs, and are more affected by weather conditions.

Summary: The cost of prefabricated houses is significantly influenced by structural type, material selection, and project scale. In China, light steel structure and wood structure prefabricated houses have lower costs, while concrete structures have higher costs. International export cases demonstrate that Chinese prefabricated houses have significant cost advantages. In the comparison between prefabricated panels and cast-in-place floor slabs, the former is more competitive in terms of construction period and standardization.