Unlock the full potential of your backyard and increase the value of your property by adding a Modern ADU.
Imagine your backyard working for you, generating income. Integrating an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) onto your property has numerous benefits. You can generate rental income, expand your living space, provide a welcoming guest house, foster family togetherness, or downsize into a cozier lifestyle as you age. All while increasing the value of your property. Kick-start your project today and maximize the return on investment with a pre-designed ADU Plan.
Here are three ways to start your ADU project today:
How To Get Started on Your ADU Investment
Families can an enjoy a beautiful backyard while maximizing the return on investment in your property with a modern ADU.
Find your perfect ADU or backyard cottage floor plan, and know that great design doesn’t mean hefty price tags. Accessory dwelling units are a significant investment but pay you back twice: with rental income and higher property values. We’ve crafted ADU blueprints to cater to those with the ADU dream but without the luxury of expensive budgets.
Pre-designed ADU plans means harnessing design excellence without the hefty costs of custom projects. Affordable ADU design for backyard cottages, guest houses, or rental units is our mission.
To ensure your project’s success we’re here to help. Whether you're seeking free ADU resources to start a backyard ADU project, or if you’re ready to explore our ADU plans for sale to save time and money, we've got you covered.
There's a path for every modern ADU dreamer, and at ModernADUPlans.com, we’re dedicated to helping you discover the ideal plan to realize your vision.
Discover the Ideal ADU Design for Your Property.
Modern ADU Plans cater to diverse needs, properties, and styles. Whether you're eyeing a 1-bedroom ADU, 2-story ADU plans, envisioning an ADU rental unit, planning to build an ADU over a garage, leaning towards an ADU design crafted for graceful aging-in-place, or looking for a barrier free ADU, the designs available for purchase today combine beauty with functionality without compromising affordability. Find your perfect ADU plans in the slideshow below, showcasing a spectrum of our best-selling ADU designs:
ADU Testimonials:
Don’t take our word for it. Read some of the things our past clients have said about working with us on their ADU project.
"We really love the design. It feels huge because of the ceiling height, and even our floor guy called it his dream home! This plan is a winner.”
- Scott S.
I can't share how much I am grateful for this team and the help they provided me with my project. From day one they have done everything possible to work with me to make sure that everything went as smoothly as possible. You guys have been awesome, thank you for everything.
- Benjamin E.They’ve been great to work with as artists, as technicians, as resources, as problem solvers, and as people who genuinely cared about finding the right outcome for me.
- Monica V.We hired [Modern ADU Plans] to help us design an ADU in our backyard and couldn't be happier. Very professional team who cares about doing a good job and creating great projects. Would and have recommended to anyone looking for an ADU.
- Kiel J.We are so glad that we worked with [Lucas] through the design and construction process of our new home. They were ever-helpful as we worked together through final land-use and permitting processes, and worked well with iBuildPdx to ensure the design meshed with practical construction considerations. Despite a daunting list of design constraints due to the rural, forestland property codes, [Lucas] created an incredible place to live that is just as comfortably "at home" in its environment as our family is in the house.
- Mark T.It was a true pleasure working with [them] on a detached ADU project. I wanted to be as involved in the process as possible, so their team built a custom package of services that filled in the gaps and helped me get a building permit affordably. I highly recommend working with [them] on any type of design project.
- Mason W.If you are considering using a firm to formulate a design while incorporating your ideas, they are a great investment. Not only are they full of fresh ideas but really take the time to listen to yours. All the employees are professional while still being authentically friendly. A joy to work with. I explained my taste for sleek, modern and minimalist and that is exactly what I got, a truly beautiful dwelling and yet somehow within my budget.
- Joanne R.
Take the First Step Towards Your ADU Dream.
Embarking on an ADU project can feel overwhelming. We’re here to help.
With so many choices ahead, navigating complex ADU rules and regulations, coupled with the financial commitment, it's natural to seek a guiding hand. That’s why we offer Free ADU Resources crafted to steer your ADU journey in the right direction, ensuring a smoother path to success. These resources were created from the lessons learned from designing almost 100 ADU projects for families across the country. These are a great way to learn more about ADUs before you take the plunge and begin your project.
make your ADU project a resounding success.
Find the perfect ADU design to fit your property, your goals, and your future. Shop our ready-to-build plans now.
Master your ADU project from start to finish with the comprehensive ADU Starter Pack.
The Modern ADU Starter Pack is the ultimate toolkit for homeowners who want to move beyond dreaming and start building. This bundle combines our Modern ADU Plans E-book—featuring 20 expertly curated, dimensioned floor plans and visual renderings—with our essential financing and budgeting guides. Whether you’re planning a cozy backyard cottage, a high-yield Airbnb rental, or a private suite for family, you’ll have the designs you love and the financial clarity you need.
Beyond design, the Starter Pack includes our Pro-grade Budget Worksheet and Investment Proforma, along with a complete guide to ADU Loans and HELOCs. This allows you to visualize your ideal space, get accurate cost estimates from contractors, and calculate your exact ROI before you break ground. It’s everything you need to stay in control of your budget and your timeline.
We’ve bundled over $90 of professional resources for one low price, making this the smartest, risk-free first step for your ADU project.
Everything you need to start your ADU.
The ADU Starter Pack brings together our four most popular resources, saving you time, money, and stress. Get the complete toolkit today.
The Vision: Modern ADU Plans E-Book
The Funding: How to Finance Your ADU E-Book
The Cost: ADU Budget Worksheet
The ROI: ADU Investment Proforma
Pick the perfect accessory dwelling unit design for your property with our comprehensive ADU Plans e-book.
The Modern ADU Plans e-book features 20 floor plans and project photos, providing a wide range of ADU options. Whether you're looking for a cozy backyard ADU, a stylish rental unit for Airbnb, or a private living space for your elderly family, we've got you covered. Our Modern ADU Design E-book is the ultimate guide to help you visualize and find the ideal ADU design. Inside, you’ll find 20 schematic ADU floor plans for studio ADUs, 1-bedroom ADUs, 2 Bedroom ADUs, ADUs with lofts, ADUs over garages, and ADUs with a home office. Plus, the ebook includes images of what the design could look like. Pick the design that fits perfectly in your backyard, bring the plans to a contractor for a cost estimate, and when you are ready, purchase the full plan set for your favorite ADU.
Access 20 ready-to-go ADU floor plans.
Reimagine your backyard with 20 ADU floor plans, each fully dimensioned and paired with stunning design examples. This comprehensive E-Book makes it easy to explore options, find the perfect fit for your property, and confidently bring your ADU vision to life.
Your ADU dream, funded.
The biggest hurdle to building an accessory dwelling unit isn't the design; it's securing the ADU financing. If you're wondering how to finance an ADU, you're not alone. The process can feel like a maze of confusing options, from understanding a HELOC to applying for specialized ADU loans or a full ADU construction loan. We created this guide to be the definitive resource, providing a clear financial map for homeowners trying to navigate this complex world.
This isn't just theory—it's your complete, step-by-step action plan. Our guide transforms you from a hopeful homeowner into a prepared, low-risk borrower who gets the "yes". Inside, you'll get more than just explanations; you'll get our proprietary ROI calculator, a printable action checklist, and the professional "pitch package" to confidently present to lenders. Stop letting financial uncertainty hold you back and get the expert blueprint that turns your ADU dream into a funded reality.
The Financial Map to your ADU.
Stop guessing how to pay for your ADU and get the complete financial blueprint that lenders want to see. Learn how to prepare your finances, pitch lenders with confidence, and secure the funding you need to start building your wealth-building asset. The ebook is your guide to Loans, HELOCs & Creative Financing to help you turn your ADU dream into reality.
What Does ADU Stand For?
ADU is an acronym for Accessory Dwelling Unit.
In practice, an ADU is a self-contained living unit located on the same property as another primary building, like a single-family home or duplex. It can be located entirely within the primary residence, such as a basement apartment or an attic conversion; it can be attached like an addition, or it can be detached, like a standalone cottage or converted garage. They also have a lot of different names depending on where you live. If you hear laneway suite, garden suite, casita, granny flat, guest house, or even backyard dwelling, they are talking about an ADU. Although small in size, ADUs are full homes with foundations, kitchens, bathrooms, living, and sleeping space.
ADUs are becoming increasingly popular as a way to provide additional housing options, accommodate multi-generational living, and generate rental income while utilizing existing yard space more efficiently. ADUs are great investments and can increase the value of your property while also generating rental income.
Making the most of Modern ADU Plans
ADUs are amazing projects, and every backyard should have one. Your family will love what an ADU can enable - from additional living space or income to take that dream vacation or pay for your kid’s college tuition. This is why we have tailored our designs to work in backyards across the US and Canada. However, small house plans like these have many other potential uses.
Perhaps you are dreaming about an amazing cabin in the woods, a small vacation house on the coast, or a weekend getaway up in the mountains. These ADU designs would be perfect for all of the above. ADUs can be used as a guest house or a pool house on larger properties. Perhaps you need a home office or art studio as part of a larger estate. ADU plans could be used for that, too. Or maybe you are a developer and looking to make a cottage cluster or community of small homes - our ADU designs are a perfect solution.
Our customers have used our designs to create popular Airbnb rentals, while others have built them for aging-in-place as they get older. One family even adapted one of our ADU designs to become a small home as their primary residence on a vacant lot they purchased.
Whether your goal is multi-generational living, downsizing to a smaller home and lifestyle, building a fully accessible home, starting a rental business, creating your dream getaway cabin, or growing your real estate investment portfolio, our affordable ADU plans are a versatile way to get started.
The opportunities are truly endless.
Time to move from planning to execution.
Shop for the perfect Modern ADU Plan.
The Modern ADU plans shop offers a wide variety of styles and designs, including modern studio apartments, two-bedroom rental units, cozy backyard cottages or casitas, and even apartments over a garage. Whether you're looking to add living space for family members or create a rental income opportunity, our pre-designed ADU plans offer a smart and affordable solution.
Each of our beautiful ADU plans is carefully crafted by an experienced ADU designer and optimized for efficiency, functionality, and comfort. We use the latest design strategies, construction details, and materials to ensure that your ADU is sustainable, energy-efficient, and built to last.
These pre-designed ADU plans are also fully customizable, allowing you to make modifications that suit your specific needs and preferences. Whether you want to change the layout, adjust the size, or add custom features, our team of professionals can work with you to create the perfect ADU design. Or you can take the plans to your own local architect or designer to make desired revisions.
Our user-friendly ADU shop provides detailed information about each plan for sale, including square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and prominent features to help you make the right choice for your needs and ADU goals.
By purchasing one of our pre-designed ADU plans, you can see what your ADU will look like before you begin, and you can save time and money on the design process and get started on your ADU construction project much faster. With our comprehensive plans and expert guidance, you can know that your ADU was designed by experts with the goal of exceeding your expectations.
Why wait? Browse our collection of pre-designed ADU plans today and start adding value to your property and generating passive income.
