: Top 8 Shipping Container Office Modification Recommendations
: Discover how to turn a shipping container into a portable office, security guard shack, or mobile construction site office with a few easy modifications.
With lumber in short supply and prices continuing to rise, converting a shipping container into an office is a cost-effective solution compared to traditional construction methods. Depending on your specific office and storage needs, you can start with anything from a compact 10 Foot Cargo Worthy container to an extra-large 45 Foot High Cube Container.
People use their shipping container offices for security guard shacks, temporary construction site offices, and backyard home offices. And one of the benefits of using a shipping container is the flexibility to move your portable office from one job site to the next.
However, there are certain design considerations to think about when planning to use a shipping container as an office. This includes what modifications or accessories you should consider for a successful conversion project.

Can I Use a Shipping Container as an Office?
The first step in an office conversion project is selecting your shipping container. You can choose from a variety of units, including a like-new One Trip Container, Refurbished Container, or Wind and Water Tight Container. With a few modifications and upgrades, a shipping container can easily become a customized portable office space.
Once you’ve selected your container, our modifications department will be ready to complete all the necessary modifications, upgrades, and customizations for you. We can help you design your container office, adding doors, windows, skylights, lighting, ventilation, and more.
Top Shipping Container Office Modification Requests
Here are the top 8 recommended modification options to consider when designing a shipping container office.
1. Electric
You’ll need a variety of electrical outlets, light switches, and data lines to turn your container into a mobile communications unit.
2. Heating and Cooling
Heating, cooling, and ventilation are important shipping container office modifications for a comfortable climate-controlled unit. HVAC options include wall units, mini-splits, and wall-mounted units. We can also add roof turbines and side vents for improved airflow.
3. Entry Doors
Shipping containers come standard with a cargo door installed at one end. For easy access to the interior, we can add personal walk-through doors, double cargo doors, roll-up doors, sliding glass doors, and more.
4. Plumbing
For maximum comfort, we can outfit your shipping container office with a small bathroom or kitchen break room.
5. Interior and Exterior Lighting
Overhead and other lighting fixtures are perfect for illuminating the interior space, but for maximum safety, we recommend adding outdoor exterior lighting and floodlights.
6. Walls and Flooring
We can upgrade the marine-grade plywood floors with anything from luxury vinyl plank flooring to water-resistant coin vinyl. And, if you are interested in a combo office storage unit, we can frame-in interior walls to completely customize your space.
7. Windows and Skylights
To maximize natural lighting, we have options for cutting, framing, and installing roof-top skylights, burglar bar windows, privacy windows, sliding shuttered windows, and dual-pane windows.
8. Painting and Refurbishment
Once all modifications are complete, you may want to refurbish the outside of your office with a fresh coat of paint. We can even rustproof and paint the exterior to match your company logo colors.
Get Started Designing a Shipping Container Office
Get your shipping container office from Container Alliance. We are the conex conversion experts serving everyone from homeowners needing temporary storage during a renovation to a complete technical container modification ready to deploy overseas.