What does it take to build a shipping container house?
Building a container house may seem simple. Just connect two, three or however many used containers in a house. The final cost of the container house includes more than just a couple shipping containers, though, because naturally you need to arrange the containers and building site, and outfit the building for living.
The price of the package is important. But the price of the what’s in the shipping home is also important: doors, fittings, finishes, heating …
NOTE: There are photos to illustrate the sizes of these containers and the types of homes at the bottom of the article. It might be best to go down there and look through them first, so you can know what’s being explained. You can also refer to the images as you go along.
HOW MUCH DOES A CONTAINER COST?
To build a house you need a container or multiple containers. They come both new or used. A container can be purchased from your dealer. Suppliers are often in large commercial ports.
40 foot container: A container costs between $2200 and $3300 US.
It takes one or two containers to build up a cabin or a small house. The shipping containers come painted. Transportation and installation of the package has an additional price. An old container can cost much less, but you have to buy a waterproof container, so make sure it meets that requirement.
The price of the container also depends on the manufacture, and on the quantity purchased. The price to buy 1 or 10 containers is not the same. For a good price, the used container is a better deal. The best solution is to go to a port or containers are numerous and where providers are also numerous.
Shipping containers are closed metal boxes, and there are different sizes of containers, but 40 meters is the largest and most widely used construction container. This container produces mainly cube-shaped houses. These houses can be considered a byproduct of the industrial international transport to a degree, and are environmentally friendly in the sense that they re-use what is otherwise no longer needed.
20 foot container dimensions: Length : 6.058mm Width : 2.438mm Length: 2.591mm. Internal dimensions Length : 5.910mm Width : 2.340mm Length: 2.388mm. Opening Width : 2.346mm Length: 2.282mm cubing : 33,2m. Maximum weight : 24.000kg Tara : 2.080kg Load 21.920kg.
40 foot container dimensions Length: 12.192mm Width : 2.438mm Length: 2.591mm. Internal dimensions Length : 12.044mm Width : 2.342mm Length: 2.380mm. Opening Width : 2.337mm Length: 2.280mm Takeoff : 67.6 m. Maximum weight : 30.480kg Tara : 3.550kg Load 26.930kg.
Location considerations: In a hot climate beach-side location, like the interesting tiny house in Sri Lankan (photo below), a shipping container house can be built with materials on and around the site, including a few domestic containers and deconstructed remains of old wooden boxes from weapons. This container house was built with a single container. The waterfront home is located right on the beach, and you can see how well suited it would be considering the heat of the country and the breeze coming from the open water.
Construction container is trendy, it’s increasing in the world for both emergency shelters and for for modern and contemporary construction.
This house is not a house in France. The orange is a popular color for containers! This modern home has been designed with just shipping boxes. The modular boxes are assembled by connecting two under a single roof. All overlooking a bay window instead of a wall. The industrial style is real, but it is a special home because of its unique design.
Here is a small house project container with solar panels for home energy. The possibilities are endless with containers and multiple projects are possible.
Because this building style is a growing trend, architects around the world are working on these concept homes. Some are covered with wood, so they do not appear to be made with metal once they’re finished.
As some might guess, the container house is also popular where labor is cheaper and where people have less money, such as China. In fact, China ships shipping container homes around the world, competing with American, European and other companies.
Why build a house with containers?
The first is probably price. Even if you can’t afford to build a wooden house from a builder, you may have enough to be able to afford a shipping container design.
Also, if you want to save money by building the house yourself, you might not have the experience for framing with wood.
Container houses are strong.
A container is a very sturdy structure. They are stacked 8 levels on top of each other, filled with a maximum load 26.5T. A container can carry 213T. So stacking for houses is something the shipping container is capable of. However, attention has to be paid how they are stacked.
They’re also suitable for any size of house – small or large – and any type – for example, single dwelling or large apartment complex. They can also be added on to or split up to modify the building design.
See our list of shipping container homes and designs we’ve featured here. See our directory of shipping container homes for more information about them. Gallery of examples:
