The tiny home trend hit the world by storm and hasn't let up. Their popularity has increased the number of modular homes, manufactured homes, converted vans, houseboats, and RVs across the country. Another common option for tiny homes is the shipping container home.
If you're considering building a shipping container home, you'll need to see how it fits into your budget. Let's look at shipping container home costs and the factors that affect this price so you can decide if a shipping container home is right for you.
This is for informational purposes - always check with your permitted authority or regulatory body first.
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What is a shipping container home?
To understand the value and costs of a shipping container home, it’s important to understand what this type of home actually is. Classed within the ‘tiny home’ family, it’s a small living space constructed from at least one standard shipping container. Often, multiple containers are welded together to extend the house (usually making it wider, but they can be multi-storey too) and they are modified to have the amenities you’d expect in a traditional house, including electricity, running water, sewage, and more.
What are the benefits of a shipping container home?
Shipping container home costs are a key benefit of these tiny houses (they’re pretty affordable!), but they offer other perks too. They are also:
Highly durable
As the frame, walls, ceilings, and doors are all made of tough, corrugated steel, shipping container homes can withstand extreme weather conditions and won’t bend under the weight of their contents. However, They don't last as long as traditional homes. Most last around twenty-five years with proper upkeep. If you don't properly maintain your home, its life expectancy may drop to about 15 years.
Quick to build
Traditional homes have wooden or concrete frames and take time to build from scratch. Shipping containers are manufactured and come as a ready-built frame. They just need to be modified to be made livable, which is a much faster process.
Uniquely designed
You can use your shipping containers to build a unique and creative home with a modern, industrial feel. Customization is a big part of the container home experience. Since you are building the home from the ground up, you can choose the layout and features you want. Many companies offer templates that help get the process started.
Lower cost to build
Shipping container homes cost much less to build than traditional homes. They are much more affordable than a traditional home of the same size. Even if you aren't looking for a tiny home and are instead looking to move into a more moderate-sized one, a container home could help you get more bang for your buck.
Affordable
This affordability can also make getting into your own home much easier. The traditional home-buying process means you usually need to save and borrow a lot of money. In sellers' markets, it gets even harder to afford a home. The option to build a lower-cost home means that even if you couldn't afford a traditional home, you might be able to afford a container home.
How much does a shipping container home cost?
The cost of a shipping container home can vary. But, on average, you can expect to spend between $25,000 to $80,000 for a single-container model.
Almost always, shipping container homes cost less than a traditional home of the same size. This is usually true even if you add the finest features to your new home. For example, a traditional home may cost up to $416,000. A shipping container home of a similar size would cost around $80,000.
Shipping container home costs explained
While $25,000 is usually the minimum amount you will spend on a shipping container home, a few factors affect the final price.
Land costs
You'll need a plot of land to place your future home. According to the USDA, farmland costs, on average, $3,800. However, you may end up paying several thousand dollars more per acre.
Farmland does not usually have access to utilities and other utilities, which you will need to add. In addition, it usually costs more to live closer to a city or more populated area.
Foundation costs
The foundation is a critical step in building your home. It keeps it stable and helps protect it from potential damage. With a shipping container home, you can choose from either a trench, slab, or pier foundation. Pier foundations cost the most, while trench foundations are the least. The average foundation starts from $3,000.
Container costs
You can choose to go with either a new or used shipping container. Most new shipping containers cost between $1,700 and $4,5000. However, some may reach up to $8,000.
Used containers usually cost less, but their price depends on the company you buy them from and how much damage they already have. Just remember these prices are for an empty container without any features.
Home size
As with most homes, a larger container home means a larger price tag. Most often, you get this extra square footage by adding on more containers. If you use multiple containers, the cost of your shipping container home can jump to over $250,000.
Type |
Cost |
Single-container model |
$25,000 to $80,000 |
Multi-container model |
$80,000 to $250,000 |
Customization vs pre-built
Most people choose to go through the process of designing and building their homes themselves. However, you can opt for a pre-built shipping container home. This option can save you a lot of work and effort. You don't need to worry about choosing what features you want to include. These types of homes come with everything you need. You just have to choose which options suit your budget.
If you do opt for a custom design rather than a pre-built one, you’d be looking at $250 to $400 per square foot, rather than $150 to $300 per square foot.
Features and upgrades
We all want our homes to be comfortable and beautiful. For this to happen, it means adding helpful features and changes we love. But getting these will drive up the cost of your shipping container home.
The exact price of features and upgrades will vary drastically based on what you choose to add. You can make simple changes or elaborate ones. Just make sure to leave room in your budget to customize your new home to be just how you want it.
Insulation
Installing insulation is a critical step in making your home comfortable year-round. It will keep it cool in the summer and warm during the winter.
You can measure your container to get an estimate of how much insulation will cost. In general, it costs between $1,000 and $8,000.
Amenities
Adding amenities will make your house feel homely and more liveable — though it will add to the cost of your shipping container home. You'll want to start with plumbing, electricity, and other utilities. Then, add flooring and wall coverings.
After this, you can add all of the other features you need. This can include lighting, appliances, and built-ins. The exact ones (and costs) will depend on what you want out of your home.
According to HomeGuide, the average costs of amenities include:
Amenity |
Cost |
Plumbing (including water heater, shower, toilet, sewage, and labor) |
$2,700 - $34,850 |
Electricity |
$4,000 – $12,000 |
Drywall |
$500 – $15,000 |
Flooring |
$300 – $4,600 |
Door & windows |
$1,000 – $6,000 |
Painting |
$500 – $6,900 |
Fixtures |
$600 – $6,000 |
Appliances |
$500 – $5,000 |
Will you choose a shipping container home?
When choosing whether to build a shipping container home, cost is certainly a factor you need to consider. Your new home will cost a minimum of $25,000 but could exceed $250,000, depending on your plans.
Make sure to get quotes and build a budget so you can decide if a shipping container home is the right choice for you!
Drafting up an example site plan is a great way to start visualizing your new home before you have to commit to any costly decisions, and MySitePlan can create a mockup in as little as 24 hours.
Shipping container homes FAQs
What are the potential disadvantages of building a shipping container home?
While the article highlights affordability and customization as advantages, potential disadvantages include limited space, the necessity of structural modifications, potential difficulties in obtaining building permits, and challenges related to insulation and temperature control.
How does the resale value of shipping container homes compare to traditional homes?
The resale value of shipping container homes can be lower than traditional homes due to their niche appeal and potential buyer reservations about aspects such as longevity and structural integrity. However, unique or well-designed container homes in desirable locations might maintain a good value.
What are common regulatory challenges faced when building a shipping container home?
Common challenges include zoning laws, building codes, and permits that might not be standardized for non-traditional housing types like shipping container homes. Each locality can have different requirements, making the approval process potentially complex and time-consuming.
Can shipping container homes be expanded or modified after initial construction?
Yes, shipping container homes can be expanded or modified by adding more containers or creating cutouts for additional windows, doors, and room transitions. However, structural integrity must be maintained, and modifications should be done under the guidance of a professional.
What are eco-friendly practices to consider when building a shipping container home?
To enhance sustainability, consider using recycled or upcycled materials for interior finishes and installations, installing solar panels, using rainwater harvesting systems, and choosing eco-friendly insulation materials. This not only helps the environment but can also improve the energy efficiency of the home.
This post was originally published on 2023-05-22, by Ryan Crownholm. It was updated on 2024-05-29 to reflect the most recent data.
