Shipping Containers For
Housing
Boxhub’s shipping containers can be used to build the house of your dreams — big or small. Shipping container homes are durable, modular, and, can be modified to fulfill any home design or living needs.
Using Shipping Containers for Housing
Constructed using durable COR-TEN steel, shipping containers make a stable and secure environment to build your home in. They can be customized with insulation, plumbing, and other modern comforts and amenities, and adapted to deal with any climate.
On top of that, since shipping containers are modular, they can be configured to create all kinds of imaginative structures - just one of the many reasons that container homes have become a popular alternative to traditional housing.
What are the benefits of a shipping container home?
Endless Design Configurations
Because shipping containers come in standardized sizes and specs, they’re easy to configure into homes as large and complex as you’d like. Stack them or attach them onto one-another to create a multi-family dwelling, a single-family home with plenty of rooms, or keep things simple with one-room home made from a single container.
Adaptable to Any Environment
Shipping container homes can be modified to adapt and endure any environment. For example, air conditioning can be added to homes in warm regions, and insulation can be added to combat cold climates.
Completely Customizable
There are limitless options when it comes to customizing your shipping container home. You can add state-of-the-art plumbing, windows, exterior, security, and more. Boxhub sells a range of shipping container kits for window modifications, and you can find plenty of tiny home ideas and inspiration online for customizing your new home.
Build with Any Budget
Shipping containers are much less expensive than traditional homes since you’re eliminating costly building supplies. And since they’re modular, you can start small and continue to build out your home as your budget sees fit.
Which container is right for you?
20ft Container
Dimensions
20´ L x 8´ W x 8´6 H
Capacity
EMPTY WEIGHT
5,183 lbs
LOADING CAPACITY
62,016 lbs
INTERNAL VOLUME
1,172 ft³
Available Conditions
Wind & Watertight
Cargo Worthy
One-Trip
Container Conditions
Shipping containers come in a variety of different grades, or conditions. Here’s how to select the right condition based on your needs and budget.
Wind & Watertight
These units have been retired from shipping.
They typically have patches of surface rust or slight cosmetic damage, but their floors are intact, their doors seal properly, and they’re guaranteed watertight, meaning they’ll work fine for storing goods during your move. These are the most budget-friendly containers on the market.
Cargo-Worthy
These units have previously been used, but can still be certified to ship cargo overseas.
While they may show some exterior signs of wear, all of Boxhub’s cargo-worthy containers are inspected for structural integrity, so they’ll work just fine for storing and transporting items while you’re moving house. They’re also less expensive than new containers.
One Trip (New)
These units have only been used once to ship a single load of dry cargo overseas. They’re the newest, nicest containers you can buy - and the priciest.
Built to last 25-30 years, they’re ideal if you plan to convert your container into an additional living space or long-term storage unit on your property after you’ve moved into your new home.
“
We purchased a 40’ high cube container for our ranch after discovering that it was both more secure and less expensive than a conventional metal building... I would happily make this purchase again!
~ Anonymous, USA
Ready to shop containers?
Get personalized buying support from a shipping container specialist.
Buying a Container: Guides & Resources
Learn more about storage containers - and how others are using them - with our container guides & resources.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Shipping containers are a great option for alternative housing. Since they're made of COR-TEN steel and designed to be wind and watertight, they're extremely durable and can withstand the elements. Additionally, shipping containers can be stacked and configured myriad ways, so you can build a home that's large and complex or keep things simple with a single-container dwelling. Because they require less new construction materials than a traditional home, shipping containers tend to provide a more affordable housing alternative. That said, you can still customize and kit your shipping container home out with all the comforts you want or need.
Shipping containers are available in several standardized sizes and conditions, making it easy to choose a container — or containers — to use as housing. The most readily available sizes are 20-foot shipping containers, which have an internal volume of 1,172ft³, and 40-foot shipping containers, which have an internal volume of 2,385ft³. Choosing the right size and condition of your containers depends on your intended home design and budget. If you're building a single-container home, it really comes down to how much square footage you want.
For a more detailed breakdown of container sizes and conditions, check out this helpful guide to choosing the right shipping container
You can buy shipping containers directly through Boxhub's website or by speaking to a member of our team via phone, email, or live chat. To buy a shipping container online:
Step 1
Visit our online store and enter your delivery zip code.
Step 2
Pick the size and grade of container you'd like to purchase
Step 3
Review your shopping cart and choose your preferred payment method.
Step 4
Validate and complete your purchase.
Questions? Reach out to us on 888-356-2954 at any time.
Boxhub's shipping containers can be delivered to your property or picked up from a local depot. If you choose to have your container delivered, an experienced truck operator will inspect your container to confirm it meets your order's size and condition requirements before loading it onto their truck. Then, they'll drive the shipping container to your property and carefully offload it in your preferred location.
You need to make sure that your drop-off site is safe and accessible for the delivery driver.
They will need enough space to maneuver the truck and offload your shipping container. They will also need a smooth, solid road — surfaces like sand, mud, snow, and loose dirt won't work for a delivery.
When choosing where you want your shipping container placed, keep in mind that shipping containers used for storage should rest on level, stable surfaces. This prevents the doors from warping and becoming difficult to close. A cement or asphalt foundation is best, as it will provide a firm, level surface for the container and will stop water from pooling around the bottom.
You can also protect your shipping container self-storage unit from groundwater by raising it on level wooden blocks or iron plates.
If you notice something unexpected with the container, call us at 888-356-2954.
Technically, anybody can turn a shipping container into a home — you don't need a construction background. Boxhub's affiliates — such as Alternative Living Spaces — offer courses to educate consumers on how to create a shipping container home, DIY-style. We also sell a variety of container modification kits to help turn your shipping container into a home. For a full breakdown of what's available, please call 888-356-2954.
Standard shipping containers are 8 feet, 6 inches tall. This measurement is true for standard 20-foot and 40-foot containers. High-cube shipping containers are a foot taller than standard shipping containers, measuring 9 feet, 6 inches tall. We typically recommend high-cube shipping containers for housing, in order to ensure your shipping container home has ample vertical space.
Standard shipping containers are 8 feet, 6 inches tall. This measurement is true for standard 20-foot and 40-foot containers. High-cube shipping containers are a foot taller than standard shipping containers, measuring 9 feet, 6 inches tall.
The price of shipping containers varies based on their size, condition, and where they're located. For example, a 20-foot container will typically be cheaper than a 40-foot container. A new “one-trip” container — which has only made one trip across the ocean — will be more expensive than a wind and watertight container, which has been retired from shipping after 12-15 years.
To get an estimate of how much your ideal shipping container will cost, request a quote from our team.
Wondering, "where can I find shipping containers near me?" -- look no further. Boxhub is your number-one resource for shipping containers in the United States. Boxhub offers new and used shipping containers across the US in a variety of cities and states. Visit our online store here.