17 Cool Container Homes To Inspire Your Own | Homesteading Ideas (2024)

Container homes are what you would imagine them to be. Rectangular, cozy, built from shipping containers, and cost way less than regular homes. Looking at container homes' designs ignited a crazy idea in me.

Forget about a cabin in the woods. One of these shipping container home plans is up for building. Continue reading for your own shipping container house design idea!

RELATED:15 Incredible Self-Sustaining Homes For Your Homesteading Passion

Container Homes You Wish Were Your Own!

17 Cool Container Homes To Inspire Your Own | Homesteading Ideas (1)

1. Elegant Modern Container Home

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While this is an elaborate design for a container home and anything but a tiny house, you'll love this. After all, it can pass for an architectural marvel. It's an ultra-modern home for those who want to keep up. With straight lines and floor-to-ceiling windows with glass panels, it's anything but recycled.

2.Luxury Shipping Container Home

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Check this lovely tiny house listed in homes for sale at a jaw-dropping price of only $35,000! You never get cozy prefab homes at less than $40, 000.

For your home extension or a guest house, spare yourself the hefty construction price. With 160 square feet of living space, you can have this complete with furnishings. It is also water and electricity ready via RV-style connections.

3. Modern Container Beach House

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Beach houses and holiday homes cost a fortune, but we all love to have one. It is a good investment and it shouldn't break the bank to build. These beach container homes look promising though some frown on the idea.

There are building issues to consider such as the weather and maintenance costs. Check out the interior of this container home and see if it makes you smile instead.

4. Modern Design Container Home

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Container home plans build from either single or many cargo containers. This modern container home used four shipping containers. The lower levels of the container home's exterior used pre-rusted corten steel.

The upper levels use expanded metal sheets. It also features floor-to-ceiling windows. And the interior is also like every other home.

5. House Built With 5 Cargo Containers

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This couple built this stunning house from 5 shipping containers. Whatever your concerns in a shipping container house, it's about to change. Take a tour of their container homeand get inspiration for your own project.

6. Container Home And Studio

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If you're a minimalist, you'll love how this design managed to keep the original exterior of the cargo container. It gives it a rustic feel but the inside is still a homey and sweet vibe. If you have shipping containers for sale near you, this design is perfect.

7.Shipping Container Guest House

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With this guest house design, your guests will definitely feel at home with the privacy of a separate dwelling. Watch out! They might stay a few more days beyond their scheduled leave. View the interior of this container guest house and you'll see what I mean.

8. TinyScale Shipping Container House

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Even a single container home can provide you with the amenities of a regular home. Check out the interior of this container home as design inspiration for your own project. With double shipping containers, they make great single-family homes.

9.Alterra Glamping Shipping Container Home

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So you like the outdoors but dare not sleep on the ground? Build a long-lasting camp house without the expense of using shipping containers. Check out the interior's floor plan for more ideas here. Take container living to a whole new level with this stylish shipping container house.

10.Tiny Container Home

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With this design idea for a container home, what matters is the inside. View the interior of this unit and see the possibilities of a container home. Don't you find it cozy and welcoming too?

11. Container Guest House With Eco-Roof

No room for a guest house and a garden in your small yard? Take this container ideal for a guest house with an eco-roof. This is sustainability and economy at its best. Take a tour of this container home here to get ideas for your own container home.

12. Cool Costa Rican Shipping Container House

Inexpensive and stylish, this container house is simple yet luxurious. This design for a container home is perfect for lakeside or the mountain. The floor-to-ceiling windows will allow you a 360-degree view. View the floor plan here to see the possibilities for your own.

13. Stylish Cargo Container Home

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This container home design had megoing wow! You know it's built with cargo containers but the transformation is amazing. For minimalist homesteaders, nothing could be more perfect. Take a tour of the interior and check the floor plan. It's a tiny house with a great and cozy living space.

14. Modified Sea Container Home

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If you don't want traces of a sea container to reflect on your home's exterior, you can always improvise. Apply paint or conventional wall panels to better suit your taste. Take this modern container home with a touch of traditional materials. Use wood panelingfor the exterior wall to hide the original cargo container.

15. Container Studio With A Garage

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Check out this design for a container studio that may well be your home, too! It has a two-door garage with an outdoor staircase. But you can make arrangements for a staircase indoors.

16. Rustic Container Country House

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‘Necessity is the mother of invention', indeed in this shipping container farmhouse. Check out the interior of this humble unit that rivals those of conventional homes. For minimalist homesteaders, this container home is fantastic.

17. Nomad Tiny Shipping Container Home

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Now, isn't this one of the cheeriest container homes you've seen? It's a prefab container home with cozy living space of almost 200 square feet. It is also solar-powered, perfect for off-grid living with style. Wait 'til you see the living space interior design and it's sold!

Want the basics of building a shipping container home? Check this infographic!

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As with anything else, there are advantages, disadvantages, downsides, and plus sides. Building a house, or homestead structure for that matter is not without its issues.

Building a house from a recycled shipping container, or container living isn't problem-free. Well, it sure didn't stop a lot of homesteaders from trying their hand at it!

Want to see more? Check out the most amazing shipping container homes from Sheltermode:

There you go, homesteaders! Home and building ideas using shipping and cargo containers. With shipping containers, you can build a home extension, a guest house, or an entire home.

Now you know you can recycle shipping containers into your dream home without costing you a fortune!

Which container home got your attention right off the bat?Let us know in the comments section below!

A true blue homesteader like you will dig these design ideas for self-sustaining homes!

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17 Cool Container Homes To Inspire Your Own | Homesteading Ideas (2024)

FAQs

What are the cons of building a container home? ›

The Cons of Living in a Shipping Container Home
  • Appliances Don't Always Fit. ...
  • Building Permits Can Be Difficult to Get. ...
  • Contractors Are Hard to Come By. ...
  • Issues With Insulation. ...
  • Need to Consider the Climate. ...
  • Safety Concerns for Used Containers. ...
  • Shape & Size Limitations. ...
  • Reinforcing Sometimes Needed.
Aug 22, 2022

Is a container house worth it? ›

Shipping container homes are durable but may lack the longevity that traditional houses have. A custom container home can last 25–30 years with proper maintenance, but a standard home generally lasts much longer than that, especially considering homes are passed down generations and still stand the test of time.

Are container homes hard to cool? ›

While sturdy and durable, a shipping container's steel walls can get very hot in the summer and cold in the winter. That means you'll definitely need insulation if you intend to use the container as a living or working space, or if you plan to store temperature-sensitive assets such as electronics or perishable goods.

Why are people building container homes? ›

Building a shipping container home typically requires less labor than building a traditional house, which can result in lower overall construction costs. Additionally, performing the work yourself can save money compared to using specialized container home builders.

Why do container homes only last 25 years? ›

When maintained properly, a shipping container can last upwards of 25 years or longer. The lifespan depends on the condition of the container and the environment in which it is kept. Although they are built to resist harsh climates, its' lifespan can be cut short by wetter, saltier climates.

Do you need a slab for a container home? ›

Soil Types Make an Impact

Thus, containers placed directly on the ground tend to sink in the long term (think months to years). However, a container placed on a hard substrate like granite may never need a foundation or a gravel pad, while a container in a bayou may always require concrete pilings.

What is the cheapest tiny home you can buy? ›

For a more affordable option, DIY kits can range from $10,000 to $20,000 for a simple design. According to Rocket Homes, a stationary prefab tiny home can range anywhere from $35,000 to $68,000, while a mobile prefab tiny home averages between $60,000 to $80,000.

How to heat a shipping container home? ›

What You Should Do to Make Your Shipping Container Home Warm & Cozy
  1. Insulate your home. ...
  2. Use wooden burners. ...
  3. Buy electric heaters. ...
  4. Curtain your windows. ...
  5. Use double-glazed windows. ...
  6. Rearrange your furniture. ...
  7. Fix your flooring. ...
  8. Keep all doors closed.
Nov 21, 2022

What size shipping container is best for a house? ›

20 foot shipping containers are the most popular size for moving because it usually holds everything from a 2-3 bedroom home. Most people find that a 20 foot shipping container is the perfect size for them.

How do you keep a container home cool in the summer? ›

7 Ways to Keep Your Shipping Container Cool in the Summer
  1. Install shipping container vents. The cross-ventilation method works well for shipping containers. ...
  2. Get a heat-proof roof. ...
  3. Install insulation. ...
  4. Get air conditioning. ...
  5. Use a dehumidifier. ...
  6. Keep the doors shut. ...
  7. Position the shipping container in the shade.
Jul 5, 2021

What is the best color for a shipping container? ›

DARK OR LIGHT COLORS: Painting a shipping container in bright and light colors require a lot more effort and expense than neutral shades. Neutral colors tend to blend in nicely with the dirt and dust particles that inevitably end up surfacing on the container, while other shades demand constant upkeep.

Are container homes cold in winter? ›

This means that the interior of the container stays cool in the summer and warm in the winter, without the need for extensive heating and cooling systems. In addition to the natural insulation provided by the steel construction, container homes can also be outfitted with additional insulation.

What is the downside of container homes? ›

Container homes can be hot in the summer and cold in the winter, due to the steel, which is also very good at conducting heat.. In order to keep your home's temperature stable, you may need to budget for some extra work. Resale. Container homes can be difficult to sell .

Is it cheaper to build a house or a container home? ›

Lower Cost to Build

Building a shipping container home is cheaper based on a few factors. Obviously, they're built on a much smaller scale and you'll need less materials to complete the interior, so the materials and labour involved will cost less.

Is it safe to live in a container home? ›

Shipping containers are just as safe and secure as traditional homes. Just like a “stick-built” or wood constructed home, the safety of a container home depends on property construction and maintenance, but they are otherwise no less safe than a traditional home.

Are container homes unhealthy? ›

Shipping Container Homes Can Be Just as Safe as Regular Homes. Shipping container homes can be equally safe as traditional homes when proper construction and safety measures are implemented. Despite concerns about toxic chemicals and harmful paint coatings, there are ways to address these issues.

What are the disadvantages of containers? ›

Disadvantages of Using Containers
  • Security Concerns. Containers operate on a shared kernel model, which could potentially be a security risk. ...
  • Complexity. The deployment and management of containers can introduce operational complexity. ...
  • Storage Challenges. ...
  • Networking. ...
  • Compatibility Issues.
Nov 21, 2023

Are container homes safe from lightning? ›

Because shipping containers are made of steel, they will become conductors if hit by lightning. However, if a container is grounded, the shell will act as a Faraday shield and the electricity will be conducted around the outside without affecting its contents.

Are container homes structurally sound? ›

However, while many people admire them for their simplicity, in reality, constructing one of these houses can be an extremely challenging endeavor. In fact, there are even some experts stating that shipping containers are not structurally designed to sustain additional points of load-bearing.

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