Container home 2×40: 1 bedroom, 59.4 m²
1 bedroom · two 40 ft side by side. A couple or one person, working from home.
With 54.4 m² usable it meets the space standard for 1 bed, 1 person (shower room) (37 m²), 1 bed, 2 people (50 m²). It is below the standard for 2 bed, 3 people (61 m²), 3 bed, 4 people (74 m²). Estimated ceiling height of 2.50 m: it meets the 2.3 m of the standard.
The space standard applies only where your council has adopted it in its Local Plan. Check with the council and an architect before you choose a plan.
How much it costs
Between £78,046 and £105,591, VAT included and a ±15% margin. Balanced finish, one-trip containers, residential plot with water, power and drainage. The land is not included.
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.
It includes 12% more than the same area in simple containers. Removing the shared wall (2×12 m of sheet), HSS beam + 2 intermediate columns, roof joint and more welding: ~+10–15%.
Build complexity: medium.
For and against
For
- Living room and bedroom 4.64 m wide: far more comfortable than a single container.
- A separate office for remote work or occasional guests.
- North–south cross-ventilation across the whole living area.
Against
- Removing the shared wall means a beam and columns hidden in the partitions, and a well-sealed roof joint.
- The office does not count as a bedroom: at 9.4 m² with a door to the hall, building control or the council could count it as one.
Sun orientation
Containers on an east–west axis; living room and bedrooms to the south, kitchen/bathroom to the north; continuous overhang to the south.
Adjust the finish, used or new container and the land, and see the cost line by line.
Work out my cost UK guide · join the waiting listSee this plan in 3D on Contentar
Other plans
- 1×20 container as an annexe: 14.8 m²Annex in a 20 ft container · £30,698–£41,532
- 1×40 container as an annexe: 29.7 m²Studio in a 40 ft container · £42,063–£56,909
- Container home 2×40: 1 bedroom, 59.4 m²1 bedroom · two 40 ft side by side · £78,046–£105,591
- Container home 3×40: 2 bedrooms, 89.2 m²2 bedrooms · three 40 ft side by side · £110,928–£150,078
- Container home 4×40: 3 bedrooms, 118.9 m²3 bedrooms · four 40 ft side by side · £144,913–£196,060
- Container home 2×40 + 1×20 L-shaped: 2 bedrooms, 74.2 m²L-shaped 2 bedrooms with a patio · £92,681–£125,390
- Container home 4×40 H-shaped: 3 bedrooms, 118.9 m²H-shaped 3 bedrooms with two patios · £147,412–£199,440
- Container home 3×40 duplex: 2 bedrooms, 89.2 m²2-bedroom duplex, one 40 on top · £113,847–£154,027
- 1×40 + 1×20 with decking container as an annexe: 44.5 m²40 + 20 ft with decking · £59,228–£80,131
- 2×20 L-shaped container as an annexe: 29.5 m²Two 20 ft in an L · £50,709–£68,607
- 2×40 cantilevered container as an annexe: 59.4 m²Stacked cantilever with a terrace · £85,014–£115,019