The garden studio market with wooden frame construction has quickly structured itself in France, with a handful of manufacturers occupying most of the online visibility. Greenkub, Boximby, Natibox, Studio Français, Carré2Jardin: these names come up in all searches, but the real differences between these offerings remain difficult to pinpoint for an individual.
Rather than creating a fact sheet for each manufacturer, this article examines the concrete friction points that separate these solutions, the pricing gray areas, and the regulatory changes that will shift the landscape in 2024.
Contractual Guarantees and Legal Framework of the Garden Studio
The first criterion that should guide a comparison is not the price per square meter, but the type of contract offered. Greenkub sells its modules under a individual house construction contract (CCMI), which includes a ten-year guarantee, a guarantee of delivery at agreed prices and deadlines, as well as construction damage insurance. This legal framework, governed by the 1990 law, offers strong protection in case of non-compliance or bankruptcy of the builder.
In contrast, several competitors offer kit studios or “ready to finish” that fall under a simple sale contract for movable property. In this case, the ten-year guarantee does not automatically apply, and the buyer must verify the insurance coverage of each party involved. Field feedback varies on this point: some customers of non-CCMI manufacturers report difficulties in asserting guarantees after delivery.
Gathering reviews on Greenkub and its competitors allows for a confrontation of contractual promises with the real experiences of buyers, particularly regarding compliance with deadlines and the quality of delivered finishes.
Actual Prices and Price Discrepancies Between Greenkub and Its Competitors
The published price grids online provide a first indication, but they often mask differences in scope. A “ready to live” studio from one manufacturer may include a bathroom and kitchen, while a competitor lists a lower price for a module without connections to utilities. Comparing prices without aligning the services is akin to comparing areas without checking the measurements.
According to data published by Boximby for 2025, the price gap with Greenkub ranges from 23% to 30% in favor of Boximby for areas of 20 to 50 m², under comparable terms (“ready to live”). For example, Greenkub lists 56,520 euros for a 20 m² studio in rental version, compared to 43,750 euros at Boximby. For 50 m², the gap rises to over 31,000 euros.
These figures call for caution. Boximby’s prices are those of the manufacturer itself, in a comparison page presented as a commercial tool. It would be necessary to verify whether the included services (connections, foundations, transport, administrative procedures) are strictly identical. The actual cost of a garden studio also depends on the land, accessibility, and local PLU.
What the Price Doesn’t Tell You
A gap of several thousand euros can be justified by the nature of the contract (CCMI or not), the thickness of the insulation, the type of cladding, or the handling of urban planning procedures. Some builders charge separately for the submission of the prior declaration, the creation of plans, or the connection of water and electricity. The catalog price is not enough to differentiate two offers without a detailed quote item by item.
Prior Declaration and Administrative Simplification in 2026
The regulatory framework applicable to garden studios has recently evolved. Since January 1, 2026, the submission of prior declarations for a construction of 5 to 20 m² can be done online via the CERFA 16702 form, with a processing time of one month. In the absence of a response from the town hall, the agreement is tacit.
The decree n° 2026-674 of July 27, 2026 further simplifies several aspects of urban planning law: lower requirements for development permits for certain land divisions, priority dematerialized publication of urban planning documents, and better-regulated processing times. For a garden studio project, this concretely reduces the time between the purchase decision and the start of installation.
These developments benefit all manufacturers, but they particularly advantage builders capable of delivering quickly. Boximby claims a delivery time of seven weeks between order and delivery, compared to twenty-four weeks for Greenkub. If these figures are confirmed, the delivery time becomes as crucial a criterion as the price.
Garden Studio as a Rental Investment: A Tense Market
The rental demand for small autonomous spaces installed in gardens is significantly increasing, particularly in medium-sized cities where the traditional rental market is under pressure. Several urban areas like Le Mans, Angers, Saint-Brieuc, or Mulhouse are seeing a growing demand for this type of temporary housing.
This trend changes the nature of the project. A studio intended for furnished rental must meet decency criteria (minimum area, ceiling height, ventilation, connections to utilities), and the regulatory distinction between an annex garden studio and an independent dwelling has fiscal and urban planning consequences. The available data does not allow for a conclusion that all manufacturers support their clients on these legal aspects.
- Check if the studio is eligible for rental as an autonomous dwelling according to the local PLU
- Ensure that the water, electricity, and sanitation connections are included in the quote or priced separately
- Verify compliance with housing decency criteria (area, height, ventilation, heating)
- Anticipate applicable taxation: micro-BIC, real regime, additional housing tax depending on the case
Greenkub highlights an offer specifically designed for rental, with configurations including a bathroom and kitchen. Other manufacturers offer equivalent modules, but the level of administrative and tax support varies. A studio delivered without connections or urban planning procedures is not a turnkey rental investment.
The choice between Greenkub and its competitors is not limited to a price line on a website. The contract, guarantees, actual deadlines, handling of administrative procedures, and compliance with the local PLU weigh as much, if not more, than the displayed price. No online comparison can replace a detailed quote item by item, confronted with the urban planning rules of one’s municipality.