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Shipping Container Homes for Sale — From $11,995 Factory Direct

Shipping Container Homes for Sale

If you’ve been hunting for a shipping container home and every site you land on hides the price behind a “request a quote” form, you already know how frustrating this gets. So let’s skip that. Our homes start at $11,995 for a 10FT expandable model, and the 40FT family version runs $24,995. Those are the real numbers.

We build them at the factory and ship them straight to you. No dealer in the middle taking a cut, no showroom markup. That’s the whole reason we can keep prices where they are.

What you actually get

A shipping container home isn’t just a steel box with a door cut into it. Ours arrive with spray foam insulation, double-glazed windows, and the electrical and plumbing already run. You’re not hiring a contractor to finish the inside — it shows up ready.

The 10FT expandable gives you about 160 square feet. That’s a solid guest house, a home office, or a rental unit you can drop in the backyard. The 20FT one-bedroom is 320 square feet and works for a single person or a couple. The 40FT tops out over 800 square feet with separate rooms — that’s a full house, not a tiny home gimmick.

And here’s the part people don’t expect: the expandable ones ship folded to standard container size, then unfold on site to two or three times the floor space. You get more house without paying to ship a bigger box.

Prices, plainly

  • 10FT Expandable Studio — $11,995 — ~160 sq ft
  • 20FT One-Bedroom — $14,995 — ~320 sq ft
  • 20FT Premium + Kitchen — a step up in finishes and appliances
  • 40FT Deluxe Family Home — $24,995 — 800+ sq ft
  • Double-storey villa — our largest build, quote on request

Payment is by bank transfer in full — we do not offer financing.own nothing at the end. A $14,995 container home is paid off in year one.

How long it takes

Production runs two to three weeks. Ocean freight is usually 25 to 45 days depending on the port. Customs is a few days. Setup on your site is one to three days. So call it six to ten weeks door to door for most international buyers, faster if you’re closer to a major port.

Where we ship

We’ve sent homes to ports across North America, South America, Europe, Australia, and parts of Asia and Africa. If you tell us your nearest port, we’ll quote the shipping before you commit to anything.

The honest catch

These aren’t for everyone. If you’re in a city with strict zoning that hasn’t caught up to container builds, check your local rules first — that’s on you, not on us, and we’ll say so upfront. Permits vary wildly by county. Some places make it easy. Some make it hard. A few buyers have had to wait months on approval.

What we control is the build quality, the price, and the delivery. What we can’t control is your local government. Just don’t want you surprised.

What people actually ask us

The same five questions come up every week, so here they are with straight answers.

“Do I need a foundation?” Usually yes, but not a heavy one. A shipping container home is surprisingly light compared to a stick-built house of the same size. Most buyers go with concrete piers or a simple slab. Your local codes decide the rest.

“Can I live in one legally?” In a lot of places, yes. In some, not yet. It comes down to your zoning district. Rural areas are almost always fine. Dense suburbs can be picky. We’ll tell you to check before you buy, and we mean it.

“Will it survive winter?” With the insulation we install, yes. We’ve had owners in Canada and northern Europe run them year-round. The steel shell handles snow load well. You’ll want to keep snow off the roof, same as any home.

“What about electricity?” These run on standard hookups. A 20FT model pulls about the same as a small apartment. If you want off-grid, we offer a solar package that covers most of it.

“Is it really cheaper than building?” Almost always. A traditional build runs $150 to $250 a square foot. Ours land well below that, and you’re not paying for a year of construction delays.

Who buys these

We see three types of buyers over and over. The first is someone who wants a rental unit but doesn’t want a second mortgage — a container home in the backyard rents out fast in most markets. The second is a business that needs space: a site office, a workshop, a small retail spot. The third is a person who just wants to own something outright, no 30-year loan hanging over them.

We’ve shipped units that became backyard offices, hunting cabins, mother-in-law suites, and one that a guy turned into a tiny barbershop. The shell is the same. What you do with it is up to you.

Why factory-direct matters

Here’s something worth understanding before you buy from anyone. Most “container home” sellers are middlemen. They take your order, mark it up 30 to 50 percent, and pass it to a factory you never see. You pay for their website and their sales team.

We are the factory. When you buy from us, you’re buying at the source. That’s why a 40FT home from us costs what a 20FT costs from some resellers. It’s not a trick and there’s no bait-and-switch pricing. The number you see is the number you pay, plus shipping to your port.

What happens after you reach out

You tell us the model and your nearest port. We come back with a shipping quote and a production timeline. If the numbers work, you place a deposit and we start building. You get photos during production, not just a tracking number. When it’s done, we handle the freight paperwork and you coordinate the last-mile delivery from port to your site.

That’s it. No mystery, no runaround. If something changes on our end, you hear it from us first.

Ready to see the models?

Our current lineup and live pricing are on the main site. Pick a size, look at the specs, and if it fits, we’ll get you a shipping quote to your port. No pressure, no endless sales calls.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a shipping container home cost?

Our expandable container homes start at $11,995 for a 10FT studio and go up to $24,995 for a 40FT family home. Payment is by bank transfer in full — we do not offer financing.

Do you ship container homes to the USA?

Yes. We ship to ports across the United States and internationally. Tell us your nearest port and we will quote shipping before you commit.

How long does delivery take?

Production is 2-3 weeks, ocean freight is 25-45 days, and on-site setup takes 1-3 days. Most international buyers get their home in 6-10 weeks.

Are these homes ready to live in?

Yes. They arrive with insulation, double-glazed windows, electrical, and plumbing installed. They unfold or set on site and you can move in.

Do container homes need a foundation?

Usually a light one. Concrete piers or a simple slab are common. Much of the load is spread across the steel frame, so you rarely need a heavy engineered foundation.

Can I live in a container home legally?

In many areas, yes. It depends on your local zoning district. Rural locations are almost always fine, while some dense suburbs have restrictions. Always check with your county before buying.

See current models and pricing

View all expandable container homes at ATVWorldwide.com

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