Terraria isn’t all about digging into the earth, beating bosses, and gathering items. The title is still a sandbox game, and that means there's plenty of building to do as well! For players looking to make a shelter of their own, or even an extra house to bring in important NPCs, here's our guide on building a house in Terraria.

Building Houses in Terraria: An Overview

Terraria introduced the housing mechanic in version 1.1. Note that a house in Terraria can be nothing more than a box if it meets the correct requirements. However, you can also let your creative side loose in this game with the right materials and for as long as you like - meaning there's plenty of room to build some awe-inspiring constructions.

What Are the Minimum Requirements for a House in Terraria?

A space in Terraria can’t be called a house until it meets specific prerequisites. These minimum requirements are as follows:

• A total of 60 tiles (10 tiles high x 6 tiles wide, including the ceiling, floor, and walls)
• One light source
• One table or flat-surface item
• A chair or comfort item
• An entry point (e.g., door, gate, or trap door)

Check the housing menu by opening the inventory and clicking the house icon when building the space. Doing so lets the game check if the house you’re building is valid for an NPC to move in or not. If it’s the latter, a text will appear on the bottom-left corner of the screen telling you what’s lacking. Note: An NPC home can’t exceed 750 blocks. The house becomes invalid if it exceeds this point.

Building a House for NPCs (Requirements & NPC Preferences)

Although it’s not immediately noticeable to players, NPCs have a hidden happiness meter. A “happy” NPC will have lower prices for the goods they sell than usual. Plus, the Tax Collector NPC can collect more tax from happy NPCs than those who aren’t content with their living spaces. Optimize an NPC’s happiness level by placing them in appropriate locations in your town. Follow these factors to ensure you’re placing those characters in their preferred areas:

• An NPC must be in a Liked Biome
• An NPC must be within 25 tiles of a Loved or Liked NPC
• An NPC must be living alone (no other NPC in a closed 25-tile space)
• No other NPCs within 120 tiles

Tip: Open the inventory, click on the housing menu, then click on a specific NPC if you want to move that character to a different house. Here’s a list of preferences of Terraria’s different NPCs to help you optimize their placements:

Angler

• Liked Biome: Ocean
• Hated Biome: Desert
• Loved Neighbors: N/A
• Liked Neighbors: Demolitionist, Party Girl, and Tax Collector
• Disliked Neighbors: N/A
• Hated Neighbors: Tavernkeep

Arms Dealer

• Liked Biome: Desert
• Hated Biome: Snow
• Loved Neighbors: Nurse
• Liked Neighbors: Steampunker
• Disliked Neighbors: Golfer
• Hated Neighbors: Demolitionist

Clothier

• Liked Biome: Underground
• Hated Biome: Hallow
• Loved Neighbors: Truffle
• Liked Neighbors: Tax Collector
• Disliked Neighbors: Nurse
• Hated Neighbors: Mechanic

Cyborg

• Liked Biome: Snow
• Hated Biome: Jungle
• Loved Neighbors: N/A
• Liked Neighbors: Steampunker, Pirate, and Stylist
• Disliked Neighbors: Zoologist
• Hated Neighbors: Wizard

Demolitionist

• Liked Biome: Underground
• Hated Biome: Ocean
• Loved Neighbors: Tavernkeep
• Liked Neighbors: Mechanic
• Disliked Neighbors: Arms Dealer and Goblin Tinkerer
• Hated Neighbors: N/A

Dryad

• Liked Biome: Jungle
• Hated Biome: Desert
• Loved Neighbors: N/A
• Liked Neighbors: Witch Doctor and Truffle
• Disliked Neighbors: Angler and Zoologist
• Hated Neighbors: Golfer

Dye Trader

• Liked Biome: Desert
• Hated Biome: Forest
• Loved Neighbors: N/A
• Liked Neighbors: Arms Dealer and Painter
• Disliked Neighbors: Steampunker
• Hated Neighbors: Pirate

Goblin Tinkerer

• Liked Biome: Underground
• Hated Biome: Jungle
• Loved Neighbors: Mechanic
• Liked Neighbors: Dye Trader
• Disliked Neighbors: Clothier
• Hated Neighbors: Stylist

Golfer

• Liked Biome: Forest
• Hated Biome: Underground
• Loved Neighbors: Angler
• Liked Neighbors: Painter and Zoologist
• Disliked Neighbors: Pirate
• Hated Neighbors: Merchant

Guide

• Liked Biome: Forest
• Hated Biome: Ocean
• Loved Neighbors: N/A
• Liked Neighbors: Clothier and Zoologist
• Disliked Neighbors: Steampunker
• Hated Neighbors: Painter

Mechanic

• Liked Biome: Snow
• Hated Biome: Underground
• Loved Neighbors: Goblin Tinkerer
• Liked Neighbors: Cyborg
• Disliked Neighbors: Arms Dealer
• Hated Neighbors: Clothier

Merchant

• Liked Biome: Forest
• Hated Biome: Desert
• Loved Neighbors: N/A
• Liked Neighbors: Golfer and Nurse
• Disliked Neighbors: Tax Collector
• Hated Neighbors: Angler

Nurse

• Liked Biome: Hallow
• Hated Biome: Snow
• Loved Neighbors: Arms Dealer
• Liked Neighbors: Wizard
• Disliked Neighbors: Dryad and Party Girl
• Hated Neighbors: Zoologist

Painter

• Liked Biome: Jungle
• Hated Biome: Forest
• Loved Neighbors: Dryad
• Liked Neighbors: Party Girl
• Disliked Neighbors: Truffle and Cyborg
• Hated Neighbors: N/A

Party Girl

• Liked Biome: Hallow
• Hated Biome: Underground
• Loved Neighbors: Wizard
• Liked Neighbors: Stylist
• Disliked Neighbors: Merchant
• Hated Neighbors: Tax Collector

Pirate

• Liked Biome: Ocean
• Hated Biome: Underground
• Loved Neighbors: Angler
• Liked Neighbors: Tavernkeep
• Disliked Neighbors: Stylist
• Hated Neighbors: Guide

Santa Claus

• Liked Biome: Snow
• Hated Biome: Desert
• Loved Neighbors: N/A
• Liked Neighbors: N/A
• Disliked Neighbors: N/A
• Hated Neighbors: Tax Collector

Steampunker

• Liked Biome: Desert
• Hated Biome: Jungle
• Loved Neighbors: Cyborg
• Liked Neighbors: Painter
• Disliked Neighbors: Dryad, Wizard and Party Girl
• Hated Neighbors: N/A

Stylist

• Liked Biome: Ocean
• Hated Biome: Snow
• Loved Neighbors: Dye Trader
• Liked Neighbors: Pirate
• Disliked Neighbors: Tavernkeep
• Hated Neighbors: Goblin Tinkerer

Tavernkeep

• Liked Biome: Hallow
• Hated Biome: Snow
• Loved Neighbors: Demolitionist
• Liked Neighbors: Goblin Tinkerer
• Disliked Neighbors: Guide
• Hated Neighbors: Dye Trader

Tax Collector

• Liked Biome: Snow
• Hated Biome: Hallow
• Loved Neighbors: Merchant
• Liked Neighbors: Party Girl
• Disliked Neighbors: Demolitionist and Mechanic
• Hated Neighbors: Santa Claus

Truffle

• Liked Biome: N/A
• Hated Biome: N/A
• Loved Neighbors: Guide
• Liked Neighbors: Dryad
• Disliked Neighbors: Clothier
• Hated Neighbors: Witch Doctor

Witch Doctor

• Liked Biome: Jungle
• Hated Biome: Hallow
• Loved Neighbors: N/A
• Liked Neighbors: Dryad, Guide
• Disliked Neighbors: Nurse
• Hated Neighbors: Truffle

Wizard

• Liked Biome: Hallow
• Hated Biome: Ocean
• Loved Neighbors: Golfer
• Liked Neighbors: Merchant
• Disliked Neighbors: Witch Doctor
• Hated Neighbors: Cyborg

Zoologist

• Liked Biome: Forest
• Hated Biome: Desert
• Loved Neighbors: Witch Doctor
• Liked Neighbors: Golfer
• Disliked Neighbors: Angler
• Hated Neighbors: Arms Dealer