Shipping Container Homes: A Complete Guide (2024)

Feb. 21, 2024

Shipping Container Homes: A Complete Guide

Shipping containers are becoming more and more popular to those looking to live off grid. These large steel boxes are being transformed into beautiful living spaces, and can cost a fraction of the price you would spend on a home, or tiny house.

In this Shipping Container Homes: A Complete Guide, I will break down all of the things you should consider before making the move to a shipping container house, and how much money it might set you back if you DIY, or have it constructed for you. Stick around!

The Positives and Negatives Of Shipping Container Homes

The first thing you should do before rushing to build your new container home, is to weigh the good and the bad. There will always be pros and cons when building a new home, so lets look at some things you’ll deal with on your container building journey.

The Positives:

Greener Living

If you are one that cares about the environment, and you’re looking for a way to decrease your carbon footprint, then container homes are a great way to do so. These large containers can cost loads of money to ship back after being emptied over seas.

This typically results in companies melting the boxes down to recycle the metal, sending them to scrap yards, and using massive amounts of energy. Recycling these large steel containers helps save the planet, and can save you some money on your new tiny home.

They’re Affordable

Shipping containers can be found everywhere, and typically in abundance. This allows them to be purchased at a lower cost. The shipping container itself, is the main structure of your home, eliminating the cost of building out a frame.

Of course you will have other costs elsewhere which I will discuss below, but the container itself helps with a large amount of money that would be spent building. Not only is it cheaper to build out, but can be done by those with less experience since there is less structural work that needs done. Living mortgage free will help motivate these small, and conquerable building moments.

Structure Strength

Shipping containers are built to withstand time. These strong boxes are meant to handle the rough seas, heavy weights, and being tossed around by massive cranes. Not only are these steel boxes tough, they can also be stacked to create larger two story homes. If you live in an area that is prone to natural disasters, than maybe you should consider a shipping container home, instead of a portable wooden tiny house.

Easy To Transport

Like any other tiny home, the shipping containers are extremely easy to transport. I think the biggest advantage to living in tiny homes, or shipping containers, is that you aren’t nailed down to one place. Thankfully, shipping containers are moved across the United States everyday, so if you ever decide to move your home, this can be easily done. Even if you build your container home on a concrete pad, there are still ways to move your home if need be.

Quicker Building Process

When constructing a new home, the structure, or frame, is the most time consuming step. Shipping container homes require no such step. Because the frame is already there for you, the building time is cut in half. The reason I really love shipping container homes so much, is that you can spend more time making the inside awesome, instead of spending all of your time framing.

The Negatives:

Insulation Issues

Lets face it, the large shipping containers are just big steel boxes. Unfortunately steel is an excellent transmitter of cold and heat. This makes it very difficult to regulate the temperature inside of a shipping container home. Now, don’t worry, there are plenty of options for fixing this con.

The best way to battle the hot and cold problem is to use the proper insulation, and make sure that you use the correct paint for the outside of your home. If you neglect the insulating step, this will result in lost energy, and inefficient heating or cooling.

Hazards To Your Health

The first thing you need to understand about shipping containers is that they weren’t meant for humans to live in them. The steps taken to ensure that the shipping container lasts the tests of time, may be harmful to your health.

Many companies use toxic paints, solvents, and insulation materials that may be harmful to humans over an extended period of time. Some examples of these products would be lead, chromate, and phosphorus-based paints on the walls. Chromium and Arsenic may have been used to eliminate pests from ruining the wooden floors.

Lastly, it is very important to do a thorough inspection of the container you are going to buy. These containers could have been carrying anything. You want to make sure that your shipping container is rid of all of the toxic chemicals, or residue before beginning your build.

The Carbon Footprint

A shipping container is essentially a large steel box until you make it habitable. With this in mind, the amount of hazardous waste produced from construction is more than ideal. The container needs to be completely sandblasted, the floors need to be replaced, windows need to be cut, and transporting it will also create carbon emissions. Keep this in mind when planning out your build.

Obtaining A Permit

Depending on the location of your newly constructed container home, you may need to jump through some hoops in order to live in it. Most counties have different building codes, and zoning laws, so make sure you do your research.

Proper planning for these permits will save you time, as the permits may take some time to be obtained.

Cost Of Building Shipping Container Homes

The cost of your shipping container home is going to depend on a massive amount of variables. You can purchase a shipping container house for anywhere between $50,000 and $400,000. The location, the material cost, construction costs, the size, and other home decor costs all factor in on the price of your container home.

Below is everything you need to know about buying a pre-built container home, buying an existing shipping container home, and even DIY. Lets break it down.

Purchasing A Custom Shipping Container House

One of the most popular options you have is to order a custom made container home from one of the many builders around the united states. This of course, is the more expensive route, but also the least strenuous.

Some companies will have base models they build for you to choose, or you can completely customize your container home. The price range on these options ranges widely, but will ultimately be cheaper than investing in an actual home. This can also prevent any pitfalls you may encounter during a building process.

Shipping Container Homes: Builder Options

Instead of scouring the internet for the best builders, we did some of the research for you. We found some of the most popular builders of container homes and have them listed below. Check out some of the options you have from each of these builders!

Rhino Cubed is one of the more popular container home builders, and has dedicated their time and energy into designing some of the coolest, and comfortable living habitats.The building company is located in Colorado, and currently has 4 different container home designs that you can choose from. If you would like to learn more, check out our Rhino Cubed Review here!

Honomobo is another very popular container home builder, and is dedicated to creating beautiful high-end modular homes. This shipping container builder company has plenty of options when it comes to design, and can create anything to meet your living needs. If you are looking for a top notch tiny house designer, then look no further than Honomobo. To learn more about this company and the options that they have to offer, check out the full review on Honomobo here!

BMarko Structures is located in Georgia, and is a shipping container builder and designer for commercial and residential structures. This company specializes in shipping container structures, whether that be for construction work, concert events, or even a backyard villa. To learn more about BMarko Structures, you can read the full review here!

If you do decide to build your own, make sure you do research, many problems that evolve can offset the money you are trying to save. If cost is still an issue, and you would rather buy a used or existing container home, lets check out more options…

Purchasing An Existing Container Home

1. Purchasing The Wrong Container

There are many people that don’t take the time to purchase the right shipping container for their needs. Shipping containers have many different options when it comes to size, width, and height. There are high cube containers with an extra foot of head space. These containers may cost a little bit more money, but you’ll thank yourself later for that extra foot.

Poorly Inspected

If you are trying to pinch pennies, make sure you don’t on the quality of your shipping container. Those who don’t want to spend full price on a new shipping container often purchase dented containers, or know nothing about the product that was shipped in that container. All of these things can be damaging to your home, and your health if you aren’t careful.

Know The Laws

The first thing to do before starting your building process, is to make sure you are legally allowed to build your new shipping container home. Contact your local public works, and make sure that you have, or can acquire all of the proper documentation to build your new tiny home. Many people brush this part off, or procrastinate, resulting in huge disappointment, or months of waiting for permits.

4. Properly Insulate Your Container

The insulation of your tiny container home is absolutely crucial to whether or not you are comfortable throughout the year. Of course, the type of insulation is going to change depending on your climate and location in the world.

The type of insulation that you use, can also depend on personal preference, and how “green” you want to be. The most popular insulation used on these type of homes is spray foam, blanket insulation, panel insulation, and or newspaper.

It is pertinent to remember that the hot and cold climates aren’t what weathers your container home, but in fact, the condensation that may collect because of the steel frame. With the collection of condensation, dampness can lead to rust, or other problems for your container home in the future.

Changing Too Much Of The Structure

Customization is probably one of the leading reasons why people make the switch to tiny houses or container homes. Unfortunately when you customize your structure too much, it becomes weaker and can become more expensive to support. If you are cutting multiple holes for windows, or taking out large sections of walls, then you need to find other ways to support your steel home. This may delay build times, and cost you more money out of pocket.

6. Selecting The Correct Contractor

Finding the right contractor the hard way can be extremely disappointing, and quite honestly, expensive. Do research, and ask around. Make sure that you are choosing the very best contractor to do the work on your container home. There are many container home builders around the United States that would be glad to answer your questions and give you tips on building your new container home. Ask around your community for the highly rated contractors, and contact them with any building questions you may have. Don’t settle for a cheap contractor, especially when you’re building a custom dream home.

In Conclusion

Shipping container homes are on the rise, and becoming a much more popular place to dwell. With unlimited customization, these steel boxes are an easy, cheap, and fun way to build a tiny home. I know that some of you will get discouraged, thinking that this may be too much work, or a little expensive for your budget, but I can assure you that the outcome is worth it!

Learn from your experiences. Everyone has to go through turmoil when building or buying a house. Keep your head up, do your research, and be on your way to living a more free, off the grid life, in a new shipping container home! Let us know if you live in a container home, and how the process went for you. Thanks for reading!

Your Guide to Shipping Container Homes

Wondering if container living is right for you? Homes built from shipping containers are a trend on the rise across the country—from the California coastline to the Tennessee mountain ranges! Whether you’re considering joining the tiny house movement or stacking containers to save money on building materials, here’s everything you need to know about shipping container homes!

What Is a Shipping Container Home?

Shipping container homes (also known as “cargo homes”) are homes built out of large steel boxes traditionally used for intermodal shipments. Architects, builders, and DIYers have begun converting the containers into environmentally-friendly houses and cabins. These homes are typically narrow and rectangular, unless multiple containers are welded together. Many are open-concept, though some have narrow hallways and sectioned-off rooms. Some feature modern amenities, while others are totally off-the-grid. And as time goes on, they continue to become more and more popular!

While container homes are trendy now, they’ve been part of several design movements throughout history. Before being used for homes, shipping containers were used for schools, office buildings, pools, greenhouses, and storefronts around the world. Then, in the mid-2000s, shipping containers started being repurposed by architects into homes.

What Types of Shipping Containers Are Available?

Before you design your shipping container home, it’s important to understand the different types of containers! Each has benefits and drawbacks, so you should choose which style best fits your needs.

Standard

General purpose (or standard) shipping containers are typically made in three different sizes: 8×10, 8×20, or 8×40. These standard containers are 8.6 feet tall. Since standard containers were made to fit on trains, they’re relatively compact. The smallest container has just under 100 square feet of living space, but containers can be stacked or placed side by side to provide more space as well.

High Cube

High cube shipping containers are nearly the same as any standard shipping container, but they’re a foot taller. Many homeowners have said the extra height is helpful when building a shipping container home, especially when it comes to insulating the house. An important thing to know is that high cube containers cost around 50% more than a standard container.

Refrigerated

Refrigerated shipping containers are often referred to as reefer containers. They’re traditionally used to transport food products like dairy, meat, and produce. One of the benefits of using a reefer container for your home is that it’s already insulated, unlike the high cube and standard containers. However, there are other challenges associated with reefer containers, such as the cost, refrigeration system maintenance, and unique flooring.

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Pros of Shipping Container Homes

Believe it or not, there are several reasons why people are choosing to live in shipping containers! From decreasing waste in the shipping industry to adopting a low-key minimalist lifestyle, cargo homes offer a modern appeal to tiny home hunters, people who live off-the-grid, and sustainable homeowners.

Sustainable

Some shipping container homeowners are drawn to the project for suitability and recycling purposes. While you can order a brand new shipping container to make into a home, you can also recycle old ones. Repurposing old shipping containers retired from the shipping industry can be a helpful way to cut back on steel waste. However, converting them must be done properly to ensure no dents or rust compromise the structural integrity of the home.

Quick to Build

A top reason why people are drawn to cargo homes is that they have a faster build time! Cargo containers provide the shell of the home so that no time is wasted waiting for the exterior to be constructed. Small container homes can be built in a few days or a few weeks. You can even buy prefab shipping container homes that are made at the manufacturer and ready to live in upon delivery.

Scaleable

While the size of a single shipping container is limited, they’re actually scalable. These Lego-like blocks can be stacked up to eight containers high, equaling the size of a traditional two-story home! Scaling your container design may require additional architectural planning, but it’s not impossible to do.

Customizable

Shipping containers are much more customizable than you might think! You can develop a variety of floor plans, add personal touches, and make them your own. Consider adding floor-to-ceiling windows, building a rooftop for friends to enjoy, stacking containers to create a loft, or designing a front porch. Whether you’re DIYing your new container home or choosing a prefab home from a company, you can design your shipping container home to look and feel however you want!

Durable

One of the main benefits of shipping container homes is their durability. If they’re well taken care of, they can last for over 25 years! The metal structure means it’s resistant to fire, holds up against harsh weather, and isn’t susceptible to rot or mold. The one thing you have to keep your eye out for is rust, but if you treat rust spots properly to prevent corrosion, there’s not much left to worry about!

Modern Industrial Appeal

Shipping container homes don’t just appeal to tiny house hunters. The modular appearance is perfect for anyone looking to hop on the industrial home trend! Container living could be ideal for someone looking for sleek lines and metal accents in their modern, homey space!

Cons of Shipping Container Houses

Container living doesn’t come without its struggles, but if you understand what you’re up against, they’re easy to combat. Many of the disadvantages of shipping container homes can be overcome with simple solutions like space-saving furniture, steel rod reinforcements, or an experienced contractor.

Narrow Living Space

Tiny house living is not for everyone! One of the clear drawbacks of container homes is the small living space. Unless you’re willing to spend more money to weld containers together, you’ll be living in a 8×20 or 8×40 home. The narrow space can be difficult to plan around, but there are ways to maximize space in a tiny home so that it doesn’t feel cramped.

Limited Insulation

Since shipping containers are made from metal, they don’t offer much insulation. While you may think it’s easy to add insulation, the limited space makes things more difficult. Most container homes use cork, wool, cotton, or spray foam insulation to prevent bulkier insulation from taking up too much space. The best material depends on whether you’re looking for natural insulation material and what your budget allows.

Necessary Reinforcement

The more you cut into your shipping container, the more reinforcement it needs. To prevent structural issues in your home, you’ll need to reinforce the roof and walls. Additional reinforcements like steel rods are needed every time you add a new door or window. And stacking containers on top of each other requires welding shipping containers together.

Lack of Modern Amenities

If you’re not trying to live off the grid, it can be difficult to get modern amenities in your container home. It’s a good idea to find professionals experienced in container home builds when planning your HVAC, electricity, and plumbing needs, but these experts may not be available in your area.

Condition of the Shipping Container

One of the most important things to take into consideration when purchasing a shipping container is the condition it’s in. You can purchase a new, used, or one-trip container. Used and one-trip containers are popular for those trying to help eliminate waste in the shipping industry. However, they can require more time and effort because they often need to be cleaned and repaired.

Possibility of Hazardous Chemicals

If you purchased a used shipping container, you probably want to consider redoing the floors. Hazardous chemicals used in waterproofing the container can be dangerous if you’re going to live in a used container. To be safe from the toxins, remove the original flooring and replace it with plywood from the hardware store. If you’re concerned about the cost of replacing flooring, you could also treat the floor.

How Much Does a Shipping Container Home Cost?

The cost of your cargo container home will depend on its size, scale, condition, and amenities. Typically, the cost of small shipping container homes falls between $10,000 and $35,000, while larger container homes with more modern amenities can range anywhere from $100,000 to $175,000. (Keep in mind that these figures don’t include purchasing and prepping the property where you’ll place your container home.)

Shipping containers by themselves generally cost anywhere from $1,400 to $6,000, with new containers or larger containers being more expensive than recycled or smaller containers.

In many cases, prefab container homes are the more affordable option for home buyers, as prices have been set by the manufacturers, and the homes usually include built-in amenities. Custom-built container homes, on the other hand, can be more expensive due to the materials, labor, and design customizations.

How to Build a Shipping Container Home

Ready to build your container home? Whether you’ve chosen to purchase a prefab container home, DIY your own, or hire a contractor, there are a few necessary steps to take throughout the building process.

Choose a Location for Your Home

The first step in building your new shipping container home is to pick a location! Almost every state allows shipping container homes (or are considering allowing them), but it’s good to check city and state regulations before you start the process. Wherever you decide to build, you’ll need to buy a plot of land. The size of the land necessary depends on how big of a container home you plan to build. Once you know where you’re going to put your container home, it’s time to tackle the rest of the building process.

Obtain a Shipping Container Home Permit

Every state has different rules and regulations for container homes, so before you start building your new tiny home, make sure you obtain the necessary permits! You’ll want to check on building codes and zoning regulations and restrictions to avoid any problems in the future.

Purchase a Shipping Container

There are a number of places to buy new and used shipping containers. You can look at retailers likeShipped, or Boxhub, as well as places like craigslist and eBay. You can also purchase prefab homes from companies like Honomobo, Container Homes USA, Custom Container Living, or Backcountry Containers. Just remember to inspect the quality of the container you’re buying, especially if it’s used so you’re fully aware of the repairs it needs!

Plan Your Shipping Container Home

Perhaps one of the most exciting parts of building your home is designing the shipping container floor plan! You’ll need to decide how many containers you’ll need to achieve your design. The number of containers will depend on the number of bedrooms you want or the size of living space you need.

Decide to DIY or Hire Contractors

Are you planning to tackle a giant DIY shipping container project, or will you hire contractors? Depending on your skill level and desired amenities, you can find a lot of DIY tutorials online. But if you’d like help building your home, you can also find contractors who are experienced in shipping container home construction and design. Just make sure to consider the cost of contractors as part of your budget if you go that route.

Get the Land Ready for Your Home

Make sure you prepare your land properly before you pour or place your foundation and install your shipping container home! This can range from leveling soil to actually installing the necessary utilities you want in your home like water, gas, or electrical.

Pick a Container Home Foundation

You’ll want to choose one of the four main types of foundations for your shipping container home. A pier foundation is a relatively inexpensive (and quick to construct) shipping container foundation made from concrete blocks, or piers. Pile foundations are made of cylinder steel tubes hammered into the ground and capped with a concrete block. Another option is a slab foundation, which is when a slab of concrete is poured beneath your shipping container to provide a solid base for your home. A combination of a pier and slab foundation, a strip foundation uses strips of concrete that are poured to support the container around the perimeter. Once your foundation is in place, you can install your shipping container!

Add a Shipping Container Roof

While you don’t technically have to put a roof on your shipping container home because it already has one, most architects recommend you do. There are four common roof styles to choose from. Traditional pitched roofs are usually best for places with varying climates, especially if there’s lots of rain or snow. Flat roofs are the simplest, fastest to install, and least expensive, but they’re often more costly to maintain. Green roofs, or living roofs, involve planting plants and greenery on top of your container home, which provides natural cooling and insulation. Or you could add a terrace roof to increase your living space by putting a patio or deck on top of your container home.

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How to Build a Shipping Container Home: A Complete Guide

Today’s prospective homebuyers have a plethora of choices when it comes to architectural home styles – ranch, Cape Cod, bungalow, colonial and contemporary are just the tip of the iceberg. Many want a home that fits their functional needs, style, and budget.

While most buyers ultimately choose a more common or popular style, some dare to be different by embracing home designs that are unique or trendy. One option gaining momentum is converting a shipping container into a residence. According to a study by Allied Market Research, the global shipping container homes market is expected to reach $73,070.5 million by 2025, up from $44,768.6 million in 2017.

This blog will discuss some of the benefits and advantages of building shipping container homes and provide a step-by-step guide on making it happen.

Benefits of shipping container homes

In addition to owning a home style that probably no one else you know does, building a shipping container home has some practical benefits and advantages.

These include:

They are cost-effective vs. traditional housing. Most shipping container homes are built using 40-foot containers. You can purchase one of these used shipping containers for about $2,500 or a brand new one for around $5,000. They are usually more cost-effective than conventional housing because they require fewer building materials and labor to construct.

They’re quick to construct. If you’re an expert contractor (or know one), you can build a shipping container home in a month or two.

They’re modular homes. Shipping container homes are easy to modify. A shipping container home can be built with a mix of 20-foot and 40-foot containers. It’s also easy to combine multiple shipping containers to create a larger home with extra bedrooms, a second floor, or even a shipping container guest house.

They’re durable, low-maintenance, and secure. Shipping containers are made of Corten steel, which protects cargo during transport overseas. Shipping container homes made from weathering steel can withstand inclement weather conditions better than traditional housing. They can be made more secure by adding patio doors, windows, and additional accessories.

They can be relocated. Suppose you need to relocate for any reason. In that case, it’s possible to make your shipping container home mobile by hiring a shipping transportation service to move your single-container house anywhere you choose.

They are environmentally beneficial. Steel is one of the most commonly recycled materials on Earth, with up to 90 percent of its content being recyclable. Even better, when a structure is made from shipping containers, the steel is being 100 percent upcycled without the energy used to scrap and meltdown the material.

Steps to build a shipping container home

Now that you’re convinced that a shipping container home is the way you want to go, how do you get started? Making this new dream house a reality will take some planning, preparation, and purchases.

Step 1: Permits and planning

While you might be able to cut corners during the construction part of the project, you have to go by the book when it comes to getting the initial paperwork for your shipping container home. Before you even order a shipping container, make sure you have all the necessary building code permits and planning permission from the local entities. Ensure you’re allowed to build a home and that a shipping container home complies with local and state policies.

Work with an architect and structural engineer to ensure that the floor plan you have in mind for your shipping container house is structurally sound. It’s a good idea to find an architect who has worked with shipping containers in the past because building with them is entirely different than a typical wooden, steel, or brick building. Also keep in mind that anything you can put in a custom home, you can put in a container home.

Step 2: Purchase a container

So, you’re allowed to build your shipping container home. Great. Next, you’ll need a shipping container. The scale of your plans will dictate the size, type, and condition of the shipping container you’ll buy. The most popular shipping container size used for homes is a 40-foot, high-cube container, which offers about 320 square feet of living space. That’s enough for one bedroom, one bathroom, and a decent-sized kitchen/living room combo space.

To make your shipping container house the best it can be, you’ll want to do your homework before you buy from just any company. Think about cost, delivery options, the vendor's reputation, condition of the shipping container, warranties, and past customer feedback.

Learn more about buying a suitable shipping container for your home here.

Step 3: Prepare your land

You’ve ordered your shipping container, so the next step is to decide where you’ll build your home and then prepare the land. That means thinking about the ground itself and the type of foundation you’ll want to use for the home to keep it elevated from the ground. This will keep it safe from moisture, which could affect the contents and possibly lead to corrosion.

A foundation can range from concrete or wooden supports on the ground for a single shipping container up to a full basem*nt for multiple shipping containers. Your decision will need to consider both what is structurally required and your personal preferences. If you decide on a poured concrete foundation, then plan on embedding steel plates into the concrete where the container corner blocks will rest. This will allow the shipping containers to be welded directly to the concrete foundation.

While it's best to consult with an expert, particularly if you plan on using multiple storage containers, you'll probably consider options like a concrete slab, steel plates, concrete piers, or concrete strips. You should also ensure there's a clear path for your shipping container to be delivered.

Step 5: Place the containers

The easiest methods to place shipping containers on the foundation is with a crane and by delivery truck. Nothing beats the ease, speed, and safety of a crane. If you don’t have one, you’ll probably need to hire a local builder or rent a rough terrain forklift for a few hours.

Once your shipping container has been placed on the foundation, it’s relatively easy to make any final adjustments with a large crowbar.

Step 6: Cut your openings

Removing metal from shipping containers is necessary to add window and door openings to the container walls. There are many ways to cut through shipping container steel, including a plasma cutter, cutting torch, grinder, and even a jigsaw (for small openings). For removing an entire wall, a plasma cutter or cutting torch works best.

Note: Before starting to cut openings, make sure you’ve discussed it with your structural expert. Removing structural components of a shipping container can quickly create a dangerous situation if not done right.

Assuming you’re good to go, start cutting holes for windows, doors, skylights and accessories to start making your shipping container look like a home. Depending on your skills, you might want to hire someone to do this for you.

If by cutting in your openings, you create any gaps, they will need to be sealed to protect the inside of the house from the outside elements.

Step 7: Add doors, windows, and framing

It’s time to add doors, windows, and flooring. You can go as basic or fancy as you want – regular, sliding or French doors, and standard or cranking windows. Whatever style you prefer should work.

To save as much interior space as possible, consider using 1 1/2″ steel studs to frame the shipping container's inside. They secure pretty well to drywall and are stiff enough if you end up using spray foam insulation. In areas that foam did not connect the wall and studs, steel studs might be needed. An extra layer of drywall, or narrower spacing of the studs, might help.

Whichever method you choose, try to include a thermal break between the studs and the shipping container's metal walls. This is especially important when using steel studs as they efficiently conduct heat from the interior spaces.

Step 8: Install electric and plumbing

Even if you don’t know how much electric wiring you’ll want yet, it’s easier and cheaper to wire most of it at this point. One potential difficulty in wiring is getting the wire past some remnants of the removed container walls. One option is to run the wire around the steel and make a custom nail protector – it’s an easy and cheap fix.

When considering electric wiring and plumbing, think about if you’ll be adding HVAC systems or an outside AC unit. Also, consider solar panels for electricity. If you place panels on your roof, as well as add in a glass door, you’ll be able to capture more of the natural sunlight and its energy.

Step 9: Insulation and temperature control

You’ll need insulation to help control the interior temperature of your shipping container house. Keep in mind that you’ll lose a little bit of living space if you insulate the inside.

You can insulate on the exterior if that is a concern. Cedar, vinyl, and even log siding can be applied over a shipping container's insulated exterior. Having the outside insulation also allows you to utilize the entire space of the shipping containers, as long as you like the look of corrugated steel walls in your interior.

The type of insulation you use – spray foam, panels, etc. – will also depend on where you live or what you prefer. Spray foam insulation is commonly used, but it’s the most expensive type. Learn more about insulation options here.

Step 10: Landscaping and decorating

Now that your new shipping container home looks good, think about the space around the shipping container. Consider adding a nice deck to extend the living space or landscape area to ensure that your home fits in with its natural surroundings. You can also start painting the interior, lay floor coverings, and make your new container house a home.

Step 11: Inspection and sign-off

Here’s the test. All your planning and hard work is about to pay off. Your new shipping container house is ready for inspection to see if it’s up to building code. Before calling the inspector, have your engineer and other structural experts take one final look so you can address any needed changes to the shipping container building. Keep your fingers crossed.

Building a shipping container home takes much planning and preparation, but it's totally worth it. It's cost-efficient, mobile, and customizable. Begin the process of building your new shipping container home by browsing containers near you.

Shipping Container Homes: A Complete Guide (2024)