The shipping container market is growing at a remarkable rate, as it offers an affordable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional housing. In fact, a recent report published by a market research company estimates its growth rate at 12.7% from 2022 to 2023 alone!
With that being said, many people still don’t know much about shipping container homes for sale in Pennsylvania.
But don’t worry! In today’s guide, we’ll help you find out more about container house costs, legal status, and the best builders in Keystone State!
How much do container homes in Pennsylvania cost?
The average cost of a container home in Pennsylvania depends on a wide range of factors. These factors include
- The size of the building and the number of containers used to build it
- The complexity of the design and
- How long it takes to complete the building and the labor costs in your local region, which is around $36.65 per hour in the state
However, the main factor that genuinely impacts the overall cost of a container home is the party who’s going to build it.
DIY shipping container homes
Building a container home yourself is usually a lot more affordable than buying a ready-made one.
On average, you should expect a modular container house to cost you anywhere between $130 to $175 per square foot. This means that the average single-container house (20 x 8 feet) should cost you around $20,800 to $28,000, which is incredibly affordable!
Building your own house is ideal for someone with decent experience in construction along with a good sense of internal decoration, as you’ll need to manage that as well.
Keep in mind that you’ll still need to hire contractors and obtain permits and other legal documents to build the house yourself.
Buying a home from a container home builder
On the other hand, you can opt for a ready-made (prefab) house that is built by a professional container home builder.
Ideally, a typical container home should cost you around $250 to $300 per square foot. This means that the same single-container house mentioned above will cost you around $40,000 to $48,000.
Although you’re paying as much as double the original cost of a DIY house, a ready-made container home is cost-effective because it usually takes care of various expenses, such as:
- Designing and architectural costs
- Hiring builders and contractors to work on the project
- Obtaining the necessary materials for the project
- Delivering and Installing the house where you want it
- Optimizing the house to building codes (some companies can even obtain permits on your behalf)
4 best container home builders in Pennsylvania
To help you pick the ideal container home builder for your needs. Here’s a brief overview of the 4 best companies that deliver container homes in Pennsylvania.
1. CW Dwellings LLC
Kicking off the list with one of the best options out there, especially if you’re looking for a builder that focuses on modern designs. CW Dwellings was established in 2016, and since then, their luxurious builds speak volumes!
One of the main reasons to consider CW Dwellings is that the company’s head office is already in Wayne, Pennsylvania. This means that you won’t have to worry about extra delivery expenses while installing the house.
Combined with the company’s relatively affordable prices, this makes it one of the most cost-effective solutions for anyone seeking a luxurious residence without breaking the bank!
CW Dwellings offer a detailed guide that walks you through their 6-phase construction process from designing the floor plans to delivering and installing them on your land.
Despite providing plenty of information through the website, CW Dwellings has a limited social media presence, which makes it hard to keep up with its latest projects.
The company also has 10 standard models designed to suit a wide range of preferences, ranging from compact studios to bunk shelters.
Pros
- A Pennsylvania-based company, which saves a lot on delivery costs
- Offers modern container houses for a relatively affordable price
- Has a wide range of models to choose from along with room for customization and optimization
- Highly responsive and helpful customer support team
Cons
- Relatively new to the business
- Limited social media presence
2. I Can Build It LLP
I Can Build It LLP is a construction company specializing in shipping container houses. The company has its headquarters in Maryland but it delivers prefab houses anywhere in the country, including Pennsylvania.
One of the best things about this company is that it works on all kinds of projects, whether they’re residential, commercial, or recreational.
Additionally, the operating team has over 65 years of construction industry experience and hundreds of home ideas ready to be implemented in their next projects.
This makes them a perfect choice if you want a turnkey prefab solution without compromising on essential elements like design or practicality.
We also like that the company partners with the professional container house designing company “Viva Collectiv” to build luxurious and aesthetically pleasing homes!
The successful story of I Can Build It LLP as a small company earned the company multiple mentions and features by reputable media outlets. This includes two episodes on FYI’s Tiny Home Nation as well as multiple magazines like Hagerstown and Custom Home.
Pros
- Highly experienced operating team with tons of innovative ideas
- Partners with professional companies to design container homes
- Excellent reputation and reliability factor, which allowed them to appear in magazines and TV shows.
Cons
- They don’t offer a solid selection of pre-designed house plans
- You’ll need to contact them to get a quote
3. Global Modulars
As the name suggests, Global Modulars specializes in all kinds of modular and prefabricated construction projects, including container homes.
The company is based in Florida, but it operates and delivers worldwide with projects all over the United States as well as Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean.
The prides itself on having over 180 years of combined experience in the industry, which is one of the largest in the industry.
This ensures reliability and assurance that your project will be completed in a timely fashion and according to the agreed standards.
The company is known for working with high-cube cargo containers instead of smaller ones. This provides their project with a unique identity and allows them to stand out among other options.
Global Modular is also an excellent choice if you’re all about modern build with contemporary exterior and interior designs.
However, you should keep in mind that Global Modular’s elegance and high-end build come at a relatively high price, especially when compared to other options on the list.
Pros
- One of the few builders that makes large multi-floor container homes
- Incredibly elegant and modern designs
- Equip the container homes with advanced features within the core package
- Offer various payment and financing options
Cons
- Some models can be a little overpriced
- Doesn’t offer custom-builds
4. Container Homes USA
Container Homes USA specializes in the construction of modular container homes. The company was created in 2016. However, its staff has over 28 years of experience in the business.
This experience enables them to build robust and stylish homes in a timely and effective manner without skimping on build quality.
Container Homes USA offers a one-of-a-kind project planning guide that leads clients through the three stages of the company’s construction process: discovery, engagement, and construction.
Another great aspect of Container Homes USA is that the company takes several measures to ensure optimal quality control throughout the entire process. This high level of transparency makes it a trustworthy partner for many customers across the nation!
Thanks to these qualities, many prominent brands have chosen Container Home USA as a building partner, including Panasonic and Sherman Williams.
Pros
- Help with applying for building permits
- Offers a huge selection of exterior finishes
- Has a complete project planning guide of all the different stages of the building process.
Cons
- You’ll need to contact the company for detailed pricing
- Doesn’t provide much information about its previous projects
Pennsylvania container homes for sale you can buy right now
In this section, we’ll have a closer look at some of the house plans that the previously mentioned builder offered in Pennsylvania.
1. House Sparrow 320 by CW Dwellings LLC
- Price: starts from $51,200
- Number of containers used: 1
- Container sizes: 40 feet (High Cube)
- Size of the container home: 320 square feet
- Number of bedrooms: 1
- Number of bathrooms: 1
- Standout feature:
- Manufacturer: CW Dwellings LLC
The House Sparrow 320 is excellent proof that even small houses can still be modern and luxurious, and versatile.
This single high-cube container home features a spacious living area that you can turn into a bedroom. This makes it a versatile house unit that you can use for both residential, recreational, and commercial purposes.
2. Tiny House by I Can Build It LLP
- Price: N/A
- Number of containers used: 1
- Container sizes: 20 feet
- Size of the container home: Around 600 square feet
- Number of bedrooms: 1
- Number of bathrooms: 1
- Standout feature: can be constructed with wheels to be turned into a portable home
- Manufacturer: I Can Build It LLP
The main concept that describes Tiny Houses built by I Can Build It is “less is more”. Although the houses are relatively small, they’re not overcrowded.
Instead, the container home is decently spacious and offers all the required features to sustain comfort and convenience.
3. Penta House by Global Modulars
- Price: starts from $278,900
- Number of containers used: 5
- Container sizes: 40 feet each
- Size of the container home: 1,600 square feet
- Number of bedrooms: 3
- Number of bathrooms: 3
- Standout feature: contemporary exterior design
- Manufacturer: Global Modulars

Penta House is an excellent choice if you don’t mind spending a little more in exchange for luxury and quality.
The house features a modern design with plenty of room and ample light access. It also features a spacious terrace to enjoy your time outdoors with a nice view.
4. 2-bedroom container home by Container Homes USA
- Price: starting from N/A
- Number of containers used: 2
- Container sizes: 40 feet each
- Size of the container home: 320 square feet
- Number of bedrooms: 2
- Number of bathrooms: 1
- Standout feature: excellent indoor space utilization with exquisite outdoor finish
- Manufacturer: Container Homes USA
This one has two bedrooms and one bathrooms, making it suitable for both residential and vacation use. It also features a large terrace with an open view of the surrounding area adds to the appeal of this home.
The customizable design allows you to add features such as built-in garages or other amenities to suit your needs.
Are container homes legal in Pennsylvania?
A shipping container home, whether DIY or ready-made, is legal in Pennsylvania. However, like other buildings in the state, you still need to adhere to several rules and regulations to establish the house’s legal status.
In Pennsylvania, the two most essential aspects to make a container home legal are abiding by zoning codes and applying for a permit.
This is because container homes are only legal in particular land zones allowed for this use case. You also need to follow all the regulations and building rules according to the Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standard.
This is where you submit your house plan to establish its safety and that it’s a permanent safe house that is safe for use as a residential building.
Once you obtain the permit, you can go ahead and start working on establishing a house on the allotted land.
These documents don’t only protect you from any legal troubles or fines, but they’re also essential to obtain insurance for the house, which massively improves its resale value.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are various options to consider when it comes to shipping container homes in Pennsylvania.
If you’re looking for a reliable builder, you can go for any of these builders. However, CW Dwellings LLC has the advantage of being a local company, which can save you a large sum!
Featured image: https://www.globalmodulars.com/