Frequently Asked Questions About Shipping Container Homes

Updated On: December 3, 2021

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It’s been several years since we first published an article on constructing with shipping containers. Since then we’ve grown in size and are now fortunate enough to have readers from all around the world.

It’s a rare day now when a reader doesn’t get in touch to ask us a question or just to say hello!

Across all of the emails which we receive, the same questions tend to appear time and time again. So, we’ve decided to write up a frequently asked questions article to cover these things.

Q: What Are Shipping Container Homes?

First things first, what exactly are shipping container homes?

Shipping container homes are homes, offices or other buildings that have been built out of shipping containers. It doesn’t matter if the containers are new or used.  All that matters is that shipping containers were used to construct the building.

If you want to know more about where to begin with building your own, please read our getting started article.

Q: How Expensive Are Shipping Container Homes?

One of the main reasons why people build with shipping containers is because of their affordability.

A typical container home can cost less than $80,000.

We have previously written about affordable container homes and covered the cheapest 5 shipping container homes ever built. Read about how these homes were built from $20,000 to a maximum of $60,000.

If you want to know even more, please read our full-length article called How Much Do Shipping Container Homes Cost?

Q: How Do I Build My Own Shipping Container Home?

It’s fantastic that you want to build your own container home!

Building any type of new home can be challenging and container homes are no exception to this. But providing you are determined enough and patient enough, you will be fine.

If you are serious about building your own container home, we recommend looking at our guide. We wrote the guide to act as a one-stop shop for everything you’d need to know. It’s perfect for DIY enthusiasts to learn all they need to know about constructing their own container home.

Q: How Do I Insulate My Shipping Containers?

Without a doubt, insulating your containers is one of the most important aspects of the build.

If you don’t insulate, or if you get the insulation wrong, then your container home is going to be pretty unbearable.  It will be cold during the winter and too hot during the summer.

It can be confusing how to insulate your containers as there are so many different options available.  Read 5 methods to insulate your shipping containers for more information.

Q: Where Can I Find Shipping Container Home Plans?

It seems that one of the most popular things people email us for is to ask where they can find shipping container home floor plans.

In fact, we received so many emails about this that we decided to make our own!

We have plans for small one-bedroom container homes all the way through to large five-bedroom family homes. Check out our floor plans package.

Q: How Long Will My Shipping Container Home Last?

You should expect your containers to last for at least twenty-five years without any problems.

If you maintain the containers and keep on top of any rust then you can expect your containers to last longer. In addition to this, if you clad your containers with an external layer, such as wood, then you can expect your containers to last even longer.

The main thing that will reduce your container’s lifespan is rust. It is important to regularly inspect your building for any signs of rust. Treat any rust spots as soon as possible.

Q: In Which Climates Can I Construct A Container Home?

We have already seen container homes constructed in a variety of climates, ranging from the heat of Panama to the plummeting coldness of Ontario.

The reality is, providing you take the necessary steps and ensure that your containers are appropriately ventilated and insulated, you can build your container home in most climates.

Q: Where Can I Buy Shipping Containers?

Unfortunately, a national database of shipping container dealers doesn’t exist.  Still, it is a relatively straightforward task.

Your first step should always be to get in touch with your most local port and see if they sell directly to the public. Chances are they won’t, however, they will definitely be able to put you in touch with reputable dealers in the area.

If this approach doesn’t work, read our in-depth article about how and where to buy shipping containers.

Q: Is It Dangerous To Live In A Shipping Container Home?

As soon as people find out about container homes, one of their first thoughts tends to be, well, are these things safe?

This is a perfectly valid question.  The majority of people who are looking to build a container home have children.  It is especially important for the container to be safe when children and the elderly are present.

We won’t go into the details here, but read our article about the safety of shipping containers if you’re looking for that.  However, rest assured that if you take all the proper precautions and appropriate steps, then, without a doubt, container homes are perfectly safe.

Q: Where Can I Find Contractors To Build My Container Home?

The majority of people who want to live in a container home build them on their own, or with the help of friends and family.

Some people either don’t have the DIY experience or simply don’t have enough time to build their own container home, though, so they use a contractor.

The best way to find a contractor is to get in touch with other local container homeowners and speak directly to them.

You might be able to convince them to construct your container home.  If not, they will certainly be well connected within the local area and will be able to put you in touch with the right people.

Q: Which Type Of Shipping Containers Can I Use?

If you’ve read our article on shipping container dimensions, you will know that there are different types of shipping containers.

Sometimes, the variety of containers can confuse and overwhelm people when they are deciding which containers to build with.

By far, the two most popular choices are the standard 20-foot shipping container and the high cubed 40-foot shipping container.

Whenever possible, choose a high cube container, because they provide an additional foot of height.

Q: Why Do People Live In Shipping Container Homes?

Still not convinced about living in a container home and wondering what all the fuss is about?

When most people are asked why they are attracted to container homes, the most popular responses by far are cost savings and eco-friendliness.

To get more detail on these and other advantages, read our article about the reasons why a container home might be right for you!

Summary

We hope this article has managed to answer some of the questions you have about shipping container homes. We also hope you can also see how passionate we are about constructing with shipping containers.

If you’ve read this entire article, you will now know more than 95% of people.  You soon will have enough information and the confidence to plan, design, and construct your own shipping container home.

Let us know in the comments below if you have any more questions and we will do our best to answer them!

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Check out more great articles:

How to Cut Openings in Your Containers

Almost every container project design is going to require cutting a container in some form or fashion. Whether you’re adding windows, doors, or just expanding

12 Responses

  1. How do I insure my shipping container home? Told my insurance agent my plan to build this and she told me they dont know how to insure that! Any ideas?

    1. Try checking with a few other agents in your area. Basically, you need a company that has a more liberal underwriting policy and is willing to understand a more complex assessment of risk than the cookie-cutter policies they may be used to selling. These two articles about underwriters (https://www.irmi.com/articles/expert-commentary/the-underwriting-submission-homeowners-insurance) and the differences between agents/brokers/underwriters (https://www.coverage.com/insurance/what-is-underwriting/) may be helpful. Shoot us an email if you have any other questions or have a breakthrough!

    1. A garage is likely too small of a project for most designers unless you have something pretty grand in mind. On the simple end of what’s possible, it’s really just putting a few containers next to each other, welding them together, cutting out the interior walls and hole for the garage door, then mounting the door. It’s much easier to have the garage door in the ‘long’ side of the container, as the short sides are only 8ft wide and aren’t designed to have the corner columns cutout without substantial structural reinforcement. With three 20ft containers, you’d have a garage that is 20ft wide by 24ft deep.

    1. In short…kind of. A shipping container needs its own foundation, but you could build a traditional type house on top of it. However, we don’t recommend burying containers: they aren’t really designed to support horizontal soil loads, plus you’d have to coat them in something to keep damp soil from contributing to rust, etc.

    1. You definitely can, but doing so in a way that makes sense architecturally and structurally could be a challenge. It just depends on the design of your current home and what you intend to do.

  2. What kind of weight will the structure bear. I’d like to rebuild our deck (24′ long by 12′ x 8′ tall). I’d like to use the container as the base — very unsure of it’s weight bearing properties. would two 12′ long containers be better (more walls)
    thanks, Gary Domazlicky

    1. Gary, not sure we completely understand your question, so it may be better to email us via the “contact us” link at the top of the page. We’ll give it our best shot here though. It sounds like you’re wanting to build a deck on top of a container. This is possible, but understand that the roof of a container isn’t structural, and can actually visibly deflect from just a single person walking on it. The structural steel on the perimeter of the top of the container is stronger, but it’s hard to know if it’s strong enough for your use. A container is designed to carry all it’s load on the floor, and the stacked containers above it transmit their loads through THEIR floors, then down through the corner columns. Based on our understanding of what you’re trying to do, you’d likely need to do significant structural enhancements to build your deck on top. The other issue is the sizing you mentioned. Containers are typically 8′ long and 20′ or 40′ long. There are some rare models with different lengths, but the widths are always 8′.

    1. There are forms across the site (such as in the sidebar on the right of most pages) mentioning the two free chapters. Just enter your email address and we’ll add you to our email list and sent the two free chapters to you.

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