A-Frame Tiny Houses: How To Build + Free Tiny House A-Frame Plans

NAVIGATION

Pros and Cons

What is a Tiny House A-Frame

FRAMES have always fascinated me as a bit of nostalgic architecture, but also as an interesting snapshot of American optimism. They rose to popularity in a time when many were entering into the middle class and cars became common place.

The idea of the weekend getaway became a thing for the first time and people look to rural parts of the country to build a cabin in the woods. Enter a simple but practical design called the A-frame.

Today’s modern A-frame tiny houses are designed and built with full-time living in mind. Although many people still adore this architectural style as a cabin or vacation home, the shape has really taken off in the tiny house movement.

Now, not all A-frames are considered tiny houses. In fact, there are small A-frame houses and even quite large options. A-frame tiny houses usually fall between 100-400 sq. ft. Small tiny A-frame houses are typically between 400-1000 sq. ft. Both styles are popular for those who want to build their own dwelling and take on tiny house living.

Pros and Cons of Tiny House A-Frames

Like any architectural style, A-frame tiny houses come with a list of pros and cons. The biggest advantage of the style is that it is relatively easy to construct, which appeals to many who want to build their tiny A-frame on a small plot of land.

The simple design means you do away with side walls entirely, opting for a larger roof plane instead. What normally would be a wall system made up of studs, top/bottom plates, sills, and a complex roof truss structure becomes a single piece of lumber you only have to make two cuts on.

This monolithic roof isn’t without its downsides, though. The sloped roof creates less usable internal space because you can only stand up straight so close to the wall.

A-frame tiny houses tend to skew a bit bigger than most because you need a wider and taller house to have enough livable space within the sloped roofs. If an A-frame style is appealing to you, don’t get too caught up in thinking a tiny house “should” be so many square feet, build a house that works for you!

Simple to construct
Low cost
Strong shape
Low maintenance
Durable under weather conditions
Retro style
Simple and minimalist design

Less usable space because of slope
More exterior area means less efficiency
Temperature control can be a challenge
The Loft can be uncomfortable
Steep roofs are hard to service
Some folks feels the style is dated
Limited natural light

Free A-Frame Tiny House Plans

If you’re considering building your own A-frame tiny house or small A-frame cabin, good plans can be hard to come by. Studying a set of plans can help you determine a design that works for you, estimate how much a tiny house A-frame costs, what materials you’ll need, and more.

Viewing the floor plan will help you get a feel for layouts in an A-frame tiny house. You can start to envision the possibilities for your own tiny house A-frame and how it might work with your lifestyle.

I’ve put together these plans that you can get for free. They include a 14’x14’ tiny house A-frame and another layout for a 16’x16’ design. Included in the PDF is a full materials list, sample cost breakdown, tool list, and more!

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR FREE FLOOR PLAN KIT NOW!

Design Tip:

Find a good set of plans that allow you to envision how space will be used and how furniture will fit (especially consider low overhead areas). You may want to consider using a 3-d program such as Sketch-up, or even building a simple wood/cardboard model to scale.

– Ray Grayford – Website

A-Frame Tiny House Plans For Sale

Once you’ve taken a look at the A-frame floor plans above, you should have a good handle on what you like and don’t like about the A-frame layout. Maybe you’re starting to generate ideas on how an A-frame tiny house could work for you.

If you’re seriously considering building an A-frame tiny house and you’d like additional floor plan options, I suggest exploring some of these A-frame plans for sale below. These tiny house floor plan sellers are experienced and familiar with the requirements of building a tiny house. Investing in a good set of floor plans will ensure first time builders don’t miss important details.

These little Relaxshacks are a glamorous step up from camping. With a spot for one or two beds, a mini kitchenette, and space for relaxation, these are cute vacation options. This design doesn’t feature a bathroom, but all other features are there, making it an excellent camping choice.

RELAXSHACKS KITS

Pin-up Houses offer a wide range of A-frame tiny houses, A-frame small houses, and cabins. The Alexis is a small-but-roomy 306-sq.-ft. tiny house option with a kitchenette, porch, bathroom, and small loft. There’s a 134-sq.-ft. living room that is nicely sized. The plans include material recommendations.

PINUP HOUSES ALEXIS

If you’re looking for a simple shelter for camping and weekend relaxation, the Lily is a small but adequate A-frame tiny house design. Lily features storage space and enough room to sleep two people comfortably. There’s no plumbing, but it would make a fun A-frame vacation shelter.

PINUP HOUSES LILY

The Rebecca from Pin-up Houses is an A-frame small house with two stories, plumbing, and three potential bedrooms. This design shows a great range of A-Frame tiny house possibilities. It would be great for a couple or a small family, with room to grow.

PINUP HOUSES REBECCA

If you’re a first-time tiny house builder, an A-frame tiny house is a relatively simple design that’s easy to build. That said, there are several good reasons to build from an A-frame tiny house kit rather than making your first tiny house from scratch.

Design Tip:

A-frame houses have a special design and don’t fit to every environment. The steep roof pitch is likely going to be problematic in urban areas. In the countryside, however, there are often less code restrictions to follow, making it more likely to get a green light from the local authorities to proceed with the project.

– Priit Kallejärv – Website

With an A-frame tiny house kit, you’ll get precisely the right materials and pieces you’ll need. You won’t have to worry about the planning and troubleshooting, which can lead to expensive mistakes. Even expert tiny house builders make mistakes that can add up, so if it’s your first time, weigh out the cost of your time, planning, and an allotment for any mistakes before deciding that a kit is a more expensive route. In the end, you may save money by opting for one of these great A-frame tiny house kits.

Avrame

I really like the look and modular nature of the Avrame A-frame tiny houses. The SOLO series ranges from 141-247 sq. ft. Avrame is based in Estonia, but they offer many resources on A-frame tiny house kits.

AVRAME A-FRAME KIT

Back Country Huts

Back Country Huts kits are based in Canada, but they also ship to the United States. These modern styled A-frame tiny house kits are designed for self-assembly with a clear step-by-step guide.

BACK COUNTRY HUTS KIT

Den

Den A-frame kits are priced out with exactly how much it costs to build an A-frame tiny house from their kits. The spacious design features 14-foot ceilings and a wall of glass to let in light.

DEN A-FRAME KIT

Madi

M.A.DI. modular A-frame unit kits are available only in Europe. Still, the designs are beautiful, and the website is worth checking out for inspiration and ideas (even if you are in the United States).

MADI A-FRAME KIT

Nolla

The Helsinki designer Robin Falck created the beautiful Nolla A-frame cabin, with a minimalist and energy-efficient design. Again, this A-frame is an excellent design to check out for inspiration as you plan.

NOLLA A-FRAME KIT

Design Tip:

Before you start building an A-frame house be sure to research city and county codes and make sure your room sizes will fit with at least 5 feet hight at outside wall or more for appraisal, if need.

– Gary Boatwright – Website

A-Frame on a Foundation VS an A-Frame on a Trailer

So should you build your A-frame tiny house on a foundation or on a trailer? Well, it depends on your needs. The main reason to build any tiny house on a trailer is usually to get around building codes. The other advantage of a trailer is that you gain mobility. Should you decide to move someday, you can take your house with you.

If the building codes aren’t a concern for your area (and be sure to check out the codes thoroughly before you build), then you can certainly build an A-frame tiny house on a slab foundation. A benefit to building on a foundation is that you can make it wider,creating more floor space.

Since trailers have a maximum width allowed by the DOT, you’ll only be able to have an A-frame tiny house 8.5 feet wide, which doesn’t leave a lot of room inside with the steel sloping roof.

A-FRAME ON A FOUNDATION

Building an A-frame on a slab foundation allows you to size the A-frame cabin or tiny house to your preference. You can create it as wide as you like, which enables you to lower the roof’s angle. If you build on a foundation, take the time to research the different foundation options (pier, slab, crawlspace, or basement). A slab foundation is generally less expensive than building on a trailer, so that’s something you should also consider.

A-FRAME ON A TRAILER

If you choose to build your A-frame on a trailer, you’ll be beholden to the size of the trailer (8.5 ft. wide). That said, there are some significant advantages to building any tiny house on a trailer (which is why I built my own tiny home on a trailer). When you build on a trailer, you’ll build from the bottom up — sizing the flooring and the base first. This video walks through an A-frame tiny house build on a trailer.

Photos of A-Frame Houses

This blue A-frame tiny house with an orange porch and patio for dining looks perfectly appropriate in the forest setting

From the inside, the A-frame tiny house has a spacious kitchen with plenty of room for a full-size fridge.

The loft of this A-frame tiny house features plenty of room for a standard double bed and nightstand.

This wooden A-frame tiny house with a dining porch is a basic design but offers ample room.

This A-frame tiny house's interior shows some nice living touches like a small table and a kitchenette with a shelf near the window.

An interior shot of this A-frame shows retro-flare with a woodburning stove and a mid-century styled sitting space.

A solar-friendly roof allows lots of light into this A-frame tiny house, making the space efficient and bright.

The windowed sides on this A-frame tiny house lift to allow fresh air and create more space.

The interior of this A-frame tiny cabin is perfect for camping with a small kitchenette and two sleeping areas.

This A-frame tiny house features a dormer to create more loft space in the second story.

An interior shot of this A-frame tiny house shows a roomy dormered bedroom decorated in white.

This A-frame small house kitchen is enormous, thanks to a layout that runs along with one of the walls.

An interior of a small A-frame cabin shows how roomy the living room can feel with elevated ceilings and a woodburning stove.

A loft space in this A-frame features plenty of room for several beds.

This small A-frame house has a spacious bathroom with plenty of white to keep the room airy and open.

This architecturally beautiful A-frame house has a glass front and an alternative shape, making it a unique choice.

The interior of this alternative A-frame tiny house shows an area for sleeping, a wood stove, and a dining table.

The kitchenette in this A-frame tiny house is small but adequate, with a cupboard, stovetop, and tiny sink.

Photos of A-Frame Exteriors

This A-frame tiny house has a bright green door and horizontal wooden siding for rustic appeal.

A blue A-frame tiny house looks fantastic with a geometric wooden pattern on the front door.

The windowed peak of this A-frame tiny house shows a beautiful high ceiling with plenty of light from the hanging fixture.

This small wooden A-frame cabin has room for sleeping and a small porch

A black A-frame tiny cottage makes a perfect reading nook, outdoor guestroom, or small bedroom.

A wooden A-frame tiny house is a nice camping spot on the beach with a porch and windowed front.

A simple sided A-frame tiny house in tan and brown makes a great starter home for tiny house newbies.

This A-frame time house nestled in the woods has a large deck for gathering and entertaining.

A highly-pitched roof on this A-frame tiny house adds to the space while covering the porch.

Photos of A-Frame Lofts

This A-frame loft has room for two people to sleep quite comfortably in twin beds with a nightstand in between.

This A-frame tiny house loft has a spacious bedroom with a double bed and two small foot tables.

The sleeping loft of this A-frame tiny house overlooks the mountains with a large window.

A tray table makes an A-frame loft a perfect place to enjoy breakfast in bed.

This A-frame loft has enough room for a substantial king-sized bed — the perfect spot for reading a book.

Dark walls look stunning with the sky windows in this A-frame loft bedroom with a large king-sized bed.

Shelving above the sleeping space is a great way to add storage space to an A-frame loft.

A-frame loft bedrooms can be maximized with shelving, plants, and décor to make the most of the small space.

High wooden ceilings make this A-frame loft bedroom an excellent spot for sleeping. Blue and yellow pillows and a nightstand complete the look.

Another shot of this A-frame loft that sleeps a family of four or five comfortably.

A hammock in your whitewashed A-frame loft provides a different place to sleep, especially if you use the space as an office.

This A-frame loft has plenty of windows to look out on the snowy landscape below.

A-FRAME EXPERT CONSTRUCTION TIPS

Because A-frames don’t use conventional framing, there is a lot less information about structural things like spans, member sizes, fasteners and so on. Make sure all parts of your design have been looked over by a structural engineer.

– Jake Davis-Hansson – Website