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What Is a Ranch-Style House? Everything You Need to Know

What is a ranch-style house? example photo of a typical ranch-style house

Published April 11, 2022

  • Written by Sam Huisache

  • Edited by Galina Velgach

Written by Sam Huisache

Sam M. Huisache is a Content Writer at Clever Real Estate, the nation's leading real estate education platform for home buyers, sellers, and investors.

Edited by Galina Velgach

Galina Velgach is an editor for Real Estate Witch and its sister brands, focusing on traditional real estate brokerage reviews, home buyer assistance, and mortgage programs.

Common characteristics | Different types of ranch-style houses | Pros and cons | FAQs

Ranch-style houses, also known as ramblers, are a classic American style of home.

What makes it a ranch-style house?

  • Single -story
  • Open interior
  • Long, low-pitch lines
  • Large windows
  • Larger living spaces compared with backyard

Shopping for a ranch-style house is relatively easy β€” they’re common throughout the U.S. and the most popular style of home in 34 states.

Ranch-style houses may be more expensive than other styles because of the amount of land they require to build. They typically cost $200,000–600,000 to build, with the average 1,700 square-foot ranch home going for $340,000.

Common features of ranch-style houses

Despite there being various types of ranch-style houses, they have some key similarities:

  • Asymmetrical, rectangular layout
  • L-shaped or U-shaped design
  • Emphasis on indoor living spaces
  • Smaller backyards
Exterior featuresInterior features
Large windows throughoutSingle-story living space
Mixed exterior materials, including brick and wood sidingOpen concept floor plan
Deep overhanging roof edgesSeparated bedrooms, typically on opposite sides of house
Low-pitch rooflineFunctional basement as a living space
Sliding doors that extend to a back patioVaulted ceilings
Attached basement or garage
Cross-gabled*, side-gabled, or hip roof
*Gabled roofs are those whose two sides meet at a point to form a ridge or triangle.

Different styles of ranch houses

Suburban | California | Storybook | Raised | Split-level

Ranch-style homes soared in popularity post-WWII with the expansion of the American middle class and the allure of “wide open spaces” for growing families. In turn, the different types of ranch-style houses arose based on the regional cultures where they developed.

Ranch-style homes are still considered versatile and easy to build upon so that buyers can incorporate personal tastes into their homes.

Suburban ranch home

Suburban ranch-style house
Beautiful suburban ranch style home with flowers residential neighborhood blue sky clouds USA

Suburban ranch houses are considered the “typical” ranch style because of their simpler exteriors. They feature a wide, one-story layout as well as simple brick or panel sidings.

You’ll often see suburban ranches with attached garages. They are built on concrete slabs and feature open floor concepts.

πŸ‘ Good for: Buyers who enjoy the traditional ranch aesthetic and want a house they can age in

California ranch home

California ranch-style house

California-style ranches are designed for easy indoor–outdoor transitions and for natural light to travel throughout the home. They commonly have stucco siding and clay-tiled roofs.

Compared with suburban ranches, California-style ranches take influence from Spanish architecture, have flatter roofs, and have more detailed exteriors.

πŸ‘ Good for: Buyers in coastal areas (since the style suits the scenery) or those looking for a more distinctive exterior design

Storybook ranch home

Storybook ranch-style house

An offshoot of the California style, storybook ranches feature ornamental details β€” like embellishments on window frames, doors, and roofs. You’ll also often see diamond-shaped window panes or taller, narrower windows.

Many storybook ranches also feature decorative chimneys amid steep gabled roofs covered in thatched shingles. Like suburban ranches, they usually incorporate brick or stone in their exteriors.

πŸ‘ Good for: Buyers who like the cozy, rustic feel of cottage-style homes but want more space

Raised ranch

Raised ranch-style house

Raised ranches have two equally distributed floors, rather than the standard single floor. They’re much like your typical two-story house β€” but wider, with large windows, and with long low-pitch lines.

In raised ranches, staircases lead to two levels:

  • Main living areas on the upper-level
  • Lower story at ground level or partially below level

πŸ‘ Good for: Large families who want to maximize on space and buyers who want more privacy in bedrooms

Split-level ranch home

Split-level ranch-style house

Split-level ranches set themselves apart from other varieties by featuring staggered levels β€” each section of the house has a different number of stories.

Split-levels typically feature three levels of living or more:

  • Level 1: Living room and kitchen, sometimes bedrooms or garage
  • Level 2: Den, basement, sometimes a garage
  • Levels 3+: Bedrooms

πŸ‘ Good for: Large families and buyers in regions where basements are common and those looking for more privacy with bedrooms, shared spaces, and a garage

Pros and cons of ranch-style houses

While many buyers on the market love ranch-style houses, they aren’t for everyone.

Ranch-style benefitsRanch-style downsides
Simpler to design than two-story homesLarger property lot
Larger, more-open living spacesSmaller yards
Safer to navigate (no stairs)Privacy concerns (street-level windows)
Easier to evacuateMore expensive to build and add on to
Better forever homes (as you age, stairs can become hassles)Typically have to build additions up versus out

Ranch-style alternatives

If the cons of ranch-style houses outweigh the pros, some alternative design styles could better suit your needs:

  • Want something smaller? Try cottage style Β»
  • Prefer taller vs. wider homes? Try Victorian or Tudor houses Β»
  • Looking for something less traditional? Try modern or contemporary styles Β»

Cottage style

Cottages are “petite” houses with limited living space β€” but open floor plans with a more rustic exterior design. They emphasize their front yards and typically feature gardens.

Cottage houses typically cost $175,000–350,000.

Victorian or Tudor houses

They are both traditionally multistory houses with more ornamental and embellished exteriors. Tudor houses are the less dramatic of the two but still borrow heavily from traditional English architecture. 

Victorian and Tudor houses typically cost $250,000–600,000.

Modern or contemporary styles

Since many ranch-style houses were built decades ago, their exterior design can be pretty dated. Modern- and contemporary-style houses both feature geometric lines and often focus on sustainability and energy efficiency. However, they can stick out like a sore thumb in older neighborhoods.

Modern houses typically cost $260,000–700,000 to build. 

FAQs about ranch-style houses

What makes a house a ranch style?

Traditional ranch-style homes are single-story houses commonly built with an open-concept layout and a devoted patio space.

What are the different types of ranch houses?

There are five different types of ranch-style houses: California, suburban, split-level, storybook, and raised.

What is the difference between a rambler and a ranch-style house?

"Rambler" and "ranch style" are different names for the same style of house. Read more

What is the difference between a bungalow and a ranch-style house?

Ranch-style homes are more rectangular and better suited for families.

Bungalows have a more square layout, provide more privacy from the front yard, and are ideal for singles, couples without children, and retirees. They can be an affordable alternative to ranch-style houses.

Filed Under: Buyers

About the Author

Sam M. Huisache is a Content Writer at Clever Real Estate, the nation's leading real estate education platform for home buyers, sellers, and investors. Read more

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