Their size distinction is the most significant one between the two. Typically, tiny homes range in size from 100 to 400 square feet and are designed to support self-sufficient living. Living in a tiny house might not be feasible for large families, perhaps even for families of four.

Mobile houses, on the other hand, range in size from 600 to 1300 square feet, providing considerably more living space. If you want to downsize, you can do so without sacrificing any of the space that tiny homes offer. Families would do better with this option because the extra space in a mobile home will make daily living much more comfortable.

Furthermore, tiny houses are small enough to go overlooked, yet mobile homes are subject to government limitations because of their bigger size. Because of this distinction, tiny homes essentially allow you to carry out anything you want. You might have to pay government fees and obtain permits, depending on where you reside. This is especially the case if you want to add to or alter your home.

A tiny house is a better choice if you want to relocate your home because it can be towed wherever you choose as long as you have a suitable trailer hitch and vehicle. A tiny house is the ideal method to realize your dreams of living a nomadic lifestyle. They are frequently designed to be easily moved from one place to another. 

Since mobile homes are constructed in factories, you have to choose the location of yours. Moving a mobile home is difficult from a logistical standpoint, should the necessity arise. Usually, once you set it up, it stays there indefinitely.

Apart from size variations, mobile houses often share a similar appearance. They are box-shaped, single-story homes that frequently have a patio or veranda. Since mobile homes are manufactured in factories, they inherently have a mass-market, assembly-line feel about them. 

Tiny homes, on the other hand, are customized to your tastes and needs in terms of style. Everything is up to you to decide, including the design and size, the fixtures and furniture, the wood cladding, and the toilet models. This gives you a great deal of creative freedom for your tiny home's design. Every tiny house is unique.

Living in a mobile home might carry some stigma because of outdated beliefs that those who do so are impoverished. Since mobile homes are more affordable and easier to obtain than stick-built homes, more people are choosing to live in them, and they also look much better these days!

There's often a sense of community with tiny homes. They are currently in style, which increases their "acceptability." Living a simpler, more financially independent lifestyle, lowering your carbon footprint, and generally adopting a more environmentally conscious lifestyle are all popular trends surrounding tiny homes.

Tiny houses have a high sustainability level. In addition to using eco-friendly elements like solar panels and recycled or repurposed materials in their production, they require fewer building resources to operate, such as energy, heat, and water.

Rather than being designed with the environment in mind, mobile houses were created to be affordable and offer a simpler means of life. They were not made with energy efficiency in mind and were instead thought of as more mobile vacation homes. Compared to tiny houses, they are less environmentally friendly because they typically rely largely on gas to power the appliances.

A tiny home can save money on utilities over time, but the average cost is usually more than that of a mobile home. Prices vary greatly; for example, if your small home costs x, the mobile home may cost between 2 and 3 times as much.

Mobile homes are built in factories in assembly lines with regulated conditions. This indicates that these dwellings are manufactured with efficiency. Your home's completion can happen in a matter of weeks.

Tiny homes, however, could require more time to build. Professionals take at least a month to build a tiny house, while do-it-yourselfers need at least four months to build a home.

Since they are made to order, the possibilities are endless when it comes to creating the modern, rustic, minimalist, or any other style of tiny home you may imagine. With the growing popularity of tiny homes, an increasing variety of sizes, designs, and price points are offered, ranging from modern, architectural tiny homes for permanent residents to quaint, tiny cabins for weekend vacations.

However, since mobile homes are manufactured in factories, their appearance is standardized. Everything about them, besides size, is mass-produced. Thus, there isn't much room for creativity or beauty.

Less room for storage is perhaps the main drawback for most people who are thinking about tiny homes. These apartments are small, so you have to be selective about what you bring with you and what you leave behind. Most homeowners have to give up some of their possessions. As compared to tiny homes, mobile houses have a larger storage due to a larger footprint.

Whenever you make a large purchase, you should consider getting insurance for your property. But calling a tiny cottage a habitation is a difficult sell for most insurance firms. However, provided that it complies with local building laws and standards, a modular home may be covered by a typical homeowners insurance policy. As there are no unique insurance risks associated with modular homes, the coverage will be comparable to that of a typical home.

Ultimately, there are some advantages to downsizing, such as reduced financial obligations and a simpler lifestyle, whether you decide to live in a standard mobile home or a tiny home. But there are a lot of factors to take into account while choosing between the two.

If one truly wants to commit to sustainable, minimalist living, especially if living off the grid is part of the objective, a tiny house is a great option. It might also be the best option for people who don't care about where they live and who prefer to travel every few months to reconnect with nature. However, mobile homes are ideal if you need a location to host visitors or want seclusion because they offer greater space for families and pets. Although their worth depreciates swiftly, they are more affordable. Because mobile homes are constructed and assembled in factories, there is less variation in their designs and styles.

Note that we have barely touched on the topic of tiny houses vs. mobile homes in the above piece. Given the significance of this choice, it's imperative that you conduct detailed research, list your preferences, and be open about the goals you have for downsizing.

For more such insights and tips about the architectural world, subscribe to Volume Zero newsletter and get the latest articles delivered to your inbox.

Text provided by Devangi Shah-

Devangi is a practicing architect, who considers Architecture like a bottomless pit that consistently keeps brimming with a different area of scope it can tackle and get to the bottom of. She likes to question the world around her and induce her creative limits through research and documentation. Her research enthusiast self believes, “Architecture is the art of designing for the present by reflecting upon our past, sensitively keeping in mind our future.”