How To Build A Shipping Container Home With A Small Budget

How To Build A Shipping Container Home With A Small Budget Blog Cover

Updated On: December 21, 2019

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One of the most common reasons people want to build shipping container homes is that they can be built relatively inexpensively.

In a recent article, we discussed the cheapest shipping container homes ever built.

This isn’t to say that the cost is the only reason to be living in a shipping container home. There are lots of reasons why living in a container home has become so popular.

To construct a shipping container home on a tight budget, you need to be savvy. It is to your advantage to know exactly where you can skimp and save money, but also, where to spend money to get the best results.

If you want to learn how to be savvy about shipping container homes, keep reading.

Plan, Plan, and Plan Some More

Budgeting and Planning Shipping Container Home

If you want to construct a container home while on a tight budget, the first thing you need to do is to develop a good plan.

Without a comprehensive plan, you will be improvising throughout the construction process, hoping for the best. This is an undeniable way to run into serious problems along the way.

There are two key elements to planning.

  1. Establish your budget. Decide how much money you have to spend on constructing your building.
  2. Decide exactly what it is you want to build. How many rooms will your building have? How many stories will it have? Will you be building with new or used shipping containers?

Don’t Make Simple Mistakes

The easiest way to lose money when building your new home is to make simple, uneducated mistakes.

One of the most common mistakes made is removing excessive amounts of steel from the containers. This mistake is sometimes made because the owner has not properly planned the build. Perhaps they don’t know exactly how they want their container home to look, so they experiment or “wing it” as they go and end up cutting too much steel away.

There is nothing worse than wasting materials which you’ve already paid for, especially when you’re working on a tiny budget.

Make sure you read 5 mistakes to avoid when building a shipping container home.

Which Containers Are Cheapest?

Which Are the Cheapest Containers to Build With

One of the largest expenses when building a shipping container home is actually purchasing the shipping containers.

Choosing the right containers is absolutely crucial to both your budget and the success of your project. The first decision you need to make is whether to buy new or used shipping containers.

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to which type to buy, but here are some points to think about.

  1. Only buy used shipping containers if you can see them before the purchase.
  2. Whichever type of container you buy (new or used), make sure that they are all the same brand. Manufacturers use slightly different measurement tolerances when making the containers, so building with different brands of containers can sometimes be problematic.
  3. The most cost-effective containers are one trip containers. These are shipping containers that have only been used once. They are not containers which have spent years at sea!

Choosing Where to Spend Your Money

A great way to help reduce the build cost of your home is to spend most of your money on the things that can’t be altered and skimp on what can be altered later.

Know Where to Save Money

For example, purchase the very best shipping containers that you can afford. Don’t skimp here. You can’t replace or change the containers once you have constructed your building.

However, if you need to cut costs, consider that fact when choosing fixtures and furnishings, carpet, or paint. Since each of these things can easily be changed or upgraded at a later date, you can delay the purchase of expensive items until a later date.

Another way to conserve money over time is to choose building materials that require low maintenance. A good example of this is using a metal roof. These require very little upkeep once they have been installed.

We want to emphasize that you should not try to save money on the structural components of your shipping container home.

Track Every Dollar Spent

And when we say every dollar, we mean every last one of them!

We often hear stories like this from builders: “During construction, money was just flying out of my bank account from all directions. Soon I realized that I was running out of money.”

With additional costs thrown in by the contractor for a misunderstanding and a last-minute kitchen upgrade or other unexpected expenses, you can be left trying to save every cent for the last few months of the build.

Make a plan. Stick to the plan. Record all expenditures to make sure that you are on a budget. This way you can identify any areas of concern and make adjustments as needed to stay on track.

You can guarantee that there will be unexpected costs, but if you plan sensibly and stick to the plan, you will be able to build an inexpensive home for yourself.

Salvage Local Materials

Salvage Shipping Containers

A final tip is to try to use salvaged materials. You’d be amazed at the things people give away for free!

As they say “one man’s trash, is another man’s treasure”. And, you get the benefit of having a ‘greener’ build in the process when you reuse these building materials.

One place to collect salvaged materials is from demolition sites. You can often get materials for free or cheap, providing you transport the materials yourself. To be clear, we are not suggesting that you take materials without permission. Always ask the owner first.

Summary

Choosing to construct your building out of shipping containers can be a great way to save money.

Plan everything thoroughly beforehand to limit issues that come up during construction.

Once you’ve planned, make sure you stick to this plan. Track each dollar you spend against your budget.

To save money, you can purchase one trip containers which are normally a few thousand dollars cheaper than new containers but offer the same benefits.

Visit local salvage sites to reclaim unused building materials to save even more money.

Do you have any other great ideas for how to keep your costs down when constructing a container home? Let us know in the comments below.

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51 Responses

  1. Hi Tom I am trying to make my dream house possible. I would love a go green house made out of shipping containers with enough space to fit my family and I. My husband and I have 3 kids and need space for all of us. I have a layout and every thing I want for the house thought out to make it as cheap as possible but I don’t know what to do next. I have a plan on paper but I don’t know how to go about getting building permits and codes handled. I want to build in linden Pennsylvania but have no clue where to go. and I don’t have all the money in the world to go and get a tun of contractors and a construction crew. I was hoping to build it my self with the help of a few friends that having some construction background. Any advice on how to get started?

    1. Check out some of our recent interviews, like those with Bill and Becky in Ohio, or Rick in Florida. They faced some of the same challenges.

      https://www.discovercontainers.com/diy-container-home-ohio/
      https://www.discovercontainers.com/riverfront-container-rental-florida/

      You’ll need to go pay a visit to your local building approvals office and they can let you know what is required. Obviously, things get more difficult if you’re in city limits, but certainly still doable.

  2. Tom, I am planning a vacation home on the Texas Gulf coast and someone mentioned the idea of building a container home. I still have much research to do to see if this is a viable option, but was wondering how such a home would hold up in a coastal environment and hurricane area? Additionally, how do insurance companies view container homes in terms of risk?

    1. Containers, like any metal, will rust if left uncoated and exposed to salt spray from a coastal environment. So, it’s important to keep them painted, especially if you buy a used container. Containers are certainly durable for a coastal environment (they are after all designed to hold tens of thousands of pounds and cross oceans without failing), but all cuts and penetrations you make for windows and doors weaken the structure, which is why its best to work with a structural engineer to account for this and add reinforcement. Insurance companies could be a big hurdle, and unfortunately, we don’t have any resources in this area. If you are the first container home they’ve encountered, getting their buy-in will likely take a while and require some documentation that an engineer could help with. If you move further down this road, we’d love to hear more about your project. Best of luck for now, and keep researching!

    2. I live in a container home in Houston and it has held up GREAT to hurricanes and storms lol you will be fine on the gulf coast

        1. Not exactly sure what you mean. You certainly need a fresh water supply for your kitchen and bathroom. That can be provided by your city unless you’re off the grid, in which case you’d need a trucked-in water supply or a well.

  3. Hi there,
    I live in England, in West Sussex actually (an hour south of London) and am really interested in building my family home out of containers. At present I live in a 1800ft house which is quite comfortable for me, my wife and 2 children. What I really want is something twice the size (12 x 40ft containers). Whatever help you can supply plan wise, internet sites, etc, would be really helpful. Also, do you have any contacts in England who you could introduce me to?

    Kind regards

    Adrian

    1. Adrian,

      That sounds like a great project, and certainly on the upper end of container homes as far as overall size. If you explore the rest of our site, you’ll find many posts related to all facets of designing and building a container home that should be helpful. Whether you choose to do some of the work yourself or hire a contractor, it’s best to get familiar with the construction methodology so you know what to watch out for. Additionally, the book and plans pack we sell has a lot of good information on building a container home, as well as 50 different plans that might be a source of inspiration. As far as contacts in England, we don’t yet have a list of geographic resources, but it’s something we’re looking into adding. Best of luck and let us know how it goes!

  4. Hi Tom,
    I was wondering if you’ve ever heard of anyone turning a container on its side to get more floor space? I was thinking of doing this and removing the roof and adding a 2 foot row of windows along the top edge to extend the ceiling height. Would this be feasible or would it be too unstable? Also, would that be too much added expense compared to just putting two containers together?

    1. Hi Danielle,

      We think it would cost more to do what you’re suggesting than just simply using two containers together. Also, it would have severe structural implications…

  5. I was considering the following for a roof, which may be a cheaper option. Purchase a a longer container than base container. cut two sides diagonally and place it on the top.

  6. Hi,

    I recently purchased a beautiful property in Alaska(we can get down to -50) in the with a view. I am on a very tight budget let’s say under $10,000. Do you that a conex would be a good idea in this environment on this budget? I will be doing most all of the work myself and water will be supplied via a water tank and no plumbing so I’ll be using some type of composting toilet. I’m hoping to get a small kitchen and washer and dryer in it as well. and more of an open floor plan.

    Thank you in Advance,

    Tabitha

  7. Hi everyone. I was a DOD contractor living in in Iraq for 4 years, and majority of time I’ve lived in improvised housing units made out of shipping containers. Iraqi desert is very rough during summer times, with usual temperatures of 120-145 degree Fahrenheit. I am not sure what isolation they have used on walls, but roof had no isolation at all. If the AC was on (small window Carrier unit), the room was fine. With out, it was a nightmare. I am no expert, but I assume that with 1 inch of spray foam all around, there should be enough insulation to keep heat or cold out. I am looking forward to building shipping container home myself, because I believe they are great ways to save money and time if planned properly.

  8. Hi Tom, I’m looking to build a container home, do you know of any institution that offers financing? Also, what do you think of using spray -on ceramic coating for insulation and protection from rust?

    1. Hi Maggie,

      In terms of financing, there really aren’t a lot of great answers. If you’re paying a builder, some of them offer financing. If you’re doing it yourself, there are owner-builder loans, but they can be a bit difficult to get. Feel free to email us to discuss more.

      As far as spray-on ceramic coatings, they probably help with rust, just like any number of other coatings. And they likely help with solar radiation. But calling them ‘insulation’ isn’t really accurate. Read more in our heat transfer article here: https://www.discovercontainers.com/essential-knowledge-about-heat-transfer-in-shipping-container-buildings/

      1. Hi, thanks for the input on the ceramic spray. I live in Florida and I’m hoping for a lender who would lend in FL. Thanks again

  9. Hi, I live next to the water and was advised against containera because of the salt water and the damp hair likely causing too much rust. What sorts of treatments are used for this?

    1. Hi Nakita,

      Are you referring to treatments to fix salt water damage, or are you asking what’s the best way to prevent this?

      Let us know and we will do our best to help you.

    1. Hi Kilee,

      We are currently working to compile a list of contractors to add to our resources section however at the moment this isn’t complete. For now, send us an email and we’ll do our best to help you out.

  10. Hi, I have read wonderful things about container homes. I live in Karoo in South Africa where summer temperature gets in the high forty degree celcius and was wondering if containers could be used here. Could insulating the walls and roof be enough to combat the exterior metal heat?

    And another question, normal homes that are build with bricks and cement do not rust, will this not be a problem with containers?

    1. Hi Riaan,

      Thank you for getting in touch.

      If you use the correct insulation type and enough of it then yes it will be enough to combat the exterior heat.

      Also with regards to the rust, if you maintain the containers properly then rust will not be a problem.

  11. I have started planning my first container home but How do i fix the studs for the inner wallson to the container?

    1. Hi Stivard,

      You can use self-tapping screws to attach top and bottom plates to the containers; however, we typically recommend against options that penetrate the container’s skin. Depending on your configuration, you may be able to screw into the horizontal metal beams at the top and bottom of the containers without penetrating the corrugated metal skin. If not, other options include welding tabs you can screw to, using adhesive, etc. Then just use studs to frame out your container.

  12. Hi, I just came across your website and am new to the shipping container home concept. I’m curious about the pricing. How much square feet can you get for 50,000.00?
    Thanks-

    1. Hi Shanda,

      It really depends on the design and what you want the final version to look like. Send us an email and we can help give you an idea.

  13. I just purchased some land in the high desert of calif and these tips are gold. The insulation tip was a ” I had no idea,” moment. I’m planning on getting 3 containers to place on my land. I’m taking my time in looking for the right containers due to the extreme heat and high winds. Is the foundation standard? Oh there are no special permits required.

    1. Hi Jax,

      We’re glad the tips are helping.

      Due to the structure of a container and the way they are designed to be used, they don’t require a full slab or even perimeter foundation (though it won’t hurt if you do use one of these). Containers are designed to take the forces from whatever is in the floor and transmit it to the four bottom corner castings. This is where you need to support the container. For 40ft containers, some people often use an additional two supports in the middle of the long side to minimize deflection (flexing). We recommend having each of these supports firmly attached to the ground, and then rigidly attaching the container to the supports to prevent the container from moving in cases of high winds, flooding, etc.

  14. Eh Tom, I’m thinking of making our new home out of shipping containers and I want to do the work my self.
    How do you fix the containers together and fix the studded walls inside to the container.

    Thanks

    Steve.

    1. Hi Steve,

      To connect the containers together, you can either weld them or bolt them together. Welding is the more common choice; however, if you are planning on moving the containers in the future, bolting can give you more flexibility.

      1. If there’s a choice between welding and bolting, but welding is apparently very expensive, why would you go down that route rather than bolts?

  15. Love love the idea of Container home and thank you for all the info you’ve posted. I own a lot in a gated resort like property in Dubois, PA, and thinking of having this kind of a home for my retirement in a couple of years. Would you know if anyone has done such a job in that area? Can you recommend?

    1. Hi Emma,

      Thanks for getting in touch!

      Send us an email and we’ll be happy to talk through this with you.

    2. Hi, I am looking for an experienced local contractor in Central, PA any ideas??
      ALSO, Hello Emma, I am very close to your location, a little past Clearfield, PA! Were you ever able to find someone in our area to work on your container home? We have a 2 bedroom house we use as a camp along the river and are debating on building another small 1-2 bedroom there for our daughter as she gets older. We are fascinated in the idea of a container. I would love to hear some hard info on the pricing and such but have been unable to find ANY contractor in our rural area that has ever worked with them in the past and really hoping to go with someone who as built at least one. In fact everyone I have contacted has not only not had any experience, but are also not sure they would be game to even do the project. Hope all is going well with your project and look forward to hearing from you!

  16. Hi,
    I love this project but i have no idea about all the component of this project and how can i paint it. I would love to know every thing about it
    thanks.

      1. Hi Tom
        I asked about permission build containers homes in city Lehigh Acres Florida(Lee county)
        They answer me
        “Are required to be designed to the current Florida Building Code (Foundation thru roof) and be signed and sealed by a Design Professional who is registered in the State of Florida. Container homes cannot look like a container for zoning purposes”
        Is not a clear answer for me if it is allowed or not?
        Whath do you think Tom ?

        1. It does sound like they are allowed, but with two caveats. The first one is common for most municipalities and is just to ensure that the home is built safely and securely to code. That is done by having the design stamped by a licensed engineer in your state. The second caveat is not as common but is related solely to aesthetics. They want you to clad the container with another material to disguise the fact that it is a metal shipping container and make it appear to be more traditional construction. It will still be a container underneath, but wood, stucco, or other materials will need to be used on the exterior to match the character of the neighborhood.

  17. Hi Tom,
    I was wondering if the cost you mentioned of $ 50,000 for a home. What was the Square footage of the house. Did it include the cost of land [If so, how much?]. Do all states allow this kind of construction? Does the cost include, all the permits and licenses, registration and the like. I am very much interested in building, at $ 50,000, if the square footage is 1280 with a small yard and a 1 car garage – I would be very happy. My state is Michigan.
    Thanks and Best Regards,
    Rao.

    1. Hi Rao,

      The home was 1,075 square foot and the total figure did not include the cost of the land. This is only one data point and your cost may end up being higher or lower depending on a number of variables. There are no statewide prohibitions on shipping containers, and most application laws and regulations are made at the local/municipal level.

      1. Hi Tom,

        Is there anyway to learn more about this specific design/build? Looking to invest in/build my first home, and as a young professional, I’d like to do it in a way that leaves me not completely burdened with debt. This seems like a very viable option. Thanks so much!

        Brian

        1. Absolutely Brian.

          If you look through the rest of the website, we regularly feature DIY container home builds and break them down in terms of pricing.

  18. I was wondering what about using metal studs instead of wood to frame out the home…be cause I don’t want to have to deal with termites later down the road.

    1. Hi Handzie,

      Yes, you can certainly use metal studs instead of wood. They do tend to cost more, and unless you physically separate them from the container’s corrugated skin, they can aid in the negative effect of thermal bridging. Check out our articles on heat transfer and condensation for more information.
      https://www.discovercontainers.com/essential-knowledge-about-heat-transfer-in-shipping-container-buildings/
      and
      https://www.discovercontainers.com/container-condensation-science/

  19. Tom, I’m taking your advice and beginning with a plan. How I insulate will affect the overall design….form follows function I guess. I really love the look of the raw container. Something like the container of Hope by Garcia. If I use spray foam insulation on the inside, will the roof hold up to the elements or do you recommend building a secondary roof on top of the container to both add some slope and to add longevity to the container?

    1. Hi Ivan,

      The roof of a container is certainly durable, but because it is flat, melting snow or rain can leave standing water on top. As we’re sure you know, standing water is no friend to exterior metal. So, if your container is used, a good roof coating is necessary. The purpose of ‘second roof’ is less about resisting the elements and more about blocking solar radiation. However, if you’re in a cold-weather climate, you may not want to block that radiation as it will lower your heating bills. Check out our article on heat transfer for more information: https://www.discovercontainers.com/essential-knowledge-about-heat-transfer-in-shipping-container-buildings/

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