When most people think of shipping container homes, they probably don’t think of Alabama. But there’s a growing movement of people in the state who are interested in building homes out of shipping containers.
There are a few reasons for this. Shipping container homes are often cheaper to build than traditional homes. They’re also more sustainable, since they’re made out of recycled materials.
If you’re interested in finding out more about these tiny houses, how much they cost, and the best container home builders that operate in the state of Alabama, this guide has got you covered. So without further ado, let’s dive right in!
How Much Do Container Homes in Alabama Cost?
The cost of building a steel shipping container home in Alabama can vary depending on various aspects, such as the building materials you’re using, the size of the project, location, and other factors.
However, one of the major factors that plays a huge role in determining your budget is whether you’re going to build the container home on your own or you’re going to buy it from a professional shipping container home builder.
The price varies significantly between the two for the same square footage. For example, buying a shipping container home directly from a builder costs anywhere between $250 to $300 per sq ft.
Alternatively, if you’re going to build the same house on your own, the price will usually average between $130 to $175 per sq ft.
Despite being the pricier option to go, I still recommend that you opt for a professional shipping container home builder over building one yourself.
This is because builders will save you the hassle of knowing what permits to get, designing, building, and finishing the container home, including labor and all amenities, such as electricity and plumbing, saving you a lot of costly hassle.
Not only that, but some companies also take care of shipping or include them in their final package, which saves a lot of money.
5 Container Homes for Sale You Can Buy Right Now
There are several shipping container homes that are available for sale by popular builders and that can be delivered throughout Alabama. In this section, I’ll walk you through some of my favorite options that you can buy right now:
1. Double Duo
- Price: $131,900 (core package)
- Number of shipping containers used: 2
- Container size: 40 ft long x 8 ft wide x 8 ft 6 in high
- Size: 640 sq ft
- Number of bedrooms: 3
- Number of bathrooms: 2
- Standout feature: Comes ready with plenty of modern appliances with optional upgrades
- Manufacturer: Custom Container Living
If you’re looking for an affordable, yet stylish home, then Custom Container Living’s Double Duo might be for you.
Starting out at just $131,900, this 640 sq ft home is built using two 40ft steel shipping containers and comes with three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Plus, it comes with plenty of modern appliances with optional upgrades. For example, you can purchase lots of different siding options, so if you want your container home to resemble traditional building materials, you can.
2. Honomobo HO2
- Price: $210,150
- Number of shipping containers used: 2
- Container size: 40 ft long x 8 ft wide x 9 ft 6 in high
- Interior Size: 640 sq ft
- Standout feature: Remarkably sleek design and excellent choice of colors by experienced designers
- Manufacturer: Honomobo Container Homes
If you’re all about elegance and looking for a state of the art exterior as well as a uniquely designed interior, you should consider Honomobo HO2.
The container house might be a little costly, but the level of engineering and design that the company offers in this model is unmatched. It also comes with in-suite laundry, a fireplace, and much more!
Thanks to its impressive aesthetics, you can use this container home as a guest house, country cottage, or even an Airbnb rental.
You also don’t need to worry about any construction codes, as Honombo will optimize the house so that it abides by any special regulations in Alabama.
3. VOR 640
- Price: $134,900
- Number of shipping containers used: 2
- Container size: 40 ft long x 8 ft wide x 9 ft 6 in high
- Interior Size: 640 sq ft
- Number of bedrooms: up to 2
- Number of bathrooms: 1
- Standout feature: Highly versatile design that you can optimize to your liking
- Manufacturer: Meka Modular Constructions
When it comes to versatility in designs, there aren’t many houses that exceed this one from Meka Modular Constructions.
The VOR 640 is designed to fit either one bedroom and extend the living room and dining room space, which is ideal for couples. However, you can also design it so that it has 2 bedrooms for small families.
Another characteristic feature of the VOR is that it uses high cube containers in manufacturing, which allows for a higher ceiling and gives a roomier feel to the house with improved air circulation.
4. Kara 640 Shipping Container Home
- Price: $200 to $300 per square foot
- Number of shipping containers used: 2
- Container sizes: 40 ft long x 8 ft wide x 8 ft 6 in high
- Interior Size: 640 sq ft
- Number of bedrooms: 2
- Number of bathrooms: 1
- Standout Features: Comes with a number of personalization options to make it your own
- Manufacturer: Logical Homes
Let’s start with one of the ideal houses for a small family. The Kara 640 shipping container home is a great option for those looking for an affordable, yet stylish home.
This particular floor plan is built using two 40ft containers and has 640 sq ft of interior space. With two bedrooms and one bathroom, this home is perfect for a small family.
What I love about Logical Homes is the fact that they offer a ton of personalization options to make a model container home feel like your own. For example, you can choose from various types of interior cabinet designs, exterior cladding options, benchtop surfaces, and more.
Plus, this container home is designed to fit over a relatively narrow lot, so it’s great if you have limited space to work with.
The symmetrical layout of the container home pushes the main rooms all the way to the back and combines the dining room with both the kitchen and the living room.
This creates a large grand room that gives a great impression of space in such a small house.
5. Elbar Estate
- Price: $165,000
- Number of shipping containers used: 3
- Container sizes: 40 ft long x 8 ft wide x 8 ft 6 in high
- Interior Size: 960 sq ft
- Number of bedrooms: 3
- Number of bathrooms: 2
- Standout Features: Durable build and advanced insulation for an efficient air conditioning
- Manufacturer: Elbar Tiny Living
This cost effective shipping container home from Elbar Tiny Living is ideal for anyone who wants a little more space.
At 960 square feet, the relatively roomy floor plan features a full sized kitchen along with a living room and dining area. The container house also comes equipped with three bedrooms and two full-sized bathrooms.
The house is constructed using Elbar’s premium laminate flooring, which adds remarkable structural durability for long term use.
5 Best Container Home Builders in Alabama
Now that you know more about the prices of container homes in Alabama, you might be interested in contacting some of the builders that operate in the state, so let’s have a quick look at some of them:
1. Custom Container Living
Custom Container Living is another giant that has a huge variety of options that you can choose from while designing your container house, whether you’re going for a small studio all the way up to luxurious 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom houses.
2. Honomobo
Although Honomobo’s headquarters is based in Alberta, Canada, the company ships and delivers its products to all U.S. states, including Alabama.
Honomobo is one of the biggest names in the shipping container home industry in all of North America, and they particularly excel at providing sleek designed houses with a wide variety of models and customization options.
They also abide by all the construction codes of the final address of the container house while manufacturing, so you don’t have to worry about that.
3. Meka Modular Constructions
As the name suggests, Meka Modular Constructions is all about customizability and creating unique housing where you decide on a variety of aspects.
The company is one of the few out there who add full amenities to some of their models, which grants you excellent value for your money. Additionally, you can also replace the stock options with various upgrades.
4. Logical Homes
Logical Homes is one of the biggest names in the shipping container homes industry. The company has a huge collection of floor plans and designs that suits all kinds of budgets.
The company’s headquarters is based in Austin, Texas, but it operates and ships to all states and even worldwide.
5. Elbar Tiny Living
When it comes to budget friendly designs with an excellent level of durability and heat efficiency, there aren’t many companies that exceed Elbar Tiny Living.
While the company has a relatively limited catalog, there’s plenty of size variation in the company’s models and you should be able to receive your unit in a record time!
Are Container Homes Legal in Alabama?
There aren’t any special regulations or construction codes that prohibit the construction or use of shipping container homes in Alabama, according to the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission.
However, when it comes to special housing rules and guidelines, it’s usually governed locally by every municipality.
In other words, even if the federal and state laws don’t prohibit the use of container homes in Alabama, the rules, codes, and even permit requirements may vary from one neighborhood to another.
For this reason, it’s usually best that you consult local authorities in your region before carrying on with the project.
Some container home builders may also provide you with legal assistance while obtaining special permits, which is another reason why I always recommend going for a container home builder rather than on your own.
Financing Your Container Home in Alabama
While the average cost of building a shipping container home in Alabama is relatively low, you might still need decent capital in order to finance it.
Lucky for you, there are plenty of companies that you can opt for if you’d like to finance a container home in Alabama. These include:
Conclusion
In conclusion, building shipping container homes in Alabama is a great way to get a affordable, eco-friendly, and sturdy home. With a little bit of research and planning, it can be a fun and rewarding experience.
