Self Build Homes for Every Budget

Self build homes have been designed and built to meet the individual needs and tastes of those who live in them and, as such, they come in all manner of shapes, sizes and specifications.

With this variety comes a broad variance in build costs which can make it difficult to prospective self builders to get a handle on what kind of home they could build on their budget.

To help demonstrate that great design and a home that meets your needs is achievable whatever your budget, take a look at this list of great self build homes that have been organised by build cost.

As a disclaimer, these are build costs only and do not include land costs. Land costs vary so wildly across the UK and so make for an unfair comparison (additionally some of the self builders listed below already owned their plot).

(MORE: Estimate your build costs with our free Build Cost Calculator)

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Skip to

• £100,000 and under
• £100,001 – £199,999
• £200,000 – £299,999
• £300,000 – £399,999
• £400,000 – £499,999
• £500,000 – £599,999
• £600,000 – £699,000
• £700,000 – £799,999
• £800,000 – £999,999
• £1million and over

Self Build Homes Built for £100,000 and Under

Straw Bale Home: £67,000

Justin and Linda Tyers self built a two-bed straw bale home for just £67k under Exmoor National Park’s affordable housing policy.

The couple kept costs low by taking on much of the design and building work themselves.

(MORE: How much does it cost to build a house?)

Log Cabin Self Build: £60,000

Jude Hesselgrave and Roger Page built a log cabin, which they subsequently extended and transformed over the years to create a characterful home — for just £60,000.

(MORE: How to build a house for under £150k)

A Starter Home on a Budget: £80,000

Phil Coe transformed an old agricultural building into a modern home using skills he learned in college and tutorials on the internet.

Contemporary Barn-Style Self Build: £80,000

Taking inspiration from the local vernacular, Niall and Helen Maxwell built their own sustainable home fit for modern living using local materials and labour to keep costs down.

A Handcrafted Home on a Tricky Plot: £100,000

Insulated concrete formwork (ICF) was used to build this home over a stream on a restricted plot. The homeowner, Robin, took inspiration from the internet to teach himself different skills and built the majority of the house himself.

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Self Build Homes Built for £100,001 to £199,999

Timber-Clad Scottish Cabin: £125,000

This contemporary cabin-style self build home was built inspired by Scandinavian architecture and interiors and includes extra insulation and solar panels to compete with the harsh northern climate.

A Home for Life: £130,000

David Snell and wife Linda have completed their fourteenth (!) self build home on the edge of the Forest of Dean.

An Oak Frame Family Home: £135,000

Proving that building on a budget doesn’t have to mean low-spec, this family home was constructed from Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) and timber frame with a simple design to keep costs down.

A Stylish Contemporary House: £170,000

A clever cantilevered design means this self build home makes the most of a tight plot and near-by neighbours, while vaulted ceilings on the first floor mean that the space feels open and light.

Zero Carbon Mountain Home: £175,000

Pioneering the idea that a low-energy home can be built using ordinary building materials, these homeowners made sure to include renewables in this house design.

Traditional Oak Frame Home: £198,000

This timber-clad home was completed in the majority by the homeowners who took on all work except from the installation of the oak frame, roof and windows.

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Self Build Homes Built for £200,000 to £299,999

Angular Eco Home: £221,200

Simeon Rich and Sara Farquharson have made the most of a small plot with their eco self build home with build costs of just £825/m².

Contemporary Woodland House: £237,000

This modern cedar-clad home situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has the wow-factor and luxury of a hotel on a sloping plot in the woods.

Passivhaus Self Build in London: £250,000

Elizabeth Sharp has self built a 110m² Passivhaus on the site of her former home’s garage and rear garden, and now has heating bills of around £300 per year.

Oak Frame Family Home: £265,000

Homeowners Wendy and Steve worked with Border Oak to build their dream 185m² oak frame home in Herefordshire.

Barn-Style Stone Home: £296,000

This self build home is a great example of when great design and well thought-out specification meet to create a truly unique property. The use of traditional materials and form means that this new build looks like it has stood for centuries.

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Self Build Homes Built for £300,000 to £399,999

Modern Home on an Awkward Plot: £300,000

The clever design of many features combats potential plot problems in this self build — working with the curve of the road, the house is split into three ‘sections’ and angled windows reduce overlooking.

Beautiful Passivhaus in the Woods: £308,000

Built using a steel frame, this contemporary treehouse embraces its surroundings like no other. Imaginative budget solutions combined with beautiful Passivhaus design mean this house is like no other.

Self Build Medieval Manor: £350,000

A amazingly eccentric self build home that looks like it has been standing for centuries. A large amount of work was done by the homeowners and an effort to stay true to the local vernacular inspired the use of reclaimed brick for the exterior.

Colonial Pavilion-Style Home: £360,000

Built in a flood zone on the edge of the Thames, this self build is inspired by the architectural influences of the homeowner and architect, Jon Wallsgrove. Exotic materials are also incorporated into the home, including Brazilian slate and interior railings from France.

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Self Build Homes Built for £400,000 to £499,999

Swiss Chalet in Yorkshire: £415,000

An incredible total of five balconies adorn this self build home which, inspired by Swiss design, is finished in a mix of render, stone and timber with beautiful pine cladding throughout the interior.

New Oak Frame Home on a Greenbelt Plot: £449,000

Shelagh Krasno’s new self build home in Hampshire was built using an oak frame and features dormer windows and weatherboarding and an L-shaped design.

Oak Frame Passivhaus: £450,000

Phil and Yvonne Garnett’s self build home is the first oak-frame home to achieve Passivhaus certification in the UK.

Oak Frame Self Build Home: £464,000

Jo and Dave Reeves have combined modern methods of construction and energy efficiency with traditional green oak framing and building materials for their first self build.

Light-Filled Contemporary Family Self Build Home in Scotland: £470,000

These homeowners have designed an upside down house to make the most of the location’s spectacular views. The result is a contemporary home, flooded with natural light.

A Barn-Style SIPs Home: £474,000

Using a fabric first approach by using SIPs, Colin Amor, built an energy-efficient home clad in hard-wearing Siberian larch.

Traditional Highland Stone Home: £480,000

Single Storey Oak Frame Home in Surrey: £491,000

Homeowners Sheila and Geoff McGaughey built an oak frame bungalow on their Conservation Area plot in Surrey. The couple worked with Border Oak to bring their vision to life.

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Self Build Homes Built for £500,000 to £599,999

Charming Traditional Coach House: £500,000

It was quality first when building this house as high standards and a great home design created a traditional home that looks like it has stood for years.

Steel Frame and Stone Home: £500,000

This contemporary home sits comfortably in the countryside setting without becoming an imposing presence. Low energy living was embraced by the homeowners and the house boasts underfloor heating, high insulation and a mechanical heat ventilation system.

Woodland Oak Frame Retreat: £530,000

This oak frame design had family at the heart as Gerald and Debbie Rogers built it to care for Gerald’s mother. The result is a beautiful and understated home ready for the future.

Oak Frame Replacement Dwelling: £586,000

Not many people choose to prepare for their wedding day by building a house, but Amanda and Colin Sheppard built a stunning home on their Oxfordshire plot.

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Self Build Homes Built for £600,000 to £699,999

Low Maintenance and Energy Efficient Timber Frame Home: £600,000

Melvin Starling and Sandy Garfield self built their own home in Surrey using timber frame. The property has a clean, uncluttered appearance and is low maintenance and energy efficient.

Modern Oak Frame House: £620,000

This traditional-style home was built using green oak but is filled with hi-tech gadgets such as automated windows, integrated lighting and entertainment systems and – less glamorously – a bio-digester sewage treatment plant.

Accessible Contemporary Eco Home: £630,000

After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Mike Bray and his wife Linda self built a bespoke accessible home with the help of their son, Oliver..

Traditional Wealden Barn House: £650,000

A Wealden-barn style design was chosen over a traditional barn-style home in order to achieve planning permission and optimum natural light throughout the building.

Contemporary Cotswolds Home: £692,000

The limestone and oak cladding decorating this build were sourced locally and the unconventional design of the house is complimented by the comforting interior finished with open fireplaces and bamboo and slate flooring.

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Self Build Homes Built for £700,000 to £799,999

Sustainable Farmhouse with Tilted Roof: £700,000

This off-the-grid home was built using locally-sourced materials with a motivation for sustainable living. The design and the exterior finish means the house melts seamlessly into the landscape.

Oak Frame Lakehouse: £720,000

Sensitively built, this oak frame home is a masterclass in sustainable living as the design includes both passive and active eco features.

Striking Glazed Self Build: £740,000

Replacing a tired mid-1950s house, this modern love letter to wood and glass stands strong, taking full advantage of the views surrounding the plot.

Barn-Style Package Build: £746,000

A unique package-build experience gave way for the timber and steel clad home in the form of a contemporary-style barn.

Low Maintenance Modern Home: £750,000

Suitable for retirement and completely future-proofed this cantilevered house is full of drama and wow-factor as much as it incorporates practical solutions.

Contemporary Home on a Riverside Plot: £750,000

Nigel and Alison Maddocks chose a stunning riverside location for their spectacular contemporary self build home in Worcestershire.

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Self Build Homes Built for £800,000 to £999,999

Idyllic Eco Home for Retirement: £800,000

The homeowners journey for their home for retirement was stress-free thanks to the detailed planning and design process by Oakwrights.

Curved Oak Frame Home: £848,466

A beautiful example of organic architecture, this contemporary home seems to grow from the rolling hills.

Amazing Riverside Home: £850,000

The bold design and striking exterior of this home contrasts wonderfully with the white chalky cliffs on the brownfield plot.

Bespoke Traditional Home: £928,000

Full of character, this traditional oak-frame house was built by local craftspeople and sits firmly within the vernacular of the countryside setting.

Stunning Brick and Oak Build: £989,000

Where most couples downsize as their children move out, Geoff and June Gaffney were determined to build enough space in their home to accommodate their ever-growing family.

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Self Build Homes Built for £1,000,000 and over

Contemporary Cliff-top House: £1,000,000

A striking new build on the Cornish coast, this home is finished to a beautiful degree, making the most of the stunning views with an interior to match.

Sloping Site Contemporary Home: £1,000,000

Utilising a tricky sloping plot to a design advantage, this home is spread over three levels, all of which incorporate large elements of glazing.

Baronial-Style Eco Home: £1,000,000

This modern family home in the form of traditional Scottish mansion was the long-standing dream of the homeowners and it stands stoic against the beautiful landscape.

Remarkable Oak Frame Forever Home: £1,200,000

Despite the sensitive, historic nature of their plot, as well as the fact that it was prone to flooding, Rachel and Darren Luke have overcome every challenge to build a stunning, oak frame ‘forever’ home.

Replacement Family Home: £1,300,000

In place of their former family bungalow, homeowners Mel and Pauline built a unique dwelling that boasts a dining hall atrium, swimming pool, huge cathedral-style windows and a wine-drinking retreat in the basement.

Industrial Home on a Sloping Site: £1,710,000

Interlocking larch-clad boxes on top of a solid concrete base give this home a unique split-level flooring layout.

Modern Stately Home: £1,800,000

The square-nature of the Georgian-style houses – this one built with Hemcrete, a modern mix of lime and the inner core of the commercial hemp plant – was  chosen for it’s energy-efficiency. The high-spec materials and fixtures used throughout the build make sure the finish is beautiful inside and out.

Cliff Face Boathouse: £2,400,000

A self build like no other, this impressive home is spread over four floors and is so deeply imbedded in it’s surroundings that it looks as if it has grown organically from the complex rock-face.

Architecturally Imaginative Home: £2,500,000

The quirky and creative design of this house is a great example of architecture at its best. Built using Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), the home pushes boundaries and is a testament to self-build done right.

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This year marks the very special 30th anniversary of Homebuilding & Renovating. Over the next 12 months, we’ll be sharing some of our favourite memories and bringing you special content to mark the occasion. Thank you for celebrating with us.