Quick answer: A yurt kit is the complete above-ground structure — lattice wall sections, roof rafters and top ring, canvas roof and wall covers, plus a door frame and door. Kits from 20 feet and up also include a dome skylight; kits from 24 feet and up include a snow and wind kit. Secret Creek yurt kits start at $7,200 for the 12' (113 sq ft) and run to $21,620 for the 30' (706 sq ft). The platform, foundation, insulation, windows beyond the standard door, shipping, tax and installation are not in the base kit price.
If you are shopping for yurt kits, yurt home kits or yurt house kits, the hardest part is usually figuring out what is actually in the box versus what you still have to budget for. This guide walks through every kit component, lists starting prices and square footage for each size from 12 feet to 30 feet, and shows what buyers typically add after the kit arrives.
What is a yurt kit?
Definition: yurt kit. A yurt kit is a pre-cut, pre-engineered package of parts that assemble into a round, fabric-covered structure. Unlike a cabin kit that arrives as wall panels and roof trusses, a yurt kit uses an expandable wood lattice wall, straight rafters that lean into a central compression ring, and architectural fabric covers stretched over that frame.
Secret Creek has handcrafted yurt kits since 1976. Each kit is sized by diameter — 12', 16', 20', 24', 27' or 30' — and ships ready for assembly on a platform you provide. The kit is the shell. The deck or slab underneath, the interior finish and most site work stay on your side of the project.
Because the wall and roof brace each other, a finished yurt needs no interior posts. That open circle is why the same kit works for a backyard studio, a short-term rental or a full-time small home once you add insulation and a proper floor.
What comes in a Secret Creek yurt kit?
Every complete Secret Creek yurt kit includes the structural and weather shell pieces you need to stand the yurt up:
- Lattice wall sections — crisscrossed wood slats that expand into a round wall and carry the roof load
- Roof rafters and top ring — wood rafters that span from the wall to a handcrafted compression ring at the center
- Canvas roof and wall covers — architectural fabric that weatherproofs the roof and walls
- Door frame and door — a solid framed entry that locks into the lattice wall
Size-based extras are built into the kit, not sold as afterthoughts:
- Dome skylight — included on 20', 24', 27' and 30' kits
- Snow and wind kit — included on 24', 27' and 30' kits for higher roof and wall loads
| Included in every kit | Included by size | Not included (buyer supplies) |
|---|---|---|
| Lattice wall sections | Dome skylight on 20'+ | Platform, deck or slab |
| Roof rafters and top ring | Snow & wind kit on 24'+ | Insulation package |
| Canvas roof and wall covers | Extra windows, French doors, screen doors | |
| Door frame and door | Shipping, tax, installation labor |
For a deeper look at each material, see what yurts are made of. To configure colors, insulation, windows and accessories, open the yurt builder.
Yurt kit sizes and starting prices (12' to 30')
Square footage below comes from Secret Creek's yurt kits page. Starting prices are the base kit totals from the build-your-yurt configurator and do not include tax, shipping or installation.
| Diameter | Interior area | Starting kit price | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12' | 113 sq ft | $7,200 | Office, studio, compact guest space |
| 16' | 201 sq ft | $12,270 | Studio living, backyard retreat, small rental |
| 20' | 314 sq ft | $15,195 | Couples, vacation rental, year-round with options |
| 24' | 452 sq ft | $17,240 | Full-time living, premium glamping unit |
| 27' | 573 sq ft | $19,575 | Larger households, dual-zone layouts |
| 30' | 706 sq ft | $21,620 | Largest kit — roomy primary residence or lodge unit |
A 20' kit adds the dome. A 24' and larger kit adds both the dome and the snow and wind package, which is why those sizes are the usual starting point for four-season sites. Compare layouts in the yurt sizes guide.
What does a yurt kit not include?
This is the section most first-time buyers wish they had read earlier. A yurt kit is the structure above the floor. It is not a turnkey house package.
The platform is not in the kit. You (or your contractor) build a raised wood deck, a concrete slab or an insulated panel platform before the yurt goes up. Secret Creek publishes yurt deck plans and offers platform kits as options in the builder, but the base kit price never assumes a finished floor is waiting on site.
Other common items outside the base kit:
- Insulation (reflective or higher R-value packages)
- Additional windows, French doors, screen doors and roll-up wall sections
- Stove pipe boots, dome shades, bug nets and other accessories
- Interior walls, kitchen, bath and furnishings
- Utilities — electrical, plumbing, septic or composting systems
- Freight to your site, sales tax and professional assembly
Budget the floor and site work early. A beautiful kit on an underbuilt deck is still an unfinished project. For a full line-item view of finished costs, see how much a yurt costs. Ready-to-ship inventory, when available, is listed on in-stock yurts.
How do yurt home kits and yurt house kits differ from a basic kit?
Searchers often type "yurt home kits" or "yurt house kits" when they want a structure they can live in full time. The kit itself is the same engineered shell. What changes is the option package and the site work around it.
A weekend retreat kit might ship with the base covers, a standard door and minimal extras. A yurt home kit configuration usually adds insulation, a snow and wind package (standard on 24'+), glass or vinyl windows, a solid or French door and a carefully built insulated platform. The frame and covers are still a Secret Creek yurt kit — the living package is what turns it into a house-like build.
Because yurts are round and self-bracing, you do not need interior load-bearing walls. That leaves the floor plan open for a studio layout, partitioned sleeping nooks or a kitchen-bath core. Plan the platform diameter and door orientation first; the kit then drops onto that footprint.
Glamping operators follow a similar path: choose a durable diameter (often 20' or 24'), specify guest-friendly doors and windows, then finish interiors to the brand standard. The kit stays consistent; the experience package changes.
How long does it take to assemble a yurt kit?
With a finished platform, a small crew and a clear day, many owners raise the lattice, set the rafters and stretch the covers in a few days. Larger sizes and heavy snow packages take longer. Weather, experience and whether you hire experienced installers all affect the schedule.
The critical path is almost always the platform and permits, not the kit day. Build or pour the floor first, confirm anchoring details for your wind and snow zone, then schedule kit delivery so parts are not sitting covered on site for weeks. Read the instructions that ship with your load package before you schedule helpers.
Which yurt kit size should you choose?
Match diameter to how you will use the space, not only to budget:
- 12' (113 sq ft) — focused single-use rooms: office, yoga, guest overflow
- 16' (201 sq ft) — studio living or a compact rental unit
- 20' (314 sq ft) — couples, short-term rentals, first year-round builds with insulation
- 24' (452 sq ft) — the common full-time and premium glamping size, with snow and wind kit included
- 27' (573 sq ft) — more furniture zones without feeling crowded
- 30' (706 sq ft) — maximum kit footprint for primary residences and lodge-style units
If you are still deciding, start in the yurt builder, skim the yurt FAQs, or talk through site constraints with a Sales Guide. Measuring furniture and circulation on a taped circle in your yard is still one of the best reality checks before you order.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in a yurt kit?
A Secret Creek yurt kit includes lattice wall sections, roof rafters and top ring, canvas roof and wall covers, and a door frame with door. Kits 20' and larger include a dome skylight. Kits 24' and larger also include a snow and wind kit. The platform is not included.
How much do yurt kits cost?
Secret Creek base kit prices start at $7,200 for the 12' yurt and go up to $21,620 for the 30' yurt. Those figures exclude tax, shipping, installation, the platform and most options. Configured packages with insulation and upgraded openings cost more.
Do yurt kits include the floor or platform?
No. You provide a wood deck, concrete slab or insulated panel platform sized to the yurt diameter. Deck plans and optional platform kits are available separately.
What sizes of yurt kits are available?
Secret Creek builds 12', 16', 20', 24', 27' and 30' kits. Interior areas range from 113 sq ft to 706 sq ft.
Are yurt home kits the same as camping yurts?
The engineered kit is the same family of products. A home-oriented build usually adds insulation, a snow and wind package, better windows and doors, and a permanent insulated platform. Secret Creek does not sell portable pop-up yurts; these kits are intended for lasting installation on a prepared base.
Can I install a yurt kit myself?
Many owners assemble with friends or a local crew after the platform is ready. Others hire experienced installers. Either way, follow the instructions for your load package and local code requirements for anchoring and snow/wind design.
Next Steps
Ready to choose a yurt kit? Compare sizes on the yurt kits page, configure options in the yurt builder, review yurt cost ranges, or request a consultation with a Sales Guide at 970.240.2111. Secret Creek has handcrafted yurts, tipis and canvas tents since 1976.