20FT Expandable Container House
A 20ft module that opens on site into a 35 m² studio or one-bedroom unit — finished interior, one day to commission, one container slot to ship.
- Factory-direct pricing, no trading company in between
- Finished interior and electrics installed before shipment
- CE / ISO 9001 production, CNAS test reports available
- Loading plan and installation drawings supplied with the order
Reply within 1 working day · Quotation, specification sheet and loading plan included
Need a different size or layout? Configure a custom build →
Model JJ-EX20 · MOQ 1 unit (sample), full container recommended · Ships from Qingdao, China
Key features
Floor area doubles on site
Side wings unfold on hinges to add roughly 140% floor area to the same transport footprint.
Interior fitted in the factory
Kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and electrics are completed and tested before the unit is packed.
One container slot per unit
Ships closed at 2.44 m wide, so freight is charged as a standard 20ft or 40ft container.
Commissioned in a day
Crane the unit, unfold the wings, connect water and power — usable the same day.
35 m² studio
Living area, kitchenette and bathroom in a unit that ships at 2.44 m wide.
Two units per 40HQ
Freight cost per m² is roughly half that of shipping built modules.
Overview
The 20ft expandable container house is the smallest unit in the expandable range and the one most buyers start with. It travels as a standard 20ft module, then the two long-side walls fold out on hinges to give roughly 35 m² of finished floor — a studio, a one-bedroom apartment, a small office or a sales suite.
What you get on site
- Floor, ceiling, wall finishes, lighting and sockets already installed and tested
- Bathroom pod with shower, WC and basin where the layout allows
- Kitchenette or wardrobe joinery per drawing
- Split air-conditioning, water heater and distribution box wired to destination standard
- Aluminium windows and glass door in the wing panels
On arrival the crew levels the base, unfolds both wings, locks the hinge line, fits the roof and floor junction trims, connects water and power, and the unit is ready. A single module is normally in service within one working day.
Shipping economics
Because the transport volume stays at one 20ft slot while the living area roughly doubles, the expandable format usually costs less per square metre to ship than flat pack modules of the same floor area. On long routes and small orders that difference is significant; on very large orders the flat pack and folding systems can still be cheaper per bed.
Customisation
Layout, wing width, window positions, wall and floor finishes, kitchen and bathroom specification, solar and battery systems are all set per order on the production drawing. Tell us the destination country, how the unit will be used and whether it needs to be moved again later, and we will propose a configuration.
Gallery
Specifications
| External size | Closed 6058 × 2438 × 2591 mm, opened ≈ 6058 × 5850 mm |
|---|---|
| Floor area | ≈ 35 m² when opened |
| Structure | Welded galvanised steel frame with corner castings, sandwich panel walls |
| Wall / roof insulation | 50 mm / 75 mm / 100 mm EPS, rock wool or glass wool (order specific) |
| Floor | 18 mm fibre cement board over steel purlin, PVC or laminate finish |
| Windows & doors | Aluminium alloy windows, steel security door or glass sliding door |
| Electrical | Lighting, sockets and distribution box pre-installed to destination standard |
| Option list | A/C, water heater, kitchenette, toilet pod, solar power, furniture package |
| Expansion | Two long-side wings fold out on hinges, lock at the hinge line |
| Commissioning | Typically one working day for a single module |
| Loading | Indicative 2 modules per 40HQ, confirmed on the loading plan |
Values marked “project specific” are confirmed on the production drawing for your order.
Send specifications requestFull technical specification
Everything below is confirmed on the production drawing for your order. Values that depend on destination climate, code or layout are marked as such — tell us the port and the application and we return a fixed sheet.
Dimensions & weight
| Closed size | Closed 6058 × 2438 × 2591 mm · open ≈ 6058 × 5850 mm |
|---|---|
| Open size | ≈ 6058 × 5850 mm |
| Floor area when open | ≈ 35 m² |
| Tare weight | ≈ 3.2 t |
| Loading | 2 units per 40HQ |
| Expansion system | One or two side wings, manual or hydraulic |
Structure & expansion
| Main frame | Welded galvanised steel frame with ISO corner castings |
|---|---|
| Hinge system | Heavy-duty steel hinge line with manual crank or hydraulic rams |
| Wing sealing | EPDM gasket and overlapping flashing, tested with water spray |
| Roof loading | Walkable roof panel, snow load confirmed per project |
| Stacking | Single storey standard; two storeys with structural columns on request |
Insulation & climate
| Wall insulation | 50 / 75 / 100 mm sandwich panel core |
|---|---|
| Roof insulation | 100 mm glass wool plus reflective foil |
| Floor insulation | 50 mm board under the deck |
| Glazing performance | Low-E double glazing available for cold climates |
| Climate range | −25 °C to +45 °C with the matching A/C and heating package |
Windows, doors & glazing
| Windows | Aluminium sliding or tilt & turn, double glazed |
|---|---|
| Glazed frontage | Floor-to-ceiling glass panel across the wing on request |
| Entrance door | Steel security door or aluminium glass door |
| Blinds | Roller or zebra blinds fitted in the factory |
Electrical & plumbing
| Voltage | 110 V / 220–240 V to destination standard, CE or UL components |
|---|---|
| Circuits | Lighting, socket, A/C and water heater circuits on separate breakers |
| Distribution | Board with main breaker, RCD and surge protection |
| Plumbing | Pressurised water inlet, P-trap drainage, vent stack and heater circuit |
| Smart options | Scene lighting, key-card entry and USB sockets |
Interior & finishes
| Kitchen | Cabinet run with sink, hob, extractor and fridge bay |
|---|---|
| Bathroom | Shower, WC, basin, mirror, water heater in a sealed pod |
| Floor | Laminate, SPC or tile |
| Furniture | Bed, wardrobe, sofa, table and chairs in the turnkey package |
Shipping & installation
| Shipping | Closed unit ships as a standard container, no overdimensional permit |
|---|---|
| Loading | 2 units per 40HQ |
| Installation | Crane lift, unfold wings, connect services — 4–6 hours with a 4-person crew |
| Foundation | Level pad or screw piles; no excavation for most sites |
| Documents | Structural drawing, unfolding procedure and wiring diagram supplied |
Standards & references
- ISO 668 — Series 1 freight containers: classification, dimensions and ratings (the dimensional basis for 20FT / 40FT modules).
- ISO 1496-1 — Series 1 freight containers: specification and testing, used as the reference for corner castings and lifting points.
- ISO 9001 — quality management system; inspection records and test reports are issued per order.
- IEC 60364 — low-voltage electrical installations, applied to the cabin wiring layout supplied with each unit.
- EN 1090-1 — execution of steel structures; can be specified when the destination market requires a declared execution class.
Photographs and video of the 20FT Expandable Container House are JIUJIAN GLOBAL factory material. Third-party photographs used elsewhere on this site are credited with author, licence and source on the image credits page. Values marked "to be confirmed" depend on destination climate, local code or final layout and are fixed on the production drawing before deposit.
Configuration options
Pick one line per group, or send us a mixed list — most export orders are a hybrid (for example empty shell for the camp and turnkey for the show unit).
Interior fit-out
- Empty shellSandwich panel walls, floor, electrics and windows only — you fit out locally.
- Standard fit-outPVC floor, ceiling, LED lighting, sockets, A/C prep, bathroom pod optional.
- Turnkey livingKitchen cabinets, sanitary ware, furniture, curtains, TV bracket and appliances installed before shipment.
Windows & glazing
- Aluminium slidingStandard double-track aluminium windows with insect mesh.
- Double glazedThermal-break aluminium, tempered double glazing, U-value to destination code.
- uPVC tilt & turnEuropean style, low maintenance, better airtightness for cold climates.
- Full glass wallFloor-to-ceiling fixed or sliding glazing for views and showroom use.
Doors
- Steel security doorStandard single leaf, powder coated, cylinder lock.
- Aluminium glass doorTempered glazed leaf for offices and reception areas.
- Double-leaf entranceFor canteens, recreation rooms and retail units.
Cladding & facade
- Galvanised steel paintedStandard RAL colour, gloss or matt.
- Metal carved panelEmbossed decorative panels, the most specified facade for export orders.
- Timber lookHeat transfer printed wood grain, low maintenance.
- Rock wool A2 panelNon-combustible core when fire rating is required.
Colour
- RAL 9010 whiteClean neutral, the working standard for site offices and camps.
- RAL 7016 greyModern industrial look, hides dust on site.
- RAL 5005 blue / RAL 3020 redHigh visibility for camps and welfare units.
- Custom RALAny RAL reference matched against your brand palette.
Electrical standard
- US / Canada 110VUL-style sockets, 60 Hz lighting circuits.
- EU 220-240VSchuko sockets, CE-ready.
- UK / AU / ZADestination-specific sockets and breakers.
- Solar readyDC distribution, MPPT controller, battery bay and roof mounting rails.
Bathroom
- No bathroomSleeping or office unit only, bathroom block shared elsewhere.
- Shower + WC podFactory sealed wet pod: shower, WC, basin, water heater, drain to outside.
- Wet room + washing machineLarger pod for cabins and residential use.
Add-ons quoted with the unit
- Split A/C unit
- Water heater
- Kitchenette with sink and hob
- Furniture package (bed, wardrobe, table, chairs)
- Solar panel + battery
- Ceiling cassette A/C
- Electrical inlet and breaker box
- Roof drainage kit
Tell us the quantity and the port — we price it the same day
Send the model, quantity, destination port and any layout requirement. You get a quotation, a specification sheet and a container loading plan back.
Applications
Project offices and site headquarters
Opens into a 35 m² office with reception, meeting table and WC — delivered as one container and commissioned in a day.
Photo: Axel Bleyer / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sales suites and showrooms
A finished unit with glazed frontage, used as a sales office on a new development and moved to the next site afterwards.
Photo: Wutsje / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Staff accommodation
Two or three bedrooms plus bathroom and kitchenette per module, stacked two high to save land.
Photo: Lionel Allorge / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0Application photographs are reference images of this product type in use, not photographs of our factory output. Full credit and licence for each image is listed on the image credits page.
Frequently asked
What is the minimum order for the 20FT Expandable Container House?
1 unit (sample), full container recommended
How long does production and shipping take?
Confirmed per order on the proforma invoice Shipments normally leave from Qingdao port.
Can it be built for my electrical standard and layout?
Yes — wiring and sockets follow the destination standard (US 110V, EU 220V, AU, UK) and the layout, finishes and glazing can be adapted to your project.
Ask about the JJ-EX20
Send the layout and destination port — we reply with a quotation, a specification sheet and a container loading plan.
Where this unit is used
Oil & Gas Field Camp
Accommodation, welfare and office modules for oil and gas field operations, specified for harsh climates and fast mobilisation.
See the project setup →Mining Camp Accommodation
Modular dormitories, ablution blocks, mess halls and site offices for mine sites that start small and expand as the ore body is proven.
See the project setup →Related buying guides
Expandable Container House vs Flat Pack Container House
Expandable and flat pack container houses ship in very different footprints, so the cheaper unit price is rarely the cheaper landed square metre. This guide compares floor area per shipped unit, unfolding, freight and labour.
Flat Pack vs Folding vs Expandable vs Modular: Structural Comparison
The four families differ mainly in how much factory work travels with the module. That single variable drives shipping cost, crane needs, assembly hours and the resale value of the unit.
Container House Installation: Step-by-Step Site Guide
Folding and expandable units are working buildings within a day. Flat pack kits are a construction task measured in days per unit, with a crew and a sequence.
Related products
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Need a quotation for your project?
Send your layout and destination port. We reply with price, specification sheet and container loading plan within one working day.