Discarded shipping containers can be found abandoned on docks across the world, but these durable units could make the ultimate eco-friendly homes. Sustainable and quick to build, this versatile building material offers a world of design potential at prices that won’t break the bank, plus you might just be surprised by how stylish these metal masterpieces can be. Click or scroll on and get ready to think outside the box…
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Bespoke container home
This beautiful, bespoke container home can be found in Joshua Tree, California, just minutes away from the entrance of the area’s iconic National Park. This modern marvel, which recently sold for $200,000 (£149k), is compact and chic in equal measure.
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Bespoke container home
Step inside and the 240-square-foot home is light-filled and airy. A wall of glazing allows for priceless views of the surrounding desert landscape, while the open-plan living area offers a kitchen, lounge and dining space.
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Bespoke container home
This modern tiny home boasts just one bedroom and one bathroom. Every living space is contemporary and elegantly decorated, while the property’s brand new septic tank and access to city water make it move-in ready.
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Bespoke container home
Outside, the property sits on five acres of land and comes equipped with a beautiful exterior deck, ideal for evening drinks and stargazing when the sun goes down. There’s so much potential for this property, whether you’re after a holiday let, rental opportunity or unique private home, this eye-catching abode is ready and waiting to be snapped up.
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The Empty Nester
Perfect for those looking to downsize, The Empty Nester by Custom Container Living offers space and style at an affordable price. Yours for as little as $93,900 (£70.2k), this petite pad could well be within your reach. Let’s take a tour…
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The Empty Nester
The 40-foot shipping container home offers just 320 square feet of inside space and yet it feels airy, bright and comfortable. Featuring a centralised living space with two bedrooms at either end, including one in the loft, the new tiny home was designed to be sited on a range of terrains. Those without the need for an additional bedroom can also opt to remove the loft and save themselves some money.
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The Empty Nester
The property comes kitted out with a living and dining area, a beautiful galley kitchen and a bathroom, complete with a tub. From a farmhouse sink to quality handmade cabinets, every aspect of the home is finished to the highest standards, and every element can be altered to suit your style. Even the exterior can be finished with a combination of steel, siding or faux stone panels – the choice is yours.
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The Empty Nester
Custom Container Living also offers financing options, so you can repay them for your new property over a set amount of years. What’s more, the company allows you to select a floor plan, upgrades and customisations to suit your individual needs, plus they’ll deliver your fully-furnished home on the back of a lorry, straight to your chosen plot. What could be easier?
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The Anchor
Designed by the team at CargoHome, this bespoke shipping container home might be small, but it’s perfectly formed. Known as The Anchor model, the tiny home measures just 160 square feet but it is kitted out with everything you could need for a comfortable and cosy lifestyle.
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The Anchor
The refurbished shipping container boasts a chic and light-filled interior, thanks to its crisp colour palette and glass front doors made from the original container openings. This modern reinterpretation swings 270 degrees, allowing for an easy indoor-outdoor flow.
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The Anchor
Inside, you’ll find a custom Murphy bed that acts as a sofa in the day and a queen-sized bed at night. There’s also a chic kitchen, that can be finished with either quartz or epoxy barn wood countertops. At the far end of the home there’s a modern bathroom equipped with everything you could need for a comfortable stay.
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The Anchor
Head upstairs and you’ll find a dreamy rooftop terrace, where sunset scenery and morning coffees can be savoured – no matter where you choose to place your new abode. Amazingly, this beautiful tiny home can be yours for a mere $48,136 (£36k) and fully customised to meet your individual needs. A version of The Anchor is available to rent via Airbnb, so you can try before you buy!
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HO3 model
The HO3 shipping container home by Honomobo costs just $240,954 (£180k). 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 model
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 model
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 model
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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The Helm
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
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
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
With prices starting from $133,273 (£99.6k), 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. If you have a slightly smaller budget, CargoHome offers models for as little as $38,271 (£28.6k). Currently available to rent on Airbnb, you can try out container living before taking the plunge.
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Luxury container home
Currently on the market for $79,900 (£60k), this modern tiny home comes in at just 240 square feet, but it 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
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
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
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 eco-friendly home
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 $50,000 (£37k) and can come complete with off-grid living amenities.
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VMD eco-friendly home
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 eco-friendly home
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 eco-friendly home
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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Cocoon Modules
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 as little as $13,000 (£9.7k), these charming yet cheap shipping container homes won’t break the bank either.
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Cocoon Modules
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
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
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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HO4 model
Designed by Honomobo, the 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 model
With prices starting from $291,400 (£218k), this plush pad can be delivered anywhere in America or Canada and 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, too.
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HO4 model
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 model
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. Honomobo offers other models, too, some of which cost as little as $20,817 (£15.6k).
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Rustic Retreat
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 $40,000 (£30k).
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Rustic Retreat
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
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
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
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
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 around $367,000 (£274k). 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
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
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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IQ Container Home
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 around $121,000 (£91k) and can be combined with smaller units, allowing for a customisable and affordable family home.
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IQ Container Home
This modern metal home 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
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
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
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 $91,800 (£68.7k), the cosy container home features a kitchen, living area, bedroom and bathroom.
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Happy Twogether
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
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
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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The Red Shack
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 $45,000 ($34k), while the largest, a three-unit model, is available from $120,000 (£90k).
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The Red Shack
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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The Red Shack
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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The Red Shack
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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