1 min read

If your dream morning involves sipping a latte at a cozy cafe, you may not have to travel very far—or even leave home. Amazon is selling a number of shipping container cafes that can be completely customized and installed in your backyard. The two-story layouts range from quaint European-style storefronts with decks to sleek, modern structures with rooftop seating.

Charming cafes seem to be a popular choice, but these pre-fab tiny homes also provide extra square footage to become a spacious home office, entertaining space, or a guest house. For entrepreneurs, the shipping containers can be converted into anything you can imagine—a mobile boutique, pop-up ice cream shop, restaurant, or bar. Keep in mind: If you plan to use the structure as a commercial space, you’ll need to obtain licenses to do so, especially if you plan to charge for food or drink.

2-Story Container Restaurant

$49,237 at Amazon

Double Decker Prefab Container Cafe

$45,112 at Amazon

Prefab Container Cafe

$12,725 at Amazon

For business owners, the units are easily transportable via standard freight—so you can set up at a music festival, street fair or near the beach for the summer season. If you’ve recently purchased, or hope to purchase, a commercial lot, these shipping container cafes could have your business running much faster, since they arrive nearly finished.

Amazon estimates the cost—they range from $12,000 to nearly $50,000 for larger structures, but you’ll have to reach out directly to the manufacturer to customize your layout and get an accurate quote.

Alyssa Gautieri

Senior Gifts Editor

Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) leads Good Housekeeping’s gift guide strategy. She writes and edits commerce content, where she analyzes lifestyle trends, shopping data, and works closely with the Good Housekeeping Institute to recommend top-tested products. Previously, she was the associate lifestyle editor for GH and wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, BobVila.com, and Unique Homes Magazine. When she’s not tracking down buzzy products, you can find her walking her dog, Skye, around Jersey City.