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This post originally appeared on The Wayward Home. Click through the gallery above to see nine model home styles currently on the market. 

Shipping container homes are an affordable and eco-friendly way to start living the tiny life. Shipping containers are rugged and durable, built to withstand 100+mile per hour winds, huge waves and long journeys on cargo ships. These hardy boxes are stackable, easy to transport and readily available.

There are millions of shipping containers all over the world, but only a small number of them are in service. That means you can get a used shipping container for a good price. Often, you can search for used shipping containers in your area, and then get one delivered to your property.

If you want to live in a container home, you can either build one yourself or buy one from a company. Move-in ready container homes usually range in price from $30,000-$200,000.

A container home can be built out of one 20-foot shipping container, or several large 40-foot containers. The modular homes are made from steel, making them extra hardy against earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes.

Shipping container homes have exploded in popularity over the past few years. You'll often see them as cabins, hunting shacks, tiny homes, pool houses or accessory dwelling units.

Like any type of home, shipping container homes come with their own set of pros and cons. Here are the main pros of living in a container home. You'll have to carefully think about what type of tiny home is best for your particular situation.

This four-bedroom, 4,000-square-foot glass home was created with shipping containers.

The Pros of Container Homes

Shipping containers are more affordable than many types of homes. Just think about it – with a shipping container home, you already have the steel shell. Next, you'll have to cut out sections for windows and doors. Also, the container will need insulation, flooring, cabinetry and all the amenities of a tiny home. Still, shipping containers are more affordable than building a frame from scratch.

Shipping containers are made out of corrugated steel, so are exceptionally durable and hardy. They are built to withstand heavy winds and high seas on cargo ships. That makes a shipping container home relatively earthquake, hurricane and tornado safe. Their durability often makes them harder to break into.

If you want to start living in a tiny home right now, a container home may be your best bet. Move-in ready shipping container homes are usually finished in 4-10 weeks. That's lightning-fast for new construction. Plus, when you order a modular home from a company, they are inspected in the factory and are up to building code.

Millions of shipping containers sit unused all over the world. Many people like the appeal of recycling a shipping container and turning it into a home. Each time you build a house out of a shipping container, you're reusing 7,700 pounds of steel.

Since transporting goods is the entire purpose of a shipping container, it's built to be portable. A home built out of one shipping container is fairly easy to move. Usually, a flat-bed truck can move a shipping container from one place to another. Or, you can put it on a trailer and tow it around. Some shipping container homeowners move their homes in summer and in winter. If you bolt, instead of weld, your container home to its foundation, it can be unbolted and moved.

A shipping container home has a major advantage in that it can be built off-site in a factory. This is ideal for plots of land where construction is difficult. Off-site construction means you won't have to hire builders to drive out to remote land to build your tiny home.

If you start thinking about shipping container homes as legos, you'll see the appeal. They can be stacked, placed side-by-side, or at angles to create your perfect abode. You'll be able to configure these modular homes into any design you like, which makes them entirely customizable.

A look at the dining room area of shipping container home in Austin.

The cons of a shipping container home

If you're seriously considering living in a shipping container home, there are several cons to be aware of as well.

To turn a shipping container into a proper dwelling, it needs to be cut. The home will need large holes for the entryway and windows. There are dangers associated with cutting a shipping container too much. Each hole will reduce the structural integrity of the container. Some container homes need to be reinforced to deal with structural issues.

You can't change the outside appearance

You either love or hate the appearance of a container home. These tiny homes are modular and angular. You won't be able to change the outward appearance of a container home very much, aside from changing the siding. It is what it is. If you're looking for a more whimsical home or cabin-type look, a shipping container isn't for you.

Just like any tiny home, you'll have to get in touch with your local building department to see if shipping container homes are even allowed. Some municipalities allow them as accessory dwelling units. Others allow them as a solo unit on a property. In some cases, counties don't allow tiny homes at all.

Frequently asked questions about container homes

If you're considering building a shipping container home, you'll probably have a lot of questions. Here are the answers to a few:

How much does a shipping container home cost?

The true and aggravating answer is this: it varies. If you're planning on a DIY container home, you can purchase a used container for under $3,000. Then, you'll have the cost to transform it into a home. If you buy a move-in ready shipping container home, costs will range anywhere between $30,000-$200,000 depending on the number of containers and style of the home. Learn more about buying a shipping container here.

What type of climate is best for container homes?

You can put a shipping container home in a cool or a hot climate. That's because shipping containers aren't insulated from the get-go. You'll get to decide what level of insulation you'll want in the home.

How do I finance a shipping container home?

Since container homes you buy from a company are built in compliance with the building code, you can usually get a mortgage from a bank. To get a mortgage, your container home will need to be on a permanent foundation, making it a residential structure. A shipping container home on wheels is considered an RV.

Final thoughts on shipping container homes

Shipping container homes are an affordable and easy way to go tiny right away. There are so many companies selling different varieties of container homes that are delivered in as little as four weeks. Some of the more complicated homes take longer to build.

Container homes are made from corrugated steel so are durable and can withstand earthquakes and storms. They are usually built to code in a factory and delivered to your property. This makes them good for properties that are tough to build on.

Shipping container homes are modular and angular, so aren't the right style for everyone. They can also face structural issues when you cut too many holes to create windows and doors.

The interior of a container home is entirely customizable, so you can make just the right tiny house for your taste.

This post originally appeared on The Wayward Home.