What is a Yurt?
And does it make sense for you? Learn about yurts, their various designs, and history.
Learn About Yurts, Their History, & If They’re Right For You
If you haven't done your research or seen one in person, you might ask "what is a yurt?". A yurt is a portable, lightweight round structure where the roof is held up under a combination of tension and compression, with no major center supports needed.
Yurt History: Cultural Significance & Uses
To truly understand what is a yurt, one must look back thousands of years to the high, windswept steppes of Central Asia. Born from the needs of nomadic cultures, these ancient portable shelters are a masterclass in resilient design. Traditionally, there are two primary styles: the Ger and the Stani yurt. The Ger, which serves as the blueprint for our modern North American yurts, features straight roof rafters that tie directly into a lattice wall. In contrast, the Stani yurts—found across Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan—utilize steam-bent rafters to create a distinct silhouette.
The history of these structures is as deep as the Montana soil. As far back as the 5th century BCE, the Greek historian Herodotus marveled at the tented homes of Scythian nomads, noting that yurts were far more than mere practical shelters—they were cultural symbols. Their circular form and domed roofs represented a life lived in harmony with the natural world, while the central “crown” or compression ring provided a literal connection to the sky. In many traditions, these dwellings were even adorned with symbolic felt patterns to invite strength and protection for the families within.
The genius of the yurt lies in its ability to thrive in the world’s harshest environments. Their aerodynamic, circular shape offers natural resistance to high winds, while original designs used thick layers of felted wool to insulate against extreme temperatures. Whether used as a humble family home or a massive, ornate “mobile palace” for Mongolian nobility, the yurt was designed to be dismantled and transported across rugged terrain with ease. At Shelter Designs, we carry this legacy of portability and strength forward, blending this ancient nomadic wisdom with modern Montana craftsmanship to create a space that feels both timeless and indestructible.
Modern Yurts: How Are Yurts Built?
All modern North American yurts pay homage to the ancient Mongolian Ger, maintaining the timeless principles of a circular footprint, lattice walls, and a roof held in a perfect balance of tension and compression. While the geometry remains faithful to its roots, the materials have undergone a high-tech evolution. At Shelter Designs, we’ve traded traditional felt for long-lasting, waterproof architectural fabrics, space-age insulation, and graded Montana lumber. These modern upgrades allow our yurts to achieve significantly higher snow and wind load ratings than their ancestors, ensuring they stand resilient for decades.
Beyond their structural integrity, today’s custom yurts are engineered for the comforts of modern living. We’ve designed our kits to be fully compatible with the amenities you’d expect in a conventional home—including integrated plumbing, electrical systems, and HVAC. To maximize natural light and connection to the landscape, we offer premium features like acrylic dome skylights, operable thermal-pane windows, and elegant French doors. Whether you are building an off-grid personal residence, a commercial retreat, or a backyard studio, our yurts blend the soulful, ancient strength of nomadic design with the durability and convenience of modern Montana engineering.
Yurt Structure: Are Yurts Strong Structures?
When asking what is a yurt, many people are surprised to find it is actually a masterpiece of structural physics. The secret to our legendary Montana-made strength lies in the perfect balance of tension and compression. As weather stresses the structure, the roof naturally pushes outward against a heavy-duty tension cable at the top of the wall while simultaneously bracing against the central compression ring at the peak. This engineering harmony allows for a completely open, vaulted floor plan with no need for obstructive central columns.
At Shelter Designs, we take this ancient design further with modern, professional-grade precision. We work with an accredited structural engineering firm licensed across North America to ensure your yurt is designed for the specific snow and wind loads of your property. From our 12′ studios to our massive 40′ (1,256 sq. ft.) models—which can be engineered to withstand 150 lbs/sq. ft. snow loads and 120+ mph winds—we utilize oversized rafters, laminated compression rings, and reinforced headers to provide a sanctuary that is as safe as it is beautiful.
If designed correctly, modern day yurts are incredibly strong and are able to withstand extreme loading conditions for snow, wind, and seismic events.
Is a Yurt Right For You?
We’ll be honest—yurts aren’t for everybody. The thing about yurts is that they aren’t going to perform the same way as a traditional hard structure.
While yurts might not be for everybody, they are a great fit for people who value connection, creativity, sustainability, and flexibility in their living spaces. They’re ideal for nature lovers and minimalists who want to live closer to the outdoors, eco-conscious homeowners seeking a lighter footprint, and creative thinkers who enjoy customizing and building their own unique space. Families often find yurts flexible and affordable, especially when multiple units can be connected, while entrepreneurs and hospitality hosts use them as unforgettable rentals, yoga studios, or event spaces. Adventurers and homesteaders appreciate their durability and adaptability in remote or off-grid settings, and anyone craving a home that feels distinctive, warm, and intentional will find a yurt to be a rewarding choice.
Today, yurts are used all over the world in a wide array of both personal and commercial use. Many people are discovering the financial freedom of living in a yurt as their full time residence, while businesses are finding how cost effective they are at providing unique, sought after rental accommodations, retail spaces, restaurants, etc. A yurt’s cost and environmental footprint, when compared to “normal” construction methods, make them an attractive alternative sustainable living shelter around the world.
Want to Build Your Own Yurt?
We've been building yurts for 20+ years and make the strongest yurts in the industry. See our yurt models and start planning your dream build today.
FAQs About Yurts
Traditionally, yurts served as the primary homes for nomadic peoples in Central Asia, offering portability, warmth, and durability in extreme climates. Today, yurts are used for a wide variety of purposes: full-time residences, vacation cabins, “glamping” rentals, yoga or meditation studios, classrooms, cafés, and even event spaces. Their round design creates a warm, open interior that feels both functional and inviting.
Traditional yurts were built with a collapsible wooden lattice wall, angled rafters, and a central compression ring, all covered in thick layers of felted wool for insulation and animal hides or canvas for weather protection. Modern North American yurts keep the same structural principles but use updated materials: graded lumber or steel framing, long-lasting waterproof fabrics, space-age insulation, glass windows, French doors, and acrylic dome skylights. These improvements allow modern yurts to withstand heavy snow, strong winds, and decades of use.
Building a yurt typically begins with preparing a solid platform or foundation, which provides both stability and insulation from the ground. The lattice wall sections are then expanded into a circle, the roof rafters are attached to the lattice and central compression ring, and a tension cable secures the frame. The structure is finished with insulation, an exterior fabric cover, doors, windows, and optional features like skylights or wood stoves. While smaller traditional yurts can be assembled or disassembled in just a few hours, modern yurts with utilities and interior build-outs take more planning and construction time—often resembling a tiny home project.
There are two main types of traditional yurts: the Mongolian ger, which uses straight rafters tied directly into the wall lattice, and the Stani or bentwood yurt, found in regions such as Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan, which uses steam-bent rafters and shorter walls. Modern yurts, modeled mostly after the ger, come in many variations—small backyard studios, medium-sized family homes, and large event or retreat yurts up to 40 feet in diameter. Some are rustic and off-grid, while others are fully equipped with modern comforts like electricity, plumbing, and lofts.
Yurts originated thousands of years ago in the steppes of Central Asia, particularly Mongolia and surrounding regions. They were essential to the nomadic lifestyle, designed to be portable, strong, and weather-resistant while providing a sense of home and cultural identity. Over time, the design spread across Asia and later inspired adaptations in Europe and North America. Today, modern yurt builders continue to draw from this ancient heritage, blending traditional wisdom with modern engineering and materials.
