You can say that a shipping container home is a type of prefab home. It is built off-site and can be transported. But there are some essential differences.

The key difference, in a nutshell, is that a shipping container is not intrinsically designed to be a house. It is adopted. On the other hand, prefab homes are designed to be dwellings. This poses some important differences that we need to consider.

In this article, we will make a complete comparison between the two types of homes and give you enough food for thought to make your conclusions.

Prefab Home

A prefabricated house that can be assembled in a factory and then shipped to the site. It’s made from pre-cut, ready-to-assemble prefab panels and other materials put together on-site as a prefab shell.

The advantage over traditional construction methods is speed: it takes less time to build than conventional building techniques. A prefabrication kit may contain all the components needed for all rooms such as kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, etc. Custom prefabricated homes are an excellent choice for those who want to build their own dream home.

They're also a great option if you don't have the time or resources to build a custom home. You'll save money because there aren't too many parts involved. Plus, you get exactly what you want when you buy a prefabricated home. If you like something about it, you can change it later (modular homes). On top of that, you can always modify the plans to suit your specific requirements.

Shipping Container Home

Shipping containers have long been used as an inexpensive way to transport goods around the world. They were originally designed by shipbuilders who wanted more space onboard ships so they could store cargo without having to load bulky items into smaller spaces.

In recent years, many people have taken up this idea and started using them as makeshift homes. These houses come in various sizes and shapes depending upon their intended use. Some are small enough to fit inside a standard truck while others require special trucks to move them.

There are also some larger versions available. Most of these types of buildings are usually built out of steel frames covered with plywood or corrugated metal sheets. Many of these structures are modular meaning you can take pieces off and add to your structure at any point during its life cycle. This makes it easy to expand if need be.

A lot of people think that shipping containers are just big boxes. However, they provide several benefits, including customizing them according to your needs.

For example, you can choose between different designs, colors, and even finishes. Moreover, you can make changes whenever you feel necessary.

Another benefit is that you will never run out of storage space. Since they are large, you won’t find yourself running short of space anytime soon. And lastly, they are pretty durable, though not as durable as prefab homes.

Differences Between Manufactured Homes and Shipping Container Homes

As mentioned, there are a lot of differences between manufactured homes and shipping container homes. Manufactured homes are typically constructed from prefab panels and modules. Shipping container homes are mostly made from steel frames covered in corrugated metal sheets. Also, most manufactured homes are permanent dwellings whereas shipping container homes are meant to be moved.

Manufactured homes are generally very heavy-duty homes that are built from panel walls of composite materials. This is a big difference from the shipping containers because the latter are not as structurally durable (they are not meant to be homes by design.)

On the other hand, shipping container homes are cheaper than manufactured homes. Their prices range from $10,000 to $40,000. They are portable which allows you to relocate them wherever you wish.

Unlike manufactured homes, they allow you to customize them to meet your own personal preferences. It's possible to transform them into whatever type of house you desire.

You can build decks over them, install windows, doors, and appliances. Either way, there are no limits when it comes to designing your own custom shipping container home.