Short answer
The cost to ship a container house from China comes down to three things: how many units fit in each container or truck, the shipping term (FOB, CIF or DDP), and the charges you pay at your destination. Folding and flat pack units pack tightest, with 17 folding units or 9 flat pack units on a 17.5 m truck, while an expandable unit travels folded to about 2200 mm wide. We quote FOB China with a loading plan for the exact containers.
1. Units per Container or Truck
Freight is charged per container or truck, not per house, so the cost per unit falls as more units share the space.
| Unit | Packed for shipping | Effect on freight per unit |
|---|---|---|
| Folding | One folded piece | 17 per 17.5 m truck, the tightest packing |
| Flat pack | Frame and panels | 9 per 17.5 m truck |
| Model 700 expandable | 5900 × 700 × 2480 mm folded | Narrow, so more units per container |
| 20 ft expandable | 2200 × 5900 × 2480 mm, about 2,500 kg | Finished house, wider pack |
| 40 ft expandable | 2200 × 11800 × 2480 mm, about 6,000 kg | Finished house, longest pack |
Expandable units fold to 2150–2320 mm wide by model. Units per 20GP or 40HQ are set on your loading plan.
2. FOB, CIF or DDP: Who Pays What
| Term | Seller pays up to | Buyer pays |
|---|---|---|
| FOB China | Units loaded on the ship at the Chinese port | Sea freight, insurance, destination charges, duty, inland truck |
| CIF | Sea freight and insurance to your port | Destination charges, duty, inland truck |
| DDP | Delivery to the named place, duty paid | Unloading, base and set-up on site |
Our quotes are FOB China, so you can compare sea freight from your own forwarder. For CIF or DDP, ask and we confirm on the quote what we can cover.
3. What You Pay at Your Destination
- Terminal handling at the destination port
- Customs clearance and broker fees
- Import duty and tax, set by your country for HS heading 9406
- Truck from the port to your site
- Crane or forklift to unload; plan for about 6,000 kg for a 40 ft expandable unit
- Storage charges if containers wait at the port
4. What Moves the Sea Freight Rate
Sea freight rates change with the route, the season, the port and how far inland your site is. So we print no freight figure; you price the exact containers from our loading plan on the day.
5. How to Lower Freight per Unit
- Choose folding or flat pack units for camps and offices: 17 or 9 per 17.5 m truck
- Choose Model 700 for expandable homes with more units per container: it folds to 700 mm
- Mix standard sizes in one order so each container is filled
- Ship the project in one batch, not part loads
Contractors, porta cabin dealers and small developers use the loading plan to decide this. Send us the units and your port; we reply within one working day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you arrange shipping?
Yes: we plan the loading, quote FOB China and can quote sea freight to your port.
How many expandable units fit in a 40HQ container?
It depends on the model and the mix, since expandable units fold to 2150–2320 mm wide. We confirm it on the loading plan sent with your quote.
Is there import duty on container houses?
It depends on your country. Container houses fall under HS heading 9406; your customs broker confirms the rate.
Why Buyers Choose Cabinrise
We are a container house manufacturer with production bases in Shandong and Guangdong, China. Expandable, folding and flat pack houses, offices, guard houses and toilet units all come from our factories - so a whole camp, office block or home can be one order, drawn on one layout and shipped to your port. Every quote comes with a layout drawing and loading plan, standard sizes can be mixed in one order, and you are welcome to visit the factory or tour it by video first.
- Factory-direct from Shandong and Guangdong
- Layout drawing and loading plan with every quote
- Mixed sizes in one order
- Factory visits and video tours welcome
- Written and video installation guides