By Mitch Flax. Updated October 2026. Prices are pulled from our live catalog.
The short answer: A shipping container home is a house built from one or more steel shipping containers, then framed, insulated, wired, plumbed and finished like any other home. At Bob’s Containers, finished shipping container homes start at $45,357 for a 20 ft studio, 40 ft homes start at $58,643, and 3-bedroom homes start at $136,723. Typical lead times are 8 to 12 weeks, and we coordinate shipping nationwide. If you already know what you want, you can browse all of our shipping container homes for sale with today’s prices.
This guide covers everything else: the sizes, how a container house is built, floor plans, real costs, permits, foundations, delivery and financing.
On this page: What it is · Sizes · How they’re built · Floor plans and prices · Cost · Pros and cons · Permits and land · Foundations and utilities · Delivery · Financing · Who they’re for · How buying works · FAQ
What Is a Shipping Container Home?
A shipping container home (also called a container house) starts as a steel cargo container, the same kind that moves freight on ships, trains and trucks. Containers are built to handle months at sea, heavy loads and harsh weather, which makes them a strong, ready-made shell. Doors and windows are cut in, and the inside is framed, insulated and finished into living space.
A home can be a single container, like a 20 ft studio or a 40 ft one-bedroom, or several containers combined side by side, in an L or U shape, or stacked into two stories. Because the shell is finished in a fabrication shop instead of on your lot, your site can be prepared at the same time your home is being built.
Shipping Container Home Sizes
Every container is 8 ft wide on the outside, so length and the number of containers decide how much space you get. These are the sizes we build with:
| Container | Outside dimensions | Footprint | Our models start at |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 ft standard | 20 ft × 8 ft × 8.5 ft | 160 sq ft (220 sq ft with The Oak’s bump-out) | 20 ft homes from $45,357 |
| 40 ft high cube | 40 ft × 8 ft × 9.5 ft | 320 sq ft | 40 ft homes from $58,643 |
| 53 ft | 13 ft longer than a 40 ft | The Redwood, king bed ready | The Redwood, $73,304 |
| Two or more containers | Side by side, L, U or stacked | 450 to 600+ sq ft and up | Multi-unit homes |
A high cube container is a foot taller than a standard one, which leaves more headroom once the floor, ceiling and insulation are in. The Alpine, for example, is built on a new 40 ft high cube container, and The Abilene on a new 20 ft standard container. Footprint is measured on the outside, so interior living space is slightly smaller after framing and insulation.
How a Shipping Container House Is Built
Here’s what goes into a finished Bob’s container home, using our most popular model, The Alpine ($58,643), as the example:
- Shell: a new 40 ft high cube container. Openings are cut for windows and doors.
- Framing and walls: 2×4 wood studs on 16 in centers, finished in orange-peel textured drywall.
- Insulation: closed-cell spray foam, rated R21 in the ceiling, R13 in the walls and R7 in the floor. These can be adjusted for your climate.
- Electrical: a 200 amp panel, outlets throughout (including dedicated circuits for a refrigerator and an electric stovetop), interior lights, a ceiling fan and an exterior flood light.
- Heating and cooling: a one-ton (12,000 BTU) ductless mini-split.
- Plumbing: insulated PEX lines, a 13 kW Rheem tankless water heater, and grey and black water stub-outs ready to connect to city sewer or an RV hookup.
- Kitchenette: 6 ft shaker base cabinets, butcher block counters, a stainless sink and a two-burner electric stovetop.
- Bathroom: a 3/4 bath with shower stall, vanity sink, toilet and vent fan.
- Windows and doors: double-pane, argon-sealed Low-E windows, a sliding glass door and pocket doors.
- Flooring and exterior: Lifeproof vinyl over a vapor barrier, and exterior paint in the color you choose.
Each of our models can be customized. Options include tile showers, cabin cladding, rooftop decks, shiplap walls, French doors behind the cargo doors and hurricane glass, and upgrade prices are listed in the configurator on each model page. Specs vary by model, so check each model’s Features & Specs section.
Your home is produced by one of our established Texas fabrication partners. You get progress photos and milestone updates through Buildertrend, our project management platform, and typical lead times are 8 to 12 weeks.
Shipping Container Home Floor Plans and Prices
We offer 30 standard floor plans plus 2 DIY kits, from studios to two-story, 3-bedroom homes. Here’s where each layout starts:
| Layout | Starting price | Example models |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $45,357 | The Abilene (20 ft), The Beaumont ($47,544) |
| 1 bedroom | $47,675 | The Cleveland (20 ft), The Alpine (40 ft, $58,643) |
| 2 bedrooms | $64,241 | The Elgin and The Evergreen (40 ft), The Redwood (53 ft, $73,304) |
| Double-wide | $81,311 | The Maple (two 20 ft), The Elm (600+ sq ft, $118,811) |
| 3 bedrooms | $136,723 | The Marble Falls (20 ft stacked on a 40 ft), The Horseshoe (U-shape, $175,000) |
| Two-story, 3 bedrooms | $272,898 | The Hawthorne |
| DIY kit | $36,749 | The Abilene DIY Kit (20 ft), The Alpine DIY Kit ($44,050) |
| Fully custom | Custom quote | Custom container home |
Prices as of October 2026. Container prices move with the market, so the model page always shows today’s price. To see layouts next to each other, use our container home floor plan comparison.
How Much Does a Shipping Container Home Cost?
The home itself is only part of the budget. Here’s the full picture:
- The home: $45,357 to $272,898 for our finished models, or $36,749 to $44,050 for a DIY kit you finish yourself.
- Foundation: about $3,600 to $5,100 for piers (6 per container), or $1,920 to $6,400 for a slab under 320 sq ft.
- Utilities and site work: from under $15,000 on a lot with utilities close by, up to $35,000 to $40,000+ on raw rural land that needs a well, septic and a driveway.
- Delivery: depends on your location and the home you choose. Contact us for a delivery quote.
- Permits and inspections: vary by city and county.
Base prices include fixtures (kitchen cabinets, electric, stovetop, sinks, toilet and shower) but not furnishings or appliances like the refrigerator, beds or couches. For line-by-line numbers and sample budgets, read our container home cost guide, and for site costs, see our site prep and utility cost guide.
One thing to know about big builds: large homes made by joining many containers often cost more than a traditional stick-and-frame home and may need different permits. The best prices come from not connecting containers directly, which avoids costly on-site welding.
Pros and Cons of Shipping Container Homes
Pros:
- Predictable timelines. Standard lead time for most projects is 8 to 12 weeks, with a written schedule from contract to delivery.
- Lower starting cost. Finished homes start at $45,357, and DIY kits at $36,749.
- Durable steel shell designed to withstand months at sea, heavy loads and harsh weather.
- Movable. A container home can be relocated if your plans change, unlike a site-built house.
- Flexible layouts. 20 ft and 40 ft units can be combined into multi-unit homes, duplexes and ADUs.
- Reuse. Each home gives a steel shipping container a second life.
Cons:
- Fixed width. A container is 8 ft wide, so wider rooms mean combining units.
- Climate control matters. Steel needs proper insulation and heating and cooling, such as a mini-split, to stay comfortable.
- Local rules vary. Zoning, permitting and foundation requirements depend on your city and county.
- Financing can take more legwork than a conventional home purchase.
- Site access. A truck and trailer, or a crane, needs room to set the unit in place.
More detail is in our pros and cons of shipping container homes.
Permits, Zoning and Land
Before you buy, confirm with your local authorities that your property and your intended use are allowed. Rules differ a lot between cities, unincorporated county land and ETJ areas. Check these five things:
- Zoning and permitted use. Is a container structure permitted, conditional or restricted on your land?
- Permits. A full-time residence, an ADU, a short-term rental and an office can each have different requirements. Some places require engineered plans, and some rural counties require very little.
- Setbacks. Required distances from property lines, roads, easements, septic fields and other structures decide where the home can sit.
- Deed restrictions and HOAs. These can prohibit container homes even where zoning allows them.
- Utilities. How the site will get power, water and wastewater often shapes the budget more than the home itself.
Confirming zoning, permits and site requirements is the buyer’s responsibility, with your local authorities and licensed professionals. We can provide dimensions, weights, anchor point details and spec sheets for your permit application or an engineer’s review. Our container home permitting guide walks through each step.
Foundations, Site Prep and Utilities
A container home can sit on level ground, but a foundation is highly recommended to keep out pests and the elements. The options we recommend are concrete slabs, Diamond Pier foundations, gravel pads and railroad ties. Piers are the typical choice for container homes because they handle uneven ground with little excavation.
Our homes come with grey and black water stub-outs that connect to city sewer or an RV hookup, and off-grid water and solar options are available. Plan for these site costs, which your local contractors handle:
- Site clearing and grading: $1,000 to $5,000
- Soil testing and compaction: $500 to $2,000
- Access road or driveway: $2,000 to $8,000
- Connecting to an existing water line: $248 to $422 per run, or about $5,500 on average for a new well
- Connecting to sewer: $1,000 to $15,000, or $3,610 to $12,412 for a septic system
Read how to prepare land for a shipping container home for more on leveling, foundations and hook-ups.
Delivery
We coordinate shipping nationwide. In most cases our logistics partners use a flatbed tilt trailer, so if a truck can back into the space, the home can be set in place. Crane and forklift placement are also available. Delivery cost depends on your location and your build, so ask for a delivery quote with your order.
Outside the continental U.S.? We arrange ocean freight to Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Bahamas, Bermuda and islands throughout the Caribbean. See international and island shipping.
Financing a Container Home
You can finance a container home. We work with a pool of lenders offering personal, commercial and community development financing. Personal financing includes instant pre-approvals with a soft credit pull that won’t affect your credit, and more than one person can apply together. See all of the options on our container financing page.
Who Shipping Container Homes Work For
Container homes are a good fit for:
- Backyard ADUs and in-law suites. See our container home ADUs.
- Small full-time homes for people who want less space and less upkeep.
- Guest houses and pool houses, like “The Mason” container pool house.
- Workforce and multi-family housing, like our workforce housing duplex.
- Colder regions, with our cold climate container home.
A container home may not be the right fit if you need a large, wide-open family home on a tight budget. That’s where multi-container costs climb fastest.
How Buying a Container Home Works
- Configure your home. Customize one of our models in the configurator, or book a design consultation for a custom layout and a detailed quote.
- Secure financing through our lenders, or skip this step if you’re paying cash.
- Confirm your site requirements with your local authorities and licensed professionals.
- Place your deposit. Finalize your design with a sales rep and receive your invoice.
- Production and updates. Your home is built by one of our Texas fabrication partners, with progress photos along the way.
- Prepare your site and take delivery. We help guide your general contractor through installation.
Full details are in Bob’s process.
Shipping Container Home FAQs
How much does a shipping container home cost?
Our finished shipping container homes start at $45,357 for a 20 ft studio. 40 ft homes start at $58,643, 2-bedroom homes at $64,241 and 3-bedroom homes at $136,723. DIY kits start at $36,749. Foundation, site prep, utilities, delivery and permits are extra.
How big is a shipping container house?
A 20 ft container has a 160 sq ft footprint and a 40 ft container has a 320 sq ft footprint. Both are 8 ft wide. Larger homes combine containers. The Taylor has more than 450 sq ft of living space, and The Elm has more than 600 sq ft.
How long does it take to get a shipping container home?
Typical lead times are 8 to 12 weeks. You can prepare your site while your home is in production.
Do I need a permit for a shipping container home?
Requirements depend on your city or county and on how you’ll use the home. Some places require engineered plans, and some rural counties require very little. Confirm zoning and permits with your local authorities before you buy. We can provide spec sheets for your application.
Are container homes built from new or used containers?
It’s your choice. A “new” container in our inventory has made only one trip, which is the highest quality short of one fresh off the production line. The Alpine, for example, is built on a new 40 ft high cube container.
Can a shipping container home be moved?
Yes. A container home can be relocated if your plans change, which a site-built house can’t.
Ready to pick a model? Browse shipping container homes for sale, compare floor plans, or call us at 833-265-3269.