Transforming shipping containers into compact houses is a popular solution among folks looking to construct cost-effective buildings.
To help you find the best shipping container cottages that match your taste and budget, I’ve put together a comprehensive list of 7 options you shouldn’t miss out on!
7 Shipping Container Cottages You Must See!
If you’re in the market for a shipping container cottage, the following units are my top recommendations across various areas:
1. HONOMOBO HO2
- Price: $210,150
- Number of containers used: 2
- Container size: 40 feet long, 8 feet wide, 9 inches high
- Size: 640 square feet
- Standout feature: very modern-looking exterior with glass walls and an open design for a matching sleek interior
- Manufacturer: https://www.honomobo.com/us/ho2
First up is a perfect option for anyone looking to score luxury shipping container homes. The HO2 from Honomobo is part of the company’s H series that’s available in either a 2 bed/1bath or a 1 bed/1 bath configuration.
Both versions extend over a 640-square-feet area and include a large kitchen, living area, full bathroom, and in-suite laundry. You can also add a gas or wood-burning fireplace for an extra cost.
The HO2 looks super modern and elegant. It’s ideal for a country cottage, a guest house, or an Airbnb. Typically, the whole design and building process takes between 10 months to a year once you obtain the necessary permits.
2. Napa 600
- Price: $138,000
- Number of containers used: 2
- Container size: 30 feet long, 20 feet wide, 8 feet 6 inches high
- Size: 600 square feet
- Standout feature: it’s a versatile design that you can style in a dozen ways
- Manufacturer: https://mekamodular.com/models/standard/napa-600/
Serving all 50 states and 10 provinces in Canada, Meka Modular makes buildings that aren’t classified as containers. Instead, the company constructs light steel frame structures to the dimensions of typical shipping containers, which are permitted in any jurisdiction.
Meka Modular’s Napa 600 is available in 2 layouts; one with a single bedroom and a walk-in closet, or one with 2 bedrooms. Either way, you also get a full bathroom, a roomy living area, a kitchen, and a dining room.
3. Yucatan 320
- Price: $200 to $300 per square foot
- Number of containers used: 1
- Container size: 40 feet long, 8 feet wide, 8 feet 6 inches high
- Size: 320 square feet
- Standout feature: comes with a glass garage door that rolls up to let you access a 270-square-foot porch
- Manufacturer: https://logicalhomes.com/model-homes/yucatan/yucatan-320-overview
Logical Homes is based in Austin, Texas, but it also operates in other states including California and New York. The company offers many pre-designed and custom shipping container home plans, including my choice for today’s list; the Kara 320.
This tiny house makes for an ideal shipping container cottage with 320 square feet of interior living space. It accommodates a lounging area, 1 or 2 bedrooms, a bathroom with a sink, toilet, and shower, a laundry corner, and a kitchen/dining room.
Once you contact Logical Homes and get your project up and running, the company estimates a waiting period of around 3 months per shipping container house.
Also, keep in mind that the final price of your shipping container cottage will vary depending on a few factors such as the nature of your building site and personalization extras.
4. The K320L
- Price: $123,000
- Number of containers used: 1
- Container size: 40 feet long, 8 feet wide, 9 feet 6 inches high
- Size: 320 square feet
- Standout feature: features “high cube” design for additional headspace
- Manufacturer: https://www.kubedliving.com/predesigned-structures
Kubed Living offers multiple pre-designed and custom shipping container apartments and homes. For today’s list, I picked the K320 L.
This layout accommodates a generous living area, a full kitchen, an eating bar, a bedroom with a storage closet, and a bathroom with a stackable washer and dryer.
Keep in mind that the listed prices are for the house only. There’ll be extra costs for permits, engineering, foundation, site work, delivery, and installation.
Kubed Living was founded in Los Angeles by Katalina Klein, but the company’s service isn’t exclusive to California. Thanks to its numerous manufacturing facilities all over the country, this company can work in any state in the United States as well as Canada.
5. ALT Eco Container Tiny Home
- Price: $49,900 (starting price)
- Number of containers used: 1
- Container size: 40 feet long, 8 feet wide, 8 feet 6 inches high
- Size: 320 square feet
- Standout feature: interior walls are covered with a ceramic-insulated paint to provide reliable insulation at an affordable cost
- Manufacturer: https://alternativelivingspaces.com/container-homes/eco-tiny-homes/
Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, Alternative Living Spaces offers practical designs for cheap shipping container homes. Modern and affordable, the Eco series contains fantastic options for cabins and cottages, particularly the 40-foot version.
This layout accommodates a bedroom of dimensions 12 feet × 7 feet 8.5 inches and a living/dining/kitchen area of dimensions 19 feet 8 inches x feet 8.5 inches. There’s a bathroom with a sliding door containing a toilet and a shower (no sink but can be an add-on).
Once you place an order at Alternative Living Spaces, the standard waiting period is between 8 and 10 weeks. In case the unit already exists in the inventory, you’ll be able to receive it within 1 to 2 weeks.
6. ELBAR Cottage
- Price: $89,000
- Number of containers used: 1
- Container size: 40 feet long, 8 feet wide, 8 feet 6 inches high
- Size: 320 square feet
- Standout feature: equipped with a heating and air-conditioning system as well as foam spray insulation (R-35 for the roof and R-21 for the walls)
- Manufacturer: https://elbartinyliving.com/#floorplan
ELBAR Tiny Living is a company based in Connecticut that delivers all over the country and worldwide.
These folks provide you with 4 pre-designed plans; one of which is called “ELBAR Cottage”, so I chose it as my recommendation for a shipping container cottage.
This budget-friendly unit has one of the most space-efficient layouts I’ve come across during my research considering the price. The 320 square feet area accommodates a kitchen with a stove, sink, fridge, and storage cabinet.
There’s also a living area, a bedroom, and a bathroom consisting of a sink, toilet, shower, and bench/cabinet. All the cabinetry is custom made and the container itself is 100% Corten Steel that endures extreme weather conditions including hurricanes and tornadoes.
7. Double Duo
- Price: $131,900 (core package)
- Number of containers used: 2
- Container size: 40 feet long, 8 feet wide, 8 feet 6 inches high
- Size: 640 square feet
- Standout feature: equipped with a Mitsubishi Mini Split heating and cooling system and an electric tankless water heater
- Manufacturer: https://www.customcontainerliving.com/double-duo.html
The Double Duo model by Custom Container Living is an excellent layout for a shipping container cottage that offers plenty of space with lots of value for money.
It’s a flexible design that extends over an area of 640 feet and contains 2 equal-sized bedrooms, a spacious living room, and a large kitchen with full-sized appliances.
There’s also a bathroom with a toilet, sink, a tub/shower combo, a roomy cabinet, and a spot for a stackable washer and dryer.
Although it’s based in Missouri, Custom Container Living delivers all over the United States for additional shipping fees. They can even ship outside of the country, but the buyer is responsible for the entire shipping process once the home reaches a US port.
Wrap Up
There you have it, 7 shipping container cottages from reliable builders that you can check out right now. No matter the available space you’re working with, you’ll surely find a unit that suits it!
