Shipping Container Homes: All Your Questions Answered

Shipping containers provide an inherently affordable and secure structure for building a home. Because they were originally designed to safely transport goods around the world, they are built to be waterproof, fireproof and crush-resistant. Millions of these containers are abandoned each year, so they are abundantly available and can be purchased for as little as $2,000.

Shipping container homes are also eco-friendly when built using recycled containers. When a standard 40-foot container is repurposed to build a home, approximately 3,500 kilograms worth of steel are recycled. With millions of these steel boxes sitting unused, that means a lot of steel that can be recycled for use as building materials.

And these are just a few of the benefits of building with shipping containers. Those we’ve listed here are some of the most common reasons builders choose this method rather than sticking with traditional construction materials.

Do Shipping Container Homes Rust? How Long Do They Last?

Since they are made of steel, rust is a common concern. Many containers are manufactured using Cor-ten steel that is strong and resistant to corrosion. While this material slows rusting and corrosion, it doesn’t stop it completely. In areas with high rainfall, excessive humidity, persistent fog or salt-laden air, container homes tend to rust faster and may not be a suitable option. They tend to survive the longest in dry climates and in areas that have alternating wet and dry weather.

When designing a shipping container home, it’s important to take steps to minimize rust. Reducing exposure to the elements can make your container home last significantly longer. If rust does develop, it needs to be removed immediately to prevent it from spreading and getting worse.

The lifespan of a shipping container home varies depending largely on the environment in which it is located. Generally speaking, though, a home built from used shipping containers should last about 15 years without any major maintenance, and one built using new containers should last about 25 years. By using an effective form of external cladding, you can extend your home’s lifespan by several decades. Keeping up with maintenance and removing rust as soon as you notice it will also extend your home’s life.  

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Shipping Container House?

Just like the cost of building a traditional home can vary dramatically, so can the cost of building one using shipping containers. If you build using recycled containers, you can pay as little as $2,000 per container. New ones, of course, cost more. You also have to take into consideration how many you will require and the cost of additional building supplies. From start to finish, the cheapest single-family homes built using this method cost between $20,000 and $60,000. The average shipping container home costs less than $80,000.