In the Market for a New Home? Consider the Benefits of a Repurposed Steel Shipping Container

Are you looking for used shipping containers for sale? If so, you may be thinking about the various modifications that can be made on these versatile storage containers. From tiny houses to mobile offices, 40 foot shipping containers are a sustainable option to using other construction materials.

While there are approximately 17 million of these shipping containers available across the globe, just 6 million are currently being used. This means that there are roughly 11 million steel storage containers that can be recycled, reused, and repurposed.

When a single container is recycled, roughly 3,500 kilograms of steel is being reused. Furthermore, since these containers are providing the primary structure for a home, office, or pop-up store, bricks, mortar, wood, and other traditional building materials are not being used. According to Container Auction, 40 foot shipping containers can last for 20 years when they’re regularly maintained, which also adds to their sustainability.

Whether you would like to have a home, office, or retail space, there are a variety of custom modifications available. In addition to adding doors, windows, and skylights, you can also have climate control systems installed. Other common modifications include interior walls, shelving, and painting. Locking mechanisms are also a standard custom option.


If you’re thinking about using your container for an office, you may be interested to know that the average individual workstation is actually smaller these days. In 1992, it was 80 square feet, and according to Jacobs, a major design and workplace construction firm, it currently averages 39 square feet. As a result, these containers can provide the right amount of space for your home office or mobile office.

Recent studies of IT and accounting workers revealed some interesting results. The University of California at Irvine discovered that these employees refocused their attention from 1 to another project every 10.5 minutes on average. It was also found that they were interrupted over half of the time while working on each project.

If you tend to become distracted, having your own private office space may be the perfect solution. Recycled shipping containers, given all the potential modifications that can be made, are also an excellent choice for housing and other purposes.