1-bedroom container home
A 1-bedroom home needs two 40 ft High Cube containers, side by side. One on its own is a studio or a garden annexe.
The space standard
The Nationally Described Space Standard sets the minimum gross internal area of a new home. It applies only where your council has adopted it in its Local Plan, and many have.
| Home | Minimum gross internal area |
|---|---|
| 1 bed, 1 person (shower room) | 37 m² |
| 1 bed, 2 people | 50 m² |
| 2 bed, 3 people | 61 m² |
| 3 bed, 4 people | 74 m² |
A 40 ft High Cube has about 29.7 m² built and 25.8 m² usable: below the 37 m² for one person. Two side by side give 59.4 m² built and 54.4 m² usable, above the 50 m² for a 1-bedroom, 2-person home.
Widths and height
- Width. A lined container ends up about 2.20 m wide inside. That is why the 2×40 opens the central wall in the living area, giving a living room about 4.4 m wide.
- Height. The standard asks for 2.3 m over at least 75% of the floor. An insulated 40 ft High Cube ends up about 2.5 m: it meets it comfortably. A standard container is tight.
How much a 1-bedroom container home costs
The 2×40 model costs between £69,684 and £94,278, VAT included, land excluded: Balanced finish, one-trip containers, residential plot with services. The Contentar 1-bedroom plan, with the central wall opened and the reinforcement that needs, comes to between £78,046 and £105,591.
Container prices from UK depots (2025–2026) and building work with UK factors on the Contentar engine, checked in November 2026. VAT at 20%. Excludes land, heat pump, solar panels, warranty, CIL and stamp duty.
Do not call a 1×40 a house
Some adverts sell a single 40 ft container as a home. With about 28 m², it is below the space standard for an independent home. It works as a studio, office or garden annexe. If you want to live in it on its own, plan for two.
See the 2×40 cost line by line, or switch to a used container and another finish.
Work out my cost UK guide · join the waiting listIndicative. Always confirm with the council and an architect before you choose a model.