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Best Modular Home Manufacturers

Champion Homes is the best modular home builder with a range of plans and styles

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more.

When shopping for a factory-built home, you’ll often coordinate your purchase through a licensed retailer or builder, so choosing the right manufacturer is an important step. The majority of the home’s construction will be completed inside the manufacturer’s facility—typically 80% to 90%—before the home shows up at your building site.

New-school modular homes have tons of curbside appeal and companies offer a variety of plans to choose from. Many use sustainable materials and processes and will customize options to suit your situation. Quality building materials and workmanship are important factors to consider, as well, when choosing who to go with. So, to get you started, we've compiled a list of the best modular home manufacturers.

Best Modular Home Manufacturers of 2023

Best Overall : Champion Homes


Champion Homes

Champion Homes

Key Specs
  • Available Regions: Nationwide (all 50 states)
  • Virtual Design Tool? No
  • Home Styles: Ranch, two-story, and Cape Cod
Why We Chose It

Champion Homes offers plenty of plans to choose from and has a large network of retailers and builders who will help you complete the buying process.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Advanced search feature filters design plans

  • Virtual tours

  • Over 60 years of experience

Cons
  • Limited selection in certain regions

  • Must work with local retailers on pricing

Overview

Since 1953, Champion Home Builders has been a national leader in factory-built housing. This modular home manufacturer offers many different floor plans and an array of features that will make your house feel like a custom home. Choose from options like expanded primary suites, gourmet kitchens, custom architectural details, and vaulted ceilings.

An advanced search feature on the company's website lets potential buyers filter homes by style, square footage, and must-have features. The specifications of state and local building codes will impact which modular home plans are available to you. Still, you’ll have the option to customize your home’s features and finishes to match your preferences and budget.

Champion offers a wide spectrum of options, including ranch, two-story, and Cape Cod home plans.

About This Term: Primary Suite

Many real estate associations, including the National Association of Home Builders, have classified the term "master bedroom" (or "master suite") as discriminatory. "Primary bedroom" is the name now widely used among the real estate community and better reflects the purpose of the room.


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Best Custom : Impresa Modular


Impresa Modular

Impresa Modular

Key Specs
  • Available Regions: Nationwide (all 50 states)
  • Virtual Design Tool? Yes
  • Home Styles: Traditional, log homes, cabins, chalets, coastal, contemporary, and tiny homes
Why We Chose It

Impresa offers over 3,000 floor plans that can be modified to fit your dream design. Plus, innovative online shopping tools, like an instant project cost estimator, make it easy to view options within your budget.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Interactive online design and estimate tools

  • Over 3,000 floor plans available

Cons
  • Online floor plans already include upgrades or add-ons

Overview

Impresa is the only nationwide custom modular home manufacturer with factory partners in all 50 states. The company also offers a multitude of floor plans with plenty of home styles and elevations to choose from.

Simply input your building zip code to browse the options available in your desired location. The website's user-friendly tools, like the Express Project Estimator, give you instant access to transparent pricing. It also provides estimates for other common costs, such as site and foundation work, installation and finishing work, utility connections, and permitting. Impresa's Project Homestyler software will guide you through developing your own custom modular house plan.

Then, bring your building plans directly to Impresa for an estimate. From start to finish, your custom Impresa home will be built, delivered, and finished in just three to five months.

Best Budget : Commodore Homes


Commodore Homes Logo via Commodore Homes

Commodore Homes

Key Specs
  • Available Regions: Northeast, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic
  • Virtual Design Tool? Yes
  • Home Styles: Ranch, Cape Cod, two-story, and more
Why We Chose It

With Commodore Homes, you can manage how much you spend on your home purchase by selecting the company's "value-first home plans" (available in 31 states).

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Offers a variety of home plans from 750 to over 2,000 square feet

  • Visual design tool allows for optional finishes and features

  • Can add basements, garages, and decks

Cons
  • Limited virtual tours and photos available

Overview

If you’re shopping for an economical home but don’t want to sacrifice options, consider Commodore Corporation. This manufacturing conglomerate operates a network of factories that build and deliver homes in 34 states. You can shop for a basic bungalow or choose a larger home for a growing family.

Commodore's brands—including Manorwood Homes, Pennwest Homes, R-Anell Homes, MidCountry Homes, and Commodore of Pennsylvania—provide value-focused designs. The website's central search tool allows you to browse and select the floor plan that works for you.

Quality building materials and processes come standard, but you can upgrade your home by choosing optional finishes with the website's virtual design tool. Savvy shoppers can use this tool to see which options give them the best bang for their buck.

Best High-End : Method Homes


Method Homes

Method Homes

Key Specs
  • Available Regions: West and Pacific (shipping available in more locations)
  • Virtual Design Tool? No
  • Home Styles: Modern
Why We Chose It

Method Homes offers a portfolio of modern dwellings that can be expanded to suit your lifestyle needs, complete with sustainable elements.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Allows the option to expand floor plans

  • Environmental home-building certifications available

  • Created by master craftsmen and women

Cons
  • Expensive

  • Additional shipping costs outside of the Western states

Overview

Method Homes specializes in sustainable designs and meets the demands of customers looking for customization. This Washington-based home manufacturer services Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Colorado, Hawaii, and Utah. They can also ship to other locations in the United States and Canada for an increased trucking fee, however.

The company's stylish prefab designs start at $300 per square foot, not including costs for necessary engineering and permitting. Transportation and site setup costs (including truck transport, excavation, foundation, utilities, crane, and finishing) can cost extra. And, many of the floor plans are expandable by adding additional modules.

Method Homes also offers the opportunity to build a home that complies with environmental certification standards, including LEED, EnergyStar, or passive house parameters.

Best Energy-Efficient : Deer Valley


Deer Valley

Deer Valley

Key Specs
  • Available Regions: South, South Atlantic, and East North Central
  • Virtual Design Tool? No
  • Home Styles: Single section cottages, two-section ranch, narrow lot line designs, or three and four section customizable, larger homes.
Why We Chose It

Deer Valley builds energy-efficient homes and sources high-quality building materials.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Customizable plans

  • Energy-efficient building materials and processes

  • Offers a Nativ Living series designed for outdoor enthusiasts

Cons
  • Limited availability outside the Southeast and Central regions of the U.S.

Overview

Deer Valley Homes offers quality, energy-efficient modular homes in four collections that feature attractive elevations and opportunities to customize your design.

This company's homes are well-built and well-insulated, designed to enhance energy efficiency and minimize utility costs. You'll find features like standard 2-inch by 6-inch exterior wall construction, complete with R19 insulation, Low-E thermal pane windows, perimeter floor registers, and radiant heat barrier roof decking (standard in all Deer Valley homes).

The distinctive floor plans at Deer Valley attract homeowners looking for a contemporary, yet rustic, appeal, with features like cozy covered porches and modern kitchen islands with handcrafted cabinets.

Final Verdict

Champion Home Builders wins our pick for the best modular home manufacturer due to its offering of diverse floor plans and its partnership with a wide network of retailers. The company provides design plans for ranch, two-story, Cape Cod, and multifamily homes, as well as tiny homes. Its website is easy to use and contains features that allow you to sort homes by style and square footage, as well as view plans that are available in your area (given your state's codes and permits). Champion also boasts 60 years of experience, assuring a top-notch product made by experienced builders.

Compare the Best Modular Home Manufacturers

Company Available Regions Virtual Design Tool? Home Styles
Best Overall Champion Homes Nationwide No Ranch, two-story, Cape Cod, multifamily, and tiny homes
Best Custom Impresa Modular Nationwide Yes Traditional, log homes, cabins, chalets, coastal, contemporary, and tiny homes
Best Budget Commodore Homes Northeast, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic Yes Ranch, Cape Cod, two-story, and more
Best High-End Method Homes West and Pacific (shipping available in more locations) No Modern, contemporary
Best for Energy Efficiency Deer Valley South, South Atlantic, and East North Central No Single section cottages, two-section ranch, narrow lot line designs, or three and four section customizable, larger homes

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who Is the Largest Modular Home Builder?

    Clayton Homes is regarded as the largest modular home builder in the United States, but many other builders offer homes with more innovative designs and higher-quality building materials. For instance, Champion Homes are also available in major regions of the country, while Impresa Modular offers homes in all 50 U.S. states.

  • Who Makes the Most Affordable Modular Homes?

    Commodore Homes is our pick for affordability, yet other nationwide budget builders exist. It's best to research both large and small builders in your region to determine the best option for you, as some budget companies do not build homes suited to all climates (think, snow loads) and building specs.

  • Which Are Better, Manufactured or Modular Homes?

    While manufactured (mobile) and modular homes are both built to federal HUD standards (applicable in all 50 states), modular home manufacturers must build specifically to state and local codes. Both types of homes are considered "factory-built," and some manufacturers produce both modular and mobile homes. Also, manufactured homes sit on a permanent steel chassis, while modular houses are removed from the chassis used for transport, and then rest on a permanent foundation.

  • What Is the Life Expectancy of a Modular Home?

    Modular homes are built to the same codes, and involve the same processes, as stick-built homes. Therefore, the life expectancy of modular homes is the same as stick-built, which can be 100 years or more, depending on the building's design.

  • Are Modular Homes Worth the Money?

    Modular homes are a great investment for buyers that want stick-built quality at a more affordable price, or for those looking for a sustainable option. Modular homes are generally more affordable than stick-built homes, but more expensive than manufactured (mobile) homes. However, some modular designs can cost more than a stick-built starter home, depending on features and upgrades.

Methodology

We evaluated leading companies and based our decision for the best modular home manufacturers on factors like service area, floor plan availability, included features, and ability to customize. Some modular home manufacturers sell direct to homeowners, while others work through a network of retailers. We compared each company based on their locations and accessibility, upgrade options, overall build quality, affordability, and home styles, and gave preference to companies with energy-efficient designs and ones that source sustainable building products.

Photo comp of house

The Spruce / Design by Amelia Manley

Article Sources
  1. Benefits of Modern Factory-built Homes. Neighborhood Partnership Housing Services, Inc.

  2. Manufactured Housing and Standards—Frequently Asked Questions. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

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