Construct Shipping Container Houses – How To

It goes without saying that people are turning to Green living just to extend their will to live.

In this context, shipping containers have turned out to be the cheap alternative to traditional methods of building, especially when you consider bringing the building cost down with the help of tenacious readily available material.

what could be better than transporting an accessory that is capable of carrying heavy material across the seven seas. The good news is that these shipping containers can be easily transported to any location of your choice. They do not need additional a deep foundation but can be mounted on concrete blocks and fastened on to them. They are simply one of the easiest homes to install anywhere.

Farm houses, sheds, offices and tiny homes are easily erected with upcycled shipping containers. The aesthetic value is not compromised in any way, and you can let your imagination run wild when trying to design your own container home, either in a remote location or right in the heart of your city.

How To Construct Shipping Container Homes – Complete Details

When you are building your own container home, you must be familiar with several aspects of methodical construction that may be quite different from what you experience with traditional building materials.

Activating livable space with a steel frame is not as easy as it looks. You must be able to maintain consistent temperatures and use alternate sources of energy to run your home.

Other accessories are needed to complete the project, which you must have in hand before you start the project.

Also, you must be aware of the approximate time needed to erect your home. For instance, a single tiny home using shipping containers can be easily assembled within a month or less.

Factors In Favor Of Shipping Container Homes

Shipping containers are made of tenacious steel that can withstand heavy loads. they have been specifically designed to carry shipments across the seas.
They can withstand heavy weather and have high resistance against rusting.
They come in modular sizes that makes it easy to transport them in ships, in trucks, and via rail.
They are made of steel that can be recycled, thereby allowing the industry to save millions of dollars by using less raw material – iron.
Shipping container homes can be assembled in very little time by DIY home makers without the use of sophisticated drilling and construction equipment.

Factors That Do Not Promote The Use Of Containers As Building Material

The frame does get a bit hot, and insulation must be used to prevent leakages from joints and notches.

A shipping container can be mounted by a heavy trailer. The process is costly. A crane may cost around $250 per hour, and transportation is not easy.

They come is standard 20-ft and 40-ft container sizes, so custom and unique houses may be challenging to attain.

This is a new concept, so municipalities may not agree to the use of shipping containers as building blocks in the city.

Container Home Costing Benefits


Take the cost of a standard 20-foot shipping container. The cost would be around $3,500, depending on the age of the container and its present condition.

A one-use container may cost $5,000, while WWT (wind and water tight) containers that are used to carry load on several trips may cost less.

Smaller places demand smaller containers. A 40-ft container would be useful in the farm, while a 20-ft container would be more useful in the city. Transportation charges may also vary, depending on the weight of the container.

If you plan on staying at a specific location for more than 5 years, opting for a one-use container is ideal, as these containers come with warranties that extend to around 10 years.

Delivery Tips That May Save Cost

Choose a location where your container home can be easily fastened to the support. For example, in an area that is prone to storms, cover the back of your container with earth for added support. You will save cost on concrete blocks and your container home will be safe.

Buy your shipping container from a reliable source. Find out if the cost includes delivery charges.

Choosing a location that is far away from the coastline is going to increase the delivery cost. Also, transporting the container to a hilly region is likely to increase delivery costs.

Ideally, hire a crane to deliver and prop the container at the location you desire. It will be easily for the crane to access your property even if a proper road is non existent.

5 Shipping Container Houses To Consider

If you are looking for an Eco-friendly alternative to the traditional way of building houses, then consider shipping container houses. They are way cheaper and very easy to assemble.

You have probably seen hundreds of shipping containers piled up one over the other at your nearest dock.

Many have found these containers can withstand heavy loads without losing shape. They are very portable; however, You must have complete plans at your disposal before you start the project.

Here are 5 pointers to help you make your choice.

shipping container plans
Best shipping container plans

1. Consider a 20-foot container home, if you are short of space. These containers are available in standard sizes of 20 X 8 feet. If you want a bigger house, make use of 40 X 8 feet containers.

2. A 20-foot container will provide around 160 sq. ft. of indoor space. Space doubles when you use 40 X 8 ft containers.

3. The cost of a shipping container will vary as per usage. If you use a one-use container, it will probably cost you in the range of $7,000 to $8,000. Shipping containers used to carry loads accross the seas are usually much cheaper and will be available anywhere between $1,500 to $3,500.

4. Affordability is a major factor when deciding on your container house. Some prefer to assemble a home in the wild made of just one container. Water is stored in bins. Solar energy is used to generate electricity.

5. Art Deco homes are the latest to enter the shipping container arena. Use your imagination and creativity to build the home of your dreams. All you have to understand is how to implement new designs into a structured plan that already exists.