So what can increase the cost? While land costs and climate requirements are significant considerations, it can also depend on many factors, including:

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• Size, layout, design, and the number of containers required
• Welding and Fabrication requirements
• Cleaning cost if the container is used
• Plumbing and electrical
• Siding
• Flooring
• Kitchen and bathroom finishes
• Lofts
• Windows
• Doors
• Insulation
• and more.

There is a report of a simple shipping container home self-built by an engineer in Canada for only $20,000. But a pre-manufactured container home has a price tag that looks more like a regular home.

Shipping Container Homes - Pros, Cons & Costs

Container homes are exactly what they sound like; homes made from the steel shipping containers that you see carrying goods everywhere on trains, trucks, and ships. From these giant Lego blocks, people are building homes of all shapes and sizes.

Shipping containers are generally available in 10ft, 20ft, and 40ft. The smallest shipping container can provide about 100 square feet of floor space for a shipping container home. Eight larger containers together can make a two-story house at about square feet. Hundreds of container micro-apartments together can make a huge apartment building.

Table of Contents

1. Pros of Shipping Container Homes
2. Cons of Shipping Container Homes
3. Are Shipping Container Homes Safe?
4. What Is The Standard Size of a Shipping Container Home?
5. How Do You Insulate a Shipping Container Home?
6. Can You Add a Roof to a Shipping Container Home?
7. What States Allow Shipping Container Homes?
8. How Much Are Shipping Container Homes?
9. How Long Does A Shipping Container Home Last?
10. Do Shipping Container Homes Rust?
11. Do Shipping Container Homes Hold Value?

Could a container home be a good choice for you? Here are some pros and cons to consider.

Pros of Shipping Container Homes

Prefab Shipping Container Homes

Many shipping container homes are available as prefabricated modular homes, making construction time shorter. Some companies advertise delivery within 10 weeks! Most of the building code inspections are done at the factory, which makes things simpler and quicker. Or if you are designing a custom home or building a do-it-yourself project, the container gives you a fun prebuilt structure to work with.

Ease of Transport and Finding a Site

A worldwide system exists for moving containers around. Once they reach your site, they are relatively simple to set in place on a prepared foundation.

Shipping Container Homes Have Predictable Costs

Most of the work is completed on a factory floor for a fixed price. Delivery to the site, site preparation, foundation, assembly and utility connections are the only variable costs. That said, container homes are not always less expensive. Estimates vary, and some put the savings at 5-10%, depending on what you’re comparing against.

Recycled Shipping Container Homes

The environmental appeal of a container home is the idea that you are re-using a leftover product of the shipping industry to make a home. This can be a good thing, but as we will see, it’s not always true or the best thing.

Some of the advantages, like short construction time and predictable pricing, are the same for all prefabricated and modular homes, not just those made with shipping containers. But container homes benefit uniquely from the worldwide infrastructure built to move shipping containers. Even container home skeptics admit they can be useful where local building expertise is lacking or for emergency shelters that can be moved easily. In these scenarios, the versatility of container transport is a huge advantage.

Container homes are often marketed as being environmentally friendly because they are said to be made from used containers, thus conserving metal resources. There are lots of old shipping containers out there, no longer in circulation, and repurposing them into homes has a strong appeal. But is a container home really the best use of a container, from a sustainability perspective? Many would disagree.

Cons of Shipping Container Homes

Shipping Container Homes Are Not Always Effective Recycling

Most factory-built container homes are built from ‘one-use’ containers that have only had a single trip. These containers tend to be in good shape, without dents or rust, so they are nice for building with, instead of containers that have gone ‘out-of-service’ and may be damaged from years of use. Taking a box with lots of shipping life out of service after a single use isn’t effective recycling. And there is way more steel in a container than you need to build a house - if recycled as steel, it could make enough steel studs for 14 framed houses the same size.

Shipping Container Homes Could Have Structural Issues

A shipping container is very strong at the corners, but the roof is not that strong, so typically you need to build another roof over it, especially where there will be snow. Also, the corrugated steel walls are essential to the strength of the structure. This means anywhere you cut out a large window, or door opening requires new reinforcement. And when they are stacked together to make larger homes, welded (expensive) reinforcement is needed wherever two containers join at a spot that is not a corner. Any later renovations require significant engineering and welding.

Container homes are residences crafted from steel shipping containers commonly spotted transporting goods via trains, trucks, and ships. These robust containers serve as the building blocks for homes of varying dimensions and configurations.

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Typically offered in sizes of 10ft, 20ft, and 40ft, these shipping containers offer diverse options for home construction. Even the smallest container, with roughly 100 square feet of floor space, can form the foundation of a shipping container home. Larger structures can be fashioned by combining eight or more containers, resulting in two-story houses encompassing approximately square feet. On a larger scale, assembling numerous container units can create expansive apartment buildings, comprising numerous micro-apartments.

The utilization of shipping containers in constructing homes, studios, cabins, and offices stems from several reasons. Primarily, the abundance of approximately 14 million 'out-of-service' containers worldwide presents a surplus of available materials. Additionally, the appeal of working with large blocks contributes to their popularity.

Beyond their trendy allure, the interest in container homes aligns with a broader inclination toward cost-effective solutions via prefabricated and modular housing. Prospective homeowners seek reduced construction and maintenance expenses. Moreover, there's a perception that these container-based homes contribute to recycling efforts, adding an environmental facet to their appeal.

Could a container home be a good choice for you? Here are some pros and cons to consider.

Pros of Shipping Container Homes

1. Prefab Shipping Container Homes:

Numerous shipping container houses are available as prefabricated modular structures, reducing construction time significantly. Some companies promise delivery within just 10 weeks! The majority of building code inspections are conducted at the factory, streamlining and expediting the process. If designing a custom home or embarking on a DIY project, utilizing a container provides a prebuilt structure, adding an enjoyable element to the process.

2. Ease of Transport and Site Placement:

A global system facilitates the movement of containers worldwide. Upon arrival at the site, placing them onto a prepared foundation is relatively straightforward.

3. Predictable Costs of Shipping Container Homes:

Most work is completed within a fixed price framework on the factory floor. Costs mainly revolve around delivery, site preparation, foundation, assembly, and utility connections, making them fairly predictable. However, it's worth noting that while container homes might not always be cheaper, estimated savings can vary, typically ranging from 5-10%, depending on the comparison.

4. Recycled Shipping Container Homes:

The environmental allure of container homes lies in repurposing leftover shipping industry products to create residences. While this concept holds merit, it doesn't universally apply or signify the ideal choice in all cases.

Some advantages, such as reduced construction time and predictable pricing, are common among all prefabricated and modular homes, not solely limited to those using shipping containers. Nevertheless, container homes uniquely benefit from the global infrastructure designed for container transportation. Even skeptics acknowledge their usefulness in areas lacking local building expertise or for easily transportable emergency shelters. Here, the adaptability of container transport stands out as a significant advantage.

Cons of Shipping Container Homes

Container homes are often promoted as environmentally friendly due to their use of used containers, presenting an avenue for conserving metal resources. With numerous old shipping containers available, no longer in active circulation, repurposing them for homes holds significant appeal. However, is a container home truly the most sustainable use of these containers? Many argue otherwise.

1. Ineffective Recycling:

Most factory-built container homes are constructed from 'one-use' containers that have only been used for a single trip. These containers, typically in good condition without dents or rust, are favored for building purposes. Yet, taking containers with extensive shipping life out of service after just one use doesn't constitute effective recycling. Moreover, a single container holds more steel than required to construct a house. If recycled as steel, it could yield enough material to create steel studs for 14 similarly sized framed houses.

2. Potential Structural Issues:

While shipping containers boast strength at their corners, their roofs often lack comparable durability, necessitating additional roofing, particularly in snowy regions. The corrugated steel walls play a crucial role in structural integrity. Any sizable cutouts for windows or doors demand new reinforcement. When containers are stacked to create larger homes, welding (an expensive process) is necessary for reinforcement at junctions that aren't corners. Subsequent renovations often call for significant engineering and welding work.

Can You Add a Roof to a Shipping Container Home?

Is it possible to add a roof to a shipping container home? While these containers are structurally reinforced at their corners, the existing roof might lack the necessary strength to support weight, especially against weather conditions. Individuals seeking container homes capable of withstanding external elements should consider the viability of adding a roof. Apart from functionality, a roof can enhance the visual and architectural appeal commonly seen in North American homes. Various roof styles can be incorporated into a shipping container home, with flat roofs, pitched roofs, roof terraces, and living roofs being the most prevalent options.

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