Complete Guide To Shipping Container Home Construction

Building a Shipping Container Home: Key Considerations

Designs for Shipping Container Homes

Choosing your container

This is the most crucial part of planning your converted shipping container home as it will impact a lot of your other decisions. Larger shipping containers come in standard sizes of 20 feet or 40 feet in length. However, you can combine multiple containers to create a larger home or a multi-storey design.

Some container companies will cut containers for you if you need a more specific size. You can also incorporate container variations, like high cube containers that are extra tall.

You can buy a new container if you want top condition, with no previous wear and tear. Buying a used container from a reliable container company is a good way to make your shipping container home more affordable. You can often request a fresh coat of paint in a choice of colours. Check how well-maintained they are - ideally, they shouldn’t need any repairs.

Size & layout

Your shipping container home design will primarily depend on how you plan to use it. How many bedrooms do you need? How much living space does your family need? Is this going to be your permanent forever home, a holiday home or a guest house?

If you live in a converted shipping container home full time, you will likely need more space and storage for daily essentials. You’ll also need to ensure your container home is well-insulated and comfortable year-round.

Tiny container homes are highly popular too. If your needs are minimal or you’ll only use the container occasionally, this can be an ideal retreat. You can make the most of any outdoor space and consider adding decking or a roof garden.

Aesthetics

Container homes often suit a minimalist, industrial look, but there are plenty of other options for a shipping container’s interior design. You could lean into an eco-friendly, natural style, which can suit a woodland or coastal landscape. You could also make it more traditional and cosy, or a blend of these.

You’ll be limited by floor space in a shipping container home, so think creatively. Make more of your vertical space for things like storage. You can also consider space-saving design options like loft beds to use all of your container’s height.

Keep an open mind and start collecting ideas from magazines, Pinterest and anything you spot in real life. Take inspiration from other tiny houses and maybe start with every self-builder’s favourite TV show, Grand Designs.

Traditional or off-grid container home

Choosing between on-site utilities or an off-grid container home will impact many other parts of your project. With off-grid, you can utilise natural, renewable options like solar power, rainwater and composting toilets. It's an ideal option if you’re committed to a more sustainable, eco-friendly lifestyle. You’ll be recycling a container and limiting your home’s environmental footprint.

While you might relish self-sufficiency, an off-grid container home isn’t practical for everyone. Unless you’re financing your self-build entirely with cash, on-site utilities might be required for a mortgage - making your home more sellable if you default. Off-grid offers independence but it also means managing utilities yourself, which you might not have the time or skills to do. On-site options can still be sustainable, but without the extra work of off-grid maintenance.

Insulation and temperature control

Temperature is one of the greatest challenges for a converted shipping container home. Metal walls can heat quickly in warm weather and get very cold in winter without proper insulation. Over time, moisture and condensation can cause problems like mould and corrosion damage.

A living garden roof can improve insulation, and there are many other options. These include spray foam insulation, ceramic coatings, reflective foil and radiant barriers. You can incorporate natural ventilation into your design. You can also add awnings and use a solar cooling system to cool your space.

Creating container home plans

Standard and ready-made

Once you have a good idea of your dream home, you have a few options for sourcing your shipping container home plans. You will find numerous standard floor plans or blueprints online and also purchase ready-built container homes. However, it can be hard to adapt these if they don’t match your own vision (or budget).

Tailored architect designs

Starting from scratch might feel daunting but an architect with experience of container homes or other non-standard homes will be a huge help. They have the expertise to create bespoke container home conversion plans that reflect your style. An architect will also ensure your home meets legal safety requirements, including building regulations. They can advise you on a range of other areas, including planning permission, and help you maximise your space.

Mixture and modification

A cost-effective halfway point is to buy a shipping container home from a container company that will fit basics like windows, doors and power outlets. Removing sections yourself risks damaging the container’s structural integrity, so it’s best to ask an experienced engineer. You then have the freedom to develop your own interior design ideas with the peace of mind that you’ve got a structurally sound start.

Budget: How much do shipping container homes cost to build?

Container homes are often seen as more affordable than a traditional bricks-and-mortar house. The truth is they can vary enormously. You can build a cheap container home, but you can build one just as costly as a regular house, or even more. It’s important to be aware of all the costs of a shipping container home build.

Container costs

This is probably the main cost you’ve thought about. Container costs are based on size and whether they are new or used. They can go up and down depending on global demand, so it’s always best to get a quote. If you plan to build a single tiny shipping container home, then these costs will be lower than one using multiple containers. But the container itself is just the start.

Land costs

The price of land varies depending on factors like size, location and whether there are any existing utility connections. It’s worth remembering that a container home will usually take up less space than a traditional house. A larger piece of land in a desirable location with all the utilities in place will be more costly. However, smaller and cheaper land in a remote area might lack enough access and be more difficult to connect to utilities.

Preparing land for your container

Even if your container home is going on land you already own (e.g. a garden guest house), you will have some site preparation costs. You’ll need to level the area where the container will go and ensure there’s enough access for the container to be installed. Unless you’re building an off-grid container home, you’ll also need to consider connections for water, sewage and electricity.

Planning permission

As a permanent structure, it’s likely your container will need planning approval. If your land doesn’t have planning permission for a shipping container, you will need to add on the planning application costs. These vary so you should check your local planning authority’s website.

Construction costs

Are you planning a completely DIY shipping container home project? You’ll still need to consider materials like insulation, flooring and paint, plus tools like drills and welding equipment.

Building a DIY container home brings a lot of challenges. You might save time and reduce costly mistakes by hiring some professionals. Their knowledge and experience can be invaluable.

For some tasks, like electrical wiring, you will almost certainly need to hire a qualified professional. Even if you don’t, you must notify local Building Control before beginning work. You will also need to have the work inspected and tested before it is connected. Due to a container home’s metal structure, there will be additional considerations for electrical safety sign-off. These are important elements for legal, safety and insurance purposes.

Interior design

You’re probably going to have to think differently in how you decorate and furnish a container home. From the kitchen and bathrooms to multi-functional bedroom and living room furniture, you need to account for the costs of your new minimalist home.

Other container costs to consider:

• Utility installations
• Land surveys
• Building regulations sign off
• Access road
• Maintenance

Can you get a mortgage on a shipping container home?

Yes, you can get a mortgage for a shipping container home project. There are lenders who specialise in mortgages for unusual properties that use non-standard building materials or construction methods. As a metal-framed structure, your shipping container home would come under the ‘non-standard’ category.

As well as affordability factors, lenders consider how easy it would be to sell the home. The container will usually have to be a permanent structure, with foundations and utility connections planned. The mortgage provider will want to be confident that the sale value is enough to get their money back if you default on payments.

You can reach out directly to specialist lenders or speak to a mortgage broker familiar with unusual builds. It helps to have a detailed construction plan and land that’s ready for development.

Although there are many different things to think about compared to a traditional home, building a shipping container home is highly rewarding. Professional expertise can help you save money and get more enjoyment from your new tiny, minimalist or cosy home. A clear vision combined with detailed plans and cost calculations can ensure building your dream home goes as smoothly as possible.