The Costs Of Burying A Shipping Container? It’s Probably Not What You Think

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It’s common among all doomsday preppers to buy shipping containers for various reasons in order to be prepared for when SHTF – but how much do these cost? More specifically, how much extra would it cost to bury them? Is all the hassle really worth it? 

First, let’s talk about exactly how much one of these containers costs before we talk about the costs of burying them. 

First, an old shipping container may cost less than a new one, about $3,000 to $5,000 USD – but just because the price is right does not mean it’s the right choice. 

You see, older containers tend to be in a more poor condition, which is the last thing you’ll want if you are planning on burying them. 

Newer containers will cost you around $5,000 USD – which doesn’t change much compared to a used shipping container anyway. These prices are also based on 20-foot shipping containers – so larger or smaller ones will vary in price.

How much does it cost to bury a shipping container?

Calculating the cost of burying a shipping container can greatly depend on who you hire to dig and place the container. 

However, on average, this could cost anywhere around $2,000-$6,000 USD. According to the prepping community who’ve done this before – it’s not worth it. In fact, it’s a really bad idea – find out why below.

 

How difficult is it to bury a shipping container?

Digging a hole only to place a shipping container inside sounds simple enough, right? Wrong. If you want to bury a shipping container properly, you’ll want to create a protective barrier around the container. 

Such as cement floors and walls within the hole this does become a difficult project, and the costs are surely not worth it. You would probably have spent enough money at this point to invest in an actual bunker installation. 

 

How long will a shipping container last underground?

In general, when being used for what is intended for – shipping containers are built to last around 25 years. 

However, if you decide to bury a new shipping container, the container’s lifespan will decrease to a 15-year maximum. This is due to the fact that shipping containers are not meant to be buried. Find out why below.

 

What really happens when you bury a shipping container?

When you bury a shipping container, you are placing it in an environment that will damage the vessel. 

It will be unable to hold the dirt placed over it, which will likely cause the shipping container to dent. If the vessel caves in, you could face bigger challenges such as problems with rust, mold, and rodents. 

 

Final thoughts on the costs of burying a shipping container

Burying a shipping container can get expensive, especially if you want to bury it efficiently. To bury the container alone without the extra reinforcement can cost around $2,000-$6,000 USD, but you will come to find that it’s simply not worth it. 

Furthermore, burying shipping containers is not a great idea, for they will only last around 15 years underground – if you’re lucky. 

This is simply because these vessels were not meant to be buried underground – they could face issues with cracks, dents, rodents, and even mold, which is something you’ll want to avoid if you are storing important foods in the vessel itself.

 

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