Temples are usually one or two-storied buildings with a wide red stripe at the upper level of the walls and a gilded roof ornament. A small courtyard may be enclosed in the walls with the residence of the lame attached to it.Inside, the ceiling is supported by pillars, which divide the space into a shrine and an antechamber, and the walls are covered with paintings. The altar occupies one side of the shrine with the other side usually devoted to protective deities. The rest of the space is left empty to be used by devotees for  performance of rituals. Many temples are also housed in monasteries and dzongs.

The cluster type is probably more ancient. It consists of one or two temples housed in a building and surrounded by small houses, which serve as living or meditation quarters for the monks. Some examples of the cluster type are Dzongdrakha in the Paro valley, Dodedra, Phajoding, Chari and Trashigang nunnery in the Thimphu region, Kuenzangdra and Tharpaling in the Bumthang region as well as most of the monasteries in the eastern region. 

The dzong type is a monastery built like a fortress with a main tower, housing many temples and a surrounding outer structure which provides accommodation for the monks. The most impressive examples of this type are Tango in the upper Thimphu valley, Talo in Punakha, Gangtey Goemba near Pelela and Dramitse in eastern Bhutan.