How to Choose the Perfect Yurt Size for your Land, Budget & Dream

You've fallen in love with the idea of a yurt. You can picture it already: the beautiful round walls, the light streaming in from the central dome, the feeling of being connected to nature. It’s an exciting vision.

Now comes the single most important question you’ll face in bringing that vision to life: what size is right for you?

It's a decision that can feel a bit daunting. Go too small, and you might feel cramped. Go too big, and you might be paying for space you don't need. As someone who has helped hundreds of people through this exact process, I've developed a simple, three-step framework to help you choose with confidence.

Let's walk through it together.

Step 1: Start with Your 'Why' — Defining Your Use Case

Before we talk about square feet or budgets, let's talk about your dream. How do you see yourself using this space in two, five, or even ten years? The purpose of your yurt will guide every other decision, so it’s critical to have a clear vision from the start.

The Cozy Couple's Retreat or Personal Sanctuary

This is for the individual seeking a serene home office or art studio, or the couple dreaming of a romantic getaway. The focus is on creating an intimate, uncluttered, and highly functional open-plan space.

• Recommendation: A 20ft yurt (314 sq ft) is often the perfect fit. It’s spacious enough for a queen or king bed, a comfortable seating area for two, a compact bathroom, and a small kitchenette. It feels expansive for its size but remains incredibly cozy and efficient to heat and cool.
• The Upgrade: A 24ft yurt (452 sq ft) is a significant upgrade in this category. That extra 138 square feet makes a huge difference, allowing you to create a distinct living area that feels truly separate from the sleeping space. It moves from a "studio" feel to a "one-bedroom suite" feel.

The Family Cabin or Full-Time Residence

This is for a small family planning weekend escapes or a couple looking to embrace full-time yurt living. The primary need is for more storage and the ability to create separate, private spaces.

• Recommendation: A 24ft yurt (452 sq ft) is a great starting point for a couple living full-time or for a small family's vacation cabin. It allows for a proper partitioned bedroom, a comfortable living area, and a more substantial kitchen and bathroom.
• The Upgrade: A 32ft yurt (804 sq ft) is where true, multi-room living becomes possible without compromise. With this much space, you can comfortably build one or even two private bedrooms, a full-sized living room, and a generous kitchen and bathroom. For full-time family living, this size offers the space and flexibility to create a truly comfortable and functional home.

The High-Revenue Glamping Business Unit

This is for the entrepreneur whose primary focus is maximizing nightly rates, guest satisfaction, and Return on Investment (ROI). The decision here is less about personal preference and more about market expectations.

• The Industry Gold Standard: The 24ft yurt (452 sq ft) is the undisputed champion of the luxury glamping world. It's the perfect size for a premium couple's suite. It feels incredibly spacious and luxurious, easily accommodating a king-sized bed, a seating area with a sofa, a kitchenette, and a full en-suite bathroom. This is the size that justifies a high nightly rate and generates 5-star reviews.
• The "Super-Unit": The 32ft yurt (804 sq ft) is your "honeymoon suite" or "family villa." It's a premium, high-revenue asset that you can market at the absolute top of your price list. The ability to offer a separate bedroom or a massive, open-plan luxury space for a special occasion makes it an incredible investment for a resort looking to stand out.

Step 2: The Reality Check — Sizing for Your Land

Now that you have a vision, let's ground it in the practical reality of your property.

Think Beyond the Diameter

A 20ft yurt is 20ft across, but that's not the whole story. You need to plan for a "buffer zone." Think of it like a car: you don't just need space for the car itself; you need space to open the doors. We recommend at least 3-5 feet of clearance around the entire circumference of your yurt platform. This gives you room for a functional deck, pathways, and, crucially, space to walk around and perform any future maintenance. So, a 20ft yurt needs a site that can accommodate a 26-30ft diameter circle.

Check Your Local Rules

Before you get too far, it's always wise to have a conversation with your local council or municipality. Some jurisdictions have size restrictions or specific setback requirements for "accessory buildings" or ADUs. Understanding these regulations early on can save you a lot of headaches later.

Site Access is Key

This is a small but critical detail. Your yurt will arrive in large, heavy crates. Can a delivery truck get to your property? Do you have a clear path to your chosen platform location to move the materials? Thinking about this simple logistical step now will make your installation process much smoother.

Step 3: The Financial Filter — Sizing for Your Budget

Finally, let's align your dream with your budget. The most common mistake I see new buyers make is only budgeting for the price of the yurt kit itself.

The 'True Cost' Multiplier

The cost of your project doesn't scale linearly with the size of the yurt. A bigger yurt requires a bigger and more expensive platform, more flooring materials, more insulation to keep it comfortable, and a more powerful (and more expensive) heating and cooling system. The interior finishing—from plumbing fixtures to kitchen cabinets—also adds up.

A Simple Rule of Thumb

As a general guideline, the total "all-in" cost of a finished yurt project is often 2 to 3 times the price of the yurt kit itself. Budgeting for the platform, utilities, and interior finishes is just as important as budgeting for the yurt. Understanding this "True Cost Multiplier" from the beginning is the key to choosing a yurt size that you can comfortably afford to complete to a high standard.

The Out Factory Sizes Explained: A Visual Guide

Now that you've walked through the framework, let's look at how our three versatile sizes match up to your needs. We've engineered our yurts to hit the "sweet spot" for the most popular applications, ensuring there's a perfect fit for your dream.

The TOF20 (20ft / 314 sq ft) — The Intimate Escape

• Best For: Solo retreats, luxury couple's glamping, home offices, and creative studios.
• What it Feels Like: The quintessential yurt experience. It’s a spacious, open-plan studio apartment that feels cozy and intimate but never cramped, thanks to the high ceilings and round walls. It’s the perfect canvas for a minimalist and highly functional space.
• What Fits Inside: This size comfortably accommodates a queen or king bed, two armchairs for a reading nook, a compact kitchenette unit along one wall, and a well-appointed bathroom with a shower.
• Price Point: The TOF20 lands at major US ports for around $16,338, making it an incredibly accessible entry point into the world of high-quality, permanent yurts.

The TOF24 (24ft / 452 sq ft) — The Versatile All-Rounder

• Best For: The "gold standard" for a luxury glamping suite, a small family cabin, or a spacious full-time residence for a couple.
• What it Feels Like: A one-bedroom luxury apartment. The additional space is a game-changer, allowing you to create distinct "zones" for sleeping, living, and cooking. It feels less like a single room and more like a complete home, offering a perfect balance of spaciousness and efficiency.
• What Fits Inside: You can easily fit a king bed within a partitioned bedroom, a comfortable sofa and coffee table, a full L-shaped kitchenette, and a generous bathroom. There’s still plenty of room to move around without feeling cluttered.
• Price Point: As our most popular model, the TOF24 lands at major US ports for around $21,708, representing an exceptional value for its size and versatility.

The TOF32 (32ft / 804 sq ft) — The Spacious Villa

• Best For: Full-time family living, a high-end "honeymoon" or multi-room family glamping suite, or a stunning communal space like a yoga studio or event hall.
• What it Feels Like: A small two-bedroom home. The sheer volume of this yurt is breathtaking. The 804 square feet of open-plan space gives you the freedom to design a layout with multiple private rooms while still retaining a massive central living area. It offers a true sense of luxury and boundless possibility.
• What Fits Inside: You have the freedom to design almost anything. This could be one or two separate bedrooms, a full living room area with a large sofa, a dining table for six, a full kitchen, and one or two bathrooms.
• Price Point: For a structure of this scale, the TOF32 offers incredible value, landing at major US ports for around $28,490.

Stop Guessing, Start Designing: Visualize Your Yurt in 3D

Reading about sizes is one thing. Seeing it is another.

The best way to eliminate any lingering uncertainty and confirm your choice is to bring it to life. We created our powerful 3D Yurt Customizer for this exact reason. It’s an interactive tool that lets you step inside each of our yurt sizes, drag and drop furniture, add interior walls, and see exactly how your dream layout will feel.

It's the ultimate tool for moving from abstract numbers to a tangible vision, allowing you to choose your perfect size with complete confidence.

[Start Designing with the 3D Yurt Customizer]

Conclusion

Choosing the right yurt size is a journey, but it's one you're now well-equipped to navigate. You've considered your 'why,' measured your land, and understood the budget. You have all the logical pieces.

But a decision this important—an investment in your business or your home—often comes down to one final element: confidence.

This is where our team's experience becomes your greatest asset. We've helped hundreds of clients, from glamping entrepreneurs to families, navigate these exact questions. We know the practical difference a few extra feet can make for a guest experience, or how a specific layout can transform a yurt into a functional family home. We can offer insights that go beyond spec sheets.

The next step isn't to guess; it's to confirm. We invite you to connect with our team of yurt specialists for a free, no-obligation consultation. Let's talk through your vision, review your site plans, and help you choose the perfect size with absolute certainty. Our goal is to ensure your investment is a perfect fit for your dream, right from the start.

[Contact The Out Factory Team for Your Free Consultation]

FAQs

1. What's the most popular yurt size?

For the luxury glamping industry, the 24ft yurt is by far the most popular choice. For individuals, the 20ft yurt is an extremely popular starting point due to its balance of affordability and comfortable living space. Our team can help you decide which trend is right for your specific goals.

2. Can I partition a smaller yurt into rooms?

Yes, but it's a trade-off. You can certainly add a bathroom to a 20ft yurt, but adding more walls will start to make the main living area feel smaller. The 24ft and 32ft yurts are much better suited for creating multiple, private rooms. We can show you layout examples for each size during a consultation.

3. Is a bigger yurt much harder to heat?

A bigger yurt has more air volume, so it will require a more powerful heating or cooling unit. However, because our yurts come standard with a full insulation package, even our largest 32ft yurt is incredibly energy-efficient once it reaches your desired temperature.

4. What if I choose the wrong size? Can I upgrade?

A yurt is a permanent structure, so "upgrading" isn't as simple as with some products. This is why getting the decision right the first time is so crucial, and we provide two powerful ways to ensure you do. First, using a tool like our 3D Yurt Customizer is incredibly important as it allows you to virtually step inside each size and see how your layout will feel. But the ultimate way to guarantee your choice is with a free consultation. Our team brings experience from hundreds of projects to your specific vision, helping you think through future needs and ensuring the size you choose today will be perfect for you in five years.