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5 Custom Shipping Container Designs That Will Inspire Your Next Project

 
 
Shipping containers are far more common than you might think. They are not just scattered across ports and warehouses worldwide, waiting for transportation. These sturdy structures are being repurposed and converted into efficient modular buildings used globally, with a significant number in the United States. Ticket booths at stadiums, pop-up coffee shops in plazas, construction site offices, bathrooms in scenic spots, food courts, and retail stores—all these projects can utilize shipping containers.

In this blog, we will showcase five of our most impressive custom shipping container designs, including a restaurant, a house, a concession stand, a swimming pool, and a bar. Continue scrolling to see how we convert and modify cargo containers into various functional modular buildings and explore their layouts.
 
 
 
 

Case Studies of ETO's 5 Inspiring Shipping Container Designs

 
 

 

Shipping Container Modular Building


Shipping-Container-Restaurant-Design

This modular restaurant building, designed by our team, is set in an outdoor food court. We cut and welded two 20ft shipping containers together and did a series of work, like adding doors and windows, wiring, laying interior walls and floors, and installing equipment, to convert them into a 20ft container restaurant with a bar.

The highlight is its rooftop, which offers an extra dining platform and the best viewing angles for events or performances.
 
Features:
 
  • 20ft New Shipping Containers
  • Waterproof Exterior Wall Coating
  • 40mm Polyurethane Spray Foam Insulation
  • Galvanized Steel Frame and Corrugated Steel Exterior Walls
  • Galvanized Steel Stairs with Handrails
  • Rooftop Deck with Wooden Flooring, Safety Railings, and Canopy
  • 4 Concession Windows and an Exterior Personnel Door that seamlessly integrates with the exterior when closed
  • Separated Kitchen Space and Bar Station
  • Non-slip Stainless Steel Flooring
  • USA-compliant Electrical Fixture Package
  • A/C Units
  • External Water Supply Inlet
  • Track Lights above the Front Workbench
  • Stainless Steel Workbench with Storage Cabinets
  • A Bench Fridge, a Freezer Display, and a Drink Cooler
  • A Bar Station with a Beer Dispenser

 
 
 
 

 

Shipping Container House

 
Container-House-Design
 
These are our functional 20ft shipping container designs that include a bedroom, a kitchen, and a bathroom, each separated and equipped with comfortable facilities like a real home. It is currently our most popular 1-bedroom house layout, ideal for singles or couples.
 
Features:
 
  • Standard 20ft Shipping Container
  • Waterproof Exterior Wall Coating
  • 40mm Polyurethane Spray Foam Insulation
  • Waterproof Wood Vinyl Flooring
  • Waterproof, Non-porous Light-colored Interior Walls
  • 2 Sliding Windows (1 in the kitchen, 1 in the bedroom), 2 Doors (1 in the bedroom, 1 in the bathroom)
  • External Water Supply Interface and Drainage Pipe
  • Standard Electrical and Lighting
  • Bedroom: Custom Bed, TV
  • Kitchen: Custom Kitchen Island, Cabinets, Sink, Kitchen Appliances
  • Bathroom: Custom Toilet, Shower Stall, Mirror, Vanity, Cabinets
 
 
 

 

Cladded Shipping Container Concession Stand

 
Container-Concession-Stand

Using shipping containers as concession stands is a creative and efficient way to offer a unique dining experience. By attaching wood cladding, as we did with this small container, a steel cargo container can be converted into a structure with a vintage style and vibe. It can be used as a pop-up concession stand that can be set up anywhere, indoors or outdoors. The interior is carefully configured and equipped with custom equipment to provide the necessary space for kitchens, bars, dining areas, and shops.

This 10ft container is a portable concession stand with a ventilated kitchen where you can prepare food, cook, clean, and serve. It is self-contained, with electricity, gas, and water.
 
Features:
 
  • Exterior Dimensions: L3m x W2.1m x H2.2m
  • Interior Dimensions: L2.7m x W1.8m x H2m
  • Brand New Container with Galvanized Steel Frame
  • Wood Container Cladding
  • 40mm Insulation Layer
  • Easy-to-clean, Non-porous Interior Walls and Non-slip Stainless Steel Flooring
  • Standard Electrical Fixtures and Gas Pipeline
  • Stainless Steel Propane Gas Tank Cage
  • Concession Window with Retractable Awning and a Window
  • 2 Compartment Stainless Steel Water Sink with a Faucet
  • Basic Water Supply System
  • Ventilated Kitchen Space
  • Stainless Steel Workbenches
  • Refrigeration Equipment
  • Plenty of Stainless Steel Storage
  • A Commercial Churro Machine and a Grill
  • A Pull-out Trash Can
  • A Cash Drawer

 
Get a price now!
 
  
 

 

Shipping Container Pool

Shipping-Container-Pool

This is a unique swimming pool converted from a brand new 20ft shipping container. The modular pool design can fit perfectly into any space, whether on a flat rooftop or a sloped backyard, providing you with a comfortable swimming experience. One side features a pool window that offers a unique underwater view.
 
Features:
  
  • Exterior Dimensions: L6.0m x W2.4m x H 2.0m
  • Interior Dimensions: L5.0m x W2.2m x H1.8m
  • Capacity: 13m³ ~20m³
  • 20ft Standard Height Shipping Container
  • Sealed Lining Layers
  • Fire-retardant Insulation Layer
  • Stainless Steel Downstairs
  • Standard Plumbing and Parts
  • 1.1kw Water Pump
  • Uv Sterilization System
  • 24V LED Underwater Lighting
  • Water Heater
 
 
 

 

Shipping Container Bar with Rooftop Deck

 
Shipping-Container-Bar

This is a ready-to-use pop-up container bar, perfect for creating a unique experience in outdoor venues like container concept food courts. It is seamlessly welded from two 20ft containers, providing spacious interiors. Both containers have the same interior configurations, allowing for simultaneous service. They feature a typical rooftop deck that creates an open-air feel for customers. The railings and stairs can be disassembled for easy transportation.

Features:
 
 
  • Two 20ft Shipping Containers
  • Galvanized Steel Frame & Corrugated Steel Exterior Walls
  • Rooftop Deck with Wooden Flooring, Railings
  • Galvanized Steel Stairs
  • 40mm Insulation
  • 2 Concession Windows with Folding Counters, a Small Side Window
  • LED LOGO Sign
  • Standard Electrical Fixture Package & External Power Outlet
  • Easy-to-clean, Non-porous Interior Walls
  • Non-slip Stainless Steel Flooring
  • Custom Stainless Steel Countertops
  • Two Commercial-grade Beer Dispensers
  • Two Custom Stainless Steel Sinks with Ice Chests
  • Basic Water Supply Kits
  • Two Bench Fridges
  • 4 POS Systems

Why Shipping Container for Your Next Building Project?

 


- Higher Strength Than Most Buildings Require -
 
Shipping containers, designed for transporting goods, are incredibly robust and secure all-steel structures featuring higher strength than most buildings require. They have excellent load-bearing capacity and can be stacked several layers high, much like they are on ships, to withstand significant loads. If durability and strength are your concerns, you'll be pleased to know that containers, through rigorous analysis and testing, have demonstrated safety and load-bearing capacities equal to or even greater than traditional building materials such as concrete, steel, or wood, making them ideal for both commercial applications and residential structures.
 
 

 -Fast Project Turnaround and Installation -
 
Unlike traditional concrete buildings that require months for construction and curing, standard shipping containers can be built in just 20 days. Modified or customized ones might take longer, but they still significantly shorten your project timeline by up to 30%, allowing you to start and profit faster. Everything is pre-built, enabling you to install and use the container quickly and easily once it arrives at your location, without needing to hire additional help.
 
 


- Year-Round Use in Any Climate -
 
Worried that the interior of a container will become unbearably hot in the summer? This is indeed a concern for those used for cargo transport. However, containers designed for commercial, residential, and storage purposes often come with insulation and air conditioning, providing climate-controlled work or living spaces that function in any climate, whether in extremely cold regions or rainy tropical areas. From summer to winter, they offer the comfort you desire.
 
 


- Plug-and-Play Design -
  
Shipping container modular buildings are specifically designed for easy deployment and installation. Since everything is pre-assembled, you can set it up in just a few steps: prepare the site, place the container, secure it, connect utilities, test the systems, and you're ready to start. At the end of the day, simply close the windows, lock the door, and turn off the power, just as you would with any conventional building. Say goodbye to long waits and complicated assembly and disassembly processes. Container buildings simplify everything, making your operations smooth and convenient.
 
 

 
- Maximized Cost Savings -
 
The cost hierarchy is as follows: Setting Up a Traditional Building from the Start > Renting or Buying Franchise and Renovating It >>> Building Custom Shipping Containers. Yes, containers are much cheaper than houses built from wood or concrete because they use fewer materials, and the floor, walls, and roof are already in existence. At ETO, a 20ft container sells for around $8,500, and models with rooftop decks cost about $10,000, all-inclusive of insulation, electrical wiring, plumbing, countertops, and storage, ready for immediate use. If you want to save even more, you can buy an empty one and modify and design it yourself.
 


- Reusable Building Solutions -
 
Containers are not limited to single-use; they can be used thousands or even tens of thousands of times until retired. Modular buildings made from them often are used as permanent structures for decades while still looking fresh. They are designed to be easily moved, and their interiors can be reconfigured to meet the needs of changing businesses, applications, and locations. Modify what you want and install what you need—an empty cargo container can always be turned into your dream space. The more you use them, the higher the return on investment you achieve.
 


- Pre-Built to Your Design -
 
These steel structures have unprecedented adaptability due to their high level of customization, and ETO provides a revolutionary building method with a wide range of pre-configured models and extensive customization and upgrade choices to push it to its peak! You can build from scratch—customize the length, width, and height of your modular structure, choose colors, add desired equipment and features, and more—to create whatever you envision, no matter how complex it may be or how many shipping containers it involves.
 

 
Our Custom Shipping Containers

ETO-Custom-Shipping-Containers

Where to Buy Custom Shipping Container?

 
With years of customization experience and professional manufacturing knowledge, ETO DEVICE has become the go-to choice that many businesses and individuals worldwide have made for their container building projects. We lead the industry in container construction and modification and have created perfect custom container units for various purposes, from restaurants and bars to storage and temporary housing.

We offer basic containers and pre-configured shipping container designs suitable for all budgets, all can be tailored to your needs. If you're looking for unique modular buildings, contact our team of experts! We will provide a satisfactory turnkey solution within your budget and a quote that includes shipping costs in the fastest possible time.

 
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