Are Shipping Container Homes More Affordable Than Traditional Options? Here's What To Know

Shipping containers have become trendy statement homes, sustainable solutions to a need for housing, and durable replacements for traditional homes at risk from climate change. Myriad variables go into determining the cost of a shipping container home, with your location probably having the greatest impact on the construction prices. The number of containers you use to build your home, the complexity of the design, and whether you're building in a city or one of the best states for off-the-grid living all factor in. But, at its most basic, a container home is more affordable than a traditional home, and construction time can be considerably shorter.

Standard shipping containers are 20 or 40 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 8 ½ feet tall. Because of their higher ceilings, the containers called high cubes, with a foot more height, are less claustrophobic. A new 20-foot container currently costs between $1500 and $3500, while 40-foot containers may run $2500 to $5000. Used containers are available at a reduced cost. A single 20-foot container converted into a home measuring 160 square feet would fall at the lower end of the size range of the last house-building craze — the tiny home. Those are typically between 100 and 400 square feet.

The average cost of building a traditional home, meanwhile, is between $100 and $200 per square foot. Keep in mind that the new construction home is more expensive, but the cost includes everything you need to move in except the furniture. A container will just be a metal box with a door.

Unless you intend to simply throw a mattress into your economical container and call it home, there will be added costs and design points to consider. Since the sides of most containers are corrugated, you lose about an inch of space along the sides. Containers are made of metal, so they get hot in the summer and cold in the winter. You'll need to calculate the cost of insulation and how much additional space it will take up. Another door or windows will add welding costs and, depending on placement, planning for ways to ensure the structural integrity of the container is essential, another additional cost. The land cost, plumbing, wiring, fixtures, finishes, and even the cost of permits add to the final total; even contractors may cost more because the project is unusual. A finished shipping container home will typically start around $150 per square foot, with the most expensive custom builds costing over $400 per square foot.

One of the biggest drawbacks to container homes is their shorter lifespan. Without proper care, they may only last 40 years. Another drawback is the effect some climates can have on the metal; it may rust if it's left exposed. Cladding the container or using the appropriate exterior paint is necessary. If your style isn't exceptionally minimalist, you should plan on using more than one container — there are some truly exceptional shipping container homes you have to see to believe. They can be placed side by side with connecting interior doors, stacked on top of each other with internal or external stairs, or arranged around a courtyard. Your imagination is only limited by the need to make sure the structural integrity of the containers is maintained.