Site bungalow, site cabin or converted shipping container?
To equip a construction site or install permanent site accommodation, three options are available to you. Here is an objective comparison including prices for 2026, to help you decide based on your usage and time horizon.
Comparison table
| Criterion | Site bungalow / site cabin | Converted container |
|---|---|---|
| Price for office 15 m² new | £4,725 – £9,450 | £8,400 – £18,900 |
| Price for locker room 15 m² new | £5,775 – £12,600 | £9,450 – £21,000 |
| Rent for 12+ months | £189 – £368/month | £158 – £315/month |
| Service life | 15-20 years | 25-40 years |
| Burglary resistance | Low | Very high |
| Integrated insulation | Yes (sandwich panels) | To be done (£5,250 – £15,750) |
| Transport / installation | Simple (flatbed truck) | Container carrier truck |
| Typical weight | 2-4 tonnes | 3-5 tonnes |
| Resale value at 10 years | 25-35 % initial | 55-70 % initial |
| Easy to move | Yes | Yes |
| Stackable | Yes (up to 3 levels) | Yes (up to 8 levels) |
Our recommendation
- Short-term construction site (< 2 years), rental → classic portable cabin, delivered equipped, more cost-effective.
- Long-term construction site (> 2 years), purchase → converted container, double lifespan.
- Safety is a priority → (valuable tools, high-risk area) → shipping container mandatory.
- Residential-like aesthetics → (mixed-use zone, visible construction site in town centre) → prefabricated portable cabin with more neutral appearance.
- Tight initial budget → portable cabin, save £3,150 – £8,400 on purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Site bungalow, site cabin, shipping container: what are the practical differences?+
« Algeco » is historically a French brand that has become a generic term for prefabricated construction site modules made of light steel (steel frame + sandwich panels). « Site bungalow » or « portable cabin » is the equivalent generic term. « Converted container » refers to a shipping container that has been repurposed. The first two categories are technically identical, with only the manufacturer changing.
Comparative lifespan?+
Site bungalow / Algeco: 15 to 20 years in construction industry use. Converted container: 25 to 40 years. The difference comes from the structure — light steel frame with sandwich panels (less resistant to corrosion, regular waterproofing maintenance required) vs monolithic Corten steel (self-weathering, durable). For permanent or long-term use, a converted container offers better TCO over 20 years.
Resistance to intrusion?+
Standard site bungalow: low — the sandwich panel walls can be penetrated with standard construction tools. Not suitable for storing valuable items. Corten steel container: very high — more than 1 mm of steel across the entire surface, impossible to penetrate without heavy-duty tools. The weakness remains in the locks, which need reinforcing by lock-boxes in both cases.
What choice for long-term construction sites (>2 years)?+
For a long-term site or an enterprise that moves from one site to another, a converted container often becomes more cost-effective. Higher initial cost (£8,400 – £18,900 for a fitted-out container vs £4,725 – £9,450 for a new site bungalow), but twice the lifespan and significantly better resale value. Over 10 cumulative years, the container pays off.
Compare the two options
5 suppliers offer you site bungalows AND shipping containers, you decide.