Best Shipping Container Homes for Sale in California — Prefab Review (2024)

With a number of unique advantages, building a shipping container home in California is a wise decision. From unique design aesthetics to reduced build times and less material waste to greater affordability, there are several use cases for container houses in the Golden State. And these benefits are compounded by the fact that there are a number of shipping container home builders in California.

Depending on how far along you are in your search for container homes for sale in California, you may be looking for answers to different questions; how much does a container home in California cost? Which container homes are for sale in Los Angeles? Or which are the best prefab container home builders in California? Can I build a shipping container ADU in California?

To help, we have compiled a list of the top shipping container home builders in California. For each company, we have included information on the container homes they sell, provided cost estimates for a completed shipping container house in California, as well as addressed alternative housing options you might want to consider.

Overview of California’s Shipping Container Home Market

Like most other types of prefab construction in California, there are several options to choose from when looking for container houses for sale in the Golden State. While container-based homes are a relatively new trend in construction, you still have access to a number of builders (both CA-based and out-of-state companies that serve California).

On our site, we have covered 6 California container home builders and 11 more that are able to serve buyers throughout the state, including in San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. When combined, this means that you can choose from over 110 pre-design floor plans, in addition to creating a fully custom home.

Using data from container home builders we have covered on our site, the average cost to build a turn-key container home in California ranges from $241 - $420+ per square foot. And while individual factors like location, site conditions, and finish preferences will affect this number, this is still more affordable than modular and kit home construction in California.

Shipping Container Home Builders in California

To give you an idea of some potential options for your project, we have included a selection of some of the more well-known shipping container home sellers in California. For each company, we have included a summary of their products as well as links to in-depth reviews of their operations and an example of their work.

When speaking with companies, some good questions to ask include:

• Are they able to customize a design to meet your needs? Or, are you happy with one of their pre-designed floor plans?

• What is their current build timeline? Can they begin your project ASAP?

• Do they complete all steps of the project? If not, are they able to provide project management services?

Bay Modular - Oakland, CA

Bay Modular specializes in designing and manufacturing modern shipping container ADUs. They currently sell and manufacture 5 different types of container homes. Their ADUs range in size from small, backyard studios (Solo 1) up to a 2 bedroom, 640 square foot ADU.

From a process standpoint, Bay Modular offers turn-key project management services. While they complete container home manufacturing themselves, they coordinate outside work among a number of licensed contractor partners.

Turn-Key Cost Estimate for a Container Home from Bay Modular: $275 - $335+ per square foot

Example of Work: Solo 3

Kubed Living - Sherman Oaks, CA

Kubed Living is a shipping container home builder that works on both residential and commercial projects. In addition to 7 designs that buyers can use as inspiration for their own homes, they also offer complete customization services. Their pre-designed residential projects range in size from 240 square feet to 960 square feet and are often made by joining several containers together. While buyers are able to personalize all aspects of their home, their designs often blend traditional, modern, and industrial architecture.

Kubed Living offers turn-key project management services and can oversee all stages of project construction. Depending on local restrictions and project need, Kubed Living and their construction partners can deliver containers to the final project site up to 90% complete.

Turn-Key Cost Estimate for a Container Home from Kubed Living: $350 - $500+ per square foot

Example of Work: Kubed 960

Steelblox - Lompoc, CA

Steelblox is a prefab builder that works on both residential and commercial projects. While building with shipping containers is one of their preferred methods of construction, they do not exclusively build container-based buildings. In some cases, they may also use structural insulated panels (SIPs) and steel framing techniques.

Steelblox offers a wide range of products including ADUs, single-family homes, commercial structures, and even fully-custom projects. Depending on your wants, you can work with their in-house design team or modify one of their existing, pre-engineered plans.

Turn-Key Cost Estimate for a Container Home from Steelblox: $350 - $500+ per square foot

Example of Work: Model 5

Taynr - Sacramento, CA

Similar to Steelblox, Taynr is a prefab builder that specializes in both container home construction and steel-frame construction. They currently offer 9 models of pre-designed prefab shipping container ADUs and shipping container homes. Their smallest units come in at 160 square feet and their largest units are made of a combination of several shipping containers and have 960 square feet of living space.

It is important to note that Taynr only acts as a manufacturer and does not complete the on-site work necessary to finish a build.

Turn-Key Cost Estimate for a Container Home from Taynr: $260 - $450+ per square foot

Example of Work: Demo River House

Honomobo - Alberta, CA

Honomobo is a shipping container home builder and one of the earlier builders to focus on this style of building. They currently sell 4 models of modern, pre-designed container homes as well as their "Honomobar". While they do not build fully-custom homes, buyers are able to personalize the design aspects of their homes.

Turn-Key Cost Estimate for a Container Home from Honomobo - $270 - $500+ per square foot

Example of Work: HO5

Comparing California’s Shipping Container Homes for Sale

Shipping Container Home Alternatives in California

If you are looking to build a shipping container home in California and the builders or homes listed above aren’t good fits for your project, there may be alternative options that you might want to consider.

If you would like to build a home with smaller square footage or an ADU, you can find builders in California that match these profiles in our articles for:

• Best Tiny Home Builders in California

• Best ADU Builders in Los Angeles

• Best ADU Builders in the San Francisco Bay Area

• Best Manufactured Home Builders in California

If you like the modern, industrial style of container home architecture you can find prefab home builders that match this profile in our articles for:

• Best Contemporary Prefab Homes

• Best Modern Prefab Homes

Or, for a broader range of companies, see our list of prefab homes for sale in California and modular homes for sale in California.