Last Updated on March 2, 2025 by Jeremy

In recent years, shipping container homes have become quite the popular commodity thanks to their eco-friendly, affordable design possibilities, versatility and durability. Because of these characteristics, they make an excellent choice for building a home that are both unique, and sustainable.

Within this article, I will explore some shipping container home ideas in which will provide you the tips necessary, to help you plan from start to finish. Unlike DIY tiny house plans, shipping container homes can be a rewarding and exciting project. Without keeping you contained any longer, let’s begin!

Determining Home Size and Layout

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Now, assuming you have land to build and setup a shipping container home, the first step in your project is to determine the number of containers you will need and how you want to position them.

Shipping containers come in a variety of sizes, so keep in mind that if you want to mix and match, stack or anything Tetris related, your container sizes will be between 10′ and 40′.

That said, if your plot of land isn’t very long or wide, you’ll want to build high. This can be done by utilizing the online world, in which they have some really helpful websites that give you design consultations and options for the DIY builder. I will reference these below, soon.

In any event the “ideal house size is between 1,816 – 3,027 square feet“ so having enough containers positioned in any format you need for this size, should be sufficient with today’s standards.

Selecting the Right Insulation

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Once home size and layout are in place, you’ll want to select the right insulation. Insulation plays a very important role in the shipping container home market, as it helps regulate the temperature and prevent heat loss, amongst other things.

Before determining the right insulation, you’ll need to decide between the following suitable options:

• -Foam
• -Fiberglass
• -Recycled denim
• -Spray Foam

With these above choices, it’s also best to take into consideration the climate within your area, the goals of energy efficiency, as well as your budget.

For example: if Northern Canada is your choice to live, then a shipping container home with an insulation rated for -40 to -50 degree Celsius temperatures should be considered, and this can be determined by the insulation’s R-value.

“However, this generalization comes at a price because R-values that include non-conductive processes may no longer be additive and may have significant temperature dependence. In particular, for a loose or porous material, the R-value per inch generally depends on the thickness, almost always so that it decreases with increasing thickness (polyisocyanurate (colloquially, polyiso) being an exception; its R-value/inch increases with thickness).

For similar reasons, the R-value per inch also depends on the temperature of the material, usually increasing with decreasing temperature (polyisocyanurate again being an exception); a nominally R-13 fiberglass batt may be R-14 at −12 °C (10 °F) and R-12 at 43 °C (109 °F).

Nevertheless, in construction it is common to treat R-values as independent of temperature. Note that an R-value may not account for radiative or convective processes at the material’s surface, which may be an important factor for some applications.” 

In the above quote, we can see where the R-value plays an important role in keeping your home, albeit a shipping container, situated at the right temperatures throughout any season. Once you have selected the right insulation, your next tip is to incorporate any eco-friendly green features you can think of.

Incorporating Green Features

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Because shipping container homes are environmentally friendly by nature, why not go one step further and buy green features for them, such as:

• -Solar Panels
• -Wind Turbines
• -Rainwater Tanks
• -Compost Toilets

While solar panels and wind turbines can lower your energy costs, rainwater tanks and composting toilets can be utilized for an even more sustainable impact. These features not only help save you money on utility bills but can be extremely helpful to lower your carbon footprint, which is something of a whole other topic.

Interior Decorating and Finishing

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Once your exterior is complete, a shift in focus needs to be on interior decorating. All things to consider, you need to decide on such things as:

• -Interior fixtures – This includes cabinets, countertops, and appliances
• -Flooring options – Do you prefer laminate or hardwood
• -Windows & Skylights – Are you wanting to add natural light to create an airy atmosphere
• -Doors – Do you include Patio doors or keep them simple
• -Woodstoves – How tiny do you want them to be

When it comes to decorating, the options are of course, somewhat endless. Customizing your shipping container home to reflect you and your families personal style are all options to consider, and should be done within this whole process.

Budget & Cost Considerations

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The last tip for building a shipping container home is decisive for your wallet and savings account. Sure, it can be more affordable than traditional construction, however you still need to have a budget in mind regardless.

Taking things into consideration, such as cost of purchasing or even renting the containers is a starting point, whereas pricing out the other items such as our insulation, green features, and interior fixtures are also definite musts. Let’s not forget about any additional expenses such as permits and fees.

Get Your Ideas from These Websites

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Now to the good part. Below I want to outline the available websites that will take all the above recommendations and put your plan of action, into action.

1) Shipped.com

In determining your home type and layout, you’ll want to start by purchasing your shipping container from shipped.com. Here you’ll have the opportunity to pick out your specific brands of containers you need to build your home.

As 5′, 8′ & 10′ containers are rare, they are still available and can even be bought under a payment plan, or even rented. Within their website, you’ll notice how all of their shipping containers have a purpose, including in the home/housing industry.

Some options they have available are for emergency shelters, affordable housing, swimming pools, and even more luxury homes.

To get into action and start pricing, click the button:

2) Discover Containers

Once you have your containers ordered, it’s time to start choosing the insulation, and this can be done within the aid of this website. Upon entering this website, you’ll be guided through 6 choices:

• -Container Home Rentals – Should you chose to live this lifestyle before committing, within Canada and the United States are such designs to help you experience this choice.
• -Fundamentals – Pros and Cons of a shipping container are essentially something to think about, learn about that through this website.
• -Case Studies – Learn from actual shipping container home-owners.
• -Plan & Budget – They will guide you from start to finish in all of your financial outcomes.
• -Design & Build – Tips & Tricks to help get you from nothing to something.
• -Furnish & Equip – Are you looking for aesthetics? It’s all here within their website.

3) Shipping Container Home Made Easy

Shipping Container Home Made Easy is a website that offers a digital program that will teach you step-by-step instructions about how to build your very own shipping container home. Utilizing this program, similar to Tiny homes made easy, you’ll learn the secrets of building your very own container.

This website focuses on the build, and gives you the tips and tricks to use which include a handful of useful books that take and prepare for the ultimate positioning of your shipping container home, even if it isn’t built off-the-grid.

4) Bob’s Containers

Another useful website to consider is this one, Bob’s Containers. Here you are given very similar options like that of Discover Containers, in which you are given the following options upon entering their website:

• -Customer Customization Process
  • -Discovering your needs – Decide whether you want a pre-made model or start from scratch. After a quote & Price…
  • -The Build Phase – Bob’s will build to your specifications & prepare for the next phase…
  • -Outfitting – You’ll get to design the interior of your shipping container home.

Within all of his pre-made models, there is a 20 foot shipping container & a 40 foot shipping container, plus multi-unit containers, container dorms, restrooms, offices, and even commercially made containers to choose from. All-in-all, a variety of options that keep you consumed from start to finish.

5) Shop Tiny Houses

The decoration process is all a part of this adventure, and although the above websites are all good options to help guide you along this course, Shop Tiny Houses is a website that gives you all you need for the interior and finishing of your shipping container home.

Here is what they offer:

Because tiny houses and container homes utilize the same concept of being eco-friendly, durable and reliable, it’s best to find the smaller items, as it’s going to be smaller in square foot size anyway.

That said, you’ve got all your websites, you’ve ordered your home, you’ve got the options, the last thing left is to purchase these interior products. Here’s where you get in:

Final Build & Final Thoughts about Shipping Container Home Ideas

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As mentioned, building a shipping container home can be a rewarding and exciting project, but it’s essential to do your research and plan accordingly.

After reviewing this article, you’ve learned that the first step is to determine the size and layout, followed by choosing the right insulation, then incorporate your green features. The next steps were to consider the cost and budget, as well as review each of the suggested websites to get you well on your way to building a unique and sustainable home.

Between Shipped.com, Discover Containers, Shipping Containers Made Easy, Bob’s Containers and Shop Tiny Homes, you’ll have all the resources you need to help you build the perfect Shipping Container Home.

Did I miss anything? Leave a comment below, and I’ll be sure to answer you back!

Cheers!