Aug. 11, 2025
Agriculture
Post updated on Sept 5,
A shipping container is a large box made of steel that is traditionally used for storage and to transport goods long distances. Shipping containers are constructed from Corten steel (or weathering steel) and come in a few different sizes, but the most common sizes of a standard shipping container are 8’x20’ or 8’x40’. They are built to withstand inclement weather and abuse during transport by ocean, rail or land, and usually have a shipping lifespan of 25 years.
A shipping container home is exactly what it sounds like: a living space constructed from a standard shipping container or containers, sometimes involving the welding together of more than one container to make a structure wider or taller, that is modified to have most of the things you’d find in a traditional house.
It’s likely you’ve heard a lot about people who are choosing to abandon traditional, larger, wood frame homes for “tiny homes” that are more affordable to build and maintain, more environmentally conscious and, ultimately, offer a simpler, more minimalist way of living. Right along with the tiny home movement comes container homes, which continue to gain popularity for many of the same reasons.
While BigSteelBox offers shipping container modifications such as adding electrical options like heat, lights and cooling, as well as insulation, windows and doors, we do not build or sell container homes. However, we do sell new and used containers to those planning to outsource the work or complete the construction themselves.
If you’re considering a build like this, but still on the fence about it, read on for some pros and cons of shipping container homes.
As mentioned above, shipping containers are made of tough, corrugated Corten steel, which can withstand extreme weather conditions and constant movement. Thanks to its strong steel frame, walls, ceiling and floor, it won’t bend or shift under the weight of its contents. Fun Fact: Some bridges are made from Corten steel!
Shipping containers are made to protect belongings from the elements when being shipped by sea, rail and land. As such, building a home inside of a shipping container (or containers) would provide the same structural and security benefits.
Shipping container homes can be completed much more quickly than the average new build home construction with a wood or concrete frame. This is true for a few reasons, but mainly it’s because container houses are built on a smaller scale than most other homes. Plus, the container structure itself (the frame) has already been manufactured and only needs modifications to make it livable.
Another pro to shipping container housing is that they’re portable! And because of their steel frame, you don’t have to worry about it bending or shifting in transport.
Depending on their size, container homes can be moved and transported by either a forklift for individual containers under 10,000lbs, or crane for larger container structures. Assuming the container house has electricity, water and septic, there will need to be proper disconnection and reconnection to those sources before and after moving it, but the structure itself is usually mobile and you could even move it to a different city if you wanted to.
According to Altus Group’s Canadian Cost Guide, building a traditional single-family home in Canada ranges from $100 to $275 per square foot, depending on where you live.
“Just like buying a house, Vancouver and Toronto are the most expensive cities in which to build a new home in Canada. In Vancouver, the process costs between $150 and $275 per square foot, while in the Greater Toronto Area it runs from $165 to $260 per square foot. Calgary and Edmonton, where prices range from $125 to $200 per square foot, are cheaper options.” Zoe Demarco, dailyhive.com
In addition to location, costs will also differ based on the types of material and finishes you choose to use, but on average, the cost to build a new 2,500 sq ft wood frame home in Canada, excluding the cost of the land/lot and other requirements (i.e. electrical and plumbing connections in a city or rural area), can range between $250,000 – $680,000.
Building a shipping container home is cheaper based on a few factors. Obviously, they’re built on a much smaller scale and you’ll need less materials to complete the interior, so the materials and labour involved will cost less.
The structure or frame of a container home is already there, so you’re actually modifying it versus building from scratch. As such, the main factor to consider when pricing out the “shell” of your container home is the number of containers you need to purchase for the home, and modification costs if more than one container will need to be cut and welded together.
To give you an idea of what it costs to buy a new 20′ shipping container in Canada, below is some pricing for reference. It’s important to note that pricing varies from city to city, and will also be impacted by availability, size and condition*:
*Prices above are excluding taxes, subject to change without notice, and do not include delivery.
After the cost of the container(s), the remaining work will also depend on where you live and the finishings and features you want. Smaller, more basic container homes can range between $25,000 to $40,000, while larger homes built with multiple shipping containers and more customized features can range in price from $100,000 to $175,000.
When constructing a container home, you aren’t limited by traditional building methods or designs. Shipping containers can be used in extremely unique and creative ways! A lot of these homes have a modern, industrial feel once they’re completed, which is popular within the “minimalism” design style.
While you’ll have to find ways to make the most out of a smaller space on the inside of your container home, this is actually another opportunity to get creative. Just be sure to do some research on the latest space saving designs and layouts.
To maximize the use of your space, choosing furniture that can be tucked away or used for more than one purpose is ideal when decorating a tiny or container home. For example, a wall bed (often called a Murphy bed) may be a good choice as there are styles available that allow it to double as shelving or a desk/workspace when it’s stowed away. There is also plenty of furniture and designs that have built-in storage, which that can be handy in a container home while also being stylish.
Wall bed photo courtesy of visualhunt.com.
On the other side of the coin, there are also challenges and downsides to building a shipping container home. Here are a few of the cons you’ll want to consider.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused many challenges for manufacturing and shipping sectors all over the world. Many factories were shut down and stopped production for long periods of time, which affected the supply of all sorts of goods. In addition, many shipping lines were closed or slowed significantly. Both of these factors directly affected the ability to produce new shipping containers in China and move them to other countries, like Canada.
As such, shipping containers have been in low supply and high demand since late , and while the industry is slowly recovering, it continues to affect their availability and pricing. Because most container companies in Canada focus on renting containers for moving and storage purposes or transporting goods, fewer have been available for purchase.
When building a container home it’s best to use “new” or “one trip” containers so that they will be in better condition and last longer. Due to the supply shortage and the limited ability to bring a new container from overseas, purchasing new shipping containers can be more expensive and take longer than usual.
Although a shipping container is a great option for temporary or long term storage, it is a very small space for a person (or people) to live in.
The average 8’x20’ container gives you 160 square feet of space, whereas an 8’x40’ container offers about 320 square feet of living space. There is the option to combine multiple containers to create a bigger space, but doing so will increase costs and time because there will be work needed to retro-fit them into one unit.
So, the main takeaway here is that you’ll need to think things through and be realistic about your ability to live in such a small space.
A shipping container can get extremely warm during the summer months if they aren’t well insulated and equipped with proper venting and cooling systems. Because containers are made from steel, without insulation they will absorb heat and warm the interior quite quickly.
This means you will need to add some type of insulation to your container, as well as a wall finish, vents and ideally a built-in air conditioner. If done properly, this can be done efficiently and look great in the end, but will take a bit of space away from your already limited square footage.
There is the possibility of health hazards associated with living in a shipping container home, but this con is more likely to be an issue when older, second hand containers are used. This is because there’s the possibility that chemicals were used to treat the wooden flooring, or the paint used to protect it from seawater during transport may release toxins.
So, while using new containers may cost more but be safer, some people want to use second hand containers to leave a smaller environment footprint.
“If you are using the new containers to build your home, then you need not worry about these (health) concerns as you can always dictate to your manufacturer, not to treat the floors or to coat the containers with harmful chemicals. However, using new shipping containers to build your home is sure to increase the cost and it also defeats the environment-friendly credits that you would have gained by using recycled shipping containers.” Susan Tora, Customer Success Manager at InnoDez
Using spray foam insulation, non-breathable underlay and flooring, adding vents and exhaust fans to help with airflow will help reduce the health risks, however, it’s still important to research this topic and discuss it with your contractor.
Because shipping container homes are a fairly new trend, most cities don’t have specific regulations in place for them. This may result in the zoning and permit process taking longer than usual, or even being denied.
In addition, each province will have its own building codes and requirements that must be met for it to be approved. This can include items like emergency access, alarms, energy efficiency and plumbing. We recommend contacting your local city planning office for more information about building codes, zoning restrictions, and permitting requirements for container homes, or find a contractor with experience in this area.
The fact of the matter is that shipping containers are not designed or built as living quarters so there are bound to be construction challenges. Unlike wood frame structures where a home is built from the ground up and leaving spaces for doors, windows, plumbing, etc., are part of the process, modifying a shipping container requires openings to be cut from steel walls, and you’ll likely need to get creative when it comes to putting in a bathroom. And, every “extra” you add will take away more precious space that is already scarce.
Also keep in mind that steel can rust if it’s exposed to certain elements and not properly protected. According to containerhomehub.com, rust occurs on shipping containers when they are exposed to moisture and oxygen, which leads to oxidation (the breakdown of iron-based metals). Rust can weaken the structure of a shipping container home and lead to additional problems, such as leaks and water damage.
“When left unchecked, rust can create serious problems for your container home. It can weaken the containers, which increases the risk of structural damage during a storm. Rust may also lead to gaps that allow moisture to reach other areas, causing water damage and leaks inside your home.” Gail Rose, containerhomehub.com
To prevent rust, shipping containers must be coated with a protective layer of paint or an acrylic finish to prevent moisture from reaching the steel underneath. You’ll also want to ensure you especially protect the roof from pooling water, install an effective gutter system, and repair any areas showing signs of rust as soon as possible.
Depending on where you live, there are likely a few companies that sell new and used shipping containers, including BigSteelBox. There are even some that will build your home for you and deliver it to your location.
Suggested reading:Jiacheng contains other products and information you need, so please check it out.
While BigSteelBox does not build container homes, we can complete a variety of modifications to your purchased container before we deliver it to you. Check out our Modifications section to learn more about those options.
Once a fringe concept, shipping container homes have solidified their place of interest in the mainstream for being durable, versatile, and aesthetically-interesting shelters for seasonal and full-time living.
No longer just for transporting goods from port to port, shipping containers—also called intermodal containers and high cube containers—can be successfully converted into everything from tiny homes and cozy cabins to multi-level compounds.
Interested in the possibilities and realities of container home living? This deep dive guide is for container-curious folks who want to know more about living life inside the box. In this expert-driven article, we share everything you need to know about custom container living, including pro tips on buying shipping containers and how to save some cash during your build process. So read on and dig in!
First things first, a container home is a small living space converted from one or more, new or repurposed shipping containers into a custom modern home. Since a standard high cube shipping container is typically 20 feet by 8 feet or 40 feet by 8 feet, shipping container homes have a minimum 160 or 320 square foot floor plan to work with, though depending on how many you stack together you can achieve considerable square footage quite easily.
Unlike traditional housing and other types of popular alternative living spaces like prefab or tiny houses, container dwellings have the added benefit of being easily scalable. And of course, the industrial aesthetic is truly unique, especially when set in a natural setting.
Built of durable, weather-resistant steel that’s made to take a beating during international travel, shipping containers are designed purely for function. As mentioned, modularity allows you to stack more than one high cube container to create a larger floor plan and overall living space within the scope of a larger container home design. Containers also have standard dimensions, which can make designing a home more straightforward.
Another advantage is price (more on this below). Shipping containers are relatively inexpensive with an average price of between $1,500 and $5,000 depending on size and whether it's new or used, making them much cheaper to build with than lumber and other building materials for a traditional house. A recycled shipping container is also an eco-friendly option because it utilizes existing materials rather than new.
Pro tip: aim to buy your container(s) in November or December, says Devon Loerop, owner and builder of The Pacific Bin, which in just one year has become the most followed home on Instagram. During the holidays there is usually a surplus of containers in North America, making it easier to find a deal and save money when buying used containers.
In the same vein as the increasingly popular Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), building a shipping container house is another way to utilize alternative methods to create more livable space—be it a guest house, vacation home, or even a workspace. By design, container homes are a fairly low maintenance and even transportable home that can be a great investment for the DIY-minded homeowner.
Like any dwelling, there are pros and cons here too, whether you’re building and buying. One of the main disadvantages of shipping container homes is insulation and temperature control. Steel is an excellent conductor of heat, which means that without proper foam insulation, shipping container homes can become very hot in the summer and very cold in the winter. Insulating a shipping container effectively can be a challenge, and it often requires adding insulation to both the interior and exterior, which can increase construction costs and reduce interior space. More on this further below.
Another common disadvantage of building with shipping containers is navigating building code and zoning challenges. Depending on your location, there may be strict building codes and zoning regulations that govern the use of shipping containers as homes—or even disallow them. In many instances building regulations have been established decades before the advent of innovative building practices like prefabrication, so it's not uncommon to find local regulations (and town committees, code enforcers, and building permit issuers) to be rather outdated and uncompromising. As such, obtaining the necessary permits and approvals can be a complex and time-consuming process—you may need to seek a number of variances in order to be granted a certificate of occupancy (CO).
For these same reasons, finding home insurance and/or construction loans by conventional banks may be tough for shipping container home owners and builders, too. Or it all can be super simple. It all depends on where you want to build.
In terms of design limitations, you can stack multiple shipping containers to create a house, but the containers themselves are not endlessly customizable. Picking your living room, sleeping quarters, door locations, etc is easy, but unfortunately heavy modification can reduce the structural integrity of a container, so keep in mind you will have limited layout options when designing your dream container home.
From turnkey properties to customized builds, shipping container homes come in all shapes and sizes. There isn't just one way to convert these steel cubes into an inviting space—there are two: purchase a prefab container home or DIY.
A prefabricated (prefab) container house is built off-site by a qualified manufacturer and arrives ready-made. The obvious benefit is owning an almost move-in ready home (you'll still have to take care of the land, foundation, and connect utilities) which eliminates nearly all of the heavy lifting and construction.
The major downside to this is having less freedom to choose key design elements such as the floor plan, fixtures, and finishings. However, the trade-off is a professionally built habitable structure. And it's worth mentioning that some prefab container home manufacturers can also assist buyers with the finer points of the area's building codes, zoning laws, and permit requirements, which may be factor into your final decision.
The DIY route is the only way to get everything on your list and have complete control in the building and design process. But this also puts all of the responsibility on the homeowner turned builder, designer, and project manager. Researching floor plans, sourcing and installing all of the materials, and selecting every last detail of the home down to the "studs" takes time. And be prepared to hire professionals for specialized jobs like structural reinforcements, plumbing, and electricity.
Shipping containers are designed to stack corner to corner, like you see on ships and in ports. If you want to stack containers in an unconventional way, or cut out big windows and doorways, it's important to note additional budget and work will be required. “If you're building a one-story container home, it's really a breeze. But the second you go up a floor, just know there's going be a lot of added costs and added structural reinforcement needed, especially if you're stacking in the non-conventional way,” explains Washington State-based builder Devon Loerop.
“When you turn containers 90 degrees and they're not stacked on the corners, and that's when you have to look at some serious structural reinforcement. It makes for a really cool design, but it's going be a bit of a headache. So you really want to do your due diligence and dive into understanding structural steel, what it's going to take to make your home 100% rock solid, and how that is going to affect the inside of your design.”
Want to build your own Pacific Bin? Loerop sells complete construction plans. Use code "FM20" to save 20% off.
Metal is inherently a bad insulator so condensation is quick to form when it’s hot inside and cold outside or vice versa. For this reason, closed cell foam should be used for shipping container homes because it acts as vapor barrier as well as an insulator. If traditional insulation is used moisture in the form of condensation can cause corrosion, mold, and mildew to build up over time, which can be hazardous and dangerous.
Now, closed cell foam can be expensive, especially if you have to reach a specified thickness for R value to meet inspection (keep in mind building codes and requirements will vary by location and climate). “I paid something like $32,000 to do a closed cell spray foam,” shares Loerop of his Pacific Bin build.
But in hindsight, this one clever technique could have saved him thousands: "A way to save a ton of money is to just apply a very thin layer of closed cell spray foam on the inside of your walls—like three quarter to an inch thick. That will add a little insulation but the main thing is it's creating a vapor barrier for you to then roll in typical batt installation. That alone will probably save you like $15,000 on insulating your home.”
Building a custom container home can be significantly cheaper than a traditional home primarily because of the smaller footprint and materials. Before the project begins, take some time to run the numbers and set a realistic budget. Below is an overview of the main expenses for a DIY container home build—as it goes with any project, be sure to round up!
The total should include the cost of land, the containers themselves (from $1,500 to $5,000), delivery, site prep, a foundation, and permits.
Like any new home build, the shipping container home budget should also include enough to cover the building materials, as well as windows, doors, flooring, plus other interior and exterior finishings to make the space habitable and aesthetic. Hardy DIYers can save money on paid labor in a container home build, but for others, hiring professionals or buying a prefab container home can be a necessary albeit pricier option.
Of course, the cost will increase if you opt for a larger floor plan (meaning multiple containers and more construction materials), high-end fixtures and finishings, and add-ons like a rooftop deck or outdoor patio.
On average, the minimum amount homeowners should expect to spend on a completely finished 40-foot container home DIY build is $30,000-$40,. For an itemized list and full breakdown of the costs of this type of build, check out this video from a general contractor who converted a 40-foot shipping container himself using high-end materials and no additional paid labor, for just $33,000.
As previously mentioned, a prefab container home will inherently cost more in exchange for a beautiful, high-quality dwelling. Scroll through our list below of modern prefab container home builders to scope out the wide range of prices and options available on the market.
Another cost saving tip from Loerop that's most relevant to rural builders of all project types pertains to property surveying. “I paid for like $8,000 for a site survey that was just completely not needed because I thought I had to be pinpoint accurate on where the home is located versus my construction plans,” Loerop shares about his property The Pacific Bin. But turns out, “if it's off five, 10 feet one way or another and you have four or five acres, it does not matter all that much. You can just open your and see the property lines on Google Maps and your location [while walking the property] and it should get you within five, 10 feet of accurate."
It’s little things like this that can save you considerable money on your total build cost. The beauty of doing it yourself!
ModBox Builders
Honomobo
Giant Containers
Love Container Homes
Uncontained Dreams
The Pacific Bin
The cost of a container home varies widely based on several factors, like the square feet, location, design, required modifications, permits, and labor costs required to install or set up the container. Generally, smaller container homes can start around $20,000 to $50,000 for a basic setup, while larger, more customized versions can range from $100,000 to $250,000 or more.
It can be cheaper to build a container home compared to a traditional house, especially with smaller or simpler designs. Ultimately, the cost comparison depends on various factors like size, location, design complexity, required modifications, and the quality of materials used
Container homes are typically clad in Corten steel, which is designed to withstand harsh marine conditions during shipping for about 10-12 years without significant corrosion. However, with proper home maintenance and treatment, container homes can last several decades.
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