The use of shipping containers as basic building blocks for commercial and domestic properties is a very interesting, if not surprising trend. In fact, according to some estimates, the shipping container home market could be worth more than $73 billion by 2025!

While some shipping container-based buildings can be eyesores, when done right, they can lead to some very striking and interesting architecture — as you are about to find out. 

How much do shipping container homes cost?

If you are interested in owning your own shipping container real estate, prices will vary considerably — depending on the quality of construction you are looking for. Basic “no-frills” options tend to range from between $10,000 and $35,000 (without the land).

For more luxurious shipping container-based abodes, multiple-shipping container constructions can cost anywhere between $100,000 and $175,000 — according to some sources. Of course, for larger sprawling palatial affairs, the sky could be the limit. 

This is especially true if the building is built on some prime real-estate locations around the world — especially if sited near the beach. 

Are container homes safe?

Since shipping container buildings are made from shipping containers, often recycled ones, you might be wondering if they are actually safe? The basic building blocks of such buildings (the shipping containers themselves) are designed to be very robust, airtight, and effectively impenetrable containers for transporting freight around the world. 

For this reason, they are some of the strongest building components around. However, once the basic shipping container is modified to include windows, doors, etc, the security of such structures is entirely dependent on the quality and securability of these weaker elements of their structure. Cutting holes in the walls can also impact their structural strength — especially for multi-story constructions. For this reason, structural steel reinforcements are often needed. 

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