Short answer: A tiny house is a fully-equipped small home, typically 20-40 sqm, usually built on a towable trailer chassis, with a kitchen, bathroom and sleeping area. Because of Turkish road-transport limits, towable models are built at most 2.55 m wide and 4 m tall, typically 8-10 m long. Type-approved units count under the law as vehicles, not buildings.
"Small house" isn't quite enough as a translation. An RV is small too, so is a container. What sets a tiny house apart is that it's insulated and fitted out like a residence, yet can still be towed by truck to another city.
Why are tiny house dimensions always 2.55 meters wide?
Because a towable tiny house is a vehicle on the road. Road-transport regulations cap the width at 2.55 m and the height at 4 m; to be moved without a special permit, the house has to fit inside that box. Our entire Pico series is built to this size. Length determines the usable floor area: around 20-26 sqm at 8 meters, up to 40 sqm at 10 meters with lofts.
What's a loft, and does it suit everyone?
A loft is a second sleeping level built close to the ceiling within the 4-meter height limit. It adds another bedroom on the same footprint, which is why a 10-meter house can have 2 lofts plus 1 ground-floor bedroom. But you can't stand up in a loft, and you reach it by ladder or stairs. For anyone with knee problems, older adults, or wheelchair users, we recommend the ground-floor-bedroom models instead (see our accessible design article, in Turkish).
Tiny house vs. RV vs. shipping container vs. prefab
| Tiny house | RV | Container home | Prefab home | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Movable? | Yes, towed by truck | Yes, daily | By crane | No |
| Purpose | Full-time living | Travel | Temporary / site office | Full-time living |
| Insulation | Residential grade | Light | Varies | Residential grade |
| Legal status | Vehicle (if type-approved) | Vehicle | Usually a building | Building |
| Building permit | Not required* | Not required | Usually required | Required |
* Depends on how it's installed; see details in our is a tiny house legal guide.
How is a tiny house built?
For us, the process starts with the chassis and moves through six stages:
- Chassis: A 3,500 kg-capacity, O2 type-approved steel trailer chassis.
- Frame and OSB: The shell closes up, and the house's volume takes shape.
- Insulation and interior walls: Tyvek membrane, 100 mm stone wool, then MDF panelling.
- Wet-area flooring: Waterproof flooring for the bathroom and kitchen, with GRP applied in the shower cabin.
- Painting and finishing: Furniture, utility testing, final coat of paint.
- Delivery: The house is towed to your land, leveled and the keys are handed over.
Contract to delivery takes an average of 45-60 days. See every stage in 38 photos and videos in our production gallery.
Is it livable in winter?
Yes, if the insulation is done right. Our customers heat with just air conditioning in sub-zero temperatures; on request, we also add a stove or fireplace flue. The real thing to watch for isn't the cold — it's condensation. We cover this in detail in our damp and moisture article (in Turkish).
Who is it right for, and who isn't it for?
Good fit: people who want to live close to nature on their own land, people downsizing for retirement (see our article on downsizing in retirement, in Turkish), people who want a guesthouse or office in their garden, couples and small families.
Not a good fit: people with a lot of belongings who don't want to part with them, large families, people who plan to move it frequently. A tiny house is movable, but it isn't designed to relocate every week like an RV; moving it is a job for a truck and a professional crew.
How much does a tiny house cost?
As of September 2026, our Pico series starts at 1,400,000 TL (8 m, 20 sqm), going up to 1,900,000 TL for the 10-meter, 40 sqm models. See the model-by-model list and what changes the price on our tiny house prices page.
Want an exact quote for your land and budget? Message us — we usually reply the same day.
Get a Quote on WhatsAppFrequently Asked Questions
What is a tiny house?
A tiny house is a fully-equipped small home, typically 20-40 sqm, usually built on a towable trailer chassis, with a kitchen, bathroom and sleeping area. Type-approved towable models count as vehicles under the law.
How many square meters is a tiny house?
Towable models are typically built 8-10 meters long and 2.55 meters wide; usable floor area, including any lofts, ranges from 20 to 40 sqm.
What's the difference between a tiny house and an RV?
An RV is designed for travel and lightly insulated; a tiny house is insulated and fitted out to residential standards for full-time living. Both are movable, but a tiny house is towed by truck and isn't designed to relocate frequently.
How long does a tiny house last?
Its lifespan depends heavily on chassis quality, insulation detailing, and proper moisture management. On Piccola Vita houses, the load-bearing chassis, waterproofing and utilities are covered by a 24-month warranty.
Can you live in a tiny house in winter?
Yes. With full insulation on the walls, floor and roof and thermal-glazed frames, it's comfortably livable with just air conditioning in sub-zero temperatures; a stove or fireplace flue can be added on request.
