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Why aren’t lofts included in a tiny home’s square footage?

Determining the Square Footage in Tiny Homes

We are often asked about how we calculate square feet in our tiny homes. This is a great question as there is no regulation regarding calculating square feet–this is true even in traditional homes. Rather, there is an accepted code that the industry follows. Other competitors do not always follow the same code that we at B&B use when calculating square feet, which can make comparing tiny homes confusing.

Pictured: the Hoosic Tiny House

The Technicalities

Let’s dive into some of the different criteria for what spaces must meet.  We use the International Building Code, specifically Building Code Appendix Q, which describes the code for tiny houses on foundations.  Although much of what B&B Tiny Houses builds are tiny houses on wheels, we use the international building code as a guide for calculating square footage.

From IBC Appendix Q:

Minimum ceiling height: habitable space must be over 6 feet and 8 inches with the exception of bathrooms and kitchens which must be over 6 feet and 4 inches

Loft: located at least 30 inches above the main floor, is open to the main floor, and used as a living or sleeping space

Pictured: The Arcadia Tiny House

Calculating Square Feet in Tiny Homes

Tiny houses on wheels, in order to be road-legal, must be 13 1/2′ off the ground in order to fit under bridges.  Therefore, it would be impossible or a tiny house to have a loft one can stand up in.  Because lofts in tiny houses on wheels do not meet the minimum ceiling height to be considered “habitable” space in the building code, they should not be included in a tiny home’s square footage.

To calculate the square footage, multiply the inside width and length of the tiny house. Almost all of B&B’s tiny houses on wheels are the road-legal maximum width of 8 1/2′; their length varies.  The exterior walls of our tiny homes (unless otherwise specified) are 6 inches thick on each side and end. To calculate the square footage of the Stony Ledge which has outside dimensions of 8 1/2′ x 30′, we multiply 7 1/2′ x 29′ to get 217 1/2 square feet.  The Arcadia, which has a loft, has a square footage of 142 1/2 plus a 45 square foot loft.

When shopping for tiny homes, you should always check how the square feet has been calculated. Otherwise, it can be like comparing apples and oranges. If you are interested in learning more about the square feet in tiny homes, read this post about why tiny homes cost more per square feet than traditional homes.

Tiny Houses with First-Floor Bedrooms (No Sleeping In Lofts)!

Many tiny house enthusiasts do not want to or are unable to climb up a ladder or staircase to sleep in a loft.  Is it possible to build a tiny house without a sleeping loft?

Good news- yes, it is!  B&B Tiny Houses makes quite a few tiny house models with first-floor sleeping.  In addition, we make many models that could fit a queen sized bed underneath the loft, and the loft can be used as storage or a guest bed.

Option 1: Our models with first-floor sleeping are:

The Hudson, 20′ long, open floor plan
Hudson Tiny House First Floor Bedroom
The Hudson, 26′ long, open floor plan
The Stony Ledge, 30′ long, bedroom separated by wall
The Silver Lake, 32′ long, bedroom separated by wall
The Ashmere, 30′ long, open floor plan
Ashmere Tiny House
The Brodie Guest House/Studio/Office, 20′ long: open floor plan; this house has a half-bathroom (no shower) and can fit a full-size bed (the desk is pictured because this house was styled as an office, but a full-size bed can fit in that space)
The Stony Ledge, Silver Lake and Hoosic tiny houses have two steps up into the kitchen and/or bathroom because water tanks are hidden beneath.  If you do not plan to move around with your house and will be hooked up to freshwater and wastewater lines permanently, we can eliminate the water tanks and the two steps.

Option 2: Use the loft for storage and the space under the loft as a master bedroom.

In addition, most of our models that do have a loft can fit a bed underneath, so the loft can be used for storage or a guest bed.
The Kinderhook, 30′ long, open floor plan
Kinderhook Tiny House Sleeping Loft with Storage
The Hoosic, a 20′ house with an open floor plan, a Queen sized loft with room for another Queen sized bed underneath.

For more information on single-level tiny houses, please contact us using this form, and specify you are interested in a tiny house with no loft. 

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