Questions, answered

A finished, livable 40 ft container ADU typically falls in the $100k–$200k range for the building itself, depending on layout, glazing and finishes. Site work such as the foundation, utility connections, permits and crane delivery is quoted separately after a site review.

A finished 20 ft lounge, home office or studio typically starts under $50k. A fully finished build with a bar, media wall or full glazing usually lands between $50k and $100k.

A walk-up container kiosk or small café typically runs $50k–$100k. A fully equipped café or bar usually falls between $100k and $200k, depending on kitchen equipment and deck work.

Our price covers designing and building the container itself: structure, insulation, glazing, interior finishes, electrical, plumbing and HVAC. Site work is quoted separately because it depends on your property. That includes the foundation, trenching and utility connections, permit fees, and delivery and crane costs.

Yes, any container someone will live in, work in or run a business from needs a building permit. Commercial food service also needs health department approval. We prepare the drawings and engineering for your application.

Yes, in most places a container ADU is permitted like any other accessory dwelling, as long as it meets the local building code. California and Arizona both have state laws that require cities to allow ADUs on most residential lots.

Yes. We provide the architectural drawings and engineering your city needs, and we answer plan-check comments as part of the project.

Most projects take a few months from signed design to delivery. Permitting is often the longest step. We give you a project-specific schedule after the design phase.

Every TankBoxes building is fabricated and finished indoors in our workshop, then delivered complete. We have bases in Scottsdale, Arizona and San Francisco, California.

Yes. We deliver anywhere in the contiguous 48 US states. Delivery cost depends on distance and site access, and we quote it with your project.

It arrives on a truck and is lifted onto its foundation by crane. We then connect the utilities and hand it over. We check truck and crane access during the site visit.

It depends on your soil, slope and local code. Most sites use concrete piers, footings or a slab. Our engineer specifies the foundation, and your site contractor or ours builds it before delivery.

Not when they're properly insulated. We use closed-cell insulation on the walls and roof, low-E glass and a mini-split heat pump sized to your climate, so the interior stays comfortable year-round.

Container steel is built to resist corrosion, and we add exterior coatings and sealed joints on top of that. Like any steel structure, especially near the coast, it benefits from a periodic inspection and touch-up.

A well-built, well-maintained container building can last for decades. The steel shell is extremely durable. Like any building, the roof coating, sealants and finishes need routine care.

Yes. A permitted container café, kiosk or bar on a proper foundation is a permanent commercial building. It needs commercial building permits and, for food or drink service, health department approval.