Boxabl: PreFab Affordable Housing Made Easy

Elon Musk does not own Boxabl. (In case you heard that rumor)

Imagine a home that’s as easy to set up as a piece of IKEA furniture—welcome to the world of Boxabl! Boxabl is unfolding affordable housing.

They’ve devised a new way to build faster, cheaper homes that could help solve the affordable housing crisis worldwide.

Boxabl wants to cut the cost of building a home using assembly line methods, just like how cars or smartphones are made.

If you are like me, you have only recently heard of this company. That is because they grew overnight, practically.

I have a passion for affordable and alternative housing, so naturally, this brand caught my eye. They are doing alternative housing better, faster, and at scale. Or at least that is the goal.

I envision this company growing to where George Jetson sits at a desk to press the button to build the entire house. They are working towards it.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I can earn commissions. If you decide to purchase through my links, it is at no cost to you.

What is Boxabl? 

Boxabl is a modular housing solution that offers a new way of thinking about alternative and affordable housing. Those wanting to add an ADU to their property are definitely excited about this option.

It is a Prefab housing box that ships on the back of a trailer and then unfolds into 375 square feet of home.

The Boxabl unit is a self-contained, fully functional living space that can be easily transported and assembled on-site.

With its innovative and sustainable approach, Boxabl aims to provide a quick, cost-effective, and high-quality housing option for those in need.

Like really fast, once they get to that point. 

When was Boxabl Started

Boxabl was started in 2017 in the heart of Las Vegas by founders Paolo Tiramani and his son Galiano Tiramani.

Since then, this game-changing company has been shaking up the housing scene with its Casita, a cozy 375 sq. ft. living space that comes with all the bells and whistles. 

Cost-effectiveness is key to Boxabl’s mission, so a streamlined production process accomplishes the goal.

Matterport walkthrough of the Boxabl

Boxabl’s model is based on a foldable box that unfolds once delivered. Each box can be combined with other units to create larger living spaces.

The future goal is to offer certain boxes you can select to put together to create your custom living space, either by placing one on top of or next to another.

You can not modify or customize your unit now, as it is engineered to be the space’s most cost-effective and functional design.

The modular design is why they can mass-produce the foldable houses because they reproduce the same floorplan repeatedly. 

Stackable and connectable Design

The boxes have a flat roof, which allows the units to be stackable. The stackable design can allow for multiple stories so customers can purchase multiple boxes to create the space they need.

In the future, there will be more than the studio Casita. The following boxes will connect to form a living space:

• master bedroom box
• double bedroom box
• living room box
• kitchen box

Photo Credit: TinyHouses.com

Dimensions and Square Footage

Currently, each box is 20 feet by 20 feet when unfolded. That comes to 375 square feet of interior living space with an interior height of 9 feet 6 inches.

When the box is folded up for shipping purposes, it takes up a mere 20 feet by 8 feet 6 inches. 

Boxabl Casita – The Prefab ADU

The Casita prefab ADU is the first model that was prototyped. It is a studio living space with a sleeping space, full kitchen, living room, and bathroom.

By definition, this structure is a tiny home because it is under 400 square feet. Boxabl does not want to be known for being a tiny home.

The Casita is so well designed it makes it a very popular Prefab ADU choice, hence the demand for the product, including Elon Musk, an industry leader.

Elon Musk and the Casita

Elon Musk was the first person to get a Casita. While the rumors he lives in one are not true, he used the unit as a guest house.  His support of the brand did stir up some publicity with a tweet that Boxabl was a cool product!

No wonder you can find a Tesla power wall and Tesla charger as a feature of the Casita model, at least on the 2-story prototype. (??)

Casita Accessory Dwelling Unit Floor Plan

Efficiency is key in the Casita accessory dwelling unit floor plan. You have everything you need in this studio space. 

The full-size kitchen and bathroom are always next to each other in a space that does not fold up. Surprisingly, there is a lot of counter space, considering the size of the unit. 

Casita Cost

According to their website, the company can no longer publicly advertise the cost. I see other places quoting $69,995, so knowing the true price is hard. All I know, is I doubt it is $49,995 like originally advertised.

The delivery, foundation work, or site prep is not included in the cost.

No matter the cost, it will be cheaper than other options. The few hundred dollars you will spend monthly for a small space to call your own will be worth it. 

No wonder there is a waitlist!

Casita Facades

You could customize your Boxabl home through the different facade offerings. 

Their July 2023 news release included concept pictures of the custom offering options. One option was a castle. As fun as the castle option is, I am not sure a Castle Casita home would get mass approval.

Shipping and Delivery

Shipping is available worldwide. This shipping container-looking box can be loaded on a train, boat, plane, or truck for $3 per mile – $10  per mile from Las Vegas.

Once your unit arrives at its destination, it is time to set the unit up. There are Boxabl-certified and state-licensed installers that set up each unit.

The installer will set up your home so it is ready to be used immediately and “Unpacks in an Hour,” as so boldly displayed on their website. (No money-back guarantees if it takes longer than an hour 🤩 )

You can literally sit in a lawn chair on your lunch break and watch your house unfold.

Benefits of Homes

Foldable Design

Each box folds 20 feet by 8.5 feet wide, weighing 8,000 to 12,000 pounds. The folded unit is the most cost-effective shipping method because it removes space.

If the unit had been any wider, there would be a need for special permits or wide load signs.

These extras add a cost that must be passed on to the consumer, reducing the unit’s cost-effectiveness. 

The unit can be pulled by a regular pickup truck, and the goal is to pull two units in one shipment to reduce shipping costs further.  By being able to use a regular truck and have the unit classified as a regular haul, it saves a tremendous amount of money. 🚛

The company has built specially designed trailers to transport the units to be the most efficient versus trying to force their product to fit. 

SIP Building Panels Approved by the International Code Council

What the heck are SIP building panels? Glad you asked. 

SIP stands for Structural Insulated Panels and is a modern building material for constructing walls, ceilings, and floors.

I learned about these at a Tiny House Festival because one vendor built a Tiny House on wheels using this material. It significantly reduced the cost of producing the structure shell, making it an affordable housing material.

The Boxabl company uses SIP building panels. The walls are 3-layer walls with EPS foam. EPS stands for Expanded Polystyrene foam, an insulation material used for energy efficiency and reducing total utility costs to an estimated 28 dollars a month. 

Because the unit’s walls, floor, and roof are structurally laminated panels, they are much stronger than an average building and designed to last a lifetime because they won’t degrade. 

Precise Materials with Less Waste

Many of the parts used to build the boxes are fabricated in-house by CNC machines. These CNC machined parts produce a highly accurate and higher quality product than in traditional buildings.

Boxabl has created and engineered the units to be mass-produced; the waste we often see in traditional homes can be almost eliminated.

Think of the principal of the large home builders with only a few floor plans available.

It’s the same content of knowing exactly the material you need for each unit and having the luxury of planning to utilize materials most efficiently. 

Features of Boxabl Homes

The technology behind the Boxabl Foldable House

What is incredible is the amount of technology used to build each unit, including many specialized materials and parts being made in-house.

Large CNC machines and workstations line the factory floor and can produce two full units each shift. Wowzers!

The initial thought was being able to produce one house every 90 minutes, said CEO Paolo Tiramani in a 2021 interview with Forbes.

In 2023, Tiramani says their goal is to build a home every 60 seconds. They are working their way up to that, for sure!  

The company has invested another 15 million dollars into innovative housing technology. The technology is aimed at making more units faster.

The custom automation will streamline the assembly line mass production process and trim down the production of a single wall panel from 20 minutes to 3 minutes. 

 Construction Process

• The units are built in a factory in pieces at an assembly line and zones until the home is completely constructed.
• The company has created an efficient production line to make housing affordable. This efficient process means they do not need specialized laborers like electricians or plumbers.
• The plumbing and electrical are built into the structure as it moves down the assembly line.
• Each home part is added at a specific time based on specialized engineering and planning.
• The wall, ceiling, and floor panels are built in about 20 minutes, and the structure is put together much like a Lego set. 

What are the advantages of switching to a Boxabl home over a site-built home?

There are a few reasons:

• They are sustainable and energy-efficient
• They have a much smaller environmental footprint
• Legal in all 50 states (they are waiting on modular approval, so they aren’t classified as tiny houses) 
• Less construction waste (A 2018 Fact sheet shows there are 600 million tons of construction and demolition debris waste) 
• They are built to cater to those differently-abled (a favorite of mine!)

Boxabl the Company

You can find the company on the Web at their Website, Facebook Page, or Instagram Page.

The website seems to have pictures of every single employee on their staff.

Even a few extras, like Austin Powers, that are funny, and I assume were added for design symmetry on the site.

Yeah, Baby!

The goal of Boxabl

Will Boxabl Destroy the Construction Industry?

This is solely my opinion, based on what I know. There are a few reasons why Boxabl will not destroy the construction industry.

The first is because there will still be too much money in the construction industry for a few generations. There is no way the big builders and their investors will let that happen.

Think of the different industries that this model would impact:

• Timber processing companies
• Contractors and skilled laborers
• Traditional construction material producers
• Specialized laborers like electricians, plumbers, HVAC installers, bricklayers, roofers
• Architectural firms
• Home improvement stores

I can see where the housing model will significantly impact certain markets, like the prefab ADU and small house market.  The small builders in those spaces could see some impact in the current generation.

It is hard to compete with the efficient cost of an assembly line model. This model will also give an option for people who can’t afford a site-built home and could manage compact living.

What put the company on the Map 📍

The first order was a federal contract of 156 Casitas to be delivered to a military base. The small staff at the company has to build and deliver 156 Casitas even though they only have a concept built.

That was a tall order. After that first large order, it has been growing ever since!

Visit the Factory

Factory tours are held often, and the public is encouraged to schedule a visit. The first factory is in Las Vegas on E North Belt Rd.  You can book a 1-hour in-person tour.

The main factory is 170,000 square feet big, with a third factory (opened in 2023) having 130,000 square feet of space right next door.

Factory 2 is located in North Las Vegas and opened in late 2022. If you can’t make it in person, here is a drone tour. 

Boxabl in the News

A 2-story 3-bedroom unit made with three units was displayed as a prototype at the International Builders Show (IBS) in 2023. 

Boxzilla is a future Mega factory with 2 million to 6 million square feet of production space that will be built in either Texas or North Las Vegas.

The Boxabl Waitlist

The demand and interest have been incredible, with over 160,000+ people on the waitlist.

The company has been unable to keep up with the demand, so the wait list grows by the day. 

Conclusion

As we’ve explored, Boxabl’s groundbreaking approach is more than just housing; it’s a vision for the future.

With their affordable, efficient, and versatile designs, they are not just constructing homes, they are building dreams.

It’s not just me who’s excited about this – the growing waitlist and buzz around Boxabl speak volumes. Can you see yourself being part of this housing revolution? Imagine the possibilities with Boxabl – affordable, sustainable, and within reach.

If you’re as intrigued as I am, why not explore further? The future of housing is unfolding, and it’s looking more accessible than ever. What’s your take on this innovative approach to living?

Are you amazed? Ready to join the waitlist? Join the waitlist here so you can purchase a unit.