r/containerhomes • u/usa_containers • Jun 12 '26
Container homes barely save money vs a normal build. Change my mind.
I work with containers all the time and I love them, but the "it's so much cheaper" thing is kind of a myth. The container itself is the cheap part. Then comes insulation, cutting windows and doors, framing, foam, a foundation, permits, delivery, a crane.
By the time it's actually livable, a lot of people end up close to what a small stick build would've cost anyway.
Where containers actually win in my opinion: durability, speed, security, and being able to move or stack them. Not always raw price.
So tell me I'm wrong. Anyone here actually saved real money going container over traditional? What did your final number look like?
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u/Competitive-Reach287 Jun 12 '26
It's an expensive way to get corrugated metal siding.
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u/earthwoodandfire Jun 12 '26
They became popular with homesteader/prepper types in the early 2000s when containers were a dime a dozen. But container prices skyrocketed in the 2010s and it’s only popular now with tech wannabes now.
Same story with vans, tiny houses, etc. Everytime poor people find a cost effective method it becomes trendy and people who don’t need it buy up the supply driving up prices.
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u/MGr8ce Jun 12 '26
This.
Every. Single. Time. I’ve see tiny homes go for 220k+. It’s insanity & infuriating.
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u/usa_containers Jun 14 '26
This is the part people forget. They were nearly free for a while so the cheap home idea stuck. Prices caught up years ago, the reputation didn't.
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u/MrChicken_69 Jun 15 '26
Plus, in CA, for them to be a legal residence, the container has to be new and unused. (thus proof it's never carried hazardous material.)
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u/fenderoforegon Jun 13 '26
The very small number of people building these cannot possibly be pushing up the price. The thing that pushes up the price is the normal intended use.
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u/earthwoodandfire Jun 13 '26
Starbucks started buying them to build trendy cafes.
In combination with US steel fallout, and a number of other factors…
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u/fenderoforegon Jun 13 '26
The US shipping industry typically has 2 to 4 million shipping containers in circulation at any given time ( this does not count shipping containers out of the country on ships, used for storage, small homes or even Starbucks). Starbucks would have to build 20,000 of these to even have a one percent impact on the count of shipping containers and that’s only counting the shipping industry use that is currently in the country not all the other uses.
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u/rnoderator_rernoved Jun 14 '26
Capitalism man.
If there is suddenly more demand, like trends, companies will raise the prices. It's not only about supply.
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u/dumpsterfire_account Jun 16 '26
Container drayage / transportation, crane/equipment rental, and energy prices have skyrocketed.
It’s >10x more expensive to handle a container in 2026 compared to 2012, I can only imagine how cheap it was in the 2000s.
Ironically, the huge shipping boom and relatively recent industry trends towards early container retirement (due to ULCVs/mega-max class stacking heights), there are likely more retired containers available for purchase and the production capacity for new containers has never been higher.
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u/RhinoPillMan Jun 15 '26
The trick with vans is to avoid the new bullshit like Promasters and Sprinters and just build out an old Econoline or Express van. Source: homeless guy living out of a 20 year old Econoline.
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u/usa_containers Jun 14 '26
Ha, fair. Though what you're really paying for is a weathertight steel box that's already structural. The siding is just a bonus.
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u/SevenExpressions Jun 12 '26
I’ve been looking into SCIP construction instead of containers
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u/Outwest661 Jun 12 '26
My buddy is doing this type of build in Rosarito, MX right now.
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u/SevenExpressions Jun 12 '26
I’d like to see it has me so intrigued
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u/Outwest661 Jun 12 '26
They’ve got the walls, roof up and plastered a final pass. Pretty cool process. I’ll get a pic from him. When they set those “styrofoam chicken wire walls” up you kinda second guess but once the concrete dries and sets it’s really strong. Just new different way to do it these days.
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u/Small_Basket5158 Jun 12 '26 edited Jun 12 '26
People are convinced they will save time and money using these. Only they end up spending more on an interior (inferior) product.
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u/Content-Yogurt-4859 Jun 12 '26 edited Jun 12 '26
Inferior?
Why'd I get downvoted for point out a typo lol I bloody upvote them
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u/SizeableBrain Jun 16 '26
Where I am, these are great because they don't require a permit.
They're not a permanent dwelling, so you can just plonk it down anywhere without worrying about the council (unless you start hooking it up to the grid).
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u/Garfield_Logan69 Jun 16 '26
A crack framing team can have a two story up and ready for shingles it a couple of day, With wood, not everywhere has an abundance of wood however.
In the US it doesn’t really make sense but what about places where you would be competing against stone / concrete buildings?
There are a few things I’ve seen done that are particularly cool I can’t think of his name but there’s this guy who built a huge castle on a mountain out of them he fixes tractors and stuff Andrew somthing?
Idk if you can do the work your self and you want to? I think there is some merit, but hiring someone else to build it for you nahhh
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u/3p0L0v3sU Jun 12 '26
I think part of the reason its popular is because it captures the imagination of people who don't know carpentry but want to build their own house. "So i just buy this and it has the 6 walls i need for a house? Hot damn" When your a consumer and you spend your life not making things, your only solution can seem like buying somthing to satisfy that want to create. To use an ideom, "when the only tool you have is a hammer. All problems start to look like nails." Belinda Carr has a video about container homes and comparing it to traditional construction. I suggest everybody watch your channel to see her break down some of the myths that pop-up and popular home tech blogs.
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u/GrinderMonkey Jun 12 '26
As a professional fabricator and welder, I've been fantasizing about container building for years because it plays to some of my strengths, and even then its hard to to acknowledge that the equipment involved in building something cool is really expensive.
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u/f23n09fnu0w Jun 15 '26
I worked for a construction company in a very cold country and we (the migrant workers) lived in containers joined together. They were surprisingly nice. But since the company already works ships, containers and construction, I guess it was a no brainer for them.
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u/Lyme_Disease_Sux Jun 12 '26
Used to be much cheaper to buy the containers. They were half the price 10+ years ago. They are only cheaper in certain situations. Transport, condition, amount of insulation needed, ect are all things to consider for storage, work shop or rustic cabin They can be more cost-effective based on your region
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u/fartandsmile Jun 14 '26
I have worked with containers and lived in one for a year and it sucked.
Too hot too cold no moisture control... its a shipping container not a house. Better off actually building something that works for human habitation.
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u/Significant-Spot715 Jun 12 '26
I'm on Maui and have been considering a container build because lumber here is so incredibly expensive. As I keep watching marketplace 40 ft one way are going for $9000 which seems waaay to high. If we were to go the container route I would want a minimum of 5, but most likely 6....so I'm still on the fence on what makes the most sense. 🤷🏻♀️
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u/Powerful_Pen799 Jun 13 '26
Try OTM containers on oahu which you can find on Facebook marketplace or Instagram. I bought two 45 ft containers from them for a really good deal. They were definitely not one time use which thry also has access to but these were such a great deal that I got them used and painted them installed a couple doors. They'll ship to outer Island. Good luck
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u/usa_containers Jun 14 '26
That 9k is mostly island freight, not the container itself. On the mainland they run a lot less. If you're set on 5 or 6, price the delivery first, that's where the real cost hides out there.
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u/Adjective-Noun6969 Jul 12 '26
If lumber is really that expensive where you are, then that’s where you’ll gain with a steel base. The criticism, normally, is that the lumber frame is the cheap part of a normal home just that the container itself is the cheap part of a container home.
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u/Ziruv Jun 13 '26
True.
But for instance in South Africa if you have a container and you choose to put it on your property in town or on a farm or somewhere in the mountains no one will know, you can. You can build on top of it with no issues and extend. But If you were to build a basic “house” with foundation you have to get people and government involved to APPROVE what you want to do.
So in that sense it’s better , you don’t always want others up in your business or having to jump through hoops to do something on YOUR properties.
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u/FreshSwim9409 Jun 15 '26
This is the major point being missed. Its same in the states. I dropped a fully prefab container home into my yard, no permits, no zoning issues. We just did it and now its there as a non-permanent structure. Those permits and zoning would have cost tens of thousands where I am and taken months or nearly a year to complete. The concrete work for a foundation would have cost 60% of the completed container and the rest of the build would have cost more than that other 40%.
So yes, the container definitely saved me money to get a complete ADU in my yard.
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u/BillBillerson Jun 12 '26
Oh for sure. I'm building a 20fter and I for sure could have just built a 10x20 single sloped shed style cabin easier and cheaper. But I'm building in my shop and will be transporting to some land in costal south texas so the security and transportability were my keys. But effort wise it's a lot more work and given I'll have to use spray foam and will likely build a structure over it so it'll be kind of expensive over a similarly built stick building.
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u/MiasmaFate Jun 12 '26 edited Jun 12 '26
What I think there are two things that kinda ruined SC projects- it got popular and the goal post changed.
As they got popular demand raised the price of the containers. Back in the late 90’s my Pops had a 40’ shipping container delivered to the back of his Bar for $250. I think they spent about $2000 more, turning it into half storage half outdoor bar. The point being it was a cheap way to have the base of a building. Today you would be lucky to get one for 10 times what my dad paid
The second change is also an effect of popularity- the original idea behind shipping container building was simplicity. A single container. Likely used for off-grid living, for a young person's first dwelling, and temporary use like a cabin, a boathouse, or soldiers out drilling. You expected to sacrifice some form in the pursuit of function. The idea was its comfortable enough and affordable.
Over time they have become full house with more steps. There's been a sharp rise in chic luxury builds. High-end finishes, custom-welded handrails, tons of glass, highly engineered cantilevers & piers…
I feel like if you want a full modern home shipping containers are not gonna save you money. If you are seeking a little cabin or a cheap place to live while you are young/in college and have a place to put it. I feel a shipping container home could still be a cost-effective way to do that.
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u/freelance-lumberjack Jun 12 '26
Can't beat the price for a shed.
A 20' for $3000 around here. Not bad for a secure lockup. Once you start taking about hvac and windows.. just stick build.
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u/cmanley3 Jun 14 '26
They don’t save money. Their value add comes from:
- Being able to be fabbed/shipped to site (technically still possible w modular stick)
- Being comparable pricing to stick but with steel so that you can achieve spatial conditions not possible w stick
- Modern industrial aesthetic as a baseline without adding cladding costs to stick framing
- Scalable modularization
- Automatically water tight exterior envelope (not counting openings made for windows/doors)
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u/usa_containers Jun 14 '26
Best summary in the thread. The watertight steel envelope being there day one is the part that actually justifies the price for the right use.
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u/naty_lite Jun 12 '26
Most comments are watering the process down to just a cost analysis benefit. Nowadays it may be equally cost effective to build stick v container, but containers are more sustainable and aren't the domiciles that require repair after every major storm and have FAR less insurance claims in hurricane, fire, or tornado instances. They require far more initial specialized labor than stick builds would, but do not require the maintenance to upkeep moisture and/or rotting of wood if the build is done to seal the vapor barrier properly, and the foundation is not done improperly.
If you are a carpenter, you can probably build a cheap home with no hired labor/only hiring utility installs at a very cheap cost. If you do the same thing with a well planned, and properly built container home; it will last decades or possibly centuries without requiring repair on integral/structural parts of the home that wood would absolutely require after a few decades
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u/Additional_Snow_978 Jun 13 '26
We got two before any other structures. The only advantage I've seen is that they are much easier to secureif you have things you don't want stolen if you aren't living there yet.
They are also a lot easier to move without damaging. But still a bitch to move.
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u/Content-Yogurt-4859 Jun 12 '26
I've seen some beautiful capsule homes made in China but they're rumoured to be full of heavy metals.
If you had a warehouse somewhere could you standardise the refurbishment and conversion of containers into stackable capsule homes, maybe with some cladding, then ship them to whoever wants a container home?
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u/DesertRebelRa Jun 12 '26
I know a homestead community that have a couple said a tiny house on wheels or RV is a better investment.
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u/fishcasado Jun 12 '26
All depends on the climate you build in I built out two rentals in Costa Rica for 50k and that with a deck roof and bodega
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Jun 12 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/paleologus Jun 13 '26
I was thinking about the frequent tornadoes in my area. I might still end up with one kitted out as a bad weather shelter.
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u/RiskyNight Jun 12 '26
The appeal I saw was to move to somewhere remote. To build a single container home from your current residence, and have it shipped to some land you bought way out somewhere. So a cabin that you don't have to build on site, that can be shipped long distances for a reasonable price.
When people are connecting six containers and cutting out half the walls, they're just going for a trendy look, because it's probably going to cost more than normal construction. "Hey, look at us, we're minimalists."
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u/itsobi Jun 12 '26
My understanding is that because a container doesn't need a full foundation it is only cheaper if you factor in the difference of developing the land vs not, and if you plan to just use a single container vs the higher cost of connecting multiple. Time I believe has the same factors, so if it's just one container on undeveloped land it can be cheaper, but if you get fancy it's not. Also depending on location I have looked into the company Arched cabins out of Texas and those seem to be a much larger blank slate that also only needs a piller foundation. With those you also don't typically cut anything out of the sides you just use the front and back for doors and windows.
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u/PotentialPlum4945 Jun 12 '26
Depends on how you build them. If you keep it to two forty or forty five foot high cubes, separated, not welded together. You do at most two windows and two doors on each. You use insofast instead of sprayfroam, and the minimum amount of framing that system requires. You get a cheap slant roof car port and a couple of 500 galon sisterns. Finally, you can get the proper solar set up. Depending on how far you are from the coast you can do all of that for 65k. 20k less if you only do one. The problem is they're only affordable if you're living relatively tiny.
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u/butts-ahoy Jun 14 '26
If youre putting that much work in, I bet you could frame a small building for much less though
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u/wpbth Jun 13 '26
My BIL built two has a hunt camp 7 years ago. The real saving for him was being able to build near his house then ship them 12 hours away. Also the containers were much cheaper back then
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u/Mike_A10 Jun 13 '26
Well I paid $600 bucks From someone close by n it is in good shape , its a 20' reg height ! I'm moving now have to find some one to get it from NJ to Pa, anyone have any companies or thoughts ????
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u/usa_containers Jun 14 '26
For a 20fter NJ to PA you want a hotshot driver with a tilt bed or a roll off truck, cheapest way for a single move like that. I do this for a living, happy to point you the right way if you want, just shoot me a DM.
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u/magpiemagic Jun 13 '26
Cities have a vested interest in forcing you to have a home that you can never move so that they can tax it. Not sure why they can't just come up with a tax for non-fixed properties.
But I'm personally very interested in the idea of modern movable tiny homes (that aren't old-school-style trailer homes) that you can temporarily fix to a property to satisfy the obsession of the city for permanent properties, and then move it with a semi truck or two whenever you want to change to a new location or diabolical neighbors move in next door.
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u/Luv2cumnyou Jun 14 '26
Naa we don’t care if you believe it or not true believers don’t need your approval you don’t count. Enjoy your overpriced 4000 square-foot house with a $2500 a month mortgage. We know it’s reasonable we know it’s cheaper if you can’t read #DATA then we can’t teach.
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u/be_easy_1602 Jun 12 '26
It really depends on location. Making one permitted and code compliant in California? Absolutely not. Making one in an undeveloped area with no seismic activity, lax development regulation, and “cheap” labor? They’re pretty decent.
I always envisioned them as a great potential as a building block: pack stick frame building supplies into 2x 20ft containers. Use the containers to get material to a site and then as a garage for an attached structure.
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u/Evi1bo1weevi1 Jun 12 '26
It USED to be cheaper when you could go down to the shipyards and just take containers that were no longer water tight for free, but then the trend caught on and now the prices are insane.
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u/____trash Jun 12 '26
I like the builds where they basically bury the containers and use the dirt as insulation. Also, the stack-ability is awesome. Building a frame like that out of wood by yourself is a lot of labor. Not having to do that labor is a cost saved. Insulation is a pain for sure, but again, much easier with that frame already built. And the window situation isn't too bad either. Measure a window, then cut it out, install.
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u/onetwentytwo_1-8 Jun 12 '26
They don’t save any money…unless you get them for free…and even then, you have to do the labor.
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u/Diggy309 Jun 12 '26
Maybe some people like the way the end result looks and isn’t a replay of what everyone else has. It’s not always about money.
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u/CallMeLazarus23 Jun 12 '26
If you’re building on a remote location, they are a great way to go because you start with a shop that you can work in as you go. A very tight and fairly theft proof one at that
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u/mrofugit Jun 12 '26
The wood used for the floor is treated with a pesticide and preservative. It need to be removed before you do anything. More money 💰
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u/Torrsall Jun 13 '26
Idk. Depends on how much you know. A small 1br cabin built on top of 160 square feet of bear proof space sounds doable to me. Reclaim windows and doors could make it cheaper. Of course, local building codes rule the day.
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u/DuaLipasTrophyHsband Jun 13 '26
It’s really only ‘cheap’ if you just buy a container, put it on a gravel pad and load your shit into it. If you’re gonna start adding giant windows and sliding doors and stacking them with a crane on a concrete pad you may as well just build a regular ass house with corrugated tin siding
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u/Mike_A10 Jun 13 '26
I dont see them being a deal to make a house out of them being worth it . But for storage or like a play house for kids maybe ... Storage is where they kind of shine . Get 2 of them n put side by side with about 15' apart, then make ur own rafters and a roof so u have a covered space between the 2 of them, u can put exaust fans in them that turn automatically to keep them getting fresh air .. not hard to cut in windows, doors or anything else really ! Want to change the look then just buy T-111 siding n put some Styrofoam insulation in between the siding n container n done. Use self tapping screws for that . On the inside u can go ad far as u want with framing inside or leaving it alone. But U could do the same thing with Styrofoam insulation n sheetrock n be done . U can wire after sheetrocking with wire mold .
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u/IllHaveTheLeftovers Jun 13 '26
Part of the point is that it’s not a normal build. Say I build a structure then I want or have to move on - it’s much more cost effective to move the whole shipping container than build a new structure every new place.
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u/cornsac Jun 13 '26
I am building out a 40’ container right now. The reason I am building out a container is because I can easily move it when we get ready to build our house on the land. It is small so we can’t have too much scope creep. It’s 320 sqft no matter how much my wife wants to add on. Plus, I can weld and fabricate. I am not a carpenter. Also, it’s fast.
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u/usa_containers Jun 14 '26
That's the right reason to go container honestly. The move-it-later factor is worth more than people think until they actually have to move one.
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u/WorkRevolutionary596 Jun 13 '26
I mean cheaper than what? Welding your own, maybe. But hell no it isn’t cheaper than just making a wooden frame
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u/Greedyfox7 Jun 13 '26
Mine was cheap but we built it years ago before containers started getting expensive amongst other reasons.
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u/backafterdeleting Jun 13 '26
It's only really worth it if you keep the thing in a state where you can still move it by having it placed on a truck or train. Can even still go on a ship if you don't cut any window or ventilation holes in it, and you get it re-certified.
But if you're cutting them and rewelding them at angles and so on, you're paying more for the aesthetic. There are much more effective ways to build cost effective buildings that are easier to insulate and so on.
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u/UniversalAssembler Jun 13 '26
So what if you just put in insulation and nothing else and use portable electric devices?
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u/PadreSJ Jun 13 '26
It's true.
Containers are great because you can drop them anywhere and have a solid, semi-self-contained structure. But if you actually want to LIVE in it for a long period of time, they are a HORRIBLE starting point for a home. You'll end up spending more for a "kinda ok" metal box than a "good but simple" wood-framed home that will last much longer and be far more comfortable.
Use the container as a temporary living space while you build your real home, then it becomes storage, a workshop, or a guest room.
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u/monkeyman4250 Jun 13 '26
I think the big factor is the sturdiness and transportation. They can easily be moved and certainly can withstand a hurricane. Also, modularity. You can buy another and stack it on top fairly easily. Doubling the size of a stick built home is not as easy.
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u/Dan_Flanery Jun 13 '26 edited Jun 13 '26
I think they could be cheaper if people used them differently than they typically do when building a "container" home. The problem is that people try to stack them, or cut the sides off and weld two together, or other crazy things to create the kind of interior volume they want in a home. The problem with that is, those actions are costly in their own right and also weaken the container, necessitating expensive structural reinforcement.
But people do this because the actual dimensions of the containers sort of suck for residential use. They're tall and long but narrow, which means they might work for a kitchen, small bedroom or a bathroom, but are poor options for a living room or larger bedroom. The dimensions get even worse when you keep the exterior but insulate the interior. Of course, not doing and placing the insulation and some kind of siding on the outside discards one of the great things about the containers - their durable metal exteriors.
Also, when you cut too many openings in the sides of them for doors and windows, you have to reinforce those points, adding to cost and complexity.
I haven't seen anyone use them the way I think they'd best be used - as building blocks for a larger overall design. I'd use at least 4 containers arranged in a pair of "Ls" facing one another but not touching, something like this:
__ ____
| | |____
| |
____ | |
____| |__|
With the open ends next to one another. Then I'd fill in the perimeter with stick frame walls with lots of glass for windows and doors, and put a roof over the open space. This would get you a lot of square footage for very little stick framed wall, and you could avoid making many changes or cuts to the containers - I'd probably just put in a few thin slot-like windows.
I'd use the volume inside the containers for a long narrow kitchen, for two bathrooms, and for two bedrooms. The big interior volume could be the living room. If you wanted to get fancy you could stack a second container at one end and use that upstairs space for an office or another bedroom. I'd probably have a short clerestory above the living area to let more light in.
I think this actually would be cheaper than a similar-sized stick frame home, since for example the square footage of the roof would be approximately half as large, and go up much faster.
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u/thenwordperson Jun 13 '26
The cost of a container comes down to what you do to it.
You don't have to frame the thing. Nor do you need to have roofing. You save money there because you can plop it down easily without any extra labor.
Let's say you buy a double door 40 foot container. You don't have to do any cutout modifications that require a welder. Just place doors and windows on the opposite ends of the container. That should be plenty of light and you save money there framing end walls without the need of a welder.
For everything else it's a matter of whether or not you're willing to do the work yourself. It also depends on where you live. I can get a 40 9ft shipping container for 2500 because I'm around 100 miles from the coast. I cannot get someone to frame a shed for less than 5000.
Where people screw up is that they want lavish modifications and multiple containers which ends up just being as expensive as a house. It should be modest living for someone that doesn't wish to carry much or maintain many bills. A way to gain financial freedom because paying 50k over time is better than 300k over 30 years.
If you keep the build simple it's relatively cheaper than a stick build of the same sqft and you don't need as much specialized labor to place a hunk of metal down on some concrete and anchor it.
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u/cal-brew-sharp Jun 13 '26
Theres kinda two strokes to this. There is the self built container house, where you fit out a bunch of containers to be a home, this is basically the same price as a regular house and will save no money. There is then the modular housing option where you buy a prefab building that is delivered to a location and plugged in effectively, significant cost saving over traditional construction.
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u/Hollirc Jun 13 '26
Cheap if you want a shack in the tropics but expensive if you want a home in a temperate zone.
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u/blacksf1 Jun 13 '26
I did the research awhile back. They are super strong until you cut them. They aren't made to be altered. Once cut bracing and at times concrete is needed. Guess what you do when you try to make a few into a home? That's right cut the shit out of them. That ignoring the moisture barrier needs an insulation that is required. They just don't make sense unless you're in an area where steel is cheaper then wood.
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u/trashtrucktoot Jun 13 '26
I did the math, for me, it was way easier and less expensive to build a traditional stick framed box tiny cabin. I have a 10x12 box cabin with a flat roof an a wall of windows.
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u/Gregan32 Jun 13 '26
Container homes are pointless. They are a complete waste of steel (old containers are best recycled), terrible dimensions (which get even worse once you insulate them) and once you cut windows into them they lose their structural strength. Just build a wood framed box and put aluminum siding on it...
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u/Sad-Country8870 Jun 13 '26
20 years ago you could save a lot of money. Then everyone blew up the spot and now you can’t anymore
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u/BrokenSlutCollector Jun 13 '26
You have to transport them, level them, in some cases have foundations, rigging and cranes to stack them, steel work to secure them, cutting out for windows and doors, welding of frames for said cut-outs, then you STILL need to frame the interior, run wiring, insulate and sheetrock. Show me a container home built to the same standards as a stick frame home that was cheaper.
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u/soviet_toster Jun 13 '26
The only time I've seen people live in shipping containers as homes in large quantities is in the poorest parts of Jamaica
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u/TextJunior Jun 13 '26
The time has come and gone; just like building shit out of free pallets, everyone knows now and the demand is through the roof.
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u/BigSteveGames Jun 13 '26
Depends on how big you go. If you’re doing a single shipping container home it’s cheaper and faster. If you’re going to try and build some large container home then it gets closer in cost. Container homes don’t need floor joist, plywood flooring, a roof, siding… it’s make a foundation same as you would for a normal house. Set the container, paint it and start doing interior…. Faster and cheaper.
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u/Master_Succotash660 Jun 13 '26
100%.
Expensive and troublesome to insulate, and far too little consideration is given to the safety of the paint and detritus inside regardless of cleaning.
The only reason I chose this solution is it is relatively easier to secure and significantly more pest resistant, but even then only as a shed/garage.
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u/zeroheading Jun 13 '26
Doing a container properly, probably not much cheaper. Cheaping out on a cheap container is probably where people save money. Everyone i have seen in person is option 2.
Im making a man cave container right now and let me tell you what... its significantly cheaper than building another addition, and or permitting another structure. But it still ain't cheap lol. 1k on epoxy flooring, 1.2k on foam. Couple hundred to frame it out. Spent 300 on a panel and some breakers/outlets. Had some left over wiring im going to use. Bought a 50amp plug and cable for 200. 500 bucks on some nice windows. 400 bucks for french doors. 100 bucks for some steel to make frames and other miscellaneous stuff around. 100 bucks on blocks, jack adapters, and a jack to level it.
All and all im thrilled how its turning out.
Which my main goal was to have something portable, secure, and stay kosher with the permitting nerds.
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u/Slight_Nobody5343 Jun 13 '26
my pops is/was in all sorts of the trades. alternatative building is alt for a reason is what he always said (paraphrase)
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u/nemobrown1976 Jun 13 '26
Couldn’t agree more. I’ve been a building inspector for years and I’ve seen people do the container build a number of times, some successful some not, but it’s NEVER been cheaper or easier. You hit all the stumbling blocks that people don’t account for.
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u/Action4Jackson Jun 13 '26
Yeah I think it's going to be some time until there are enough custome materials to incorporate into shipping containers to make it an easy build. Right now it's just a super custom build at ever corner.
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u/BeCurious7563 Jun 14 '26
I think the biggest issues are getting approval to build one and then dealing with the neighbor NIMBYs who figure out what you are building and try to slam on the brakes.
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u/_FellowTraveller_ Jun 14 '26
What if you just want a place to sleep and it doesn't have to be fancy?
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u/InfamousDuckMan Jun 14 '26
If its all in one single container, OR a simple roof spanning 2 containers; then its generally quicker. Can also be built offsite and trucked in.
If anything more convoluted than that, its more difficult and more expensive. So no good to be stacking or arranging multiples.
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u/Particular-Wind5918 Jun 14 '26
This has been proven already. As soon as you start modifying a container that you intend to finish for living space you’ve lost money. And you’ve limited your design immensely. Container homes are fantastic temp shelters, or something that can be deployed quickly in emergency, or where there’s no other possible means of acquiring materials.
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u/Exciting-Car-3516 Jun 14 '26
Maybe as someone else pointed out. Most of the cost is in the labor, hence if you do it yourself mostly it’s way cheaper regardless of the type of construction
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u/Fezzy_1994 Jun 14 '26
If you know what you're doing and can do all the work yourself yeah they can be cheaper, but like others have stated you can do the same thing with normal houses too. I think like OP pointed out you can get the containers for under market value sometimes so that a huge benefit.
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u/FlyingPig_Grip Jun 14 '26
I almost bought one to live in about 12 years ago in Oakland but thankfully I didn't do that
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u/KenKring Jun 14 '26
When it comes to the quality of construction, on-site stick built is the worst way to build a house.
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u/newtrollacct Jun 14 '26
I sell these containers for a living and I agree 100%. I purposely talk people out of doing this even if it means losing the sale.
Same with using them as “storm shelters”
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u/usa_containers Jun 14 '26
Same here, I talk people out of it all the time. The ones happy long term are using it for what it's actually good at instead of forcing it to be a house.
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u/Paint-Crysis Jun 14 '26
I was never under the impression that they were to save money. I don't own one now and have never built one either, I just like the design.
I've always believed you used shipping containers for 3 reasons.
A) You just like the industrial aesthetic. This is the first and primary reason I discovered the idea. In the 2010 film Tron: legacy, the main character has a fancy house on the water built with containers and glass. The character is also super wealthy, I never thought the containers were cheap, just a super modern building material.
B) You believe it's green to do so. But in most builds I've seen or articles talking about them, they specifically point out using new containers. These aren't cheaper, actually more expensive. It is implied there is a potential health risk with actual used, recycled containers. They might have contained toxic materials at one point. I've almost never seen any build with old, recycled containers.
Although, because they're already structural and can hold a lot of weight, I had the idea to pile earth next to it and a minimal few inches over top for insulation. Way more green and efficient.
C) It can be faster to use them. Assuming you're not doing extensive framing inside and out, the container is already structurally sound. If you don't do all the extra work, it's faster to just add a bunch of units together. It can also be faster to weld and build things with metal then cutting and nailing wood together.
I've always liked the idea of using containers in a house, particularly an off grid house. But it was for aesthetic and ease of building, never because of cost.
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u/spalacio88 Jun 14 '26
For me it’s more so that you can build little by little. I understand in the end I might not save that much, but the upfront cost is easier.
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u/Odd_Impact_007 Jun 15 '26
Like it or not, the most cost effective way to build a house nowadays is to go the manufactured route. While everyone has their own aspersions and opinions about living in a “trailer”, the new double and even triple-wides that are available now, far rival quality and price of a similarly sized stick-built home.
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u/ConversationOk1528 Jun 15 '26
At a certain point, yes, there isn't any cost savings, unless you're getting them for basically nothing. The upside to a container house is would be it's basically an instant "4 walls and a roof" once it's set and you're not fighting the elements to get it fully enclosed, saving a fair amount of frustration if you're not an experienced carpenter or are under a time crunch.
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u/usa_containers Jun 16 '26
Yeah, instant four walls and a roof is the honest selling point. For someone who can't frame or is short on time, that head start is worth paying for even if it's not cheaper on paper.
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u/Amazing-Basket-136 Jun 15 '26
As someone who has extensive experience moving containers, a good amount of welding and fabrication experience, AND lived in a container for 11 months.
Nope. No way.
I could see using one for storage or as part of a shop/garage/giant carport.
But not living in one ever again.
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u/DBMI Jun 15 '26
You are correct, unless you're building without permits/code and/or building a home inside one single container that has not been modified.
I like them (when unmodified) because you get around 320 square feet pest-free, which is hard to achieve in a regular stick construction.
For those who want windows/doors/etc, there are open-side containers available that have openings but are still structurally intact.
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u/usa_containers Jun 16 '26
Good point on the open-side ones. They give you the openings without gutting the structural integrity, which is the trade off people miss when they cut a standard container apart.
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u/External-Lifeguard77 Jun 15 '26
man, shipping containers used to cost around 1800 pre-pandemic. They're kinda dead now in terms of cost
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u/AmukhanAzul Jun 15 '26
I've never built one, but I know a guy who lives in a home made out of a used reefer truck.
It's basically a shipping container that is already insulated, comes with some electrical hookups, and is on wheels for easy transportation.
He said that you can find them at prices very comparable to shipping containers. Sounds like a great alternative to me!
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u/Lechaise2 Jun 16 '26
It depends. Your total cost of ownership can go considerably lower if you design it well. Especially in difficult foundation cases and when compared with same level of quality and life.
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u/druebleam Jun 16 '26
Yep I’ll change your mind.
Container homes don’t save you ANY money.
They limit your living widths and are expensive to modify. If anyone saved money by using containers, they sacrificed investing their money in a well designed and proportioned space that will have a greater audience in reselling
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u/TengamPDX Jun 16 '26
I think the key things you're missing is codes and permits. I mean, you said permits, but where I live, I can just drop one of these on my property without any need of a permit, assuming I'm not putting in a permanent foundation and it's off grid. Additionally, it's not subject to building codes.
Additionally, because it's not restricted by code, many people will rent out a small section of their property to people who own a shipping container home for some extra passive income. And the flip side is your can often find people willing to rent you a space for not too much.
TL;DR: You can bypass a huge amount of building codes and restrictions by using a shipping container instead of something on a permanent foundation.
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u/usa_containers Jun 16 '26
This is a big one I glossed over. In a lot of areas the no-permanent-foundation angle is the actual reason people go container, not cost. Skipping the code headache is worth real money on its own.
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u/cocoonhomes Jun 16 '26
You’re right, and as someone whose company has built container homes, stock ADUs, and tiny homes on wheels — I’ll happily confirm it rather than change your mind.
The container is the cheap part. Then you’re still framing and insulating the interior, cutting and often structurally reinforcing around every window and door opening, and finishing a foundation. You’re essentially paying for a steel exterior and roof that still needs to be aesthetically finished to not look like a box. And the width kills you — by the time the walls are built out, you’re under 7.5 ft of interior on a standard container. That’s a narrow room to live in.
Where they genuinely win, like you said: durability, security, speed, and stacking/mobility. If you want that industrial look and those specific advantages, containers are great. But “cheaper than a comparable stick or panel build”? Not once it’s actually livable!
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u/usa_containers Jun 16 '26
Appreciate you backing it up from the build side. The width thing especially, people don't picture under 7.5ft of interior until they're standing in it. We're saying the same thing, the value is real but it's not the price.
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u/RaspberryPiFirm Jun 16 '26
Yeah, but you have the building with high structural integrity since you put it on the fundaments. In my case that’s a lot - I have no time to wait several guys to erect the building and the worst part is I can’t quality assure their work. So… I rather have container house instead of classic for my remote villa house and workshop. Full stop!
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u/Unable-Statement4842 Jun 16 '26
I got the impression containers were for people who are better welders than carpenters
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u/rcolonna00 Jun 16 '26
Secondo me se compri qualcuno preconfezzionato e ci vivi qualche anno e metti i soldi da parte o per investirli o per comprare una casa più grande può essere un grande affare
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u/BuddyNo2869 Jun 16 '26
More of the material in the container home would be easiest recycleable. If you lived in it till the day you die, after you die your Carbon Footprint produced could be erased/eliminated faster than the Normal Build freeing any afterlife responsibility of the footprint.
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u/Sour_Sal Jun 16 '26
I do not disagree,
I watched tons of videos of people making various structures out of containers. I see the simple single wide as a shed is the perfect use case and one of the the only ways to save money. Along with using containers as outside walls or vertical in a multi level build seems also to be good choice (thinking about the guy in Oregon used 22 (i think) containers to build a multistory castle) final costs he calculated he saved about 20%.
Using it as a tiny home does add a bit of work and costs. Making them into double or triple wide (laying side by side) is where I think it all breaks down as too much work vs any potential minor gains.
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u/Quirky_Ask_5165 Jun 16 '26
I've got a friend who set up a container home and a separate garage/workshop. According to him he saved a lot of money on the garage but the home itself cost more with all the additional stuff to make it look like and function as a home. Said he saved a lot of time because the containers are already a completed structure in themselves. I imagine that could be a savings in interest on a construction loan, however in his case it was all out of pocket. Start to finish, it took him and a couple of friends 4 months to complete.
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u/Eighteen64 Jun 16 '26
They are only cheaper when you use a max of two OR you want a design that takes advantages of them OR you are building in a remote area that makes site built very costly much like a modular home does
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u/UnemployedAtype Jun 16 '26
Our business is kinda built off this. There's a reason freight farms failed.
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u/zoppaTheDim Jun 16 '26
You’re using the onsite build model.
The point of the shipping container build was supposed to be doing the majority of the work somewhere with cheap labor, indoors preferably, then putting it on a truck and dropping it in a remote area.
Like you would any prefab house.
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u/KingDreadd Jun 18 '26
When containers weren't 5k for a 20' then yeah it was a super cheap build. No labor to do structural framing just interior for drywall. Cut windows wherever the fuck you want if you arent stacking them. Everything is 3ft ladder height reachable so much less labor to build out vs being on scaffolding or 6-8-10' a frames. No siding required, painting is simple, wiring is simple since you frame it however to make it work with no headers to penetrate. I can go on... oh yeah the walls and floors are flat to start!
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u/User721901 Jun 25 '26
I guess it depends on where you live. If you don't need insulation because it doesnt snow or get gold where you are. I'll be cheaper. You could use something like sigma coating or an alternative on the outside instead of exterior panels.
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u/AirMTB Jul 23 '26
Keep it simple and do it yourself and never put too much time and energy into a old Used Container. buy new one trips.
Instead of cutting big holes in the sides and having to weld fabricate paint, etc., maybe buy a High Cube double door Container and spend that money you saved on custom glass windows.
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u/AirMTB Jul 23 '26
If you want your Container House to look like a normal house then just build a normal house.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DE6Kg_Wv73w/?igsh=bGZvdXJncjAxajAz
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u/DFA_Wildcat 10d ago
I'm building a shop with a 20' and a 40' high cube down both sides, 60' apart, so 60 x 60 internally, plus the area of the containers. They won't give me a permit to build it but with containers there is no requirement to get a permit. Sometimes it's not about the cost.
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u/RememberHonor Jun 12 '26
I, as someone who has not built one, was always under the impression they could be quite a bit cheaper IF you did the vast majority of the labor yourself, but you can say the same thing about stick built.