Owning a shipping container cabin means you’re a short drive away from a refuge from work and worries.
We all deserve to unwind and recharge from time to time, and these nifty cabins can quickly become summer homes or bungalows, depending on your need and location. These modular spaces are eco-friendly, affordable, and can be easily expanded with additional containers if needed.
Shipping Container Cabins are Smart Investments
For many, having a shipping container cabin that can serve as a vacation home is good enough from both personal well-being and financial standpoints (after all, you save considerable money on trips and lodging). But many opt to turn their vacation homes into AirBNB cabins they can rent to others as a way to recover their initial investment and even profit later on.
Today our review team has picked our favorite shipping container cabins for this year, featuring successful DIY projects as well as luxurious retreats built by proven professionals for you. Let’s begin!
The Jim Poteet Shipping Container Cabin

Jim Poteet designed this gorgeous shipping container cabin for a San Antonio, Texas client. This cabin can turn into a garden retreat, a playhouse, or even a cozy guest house for last-minute visitors. The floor-to-ceiling glass doors and windows allow visitors to enjoy the natural lighting during the day and breath-taking views at night.

This shipping container cabin includes a heating, air-conditioning system, fully functional bathroom, and state-of-the-art spray-foam and bamboo insulation. This build ensures that guests enjoy all the utilities and optimal temperatures a traditional home can offer.
The Backcountry Containers Cabin

When it comes to custom shipping container homes, few companies are as experienced as Backcountry Containers. Their talented team turned this shipping container cabin into a robust bungalow that serves as a summer retreat for the family.
This shipping container cabin features adjoined containers, a broad front porch, and a graceful observation deck capable of hosting barbecues with multiple guests. This level of craftsmanship is remarkable and proves that shipping container cabins can become luxurious vacation homes for anyone, especially if you add a storage container pool to your property!
Minimalist Shipping Container Cabin Rental

Saffy and Dom built this gorgeous shipping container cabin and currently rent it to visitors for additional income. Shipping container homes are excellent investment opportunities due to being prefabricated structures, which saved this couple considerable money traditionally spent on walls and roofing.

The insides feature a sober color palette that perfectly fits the fresh Scandinavian design the couple chose for their shipping container cabin.

The shipping container cabin features a floor-to-ceiling picture window in one of its ends to leverage the countryside’s unique views. It also comes with a deck that invites you to enjoy the sun’s warm light with your freshly squeezed orange juice during the morning.
The Kubed Living K160 Shipping Container Cabin

Kubed Living has a remarkable 5-step approach to designing shipping container cabins for their customers. Their K160 model offers a combination of comfort, efficiency, and luxury for your shipping container cabin.

The K160 model features an optional deck perfect for gently tanning your skin while you enjoy a refreshing beverage and your favorite audiobook. You can also invite guests to wrap-up the week over some cold drinks and friendly banter under the lunar sky.
The Cargo Home Mainsail Cabin

The Cargo Home Mainsail model is one of the best pre-built shipping container cabins available today. This 40′ container home comes with paneled pine shiplap interiors and custom-made wooden casements for the windows, creating an interior that resembles a beautiful modern farmhouse.

The kitchen area comes with granite or quartz countertops, a stove, a refrigerator, and a full-size sink. The custom cabinetry is not only masterfully crafted, but it also fits the interior’s theme to perfection. The rooftop deck comes with an optional rooftop garden, allowing you to enjoy the outdoor scenery of your summer home or woodland retreat.
California Shipping Container Cabin

This couple took inspiration from European shipping container cabins and decided to fulfill a life-long dream: building their own home. This loft-styled shipping container cabin combines glamour with industrial flair, easily noticeable by the contrasting contemporary furniture and exposed container ceiling. This seemingly odd merge of styles works surprisingly well and creates a truly unique living space for this couple.

This gorgeous shipping container cabin also offers a breath-taking view to the east of the deck, inviting you to marvel at nature’s unrivaled work with a hot cup of coffee. During the evening, you can use the glass roll-up doors and heating system to stay cozy as you watch your favorite show with your loved one.
Countryside Shipping Container Cabin

This beautiful Tim Steele project features a spacious 800 square feet cabin in the often underrated New York countryside. The client had always dreamed of owning a cabin in the countryside, away from the cities’ hectic lifestyle.

The roomy shipping container cabin comes with a tasteful contemporary design that transports the luxurious city interiors to the quiet and charming New York countryside. This personal temple is always within driving distance of the city, allowing you to take a personal day off at any time.
Review
Shipping container cabins are one of the hottest commodities for this year. These cabins are cheaper to build than traditional log cabins and are also faster to install, allowing buyers to enjoy their dream vacation home in just a few months. When we consider that these shipping container homes can turn into a source of passive income, it’s no wonder that so many investors are looking to establish their sustainable retreats this year.

Emma is Home Refinery's interior and design editor. When she's not obsessing over her next home decorating project, she can be found bargain-shopping at vintage stores, mixing and matching new color palettes, and writing for one of many major home publications for which she contributes.