160-square-foot shipping container house asks $55K

For anyone looking to downsize, shipping container homes offer durability and an eco-friendly way to reuse some of the thousands of surplus containers that sit on docks around the world. Often less expensive than other housing options, shipping containers have been transformed into urban farms, off-the-grid getaways, hotels, and even all-in-one pools.

The latest shipping container company to cross our desk is Pasadena-based design-builder Kubed Living. This new company recently opened its first showroom this past March in Sierra Madre, California, and is selling two different models made from recycled shipping containers: A one-bedroom made from two 20-foot containers and a 160-square-foot studio dwelling made from a single container.

The smaller unit, called Studio 160, includes a kitchen with dishwasher and microwave, upper and lower cabinets, stove, oven, fridge and even a pantry. Other amenities include air and heat, a five-foot closet for clothing and storage, and a bathroom with a glass-enclosed shower door. The standard model is priced at $55,000, and other upgrades, like a loft, exterior cladding, and rooftop deck, can be added at an extra cost.

The larger one-bedroom measures about 320 square feet of space, with a separate sleeping area, a more spacious bathroom, and an open dining-living room concept. Expansive sliding glass doors open up to the outside to make the living area feel more spacious, and the one-bedroom is priced at about $90,000.

Courtesy of Kubed Living

Kubed Living manufactures each shipping container house to the specifications of the customer, so each structure will be slightly different. It can also make larger buildings, like a two-bedroom, two-bath home using three 40-foot containers and measuring about 960 square feet.

Kubed Living has partnered with banks to offer financing, all in the hopes of adding an affordable housing option in high-priced markets. The shipping container houses can be used as a quick-to-build accessory dwelling unit, or ADUs, small structures measuring under 1,000 square feet that are built on the property of existing homeowners. They can also work well as offices, backyard vacation rentals, or mother-in-law suites. For more info on Kubed Living, head over here.

Courtesy of Kubed Living

Courtesy of Kubed Living

Courtesy of Kubed Living

Courtesy of Kubed Living