Boxabl has entered the tiny home market with its flagship Casita, a foldable home designed to offer modern creature comforts in a compact form. The Casita is part of a growing trend in efficient living, combining ease of transportation and assembly with the convenience of pre-installed utilities and appliances. With a construction time of as little as four hours and the ability to ship directly to almost any location, Boxabl’s design approach appeals to those seeking a move-in ready dwelling without the traditional hassles of construction.
The Casita is delivered in a compact, folded state. It ships in a package measuring 19 feet long, 8 feet 6 inches wide, and 12 feet 4 inches tall (5.8 x 2.6 x 3.8 meters). Once the home is unfolded—a process that takes roughly an hour—the structure expands to 19 feet by 19 feet, with a rooftop height of 10 feet 9 inches (5.8 x 5.8 x 3.3 meters). Inside, the dwelling offers a 9.5-foot ceiling (2.9 meters) and approximately 361 square feet (33.5 square meters) of living space, creating a studio apartment feel that is both efficient and surprisingly spacious.
One of the key conveniences of the Casita is its fully pre-installed wiring and plumbing, set up directly at the factory. This feature simplifies the installation of the home, which weighs about 13,000 pounds (5,897 kilograms). Aside from its portability and ease of setup, the Casita stands out for meeting higher code standards than many traditional manufactured homes.
Boxabl offers two distinct versions of the Casita to address various zoning requirements. The first version is the modular Casita, which is built to residential building codes. This option requires a foundation but comes fully equipped with full-size electric appliances, including a refrigerator, microwave, stovetop, and HVAC system. It features two entry/exit doors and connects to the power grid with a 100-amp service. An additional advantage of this version is its design for expansion; it can be stacked or connected side by side with additional units, making it adaptable as families grow or needs change.
The second option available is a park model RV version of the Casita. This variant is constructed to meet RV specifications under the standard ANSI A119.5 code. Unlike the modular option, the park model RV is permanently attached to a rolling chassis, resembling a travel trailer in many respects. Notable differences include a single entry/exit door and the availability of a propane option for the stove. This version utilizes either a 50-amp or 100-amp service, similar to other large recreational vehicles. Despite these differences, both options share the same energy-efficient insulation, LED lighting, a 30-gallon (113-liter) electric water heater, a full bathroom, and pre-installed utility hookups for water, sewerage, and electricity.
The Casita was initially released in September 2020 and quickly made its debut in an unusual setting. Boxabl’s first delivery consisted of 156 units sent to Camp Justice at Guantanamo Bay in 2020, where they were used to house lawyers and juries. Since then, the Casita has found a variety of applications. It has been deployed in humanitarian relief efforts, provided housing for a copper mine workforce in Arizona, and even formed the basis of a commercial Airbnb community in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Despite its many advantages, Boxabl’s journey has not been without challenges. Early models of the Casita were reported to be prone to leaking and molding. These issues have drawn attention to the need for continual improvements in design and production processes. In June of the previous year, The Wall Street Journal noted that Boxabl had amassed a waitlist of over 175,000 customers while having delivered only 223 units at that point, a figure that primarily reflects the bulk delivery to Guantanamo Bay. This discrepancy has raised questions about production capacity and the scalability of Boxabl’s manufacturing process.
The Casita has also attracted attention from high-profile individuals. In 2022, Elon Musk confirmed that he has a prototype Casita at his Texas-based SpaceX facility, Starbase. Musk commented on his experience with the product, stating, “the house that I bought [in Texas] actually costs less than the Boxabl.” His remark highlights the ongoing conversation about the cost-effectiveness and market positioning of foldable tiny homes compared to traditional housing options.
Regarding pricing, the Boxabl Casita is currently offered at US$60,000 for the modular version and US$70,000 for the park model RV option. The park model is priced at $10,000 more than when it was first introduced. These prices reflect the product’s unique construction, portability, and the inclusion of full-size appliances and utilities that many conventional tiny homes might not offer.
Source: Boxabl
