Prefab house prices can only be compared via the price per square metre at the same level of completion. A self-finish house (Ausbauhaus) from €1,100/m² and a turnkey house from €2,000/m² are two completely different products. What always counts is the building and service specification (Bau- und Leistungsbeschreibung), not the brochure price.
Prices: guide values from manufacturer information and show-home price lists, as of September 2026. Prefab houses are priced individually – only a personal quote is binding.
What does a prefab house cost in 2026?
For a turnkey prefab house, the market in 2026 is around €1,400 to €2,600 per square metre of living space. A typical detached house with 140 m² therefore costs about €200,000 to €360,000 for the house alone – without the plot, without a basement, without outdoor areas.
| Level of completion | Price per m² | What you do yourself |
|---|---|---|
| Kit house (Bausatzhaus) | approx. €700–1,100 | Almost everything from erecting the shell |
| Self-finish house (Ausbauhaus) | approx. €1,100–1,500 | Interior finishing: drywall, painting, floors |
| Services-complete (technikfertig) | approx. €1,400–1,800 | Surfaces and floor coverings |
| Turnkey (schlüsselfertig) | approx. €1,800–2,600 | Nothing – move in without doing any work yourself |
| Eco premium | from approx. €3,000 | Nothing, but with solid timber and an architect-designed plan |
Be careful with the label: "turnkey" (schlüsselfertig) is not a protected term. With some providers, floor coverings, painting work or sanitary fittings are missing. The only thing that counts is the building and service specification.
Additional building costs are almost always underestimated
The house price is only part of the bill. Typically, 15 to 20% in additional building costs (Baunebenkosten) come on top of the construction sum – so €45,000 to €60,000 for a €300,000 house.
- Plot – the biggest item and extremely variable by region, from €50/m² to over €1,500/m².
- Real estate transfer tax (Grunderwerbsteuer) – 3.5 to 6.5% of the plot price, depending on the federal state. Note: if you buy plot and house as a single package from the same provider (or the house contract is tied to the plot purchase), the tax office may also levy the tax on the house price.
- Notary and land register – around 1.5 to 2% of the purchase price.
- Site development – connection to electricity, water, sewage, telecommunications: €10,000 to €20,000.
- Soil survey & land surveying – €2,000 to €5,000; budget for this before signing the contract.
- Building permit & structural engineering – €3,000 to €8,000.
- Basement or floor slab – floor slab from approx. €15,000, basement €40,000 to €80,000. With almost all manufacturers this is not included in the price per m².
- Outdoor areas – terrace, driveway, garden, fence: €10,000 to €30,000.
Rule of thumb: if you budget €300,000 for the house, you should calculate a total of €450,000 to €550,000 including the plot, basement and outdoor areas.
Self-finish or turnkey – where are the real savings?
On paper, a self-finish house saves €30,000 to €70,000. Banks even partly recognise this so-called Muskelhypothek ("sweat equity") as equity – usually up to a maximum of 15% of the construction sum.
The savings are only realistic if you can put in several hundred hours of work and are confident with DIY. Drywall, painting and floor coverings are doable. Electrics and plumbing, on the other hand, need a specialist firm to inspect and document the installation.
Also factor in delays: every extra month of construction means another month of rent and commitment interest (Bereitstellungszinsen) on the part of the mortgage that has not yet been drawn down.
How to compare quotes properly
- Request the building and service specification – don't compare the brochure price. Only this document forms part of the contract.
- Calculate on the same basis – same living space, same level of completion, same energy standard. Otherwise you are comparing apples with oranges.
- Check the fixed-price period – 12 to 18 months is usual (Danwood up to 18, STREIF 16 months according to their websites). If construction takes longer, price escalation clauses apply.
- Completion guarantee (Fertigstellungsbürgschaft) – protects you if the manufacturer becomes insolvent during construction. Not every provider offers one.
- Check the payment schedule – payments should follow construction progress, not run ahead of it.
- Visit show homes – but bear in mind: show homes are almost always built to the highest specification.
- Call reference customers – reputable providers will put you in touch with homeowners from your region.