With surplus shipping containers sitting abandoned on docks around the world, these durable units make the ultimate sustainable homes. Eco-friendly and quick to build, the versatile building material offers a world of design possibilities at prices that won’t break the bank, plus you might just be surprised by how stylish these metal masterpiece can be. Ready to think outside the box? Click or scroll on…
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Luxury container home, Nevada, USA
Currently on the market for £58,000 ($79.9k), this tiny home comes in at just 240 square feet but doesn’t scrimp on style. Located in Las Vegas, Nevada, the charcoal grey unit features plenty of extra outdoor living space on a raised terrace that’s been decked out with bright seating and patterned flooring.
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Luxury container home, Nevada, USA
Inside, the one-bedroom home has been fully customised with shiplap walls, vinyl floors and stylish light fixtures. The main living space is open-plan and squeezes in a dining table, a small kitchen with granite countertops and a comfortable corner sofa.
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Luxury container home, Nevada, USA
The double bedroom, which sits at the end of the container, is cut off from the rest of the home by a wardrobe that acts as a stylish room divider, maximising the petite property’s storage space.
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Luxury container home, Nevada, USA
The sleek all-white bathroom features a fully-tiled shower, a compact sink and a toilet. Separated from the rest of the container home by a sliding barn-style door, it’s the perfect spa-like space for relaxing. Ideal for a first-time buyer, this small but perfectly formed property could be a great starter home.
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VMD, Mexico City, Mexico
Mexican architectural firms Studioroca and Taller Escape joined forces to create VMD, a tiny 323-square-foot, eco-friendly container home. Move-in ready in just 99 days from ordering, the home starts at £36,000 ($50k) and can come complete with off-grid living amenities.
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VMD, Mexico City, Mexico
The home can be installed in just seven days leaving little impact on the site and you can choose from either a one or two-bedroom model. Offering customisable interior design options, the shipping container comes with a full furniture package to optimise the petite living spaces.
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VMD, Mexico City, Mexico
The interior walls are fitted with thermal and acoustic insulation, which means that the home maintains a constant interior temperature throughout the year. With large floor-to-ceiling windows, sliding glass doors and a timber terrace, the converted shipping container also has easy access to the great outdoors.
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VMD, Mexico City, Mexico
Offering a simple layout, the one-bed model includes a master bedroom, bathroom, open living area and kitchen. It also comes fully equipped with rooftop solar panels and a rainwater collection system for living off the grid. It’s fitted with solar heaters as standard but buyers can add extra eco-amenities including an incinerator toilet.
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HO3, British Columbia, Canada
The HO3 shipping container home by Honomobo costs just £160,000 ($218k). Featuring a large master bedroom with an ensuite, a second bedroom and also a main bathroom, the two-storey home comes with a fixed floor plan and two choices of window arrangements.
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HO3, British Columbia, Canada
At 960 square feet, the lower floor of the converted shipping container features a spacious open-plan kitchen and living area that would be a joy to live in. Suitable for the cold Canadian winters, the HO3 can also be fitted with a wood or gas-burning fireplace.
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HO3, British Columbia, Canada
The floor-to-ceiling windows can be added to either both or just one side of the design, plus the sustainable shipping container home comes with an air source heat pump and all the fixtures you need to hook the property up to solar panels.
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HO3, British Columbia, Canada
The master bedroom upstairs features a gloss white wardrobe, as well as a small desk that makes the ideal home-working space. The nifty design also comes in a matt black finish for those who prefer darker interiors.
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Shipping container home, Montana, USA
This container home was on the market for £91,000 ($125k) back in 2017. The one-bedroom, one-bathroom property has 700 square feet of interior space and features stylish modern design elements by architect Ty Kelly.
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Shipping container home, Montana, USA
The interior scheme uses a lot of reclaimed materials, including the wood flooring which was made from salvaged lumber scraps. The container has an open-plan layout with a small living space that includes a TV, plenty of seating and stylish wood-clad walls.
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Shipping container home, Montana, USA
The spacious kitchen features reclaimed wood worktops, which were made by Kelly himself, as well as a full-sized stainless steel fridge and matt black storage cabinets. The back of the container home is lined with glass to provide panoramic views of the sweeping Montana landscapes.
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Shipping container home, Montana, USA
The house also features traditional amenities such as a wood stove, as well as more contemporary conveniences like a dishwasher and washer and dryer. There’s also an outdoor shower for an authentic wilderness experience.
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Rustic Retreat, Texas, USA
Named Rustic Retreat, this home designed by Backcountry Containers is made from one 20-foot shipping container. With a small roof terrace and decking area, the design typically starts at a reasonable £29,000 ($40k).
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Rustic Retreat, Texas, USA
Inside, the tiny home has a charming, rustic-inspired design. The small kitchen embraces country-style décor and features a farmhouse sink and wooden countertops, while a repurposed corrugated metal panel provides storage space for spices and utensils.
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Rustic Retreat, Texas, USA
For an added cost, the company can incorporate multiple bedrooms, offices, large entertaining areas and storage spaces. In this design, sliding patio doors draw in plenty of natural light and lead outside onto a spacious wooden deck.
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Rustic Retreat, Texas, USA
The bedroom is a cosy and characterful space, encompassing a double bed, stylish shiplap walls and enough room for a TV and a side table. With each container home built to unique specifications, the design possibilities are endless.
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Insta House, New York, USA
Insta House, a container home built in the Hamptons by New York-based architect Maziar Behrooz of MB Architecture, evolved from a double-height artist’s studio into a residential property. Crafted from four recycled shipping containers, the innovative property is airy, spacious and perfect for a small family.
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Insta House, New York, USA
The modern and bright stunning shipping container home includes two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen and a living room and can be installed in just one to four days. Prices vary, but as a guide, the 1,280-square-foot model comes in at £268,000 ($367k). This includes delivery and installation, and most of the interior textures apart from the kitchen cabinets, appliances and plumbing fixtures.
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Insta House, New York, USA
Brilliant white walls and a minimalist aesthetic resemble an art gallery – a reminder of the Insta House’s origins as a creative studio. Dramatic double-height ceilings in the main living space create a cathedral-like feel despite the small floor plan.
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Insta House, New York, USA
The property is packed with clever features. The panel of windows in the sleek modern kitchen lifts up, merging the indoor living space with the great outdoors – perfect for alfresco dining in the summer months.
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Cocoon Modules, Athens, Greece
Designed by Athens-based company Cocoon Modules, this upcycled shipping container features reclaimed timber cladding, as well as an innovative green roof for planting flowers and herbs. With prices starting from only £11,200 ($15.4k), these charming yet cheap shipping container homes won’t break the bank either.
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Cocoon Modules, Athens, Greece
Timber cabinets in the contemporary kitchen echo the home’s wooden exterior, while a fridge, oven and hob ensure residents don’t go without the culinary essentials. Every inch of space is put to work with a handy built-in table between the kitchen and living area that can be used as a desk or dining area.
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Cocoon Modules, Athens, Greece
The home is decorated in a clean neutral palette, with open shelving offering stylish additional storage, perfect for container living. Sliding glass doors provide sweeping views of the surrounding landscape from the living space and allow a cool breeze to flow through the pocket-sized property in the warmer months.
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Cocoon Modules, Athens, Greece
Located at the rear end of the home, the bedroom offers a comfortable place to kick back and relax. The dividing wall that separates the space from the living zone contains clever built-in wardrobes to maximise storage space.
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IQ Container Home, Auckland, New Zealand
Created by IQ Container Homes, this property in Auckland, New Zealand, comprises their Tekapo model with a Waiheke unit added on to create additional rooms. The firm’s base models start at £39,000 ($54k) and can be combined with smaller units, allowing for a customisable and affordable family home.
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IQ Container Home, Auckland, New Zealand
This modern metal home, which starts at £87,000 ($119k), was made with 100% recyclable steel, while the interiors are lined with eco-friendly plywood or plasterboard, as seen here in the bedroom. Solar-powered, the house even includes a rainwater harvesting system that collects and recycles rainwater to supply the bathroom and washing machine.
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IQ Container Home, Auckland, New Zealand
The corner sofa pulls out into a double bed and features hidden storage space in the base, freeing up valuable floor area. A compact kitchen offers everything you need to cook up a storm in the container home, plus a snug breakfast bar that seats two.
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IQ Container Home, Auckland, New Zealand
Just off the living area, a 323-square-foot timber deck provides a large entertaining space with stunning views of the rural surroundings. Covered with a clear, arched pergola, it’s warm and comfortable even in winter.
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Happy Twogether, Missouri, USA
This rustic home, made from two shipping containers, is known as the Happy Twogether model, designed and built by Missouri-based company Custom Container Living. With prices starting at a reasonable £62,000 ($85k), the cosy container home features a kitchen, living area, bedroom and bathroom.
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Happy Twogether, Missouri, USA
In the kitchen, blue and green birchwood cabinets line the walls. Each Happy Twogether kitchen comes with a built-in stainless steel microwave above the stove, a standard 24-inch electric range in stainless steel and a fridge-freezer, so you’ll have no problem hosting intimate dinner parties.
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Happy Twogether, Missouri, USA
Clad in wood, the interior oozes country charm, while vinyl wood-effect flooring is available as standard throughout the Happy Twogether home. For a more luxurious feel, you can upgrade to a range of different finishes including oak flooring and pine walls.
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Happy Twogether, Missouri, USA
An archway connects one shipping container, which houses the bedroom and living room, to the other, which accommodates the main entryway, kitchen, and bathroom. Handy built-in storage in the entrance area will prevent the compact home from feeling cluttered.
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HO4, British Columbia, Canada
Designed by Honomobo, their HO4 shipping container home offers a stylish living space in a snug, affordable shell. The black corrugated façade is offset with sleek wood cladding and atmospheric spotlights. Pair with a spacious deck and patio set and you have the perfect indoor-outdoor home!
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HO4, British Columbia, Canada
With prices starting from £221,000 ($303k), this plush pad in Canada’s British Columbia offers two bedrooms, a living room, dining room, and a full kitchen. The property comprises four shipping containers and has a floor area of 704 square feet. An air-source heat pump for heating and cooling is included as standard.
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HO4, British Columbia, Canada
The 29-foot floor-to-ceiling windows allow light to stream into the kitchen’s interior. Available with a myriad of styling options, this home is decked out in a modern, Scandi aesthetic, with sleek cabinetry and rustic wood accents.
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HO4, British Columbia, Canada
The HO4 packs plenty in a small space. While the bedrooms are cosy, they don’t go without the essentials, with luxurious double beds and a wall of built-in wardrobes for storage. It also comes prepped and ready for solar panel installation so you can wave goodbye to those household bills.
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Red shack, Montana, USA
Shipping container home company Montainer provides affordable properties made from one, two or three units. The smallest design (pictured) comes in at 160 square feet and costs upwards of £35,900 ($45k), while the two-container model starts at £67,800 ($85k) and the three-unit model is available from £95,700 ($120k).
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Red shack, Montana, USA
The outside may look rustic but inside this cheap container home has a modern sleek design that looks reassuringly expensive. The open-plan kitchen and living space features wooden worktops with white metro tiles and recessed LED lighting for a contemporary look.
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Red shack, Montana, USA
All the houses are completely customisable and can include a fridge, electric baseboard, water heater, sink, shower, toilet and a fully-fitted kitchen. The designs also come with plenty of amazing glazing options including floor-to-ceiling windows and doors.
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Red shack, Montana, USA
The small bathroom in this container home may be petite but it covers all the essential amenities. Offering white metro tiles, a small modern sink and a mirrored cabinet, it looks modern and fresh. This container home is move-in ready!
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The Helm, Texas, USA
This stunning shipping container home combines two units to create a multi-level home with a stunning roof terrace. Perfect for those seeking a little more room, the home is located in Waco, Texas, close to Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Market and is the ultimate example of how beautiful reclaimed materials can really be.
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The Helm, Texas, USA
Designed by the team at CargoHome, the property boasts a small bedroom, a bathroom, kitchen, dining area and living room, as well as a larger bedroom with a full-size bathroom that sits on the upper level. Showing just how much can be achieved in a small space, the master suite comes complete with glass doors that open out onto the rooftop deck.
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The Helm, Texas, USA
Spread over 480 square feet, the stylish container home features everything you’d need and more for everyday living. The kitchen features timber countertops, a stove, refrigerator and sink, while the dining space can squeeze in four guests. Decked out in a neutral colour scheme, the carefully positioned windows allow for light-filled living spaces.
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The Helm, Texas, USA
With prices starting from £72,000 ($97.5k), this model can be fully customised to suit each individual buyer. There’s even the option of an original painted corrugated metal façade or Shou Sugi Ban siding for a rustic finish, so there’s something for everyone. Currently available to rent on Airbnb, you can try out container living before taking the plunge.
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