Tuesday, 22 January 2019 / Published in How To / DIY, Modifications, Shipping Containers

Container Workshop DIY in 13 Steps (with Pictures)

This is the step-by-step instructions for creating your own container workshop from the ground up.

For all you handymen and women out there, this design-build guide walks through a simple checklist to make the process easy.

And let’s be clear: this guide is NOT intended to tell you how you should design your workshop container.

Rather, the goal is to guide you in the right direction. And give you an overview of the process used by other DIY experts and jack of all trades.

So, of course, modify and adjust this guide and checklist as needed.

After all, this will be the place you get things done. So use (or hack away) at the information below to custom design your container workshop the way you want.

1. Size Your Container Workshop

The first thing you need to do when building your container workshop is deciding which size container you want to use.

You have a variety of sizes to choose from. This includes the standard 20ft, 40ft, and 40ft High Cube units, as well as specialized 10ft, 45ft, and 53ft units.

The most common are 20ft and 40ft containers. So these shipping containers are usually the most affordable.

Now that you’ve decided the size you need, it’s time to modify the outside of your container workshop.

The exterior of your DIY workshop will be the first thing you and everyone sees when walking up to your unit.

2. Choose Your Paint

Choose the color you want to paint your container.

Standard container options are such colors like black, blue, brown, green, grey, orange, red, tan, white, and yellow.

3. Add a Door or Two

Next step is to install some doors. Container Markets Partners offer a wide variety of doors to choose from, including:

Standard personnel door
Roll-up doors
Corrugated steel SINGLE sliding door on the interior OR exterior
Corrugated steel DOUBLE sliding doors on the interior OR exterior
Glass SINGLE sliding door on the interior OR exterior
Glass DOUBLE sliding doors on the interior OR exterior

Personnel doors (also known as an entry door or “man door” in the construction industry) is one of the most common modifications for container workshops.

Metal roll-up doors are another popular addition.

These sturdy roll-up doors come in all sorts of sizes and allow for the easy loading (and unloading) of equipment.

But if you want to do something fun and unique, sliding doors are a great option.

Corrugated steel sliding doors add an edgy, rustic look.

And sliding glass doors let you see inside and outside your container workshop at all times.

4. Add a Lockbox

Keep your container workshop safe by adding a steel lockbox to the doors.

Whether you want a lightweight option or a heavy-duty lockbox with high locking rods, the choice is yours.

5. Include a Ramp

Consider getting a steel ramp or two to place at the edge of the door(s).

Ramps are helpful if you have heavy items you can’t physically hold and transport.

Or anything you need to wheel in and out of your container workshop, such as furniture, heavy tools, or machinery.

6. Add a Skylight

Consider adding a domed or flat skylight on the roof of your unit.

Skylights are a neat modification if you’d like natural sunlight to illuminate the inside of your container workshop.

7. Include a Vent or Two

Next step is to add ventilation.

For example, you can add a simple wall vent to one or multiple sides of your container workshop.

Or consider getting a fancy turbine roof vents.

Both options are excellent ways to allow outside air flow through your container workshop.

And since you’ll be getting down and dirty inside your container workshop, it’s probably wise to let it breathe with some airflow.

8. Add Windows

Last but not least, consider adding windows.

If you don’t want to feel like you’re inside, well, a steel box, installing windows is a smart choice.

You can get vinyl windows and/or fixed glass options in pretty much any size you can think of.

Now that you’ve completed the exterior of your shipping container workshop, it’s time to perfect the inside.

There are tons of modification options for the interior of your unit, including bike racks, shelves, lofts, and tables.

9. Add Shelving

Shelving tends to be a must-have for many container workshop projects.

These shelves that hang from the sides of the container.

Shelves can be added to one or both sides. Depending on the container company you choose, you can typically get 4-6 shelves on one long side of your unit.

So, in essence, you could potentially have 8-12 shelves inside your container workshop.

10. Include a Planning Table

Contractor tables are made out of thick pieces of plywood.

These planning tables are great for designing projects inside your container workshop.

Plus, they’re built strong and sturdy, so they can hold the heavy machinery you use day in and day out.

11. Add Storage Racks

Pipe racks, apparel racks, and bike racks can be easily added in your container workshop, without any tools or installation.

They are all made from steel and can be used to hang all sorts of items.

Installing racks can make your container workshop look neat and organized so that you can easily see what you have.

12. Include a Loft

Installing overhead lofts is an easy way to store items that you don’t use every day.

Overhead lofts are designed to hang from the ceiling and stretch across the width of the unit.

The overhead lofts provide extra storage space. Plus, since their elevated about your working area, they help keep your container workshop clean and organized.