Although Skyrim is known for its caverns and dungeons, every Dragonborn has to have a place where they can kick back and relax. Almost every hold in Skyrim has some sort of player home for you to purchase where you can craft, display your loot and take a nap after a long day of adventuring.

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This list will rank every major player house in Skyrim and help you decide on which house would be a good fit for you, not including mods. From Vampiric castles to swampy plots of land, here are some must-have player homes for any Skyrim adventurer.

Updated on April 16, 2023, by Gabrielle Huston: We've added extra details about all of the houses in this article, so that you can make an informed decision about your best forever home!

20 The Companion Quarters

skyrim_jorrvaskr_building_in_whiterun

Location

Jorrvaskr, Whiterun, Whiterun Hold

Price

None

All Upgrades Cost

N/A

Can Host A Spouse?

Only if spouse is a Companion

Can Host Children?

No

Faction Membership Needed?

Yes, Companions

How To Unlock

Join the Companions

You gain access to the Companion Quarters after joining the Companions faction. You can join the Companions for free, and the faction also has a unique questline, so it's worth joining them for both a home and a job.

The Companion Quarters is one of the easiest player homes to obtain after leaving Helgen since you can join the Companions quickly by traveling to Whiterun and entering Jorrvaskr. The Companion Quarters may not be a mansion, but it provides a warm bed for your character to rest.

19 The Apprentice's Quarters

Skyrim College of Winterhold courtyard at night

Location

Hall of Attainment, College of Winterhold, Winterhold Hold

Price

None

All Upgrades Cost

N/A

Can Host A Spouse?

Only if spouse is a member of the College of Winterhold

Can Host Children?

No

Faction Membership Needed?

Yes, College of Winterhold

How To Unlock

Join the College of Winterhold

Similar to the Companion Quarters, the Apprentice's Quarters is a small home that you gain access to by joining The College Of Winterhold faction. You can easily join this faction by traveling to Winterhold and showcasing your magical talents at the entrance.

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The Apprentice's Quarters is one of the easiest homes to earn in Skyrim since it doesn't cost any gold. Additionally, the Apprentice's Quarters are inside The College Of Winterhold, so you can use them while you complete the questline in this area.

18 The Abandoned Shack

skyrim_abandoned_shack_building_in_the_swamp

Location

North of Morthal, Hjaalmarch Hold

Price

None

All Upgrades Cost

N/A

Can Host A Spouse?

No

Can Host Children?

No

Faction Membership Needed?

No

How To Unlock

Interact with Astrid for the first time during the quest 'With Friends Like These' (you don't necessarily need to join the Dark Brotherhood)

You first encounter the Abandoned Shack when Astrid takes you to this location at the beginning of The Dark Brotherhood questline. Although the Abandoned Shack doesn't belong to you, you can use the bed, and you're the only character that can visit the shack after Astrid leaves. However, the storage containers inside the Abandoned Shack aren't safe to leave items in because they can respawn.

The Abandoned Shack is the perfect player home if you want a creepy house in the middle of a swamp that's easy to obtain. However, it's not the most interesting house in Skyrim.

17 Alvor And Sigrid's House

skyrim_alvor_and_sigrid's_house_inside_riverwood

Location

Riverwood, Whiterun Hold

Price

None

All Upgrades Cost

N/A

Can Host A Spouse?

No

Can Host Children?

No

Faction Membership Needed?

No

How To Unlock

Follow Hadvar, not Ralof, during the tutorial (the quest 'Unbound')

If you follow Hadvar inside Helgen during the Unbound quest, then you gain access to Alvor And Sigrid's House upon entering Riverwood. The characters will give you a key to their home and allow you to sleep in a bed inside the house.

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Alvor And Sigrid's House is one of the homes you can use quickly after leaving Helgen, so it's the perfect option if you need a bed to sleep in temporarily or even during the later stages of Skyrim. There's also a cooking pot inside this home that you can use to cook food.

16 Hod And Gerdur's House

skyrim_hod_and_gerdur's_house_in_front_of_mountain

Location

Riverwood, Whiterun Hold

Price

None

All Upgrades Cost

N/A

Can Host A Spouse?

No

Can Host Children?

No

Faction Membership Needed?

No

How To Unlock

Follow Ralof, not Hadvar, during the tutorial (the quest 'Unbound')

Hod And Gerdur's House is the same as Alvor And Sigrid's House, but you can only use it as a player home if you follow Rolaf during the Unbound quest. Hod And Gerdur's House has a bed to sleep in and a cooking pot for cooking recipes.

You can gain access to Hod And Gerdur's House once you travel to Riverwood, so it's easier to obtain than other player homes that require lots of gold to purchase.

15 Anise's Cabin

Anise's Cabin near a forest in skyrim
Anise's Cabin

Location

Southwest of Riverwood, Whiterun Hold

Price

None

All Upgrades Cost

N/A

Can Host A Spouse?

No

Can Host Children?

No

Faction Membership Needed?

No

How To Unlock

Kill Anise

Don't shed any tears for Anise. Imagine someone getting that angry just because you found an incriminating letter connecting them to witchcraft while snooping around in their root cellar. After you kill her in a clear-cut case of self-defense, you can use her home just west of Riverwood as your own player house, provided you're not yet a Thane.

This is an ideal home to start with, as no Dragonborn is a Thane at the beginning of the game, and it has ample resources, including a vegetable garden and both an alchemy lab and enchanting table. The lack of a door means that you'll have to deal with the occasional unwelcome guest, but overall, the neighborhood is fairly peaceful.

14 Vlindrel Hall

vlindrel_hall_with_furniture_in_skyrim

Location

Markarth, The Reach Hold

Price

8000

All Upgrades Cost

3,900-4,200

Can Host A Spouse?

Yes

Can Host Children?

Yes, but at the cost of the Alchemy Lab

Faction Membership Needed?

No

How To Unlock

Complete quests to earn the Jarl's trust, including 'Recover Hrolfdir's Shield,' then purchase from the Jarl's steward

Vlindrel Hall is a home in the city of Markarth, and you can purchase it once you are on friendly terms with the Jarl of the Reach. This house, like every other building in Markarth, is made from stone. One advantage of this house is that you can furnish it with both an alchemy table and an enchantment table.

You can buy Vlindrel Hall for 8,000 gold; however, it will cost 3,900-4,200 gold to upgrade the house with all of the available furnishings. If you like a rocky aesthetic, then you should consider purchasing this home.

13 Breezehome

skyrim_breezehome_inside_whiterun_city

Location

Whiterun, Whiterun Hold

Price

5000

All Upgrades Cost

1800

Can Host A Spouse?

Yes

Can Host Children?

Yes, but at the cost of the Alchemy Lab

Faction Membership Needed?

No

How To Unlock

Complete the quest 'Bleak Falls Barrow,' then purchase from the Jarl's steward

Breezehome earns its place because it is a complete breeze to obtain. You can obtain it early in the game by following the main quest and then purchasing it from Whiterun for only 5,000 gold. It will cost an additional 1,800 gold to upgrade fully with an alchemy lab and other renovations, or you can just use it as your cheese repository.

Breezehome is small, but it can still fit a family of four for the Dragonborn, and it makes up for its size by being right next to the shopping market in Whiterun. Breezehome is one home you don't want to pass on, if for no other reason than because you can acquire it so easily.

12 Drelas' Cottage

Drelas' Cottage in front of a mountain in Skyrim
Drelas' Cottage

Location

South of Morthal, Whiterun Hold

Price

None

All Upgrades Cost

N/A

Can Host A Spouse?

No

Can Host Children?

No

Faction Membership Needed?

No

How To Unlock

Kill Drelas

If you're looking for a relaxing getaway, then this home may be a perfect fit. Overlook the minor detail that someone else owns this house, and it's the ideal abode for you. This is the home of Drelas, a Dwemer Mage who specializes in Dark Magic, and you'll probably see him coming before you even notice the cabin.

He attacks you first, so it's not your fault. Once he's passed on, you are welcome to move into his house, which consists of a vegetable garden, a chicken coop, and a fully-stocked alchemy lab, along with the lovely view and remote location. This can become an actual player home, provided you aren't the Thane of any hold. Drelas' Cabin is a nice starter alternative if you're not content with or rich enough to purchase Breezehome but want something more upscale than Anise's Cabin.

11 Hjerim

outside_of_Hjerim_in_windhelm_skyrim

Location

Windhelm, Eastmarch Hold

Price

12000

All Upgrades Cost

9000

Can Host A Spouse?

Yes

Can Host Children?

Yes

Faction Membership Needed?

Yes, Imperials or Stormcloaks

How To Unlock

If You Joined The Imperials

Capture Windhelm for the Imperial Legion, then purchase from the steward of Windhelm

If You Joined The Stormcloaks

Complete the quest 'Rescue from Fort Neugrad,' then purchase from the steward of Windhelm

Hjerim is Windhelm's player home, and you can buy it from the city even before you solve the butcher murders, which take place here. This house used to belong to a murderous butcher, and for this reason, many people did not want to purchase it, so it lost its original value.

You can buy this large house for only 12,000 gold, but it will set you back 21,000 gold if you decide to furnish it fully. You may want to furnish this house to get rid of the murderous smell.

10 The White Phial

skyrim_interior_of_the_white_phial

Location

Market District, Windhelm, Eastmarch

Price

None

All Upgrades Cost

N/A

Can Host A Spouse?

Only if spouse is Quintus Navale

Can Host Children?

No

Faction Membership Needed?

No

How To Unlock

Complete the quest 'The White Phial,' then marry Quintus Navale

Perhaps you're thinking about life after adventuring. Not content to simply relax and count your gold or admire your treasures, how about getting into a stable business and acquiring a steady income. The White Phial is an alchemy shop in Windhelm, and its central location and steady clientele have already ensured years of success.

If you complete the quest of the same name, the old owner dies, and his assistant Quintus Navale becomes the master of the shop. He also becomes an eligible bachelor, and if you marry him, the White Phial is also yours. Equip the Amulet of Mara to get your hands on Windhelm's most popular alchemist's shop.

9 Severin Manor

Severin_Manor_entrance_in_raven_rock_skyrim

Location

Raven Rock, Solstheim

Price

None

All Upgrades Cost

N/A

Can Host A Spouse?

Only if spouse is one of the following:

  • Hilund
  • Morwen
  • Halbarn Iron-Fur

Can Host Children?

No

Faction Membership Needed?

No

How To Unlock

Complete the quest 'Served Cold'

Severin Manor is in the town of Raven Rock in the Dragonborn DLC. You can acquire this house for free after finishing the quest, "Served Cold." One major advantage of this house is that it has a lot of furniture inside. There are many places for you to display your weapons and armor; however, you will end up rarely seeing them because this house is on Solstheim.

Severin Manor looks very similar to every other house in Raven Rock, and other than its impressive collection of furniture, there isn't anything particularly unique about it, but at least you can obtain it without spending any gold. Every Solstheim adventurer deserves a place to hang their chest plate, and Severin Manor is a fantastic choice.

8 Honeyside

character_standing_on_honeyside_porch_skyrim

Location

Riften, The Rift Hold

Price

8000

All Upgrades Cost

3550-4300

Can Host A Spouse?

Yes

Can Host Children?

Yes, at the cost of the Enchanting Lab

Faction Membership Needed?

No

How To Unlock

Complete the quest 'Skooma Trade,' complete five quests for people in the Rift, then purchase from the Jarl's steward

Honeyside is a wooden house in the northwestern part of Riften. Its aesthetic is old-timey and cute, which will make any collector of antique houses fall in love with it immediately.

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You can buy Honeyside from the city of Riften for 8,000 gold, and after fully furnishing it, you will have spent 12,300 gold for the house in total. This home is one of the best in Skyrim for a Dragonborn who wants a house that is easy on the eyes. Plus, you won't need to commute to the Thieves Guild if you buy this home.

7 Castle Volkihar

castle_volkihar_in_the_ocean_skyrim

Location

Castle Volkihar, Haafingar Hold

Price

None

All Upgrades Cost

N/A

Can Host A Spouse?

No

Can Host Children?

No

Faction Membership Needed?

Yes, Volkihar Clan or Dawnguard

How To Unlock

If You Joined The Volkihar Clan

Join the Volkihar Vampires

If You Joined The Dawnguard

Complete the Dawnguard questline

Castle Volkihar functions as a player home once you complete the Dawnguard questline with the vampire faction. Once you kill Harkon, you gain ownership of the castle, and you can use it as a player home. Alternatively, you can use it when you choose to join the vampire clan.

Castle Volkihar has all the amenities a vampire lord would want in a player home. A vampiric feeding room, bed chambers, and even some storage space. The only downside of this home is that your in-game family can't move here. Castle Volkihar is one of the best player homes in Skyrim because of its sheer size and unique-looking design. Additionally, everyone wants their own castle.

6 Windstad Manor

Windstad_Manor_on_a_snowy_landscape_skyrim

Location

East by southeast of Solitude, Hjaalmarch Hold

Price

5,000

All Upgrades Cost

Variable cost of materials and gold

Can Host A Spouse?

Yes

Can Host Children?

Yes

Faction Membership Needed?

No

How To Unlock

Complete the quest 'Laid to Rest' then purchase from the steward of the Jarl in Morthal

Windstad Manor is a plot of land that you can purchase in Hjaalmarch once you have become friendly with the Jarl of the hold. It is one of the three purchasable plots in the Hearthfire DLC. Windstad Manor has an exclusive fish hatchery, and like all of the other Hearthfire homes, you can upgrade it with customizable rooms to create your dream house.

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Windstad Manor is a home that every Argonian will want to own because it's directly next to a swamp where you can swim. For only 5,000 gold, this plot of land is a must-buy.

5 Dawnstar Sanctuary

Dawnstar_Sanctuary_Hall_interior_with_furniture_skyrim
Dawnstar_Sanctuary_Hall

Location

Northeast of Dawnstar, The Pale Hold

Price

3,000 (Master Bedroom Upgrade)

All Upgrades Cost

19000

Can Host A Spouse?

No

Can Host Children?

No

Faction Membership Needed?

Yes, Dark Brotherhood

How To Unlock

Complete the quest 'Hail Sithis!'

Perhaps the goal is wealth and secrecy, but at the same time, you don't want to be alone. There are many unique amenities inside the Dawnstar Sanctuary, and you'll appreciate the subtle touches that make the interior appear even eviler.

Once you complete the Dark Brotherhood questline, which includes re-discovering and renovating the old Dawnstar Sanctuary, you can use it as your permanent home. It costs almost 20,000 gold to upgrade the location fully.

4 Heljarchen Hall

Heljarchen_Hall_with_a_garden_skyrim

Location

South of Dawnstar, The Pale Hold

Price

5,000

All Upgrades Cost

Variable cost of materials and gold

Can Host A Spouse?

Yes

Can Host Children?

Yes

Faction Membership Needed?

No

How To Unlock

Complete the quests 'Waking Nightmare' and 'Kill the Giant' then purchase it from Skald the Elder in Dawnstar

(Alternate) If You Joined The Imperials

Complete the Civil War questline, then talk to Brina Merilis

Heljarchin Hall is a piece of land that you can build into a house in the Hearthfire DLC. You can find this plot of land in the Pale, and it has a sprawling grassy plains region overlooking the front yard and a freezing, snowy tundra directly behind it. Heljarchen Hall gives you a beautiful view of the landscape to look at when you return home after a long day of adventuring.

You can upgrade Heljarchen Hall with many different rooms, and you can customize them to your personal desires. Your in-game family can move to this house once you build it.

3 Proudspire Manor

A grand stone house stands near a palace with gray stone and windows decorated with some moss in the local style.

Location

Solitude, Haafingar Hold

Price

25000

All Upgrades Cost

11000

Can Host A Spouse?

Yes

Can Host Children?

Yes

Faction Membership Needed?

No

How To Unlock

Complete 'The Man Who Cried Wolf' and 'Elisif's Tribute,' then purchase from Falk Firebeared

Proudspire Manor is a sight to behold, and you can locate it in the city of Solitude. It's the most expensive player home in the entire game at the cost of 25,000 gold, and it requires an extra 11,000 gold to purchase all of the furniture.

You can buy Proudspire Manor after completing quests in Solitude and becoming friendly with the Queen. Proudspire Manor is a home fit for the wealthiest adventurers in Skyrim. Because of its beautiful design and large size, Proudspire Manor definitely deserves a notable spot.

2 Lakeview Manor

lakeview_manor_outside_porch_skyrim

Location

Northeast of Falkreath, Falkreath Hold

Price

5,000

All Upgrades Cost

Variable cost of materials and gold

Can Host A Spouse?

Yes

Can Host Children?

Yes

Faction Membership Needed?

No

How To Unlock

Either reach level 9 or become Thane of Falkreath to receive the Letter from the Jarl of Falkreath, then visit the Jarl, then complete the quests 'Rare Gifts' and 'Kill the Bandit Leader' to unlock the ability to purchase it from the Jarl's steward

Lakeview Manor is the most serene house in Skyrim. Deep within the forests of Falkreath, this plot of land is known for being a hunter's paradise. You can build an exclusive Bee Farm on this property, and you can customize the home to your heart's desire. As with all of the other homes in the Hearthfire DLC. You can purchase Lakeview Manor for 5,000 gold once you're friendly with the Jarl of Falkreach.

The location of Lakeview Manor is enough to earn a high spot because it's so peaceful. Any adventurer that wants to move to the wilderness will adore this piece of land.

1 Arch-Mage's Quarters

Arch-Mage's Quarters with garden and bedroom in Skyrim
Arch-Mage's Quarters

Location

Hall of the Elements, College of Winterhold, Winterhold Hold

Price

None

All Upgrades Cost

N/A

Can Host A Spouse?

No

Can Host Children?

No

Faction Membership Needed?

Yes, College of Winterhold

How To Unlock

Complete the quest 'The Eye of Magnus'

Granted, it's not the most ideal location, but the interior is hard to resist, and we're not just talking about the breathtaking view or the easy connections to the College of Winterhold.

Once you receive the title of Arch-mage after completing the College of Winterhold questline, this medieval luxury condo will become your home, and you can enjoy the indoor arboretum, various storage spaces, several weapons, armor, magical books, and other valuable items fitting for the resident Arch-Mage. One drawback is that your spouse can't reside here, but everyone needs privacy sometimes.

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