Container Office Construction Costs Explained

I. Price range overview

Basic 0.5-1.5 million yuan / a temporary site office, short-term use (materials for sandwich panels / tin)

Standard 10,000-30,000 RMB/pc Regular office requirements (including basic insulation, doors and windows)

High-end customized model 30,000-50,000 RMB/pc Creative design, long-term use (glass curtain wall, intelligent system)

Note: If calculated by area, the unit price of regular flat pack container office is about 300-500 RMB/㎡ (standard size 6m×3m)

II. Core Price Influencing Factors

Material and process

Tin / sandwich panel: the lowest cost (about 0.5 million -10,000 yuan), but poor thermal and acoustic insulation performance, suitable for temporary scenes.

Galvanized steel + rock wool insulation: mainstream choice (10,000-30,000 yuan), better anti-corrosion and moisture resistance, life expectancy of more than 10 years.

Glass curtain wall + customized design: the highest unit price ($30,000+), high aesthetics and 37% better lighting performance.

Size and Structure

Standard size (6m×3m) has the lowest price, and the cost rises about 15% for each additional meter of length.

Multi-box splicing or stacking design (e.g. double-layer structure) requires an additional 20%-50% increase in cost.

Additional features

Integrated Air-conditioning/fresh air system: add $0.5k - $10k cost .

Rooftop solar panels: approx. 10,000-20,000 RMB (covering an area of 20-30 m²).

III. Rental vs. Purchase

Short-term lease $6-8/day/unit No maintenance pressure, suitable for project cycle <6 months

Long-term purchase High initial investment, but low average annual cost Customized modification is possible, with a service life of up to 10-15 years

Case: The total cost of leasing for 6 months is about 10,000 RMB, while the purchase of the same specification only costs 15,000-20,000 RMB, which is more cost-effective for long-term use.

IV.Additional cost reminders

Transportation and installation: according to the distance need to pay an additional 500-2000 yuan / a transportation fee.

Approval and site: If a fixed foundation is required or a change in the nature of the land is involved, approval fees may be incurred.

V. Cost-effective recommended program

Limited budget: choose the standard model (15,000-20,000 RMB) + foundation insulation to meet regular office needs.

Long-term use: customized galvanized steel box (30,000+) + solar system to reduce late energy costs.

Data reference: 2025 market mainstream offer shows that 80% of users choose 15,000-30,000 yuan range program.

VI. prefab container office maintenance and remodeling.

I. Maintenance points

Anti-corrosion and anti-rust treatment

Regularly (every 2-3 years) check the surface of the box, remove rust and re-spray galvanized primer + water-based industrial paint, coastal areas need to shorten the maintenance cycle.

Focus on protection of welded parts to avoid potential structural safety hazards caused by rust.

Sealing and Insulation Maintenance

Check the aging condition of the sealing tape of doors and windows, and replace it in time to guarantee the sound and heat insulation performance.

Insulation layer (e.g. rock wool) needs to be replaced if it is damp to avoid condensation or increased energy consumption inside the box.

Electricity and equipment system inspection

Roofs with integrated solar panels need to be cleaned regularly of photovoltaic surface dust to ensure power generation efficiency.

The filters of the fresh air system should be replaced quarterly, and the air-conditioning equipment should be serviced annually.

II. Remodeling and Upgrading Strategies

Space Expansion and Functional Iteration

Modularized addition/subtraction of boxes: add new box units through bolting to quickly expand conference rooms or storage areas (construction cycle reduced to 1/3 of traditional buildings).

Vertical Space Utilization: Add mezzanine or staircase to create a two-story office area to improve space utilization.

Exterior and Scenario Renovation

Color painting or three-dimensional green wall is used on the facade, which can beautify the environment and reduce the surface temperature of the box in summer (Qingdao case shows that the temperature effect of the box decreased by 50.3% after remediation).

Replacement of glass curtain walls or addition of skylights to enhance natural lighting and space permeability.

Green technology integration

Installation of a photovoltaic curtain wall integration system, with the German case showing that annual power generation can meet 70% of office demand.

Modification of rainwater collection system for irrigation of green plants or toilet flushing to realize resource recycling.