Container home T1: what it needs to be legal
A legal T1 (1 bedroom) needs two 40 ft High Cube containers, side by side. One alone does not even reach T0 (studio).
The minimum area: 52 m² gross
The RGEU (art. 67) sets minimum gross areas by dwelling type, measured to the outside of the walls. The RGEU was due to be repealed in 2026, but DL 108/2026 postponed the repeal until the new technical regulation comes out. These areas still count.
| Type | Minimum gross area |
|---|---|
| T0 (studio) | 35 m² |
| T1 (1 bedroom) | 52 m² |
| T2 (2 bedrooms) | 72 m² |
| T3 (3 bedrooms) | 91 m² |
A 40 ft High Cube has about 29.7 m² gross. That is below the 35 m² of a T0: it is a studio or an annex, not a house. Two side by side give 59.4 m² gross and 54.4 m² usable. It is the smallest T1 you can make from containers.
Rooms, widths and ceiling height
- Double bedroom of at least 10.5 m² (art. 66).
- Living room of at least 10 m² and a kitchen of 6 m². Without a separate kitchen, the living room adds the two together.
- Bathroom of at least 3.5 m² (art. 68).
- Width. A room between 9.5 and 12 m² needs 2.40 m clear; above 12 m², 2.70 m (art. 69). A lined container ends up about 2.20 m wide. That is why the 2×40 opens the central wall in the living area, giving a living room about 4.4 m wide.
- Ceiling height of 2.40 m clear (art. 65). A 40 ft High Cube ends up about 2.55 m after lining. A standard container is below that.
How much a container T1 costs
The 2×40 model costs between €54,550 and €73,802, VAT included, land excluded: Balanced finish, one-trip containers, urban plot with utilities. The Contentar T1 plan, with the central wall opened and the reinforcement that needs, comes to between €61,096 and €82,658.
A build like this almost always goes over €40,000. Whoever builds the whole house must hold an IMPIC licence (alvará); a certificate is not enough.
Do not call a 1×40 a T1
Some adverts sell a single 40 ft container as a “T1”. With about 30 m² gross, the câmara will not accept it as a dwelling. It works as a studio, office or annex. If you want to live in it, plan for two.
See the 2×40 cost line by line, or switch to a used container and another finish.
Work out my cost See the Contentar guide · €19Indicative check. Always confirm with the câmara and an architect before you choose a model.