ADU House Plans (450–800 Sq. Ft.) – Smart, Compact Living with Big Possibilities

Explore affordable ADU floor plans perfect for backyard units, guest suites, rental cottages, in-law spaces, and flexible small-home living.

Bedrooms
  • 0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6+
Bathrooms
  • 2
  • 2.5
  • 3
  • 3.5
  • 4
  • 4.5
  • 5+
Floors
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4+
Htd. Sq. Ft.
Width (Ft.)
Depth (Ft.)
Loading...
Plan Price
Architectural Style
# of Garage Bays
Bed and Bath
Ceiling Features
Structure Type
Garage Features
Indoor
Kitchen Features
Outdoor
Exterior Material
Size/Unique
Loading...

Found 2,711 House Plans!

  • Front elevation of a Traditional Colonial style home featuring a brick exterior, symmetrical windows with shutters, gabled rooflines, and a centered arched entry

    Plan 20-2200 – The Hall House | Traditional Colonial – 4-Bed, 4-Bath, 4,149 SF – House plan details

  • Front elevation of Cape Cod carriage house garage with horizontal lap siding, gable roof, dormer window, and double garage doors

    Plan 14-1047 – Ash Meadow Estate | Cape Cod Garage – 4-Bed, 3-Bath, 0 SF – House plan details

  • Front view of a Modern Farmhouse with Craftsman details featuring board and batten siding, stone accents, and a three-car garage under a steep gable roofline

    Plan 19-2317 – The Wilson Estate | Modern Farmhouse – 3-Bed, 3-Bath, 2,451 SF – House plan details

  • Front view of a New American Traditional Suburban style house featuring blue siding, brick accents, and yellow-trimmed red windows for striking curb appeal

    Plan 8-1547 – Jenkins Place | New American – 3-Bed, 2.5-Bath, 2,044 SF – House plan details

  • Front elevation of a Charleston style Southern home featuring stacked double porches, classical columns, and symmetrical siding exterior

    Plan 15-1991 – The Allen Estate | Charleston – 3-Bed, 3.5-Bath, 2,212 SF – House plan details

  • Front view of a Cape Cod style home featuring blue horizontal lap siding, yellow shutters, a steep gable roof, and a covered front porch entry.

    Plan 12-2388 – Pecan Brook Manor | Cape Cod – 3-Bed, 2.5-Bath, 1,721 SF – House plan details

  • Front elevation of a Georgian Colonial style home featuring red brick exterior, symmetrical windows, arched entry details, and traditional shutters

    Plan 17-1555 – Green Lodge | Georgian Colonial – 4-Bed, 3.5-Bath, 4,573 SF – House plan details

  • Front elevation of New American Modern Traditional house with horizontal lap siding, board-and-batten gables, stone wainscoting, and front-entry garage

    Plan 11-1314 – The Courtney | New American Duplex – 3-Bed, 2-Bath, 2,219 SF – House plan details

  • Front elevation of a Craftsman Cottage style home featuring shingle siding, stone accents, gabled rooflines, and a welcoming covered porch

    Plan 15-1208B – Walnut Brook Manor | Craftsman – 4-Bed, 3.5-Bath, 2,869 SF – House plan details

  • Front elevation of a Colonial style home featuring horizontal lap siding, symmetrical windows, steep gable roof, and a full-width covered porch

    Plan 19-1279 – Stewart Ridge | Colonial – 4-Bed, 3.5-Bath, 3,241 SF – House plan details

  • Front elevation of a Traditional Colonial style two-story home with blue siding, red shutters, and a covered front porch entry

    Plan 11-2000 – Cedar Creek Manor | Traditional – 4-Bed, 2-Bath, 1,686 SF – House plan details

  • Front elevation of a Modern Farmhouse ranch-style home featuring board and batten siding, horizontal lap siding, black windows, and an attached two-car garage

    Plan 16-1730 – The Powell Cottage | Modern Farmhouse – 3-Bed, 2-Bath, 1,730 SF – House plan details

  • Front elevation of a modern farmhouse style home featuring board and batten siding, horizontal lap siding, brick foundation, and a welcoming covered porch

    Plan 20-1341 – The Sanchez Cottage | Modern Farmhouse – 3-Bed, 3.5-Bath, 2,834 SF – House plan details

  • Front elevation of a New American Traditional style home featuring brick and stone exterior, gabled roof, symmetrical windows, and covered entry porch

    Plan 17-1349 – The Rodriguez Haven | New American – 4-Bed, 3.5-Bath, 3,528 SF – House plan details

  • Front view of a Traditional Colonial style home featuring a mix of horizontal siding and brick accents with a front porch and double garage

    Plan 15-1905 – Garcia Retreat | Traditional Colonial – 3-Bed, 2.5-Bath, 2,869 SF – House plan details

  • Front elevation of a modern farmhouse style home featuring board and batten siding, stone accents, wood garage doors, and a covered porch

    Plan 8-1122 – Phillips Walk | Modern Farmhouse – 3-Bed, 3.5-Bath, 3,341 SF – House plan details

  • Front elevation of a Tudor Revival home featuring brick exterior, stone entry accents, steep gabled rooflines, and symmetrical windows

    Plan 12-2145 – Sycamore Valley | Tudor Revival – 3-4-Bed, 2-3-Bath, 2,184 SF – House plan details

  • Front view of a Dutch Colonial style home featuring stone base, board-and-batten and horizontal siding, dark architectural roof, and classic symmetry

    Plan 11-1955 – Sycamore Run Manor | Dutch Colonial – 3-Bed, 2.5-Bath, 2,454 SF – House plan details

  • Front elevation of a 2-story Modern Farmhouse with board and batten siding, stone veneer accents, double garage, and covered front porch

    Plan 11-1368 – Giddings | Modern Farmhouse – 4-Bed, 3-Bath, 3,169 SF – House plan details

  • Front elevation of a New American ranch-style home featuring horizontal siding, shingle gables, brick accents, and a covered front porch

    Plan 8-1984 – Clark Crossing | New American – 4-Bed, 3.5-Bath, 2,430 SF – House plan details

  • Front elevation of a New American style home featuring horizontal siding, stone accents, symmetrical windows, and a covered front porch

    Plan 18-2207 – Green Walk | New American – 4-Bed, 3-Bath, 3,154 SF – House plan details

  • Front elevation of a Modern Farmhouse Ranch style home featuring board and batten siding, stone foundation accents, metal porch roof, and symmetrical single-story layout

    Plan 20-1739 – Henderson Crossing | Modern Farmhouse – 3-Bed, 3.5-Bath, 3,400 SF – House plan details

  • Front view of a Cottage Modern Farmhouse featuring blue siding, red double front doors, and large windows with clean white trim

    Plan 20-1696 – The Kelly Haven | Cottage – 1-Bed, 2-Bath, 1,352 SF – House plan details

  • Front elevation of a traditional townhouse row featuring white siding, dark shutters, gable roofs, and stone-accented entryways

    Plan 7-1947B – Wright Walk | Traditional Townhome – 3-Bed, 2.5-Bath, 1,383 SF – House plan details

  • Front elevation of a Southern Low Country Colonial style home with double stacked porches, board and batten siding, and standing seam metal roof

    Plan 17-1189 – The Thomas Estate | Classical Southern – 3-Bed, 3.5-Bath, 2,820 SF – House plan details

ADU House Plans

ADU House Plans – Smart, Stylish, and Perfect for Compact Living

If you’re looking for a smart way to expand your living space, generate rental income, or create a private guest suite, our collection of ADU house plans is the perfect place to start. Also known as Accessory Dwelling Units, these compact designs are ideal for backyard cottages, in-law suites, guest houses, home offices, tiny rentals, or flexible small-home living.

Modern ADU house plan with compact backyard living design

What Is an ADU?

ADU stands for Accessory Dwelling Unit. It is a smaller, self-contained residential structure located on the same property as a primary home. ADUs are commonly used as backyard rental units, private guest cottages, in-law suites, compact home offices with living space, or short-term vacation rentals where local rules allow.

Designed for Smart, Compact Living

ADU house plans make it possible to add valuable living space without building a full-size home. These efficient layouts are designed to make every square foot count while still offering privacy, comfort, storage, and everyday functionality.

1

Backyard Rental Potential

Create an income-producing rental unit, long-term tenant space, or short-term stay option where local zoning allows ADU use.

2

Guest or In-Law Suite

Give family members, aging parents, adult children, or guests a private living space close to the main home but still independent.

3

Efficient Small Footprints

Compact layouts combine living, dining, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and storage needs into a smaller, smarter residential design.

4

Flexible Property Value

An ADU can add usable square footage, improve property flexibility, and create more options for changing family or investment needs.

Premium Plan Features Included With Every ADU Design

Every ADU house plan includes editable CAD files and printable PDFs, giving you more control when working with builders, designers, engineers, or local permitting offices. These compact plan packages are built for flexibility from the start.

CAD & PDF Files

Your ADU plan package includes editable CAD files and printable PDFs, making it easier to customize the design for your site and local requirements.

Unlimited Build License

Use your ADU plan more than once without paying for a new license every time, especially useful for builders, investors, and repeat projects.

Engineering Included

Structural engineering is included to help support a smoother path toward construction and give your builder a stronger plan package to work from.

These extras can save you thousands compared to competitors who charge separately for CAD files, additional builds, foundation changes, or engineering.

Learn more about our included CAD files, unlimited-build license, free foundation modifications, and structural engineering.

Who Are ADU House Plans Perfect For?

ADU house plans are popular with homeowners, families, investors, and builders who want a compact design that can serve many different purposes. From rental income to multigenerational living, ADUs offer big possibilities in a smaller footprint.

  • Homeowners with extra backyard space who want a guest cottage, rental unit, studio, office, or private retreat.
  • Families needing flexible housing for aging parents, adult children, guests, caregivers, or multigenerational living.
  • Investors and developers looking for compact, repeatable residential designs with broad rental and resale appeal.
  • Urban property owners who want to make better use of limited land with a smaller detached or secondary dwelling.

ADU rules vary by city, county, and state, so always confirm local zoning, setbacks, parking requirements, utility rules, and permitting needs before building.

Common Features in Our ADU Designs

ADU house plans may be small in square footage, but the best designs are big on livability. Smart room flow, built-in storage, efficient kitchens, private sleeping areas, and separate entrances help these compact homes feel complete.

A

Open Living Areas

Combined living, dining, and kitchen areas help small ADUs feel larger, brighter, and easier to furnish.

B

Efficient Kitchens

Compact kitchens can include full appliance layouts, smart storage, and practical prep space without wasting square footage.

C

Private Bedrooms

Many ADU plans include one bedroom, two bedrooms, studio layouts, or flexible sleeping areas depending on the design.

D

Separate Entrances

A private entry helps ADUs work better for guests, tenants, in-laws, home offices, or independent living.

Explore Related Small Living Designs

If you like ADU house plans, you may also want to compare one-bedroom homes, small house plans, modern designs, ranch layouts, and detached garage plans with living space.

1 Bedroom House Plans

Efficient layouts for compact living, guest spaces, rentals, or private backyard homes.

Small Home Plans

Smart, affordable designs that make efficient use of every square foot.

Modern House Plans

Clean lines, simple forms, open interiors, and contemporary curb appeal.

Detached Garage Living

Garage apartments, guest suites, and flexible living space separated from the main house.

All-Inclusive Benefits That Set Us Apart

An ADU plan package should be complete, flexible, and easy to adapt. Our included benefits help homeowners, builders, and investors get more value from every purchase.

Feature Included With Our ADU House Plans?
CAD and PDF files Yes — included
Structural engineering Yes — included
Unlimited build license Yes — included
Free foundation changes Yes — included
Preview all sheets before purchase Yes — included

Our pricing is lower than all major competitors, and our plan sets are more complete. You can preview all plan sheets here, so there is no guesswork about what is included.

Ready to Build Smarter With an ADU?

Our ADU house plans offer unbeatable flexibility and affordability. Whether you are adding an income-producing rental, designing a backyard guest home, creating an in-law suite, or planning a compact private retreat, you get engineered drawings, editable CAD files, printable PDFs, and the freedom to build on your terms.

Frequently Asked Questions About ADU House Plans

What does ADU stand for?

ADU stands for Accessory Dwelling Unit. It is a smaller, self-contained home that shares a property with a main residence.

Can I build multiple ADUs from one plan?

Yes. Our ADU house plans include an unlimited-build license, which gives builders, investors, and property owners more flexibility for repeat projects.

Are ADU house plans legal in my area?

ADU legality depends on local zoning rules, setbacks, parking requirements, utility access, and permitting standards. The plans can be modified to help meet many local requirements, but you should confirm rules with your local building department before construction.

Do your ADU plans include engineering?

Yes. Every ADU house plan includes structural engineering along with CAD files, printable PDFs, and an unlimited-build license.

Can I customize the foundation or layout of my ADU plan?

Yes. Foundation changes are included, and affordable layout modifications are available for room adjustments, exterior changes, roof updates, or site-specific needs.

ADU Design Tip

Before choosing an ADU plan, check your local rules for maximum square footage, height limits, setbacks, parking, utilities, fire separation, entrance placement, and whether detached or attached ADUs are allowed on your property.