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A school bus is one of the most rewarding vehicles to turn into a home. It has a strong steel body, plenty of windows, and room for a real kitchen and bedroom. These seven bus conversions show how differently people approach it: a party bus with a bar, a $10,000 artist’s rig, a summer-break skoolie for two teachers, a coach bus for a family of five, and more.
1. The Bodega Bus
Deb and John had already built a tiny house on wheels before they took on this school bus. The Bodega Bus is their DIY motorhome, a personal, handmade take on bus living.
- A DIY school bus conversion by a couple who had built a tiny house before
- Proof that tiny house building skills carry over to a bus
2. A Party Bus with a Live-Edge Bar
Justin grew up road-tripping with his family and wanted to keep that tradition alive with friends. He built his school bus for group trips rather than full-time living, so he chose a bar over a bathroom. It sleeps three inside, and there’s room to pitch a tent on the rooftop deck.
- Custom bar with a live-edge slab top
- Sleeps three inside, plus a rooftop deck
- About $12,000 spent, including the bus
3. An Artist’s $10,000 Short Bus
After five months hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, Sam traded his backpack for a bus. The traveling artist builds wire trees and other art from reclaimed materials, and his bus follows the same idea, built for about $10,000 with plenty of salvaged wood.
- Murphy bed that folds up to free the floor
- Slide-out hidden pantry and custom closet doors
- Wood-burning stove
4. A Summer-Break Skoolie for Two Teachers
Hollie and Kelly wanted to travel during summer break, but most RVs were either out of budget or lacking in character. Their DIY diesel bus conversion has a farmhouse feel and a surprisingly big kitchen.
- Large kitchen with an oven
- Wood stove for chilly nights
- 7-foot couch that pulls out into a bed for visits
- Shower, Nature’s Head composting toilet, and a fixed rear bedroom
5. A Coach Bus Home for a Family of Five
Jenn was working 60 to 70 hours a week, and Kyle was shuttling their three kids between activities. A year after deciding to leave the rat race, the family moved into a converted coach bus.
- Bunks for the kids and a king bed for family movie nights
- A dedicated gaming space
- Big under-floor bays for tools, water, and gear
6. A Minimalist Shuttle Bus for a Young Couple
Rising rent finally convinced Ethan to go along with Abi’s dream of living tiny. They found a shuttle bus two weeks later and parked it near campus while they finished school, with no commute and no rent.
- Plywood counters finished in a thin layer of sealed concrete
- Matching slatted-wood cabinetry throughout
- A full bathroom in a small shuttle bus
7. Jonathan Perera’s 36-Foot Blue Bird
Jonathan Perera treated his $7,000 Blue Bird “like my first home.” Working with Skoolie.com in North Carolina, he had the roof raised 20 inches and the walls rebuilt, then filled the bus with design cues from his travels. He has since driven it about 25,000 miles with his husky, Skye.
- Roof raised a full 20 inches
- Moroccan-inspired backsplash, arches, and exposed beams
- A four-season home on the road
What These Bus Conversions Have in Common
Every one of these builds is designed around how its owners actually live. Justin skipped the bathroom for a bar because he travels with friends. The teachers built for summer trips, and the family of five chose a coach bus for its storage bays. Before you start a conversion, it helps to decide who will be on board, how often you’ll be moving, and which comforts you can’t do without.
What These Builds Cost
The owners reported these costs when we first featured their buses, so treat them as rough benchmarks rather than current prices:
- Sam’s short bus: about $10,000, much of it reclaimed materials
- Justin’s party bus: about $12,000 including the bus
- Jonathan Perera’s Blue Bird: $7,000 for the bus, and more than $170,000 all-in after a two-year professional conversion with Skoolie.com
Highlights
- Seven school, shuttle, and coach bus conversions
- Builds ranging from about $10,000 DIY to a fully custom professional skoolie
- Party buses, family homes, summer travel rigs, and full-time homes
- Murphy beds, wood stoves, rooftop decks, and concrete counters
Explore More
- 9 Van Conversions Built for the Open Road
- 7 Affordable DIY Tiny Homes That Will Inspire Your Own Build
- 8 Tiny Homes That Work for Families
- More Skoolies
- More Bus Conversions
Which of these buses would you hit the road in? Drop a number in the comments.
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More Like This: Bus Conversions | Skoolies | Van Life
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through one of our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Alex
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