Shipping container homes, offices, studios, and structures. Floor plans, costs, builds, zoning guides, and real-world projects.
20-foot: 160 sq ft interior. Good for studios, offices, guest houses. ~$1,500-3,000 used. 40-foot: 320 sq ft interior. One-bedroom home potential. ~$2,000-5,000 used. 40-foot High Cube: 9.5 ft ceiling (1 ft taller). Recommended for homes.
Container depots near ports: Houston, LA, Newark, Savannah, Seattle. Online: Container Alliance, BoxHub, PODS. Inspect in person when possible. Look for: minimal rust, straight frame rails, working doors, no holes.
One-trip: Nearly new, used once from Asia. Best for homes ($3,000-5,000). Cargo-worthy (CW): Good condition, some wear ($2,000-3,500). Wind/Water Tight (WWT): Keeps weather out but cosmetic damage ($1,500-2,500). As-Is: Cheapest, may need work ($800-1,500).
Concrete pier: Cheapest, $500-2,000. Containers sit on concrete piers at corners. Slab: $3,000-8,000. Permanent, level. Strip foundation: $2,000-5,000. Walls under container edges. Screw piles: $3,000-6,000. Minimal ground disturbance.
Spray foam (closed-cell): Best for containers. R-6.5 per inch. Creates vapor barrier. $1-2/sq ft. Rigid foam board: R-5 per inch. Cheaper but needs vapor barrier. Rockwool: Fire-resistant. Good for interior walls. Never use fiberglass in containers (moisture issues).
Container: $2,000-5,000. Foundation: $2,000-8,000. Insulation: $2,000-5,000. Electrical: $3,000-8,000. Plumbing: $3,000-10,000. Interior finish: $5,000-15,000. Windows/doors (cut-outs): $2,000-5,000. Total basic 1-container home: $20,000-50,000.
This is the hardest part. Many jurisdictions don't have container home codes. You'll need: building permit, zoning approval (residential classification), and possibly a variance. Rural/county land is usually easier than city lots. Check BEFORE you buy land.
160 sq ft. Kitchenette, bathroom, sleeping area. Perfect for guest house, Airbnb, or home office. Like a tiny house but stronger and cheaper.
320 sq ft. Full kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and living area. Comfortable for one person or a couple. The most popular single-container layout.
640 sq ft. Remove interior walls where containers meet. Two bedrooms, full kitchen, living room, bathroom. Feels like a real house.
960-1,280 sq ft. Stack and arrange in L, T, or U shapes. Multiple bedrooms, open living areas, decks on top of lower containers. Architect recommended at this scale.