Is Tiny House Weight Important? – Updated Guide 2021

Have you ever questioned if a tiny house weight matters for 2021 and beyond? Then this article is for you. With tiny housing appealing to more people by day, especially people who fancy the idea of minimalist and efficient living, it’s easy to see why the trend is blowing up across major cities, even as more people opt for affordable housing. But before you join the tiny home bandwagon, there are a lot of things you’d want to figure out, and that includes the weight of tiny homes.

Good for you; today is your lucky day as we have put together everything you need to know about tiny home weight. Read on as we delve deeper into this crucial aspect of tiny home living.

Understanding tiny home weights

When exploring tiny homes, there are different weights you must consider. From the tiny home’s dry weight to tongue weight to the trailer’s gross weight and even the trailer’s actual weight, you want to make sure you understand everything so that you plan accordingly while executing your tiny house building project. Read on to learn more about these individual weights.

Tiny house dry weight

The dry weight of any tiny home is usually described as the total weight of the house without people, movable furniture, or water in it. This is super important during transportation, as moving a tiny house around with people, water, or furniture in it can result in a serious nightmare you’re not prepared to deal with.

As a rule of thumb, never tow a tiny home with people, water, or loose furniture in it. Sure, you may include built-in furniture and storage units into the dry weight, but always consider the dry weight of a tiny house before towing. Doing this will save you a lot of headaches.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, also known as GVWR, is defined as the total weight a trailer can conveniently or safely hold. When exploring Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, you want to pay special attention to the weight of the trailer, followed by the weight of the house, and finally, the total weight of everything you might put inside.

Since the GVWR is all-inclusive, you’ll want a nice blend between dry weight and GVWR, and that’s because water can weigh over eight pounds per gallon. What this means is that even if you’re only going to feature a small 30-gallon water tank in your home, you’ll need at least 240 pounds to carry your water with you.

What is the ideal weight of a trailer?

Ideally, the weight of a trailer is the original weight before you put anything on it. While it may come as a surprise to many, a typical 2,000-pound trailer has a GVWR of up to 10,000 pounds.

And depending on how they are designed, the materials they are made from, and how many axles they have, different trailers come with their unique GVWR. To put things in retrospect, a trailer with four tires will be a lot stronger than a trailer that features just one axel.

Understanding tongue weight

The tongue weight is described as the force exerted by the trailer’s tongue to the hitch of the tow vehicle. Simply put, the tongue weight of any trailer should be between 9% to 15% of the total weight of the tiny house. For instance, if your tiny home weighs about 10,000 lbs, the total tongue weight of your tiny house should be around 1,500 lbs.

Also, while calculating the total tongue weight, it’s essential to factor in the buffer for the weight you’ll be carrying. One of the mistakes that most tiny homeowners make is overlooking the tongue weight of their tiny home as they forget that some trucks aren’t built to carry a lot of weight on their hitch.

We recommend using a weight distribution system for tiny homeowners who plan to move around frequently, regardless of the vehicle you choose. This will save you a lot of headaches.

The weight of small tiny homes

A small tiny home usually measures between 10 to 18 feet long. And in terms of weight, these types of structures weigh between 2500 to 8500 pounds. Here, check out some typical weights for small tiny houses:

Don Vardo tiny house: This tiny home design measures nearly 10 ft. And because it is more of a simple design, it doesn’t have a loft. When it comes to weight, this structure is a bit lightweight and weighs only 3200 pounds.

The Boulder: Small Boulder tiny homes are usually 16 feet long. As per their weight, these structures weigh approximately 5,400 pounds. In terms of design, Boulder-type tiny homes usually have a bathroom, kitchen, and even a lot. Unlike other tiny home designs, these types of structures can keep their weight down because they are fitted with lightweight corrugated metal.

Medium-sized tiny homes and their weight

Medium-sized tiny houses measure between 19 to 25 feet. Unlike smaller tiny homes, these types of structures come with a fully fitted bathroom and kitchen. Plus, they also come with an easy-to-access loft. As per weight, these structures measure between 8500 to 10,500 pounds.

A typical example of a medium-sized tiny home is The Aspen, a medium-sized tiny home that measures 20 ft. Despite measuring 20 feet, this structure is unique because only 4 feet are designated for the deck space, while the remaining 16 feet cover the living area. In terms of weight, this structure weighs approximately 8,800.

The weight of large tiny homes

Even though large tiny homes may not compete with traditional houses, they are a lot bigger than the tiny home options we have earlier highlighted, and that’s because they measure well over 25 feet.

These types of structures are designed so that they can comfortably fit an entire family. Plus, they are most times more spacious than studio apartments. When it comes to weight, these structures measure between 10,000 and 15,000 pounds.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tow a small home?

When it comes to towing a tiny home, you usually have three options you can opt for. Either you buy a tow truck, rent one or contract a company to move your tiny house. For people who don’t move around very often, you’ll find the third option worth giving a try.

What should my tow truck have?

If you’ve made up your mind to buy a tow vehicle, the best place to start is to check out the tow rating. And that’s because towing a tiny home will require a robust vehicle that can handle the entire weight of the small house And once you have your tow vehicle, you want to make sure you add extra brakes along with brake controllers. Also, you’ll need better suspension.

What other things should your tow truck have?

Other optional equipment you might want to include in your tow vehicle includes backup cameras, RV GPS, and backup sensors. This equipment will make driving and parking super easy.


Without mincing words, tiny homes vary significantly in terms of weights and size. While smaller homes are lightweight and more mobile, larger homes are more challenging to move, even though they provide better amenities. So before opting for any tiny home design, do your due diligence and decide which one works for you, keeping in mind that you may have to move your home around now and then.