Shipping container house plans:
Need a solid home that won't blow over?

Graphic by Construible
Solid, resilient shipping container house plans are really taking off as recycled small and tiny houses.
However, necessity is the mother of all new ideas and our current global economic situation is no exception. The lean times always spawn unique perspectives on budgeting and living more frugally.
The recession of 2008 brought along with it the beginning of the small and tiny house revolution and with that, shipping container house plans.
And what a revolution it is!
Why shipping container house plans?Container houses are one of many choices for living in small spaces.
Yes, they're a bit unusual for a house however more and more people are catching on to the benefits and multi-faceted uses for shipping container housing.
So, what makes a shipping container a great option for a dwelling?
- Cheap and available - 20ft and 40ft containers are found in every country and, compared to regular building materials, are inexpensive. They're also plentiful the world over.
- Sturdy and long-lasting - Given that they voyage the seas on top of a ship in the open air for much of their lives and are always stored outside, containers are built for longevity. Ever tried putting a dent in the side of one of those things?
- Flexible + Deconstructible - you can remove one or many of a container's walls, floor or ceiling and replace them with other materials for a unique little small house or join them together with another container (or many) for a larger space.
- Green Roof - With the flat solid nature of a container home's roof and no possiblility of leakage into your living area, I've seen a lot of these container houses with a 'green' roof on top. Vege gardens, small lawns with flowers or even a putting green for avid golfers. You can be sure your mates won't have one of those at (or on) their house! Alternatively, you could place your solar panels on the roof.
- If you have a container, you have a roof over your head - Need a place to stay and short on cash? Just add one container and a bit of DIY nouse and you have ... a house! It's likely this rudimentary living might be only a short term solution but if you're dedicated to saving money, living frugally and improving your shipping container house for cash, you may just be on to some small, inexpensive living.


Shipping container house plans to suit you and your budget
While looking at container homes for the purpose of reducing your mortgage, there are a few choices to make about the style you desire:
- Small and inexpensive container homes are usually put together with a plan - DIY style - by the owner. These are the ultimate in mortgage-savings to be had for a handy home owner.
- The architecturally designed + cost effective container housing would suit a large portion of frugally-minded people. These have just a little more pizazz than the latter as this is what architects do for a living. We're starting to see more and more all-inclusive, delivered-to-site options here. Some even include a full house of furniture!
- Architecturally designed + custom-made shipping container homes often look nothing like the original product by the time they're complete and may be more expensive in the long run.
However because
they're so beautifully made and unique, I'm going to feature some
custom-made container house designs here. Great for getting ideas
for your own small space too!












