Mobile Home vs Lodge: Understanding the Differences
By Matheus Agueda · 22 September 2026
Mobile home, lodge or chalet — what is the difference?
These three terms are used interchangeably in casual conversation, but they describe distinct product categories with meaningful differences in construction, specification and price. Understanding these differences is essential before purchasing — especially as lodges and chalets command a significant price premium over standard mobile homes.
Quick comparison table
| Criterion | Standard Mobile Home | Lodge | Chalet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | Timber frame on steel chassis | Enhanced timber frame on steel chassis | Timber frame / log cabin on chassis or bearers |
| Typical floor area | 25 - 45 m² (single) | 40 - 80 m² (single or twin) | 30 - 60 m² |
| Cladding | Vinyl / painted aluminium | Timber / composite / stone effect | Natural timber / log profile |
| Roof | Flat or low-pitch felt/membrane | Pitched tile-effect or slate-effect | Pitched with tiles or shingles |
| Windows | Double-glazed uPVC | Double or triple-glazed, often aluminium | Double-glazed timber or uPVC |
| Insulation | Standard or BS 3632 | BS 3632 residential (always) | Varies — log thickness dependent |
| Interior spec | Standard fitted | Premium (quartz, integrated appliances) | Mid to premium (timber-dominated) |
| Central heating | Gas or electric (optional upgrade) | Gas or electric (standard) | Wood burner / electric / gas |
| Price range (new) | 25,000 - 50,000 EUR | 55,000 - 120,000 EUR | 35,000 - 70,000 EUR |
| Price range (used, 5yr) | 14,000 - 30,000 EUR | 35,000 - 70,000 EUR | 20,000 - 45,000 EUR |
| Target market | Holiday / seasonal / entry residential | Premium residential / luxury holiday | Rural retreat / aesthetic-driven |
| Lifespan | 25 - 35 years | 30 - 50 years | 25 - 40 years |
| Appearance | Caravan-adjacent | Indistinguishable from a house | Rustic / alpine aesthetic |
Standard mobile homes
The standard mobile home is a factory-built dwelling on a steel chassis, clad in vinyl or painted aluminium, with a flat or low-pitch roof. Interior finishes are functional — laminate worktops, vinyl flooring, standard appliances. Models range from compact one-bedroom singles (25 m²) to spacious two-bedroom units (45 m²).
This is the workhorse of the sector. Proven designs, competitive pricing, established resale markets and wide availability of replacement parts. For holiday use, seasonal living, rental investment or budget-conscious buyers, the standard mobile home is the rational choice.
Used units from quality manufacturers at the 5 to 10 year mark offer extraordinary value — a well-maintained Willerby or ABI at 15,000 to 25,000 EUR delivers genuine comfort and years of remaining life.
Lodges
A lodge is a mobile home built to a higher specification, designed to look and feel like a permanent house. The key differences are in materials, insulation and finish quality.
Cladding: timber, composite panels or stone-effect materials replace vinyl. From the outside, a quality lodge is indistinguishable from a small house.
Insulation: always built to BS 3632 residential grade or equivalent, with enhanced floor and roof insulation. Suitable for year-round living in all European climates, including northern France, the Netherlands and highland Portugal.
Interior: premium finishes — quartz or solid-surface worktops, integrated kitchen appliances, underfloor heating, walk-in showers with resin or tiled trays, quality vinyl plank or engineered wood flooring.
Size: lodges are commonly available as twin-units — two sections manufactured separately and joined on site to create a single dwelling of 60 to 80 m². A three-bedroom twin-unit lodge at 75 m² provides living space equivalent to a conventional apartment. Some manufacturers offer triple-unit lodges exceeding 100 m².
The price reflects this specification. A new two-bedroom lodge from Atlas, ABI or Willerby typically starts at 55,000 EUR and reaches 120,000 EUR for premium three-bedroom twin-units. The used lodge market is growing as the first generation of modern lodges (2018 onwards) enters the resale channel — expect 35,000 to 70,000 EUR for a 5-year-old unit in good condition.
Chalets
The term "chalet" describes a timber-dominated dwelling with an alpine or rustic aesthetic — pitched roof with overhanging eaves, natural wood interior and exterior, and a visual identity distinct from both mobile homes and lodges.
In the mobile-home sector, chalets occupy a middle ground. They are typically built on chassis or timber bearers (transportable but not always as easily as chassis-based units), feature natural timber or log-profile cladding, and lean towards a warm, rustic interior style with wood-burning stoves and exposed beams.
Insulation quality varies more than with lodges. Traditional log-cabin chalets rely on the thermal mass of solid timber walls (typically 44 to 70 mm), which provides adequate insulation in moderate climates but falls short of BS 3632 standards in cold or damp conditions. Modern chalets often combine log-profile exterior cladding with insulated cavity walls — offering the aesthetic of a log cabin with the thermal performance of a mobile home.
Pricing sits between standard mobile homes and lodges: 35,000 to 70,000 EUR new, depending on size and specification.
Twin-units explained
A twin-unit (or "double unit") is manufactured as two separate sections in the factory and joined together on site. The join is sealed, insulated and finished to create a single open-plan dwelling with no visible seam.
Twin-units are available as mobile homes, lodges and (less commonly) chalets. They exist because transport regulations in most European countries limit the width of a single load to approximately 4.3 m — so a dwelling wider than this must be built in two halves.
The practical benefit is significant. A twin-unit at 12 m x 6.5 m provides 78 m² of living space — three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full living room and a separate kitchen. This is a genuine family home, not a compromise.
Transport costs for a twin-unit are roughly double those of a single (two loads, two sets of permits and escorts), but the per-square-metre cost of the dwelling itself is typically 10 to 15 percent lower than buying two singles — factory efficiency favours larger units.
Year-round suitability
For permanent or year-round living, the critical question is insulation specification.
BS 3632 (British Standard for Residential Park Homes) mandates minimum U-values for walls, floor, roof and windows that ensure comfortable habitation in temperatures down to -15°C. Any mobile home, lodge or chalet built to this standard is suitable for year-round living anywhere in western and southern Europe.
Standard mobile homes built to lower specifications (sometimes called "holiday grade") are designed for seasonal use — adequate for spring through autumn, but cold and expensive to heat in winter. They can be upgraded with additional insulation, but this is more cost-effective when specified at manufacture.
Lodges are almost universally built to residential grade. Standard mobile homes offer both options. Chalets vary — always verify the insulation specification before purchasing for year-round use.
Which should you choose?
Standard mobile home: best value, widest selection, ideal for holiday use, rental investment or budget permanent living. The sweet spot for most buyers. Browse the full range in the Green Village catalogue.
Lodge: premium specification for those who want a mobile home that looks, feels and performs like a house. Worth the premium for year-round residential use, especially in cooler climates or visible locations where appearance matters.
Chalet: for buyers who prioritise the rustic timber aesthetic. Verify insulation specs carefully if intended for year-round use.
At Green Village, we offer all three categories — over 1,500 units across mobile homes, lodges, chalets and more. Contact our team for personalised guidance on choosing the right type for your project.