Choosing a portable cabin sounds simple until you start wondering how much space you actually need.
Is a compact cabin enough for a bedroom? Will you fit a desk as well as a bed? Is it worth choosing the larger option for a teenager who will be using the room every day?
The best cabin isn't always the biggest one. It’s the one that gives you enough usable space while still fitting comfortably on your property.
Here’s how to work out which Portacabin could suit you.
Start With What You'll Use the Cabin For
The first question is simple: what is going inside it?
A cabin being used purely as a home office has very different space requirements from a teenager’s bedroom.
Common uses include:
Extra bedrooms
Teenager sleepouts
Guest accommodation
Home offices
Study spaces
Hobby rooms
Temporary living space
Storage
Once you know how the room will be used, choosing a size becomes much easier.
The Kiwi Cabin – Compact and Practical
Size: 3.9m x 2.6m
Usable interior area: 8.2m²
$85 p/w. Minimum 6 month hire on all Portacabins.
The Kiwi is the smallest cabin in the Portacabin range and is a good option when space on your section is limited.
It works well for:
A single bedroom
Compact home office
Study space
Overflow storage
Short-term accommodation
If you only need the essentials, the Kiwi gives you useful additional room without taking up too much of your property.
The Tui Cabin – A Little More Room
Size: 4.5m x 2.6m
Usable interior area: 10m²
$90 p/w Minimum 6 month hire on all Portacabins.
The Tui gives you a little more flexibility while maintaining a relatively compact footprint.
It can work well as:
A cosy bedroom
Home office
Hobby room
Study space
Flexible additional room
That extra floor area can make a noticeable difference when you start adding furniture.
The Kea Cabin – A Great All-Rounder
Size: 5.1m x 2.6m
Usable interior area: 11m²
$100 p/w Minimum 6 month hire on all Portacabins.
The Kea is a versatile mid-sized option and gives you enough room to create a comfortable bedroom or workspace.
It can suit:
A teenager’s bedroom
An extra bedroom
Home office
Study
Temporary accommodation
If you're deciding between keeping things compact and having enough space to move around comfortably, the Kea is a great option to consider.
The Ruru Cabin – Maximum Space
Size: 6.3m x 3.1m
Usable interior area: 16.5m²
$140 p/w Minimum 6 month hire on all Portacabins.
The Ruru is the largest cabin in the Portacabin range.
It gives you considerably more room to work with, making it ideal when the cabin will be used regularly or needs to fit more furniture.
It could suit:
A spacious sleepout
Teenager's room
Larger bedroom
Studio space
Larger home office
Longer-term additional living space
If comfort and floor space are priorities, the Ruru gives you the most flexibility.
Think About Your Furniture
Before choosing a cabin, think about what actually needs to fit inside.
For a bedroom, that might include:
Single, double or queen bed
Bedside table
Drawers
Clothing storage
Desk and chair
Small shelving unit
For an office, consider:
Desk size
Office chair
Storage
Shelving
Additional seating
Equipment
It can help to measure your furniture or mark the cabin dimensions out at home so you can visualise how much room you'll have.
Remember that furniture layouts shown on Portacabin floor plans are examples only. The amount of usable space will vary depending on the size and style of furniture you choose.
Don't Forget About Your Property
Cabin size isn't only about what fits inside, it also needs to fit outside.
Before choosing your cabin, consider:
The amount of space available
Access to the property
Driveway and gate width
Trees or other obstacles
Power lines
Ground conditions
The proposed position of the cabin
Distance from boundaries and existing buildings
Our free site visit helps take the guesswork out of this.
We'll check access and placement and make sure the cabin you're considering can be safely delivered and positioned on your property.
Bigger Isn't Always Better
It can be tempting to automatically choose the largest cabin, but sometimes a smaller option works perfectly.
If you only need a quiet office or a room for a single bed, you may be paying for space you don't actually need.
On the other hand, if someone will be using the cabin as their bedroom every day, giving them enough room for furniture, storage and comfortable movement can make a big difference.
Think about how the cabin will actually be used rather than choosing based on size alone.
Not Sure Which Cabin to Choose?
Get in touch with the Portacabin team today and tell us what you’re wanting the cabin for, who will be using it and how much space you have available.
From there, we can recommend the best option from our Kiwi, Tui, Kea or Ruru range and arrange a free site visit to check access, placement and suitability.
Get in touch today and let us help you find the right cabin for your space and your needs.
