Container Conversion Services in Kenya 2026: Offices, Homes, Schools & More
A standard shipping container is one of the world's most versatile building materials. At Frontier Containers, we convert ISO shipping containers into fully functional buildings for every purpose — homes, offices, schools, clinics, shops, restaurants, cold rooms, and more. Our in-house fabrication workshop in Nairobi handles every conversion from initial design to final delivery and installation across Kenya.
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Our Container Conversion Capabilities
We offer a complete range of container conversion services, all designed and built in-house at our Nairobi fabrication yard:
Container Homes: From a single 20ft studio to a complex multi-container family home. Full insulation, plumbing, electrical, interior fit-out, and exterior finishing. See our container homes guide for details.
Container Offices: Professional office spaces for construction sites, branch offices, and remote operations. Partitioning, AC, cabling, false ceilings. From Kshs 660,000.
Container Classrooms & Schools: Child-safe classroom units for primary and secondary schools, ECD centres, and training institutions. Meets MoE standards. From Kshs 610,000 per classroom.
Container Clinics & Pharmacies: Clinical-grade fit-out meeting MoH, PPB, and KMPDB requirements. For NGOs, county governments, and private healthcare providers. From Kshs 800,000.
Container Shops & Stalls: Commercial retail units with roller shutter doors, security features, and branded exteriors. From Kshs 300,000.
Container Restaurants & Kiosks: Full commercial kitchen fit-out including LPG, ventilation, and fire suppression. From Kshs 400,000.
Container Cold Rooms: Industrial refrigeration for floriculture, supermarkets, pharmacies, and food processing. From Kshs 1,500,000.
Our Conversion Process: From Concept to Keys
Every container conversion at Frontier Containers follows a structured process to ensure quality and on-time delivery:
Step 1 — Initial Consultation (Day 1–2) We discuss your requirements: intended use, number of users, required rooms, utilities needed, and budget. This can be done by phone, WhatsApp, or at our Nairobi yard. We ask key questions about your site (location, ground conditions, access, utility availability) and recommend the best container size and configuration.
Step 2 — Site Visit (Day 2–5, if required) For complex projects or remote locations, we conduct a site visit. We assess ground conditions, access routes for delivery vehicles, proximity to utility connections, and any site-specific constraints.
Step 3 — Design and Quotation (Day 3–7) We prepare a detailed floor plan showing partition layout, electrical point positions, plumbing runs, and furniture arrangement. A full itemised quotation is provided. We revise the design until you are satisfied — there is no charge for design revisions at this stage.
Step 4 — Payment and Production (Day 7–21) Upon payment of a deposit (typically 50%), we begin fabrication. Our production team works to the approved design with regular photo updates sent to you via WhatsApp.
Step 5 — Quality Inspection (Day 18–21) Before delivery, you are invited to inspect the container at our yard. Any snag items are corrected before the unit leaves our premises.
Step 6 — Delivery and Installation (Day 21–24) We deliver using a flatbed truck and crane lorry. The container is placed on your prepared foundation. Final connections (electrical, plumbing) are completed on-site.
Step 7 — Handover and Warranty Full handover documentation including as-built drawings, equipment manuals, and warranty certificates. 12-month structural warranty; 6-month fit-out warranty.
Why Choose Frontier Containers for Your Conversion?
In-house fabrication: We design and build everything in our own workshop — no subcontracting of core fabrication work. This means quality control, faster turnaround, and accountability.
Experienced team: Our fabrication team has built hundreds of container conversions since 2015 for NGOs, county governments, corporate clients, and private individuals across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Somalia.
Material quality: We use only materials sourced from reputable Kenyan suppliers — no counterfeit or substandard materials. AC units, electrical fittings, and plumbing fixtures are all reputable brands.
Transparency: We provide detailed itemised quotations so you know exactly what you are paying for. There are no hidden charges.
After-sales support: We stand behind our work. If you have a problem within the warranty period, we respond within 48 hours. We also offer paid maintenance contracts beyond the warranty period.
Nationwide delivery: We deliver across Kenya — Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Thika, Nyeri, Meru, Kisii, Garissa, Malindi, and remote areas accessible by road.
Container Sizes for Conversion
We work with all standard ISO container sizes:
10ft Container: Created by cutting a 20ft container in half. Ideal for kiosks, guard houses, and ATM enclosures. Approximately 7 sq.m internal floor area.
20ft Standard: The most common size. 14.8 sq.m usable floor area. Perfect for single offices, classrooms (ECD), shops, small studios, and labs. Weight: 2.2 tonnes empty.
20ft High Cube (9'6" height): Extra headroom makes this ideal for cold rooms, loft bedrooms in homes, and spaces where height matters. 14.8 sq.m floor area, 2.7m ceiling height.
40ft Standard: 30 sq.m usable floor area. The standard choice for offices, classrooms, restaurants, and large shops. Weight: 3.8 tonnes empty.
40ft High Cube: Our most popular size for home and commercial conversions. 30 sq.m floor area, 2.7m ceiling height. Extra height dramatically improves the feeling of space.
Custom configurations: Two or more containers joined side-by-side (wider space) or end-to-end (longer space), or stacked two-storey.
Fit-Out Services Available
Our fabrication team offers a complete range of fit-out services:
Structural: Cutting openings for windows and doors (plasma cutter), welding steel frames, fabricating staircases, fabricating canopies and shade structures, joining multiple containers.
Insulation: Spray foam, PIR board panels, rockwool. We recommend PIR board for most applications in Kenya. See our insulation guide for details.
Electrical: Full wiring, consumer unit (MCB board), LED lighting, power points, data cabling conduits, earthing. Solar integration available.
Plumbing: Hot and cold water supply, drainage, septic tank integration, rainwater harvesting. See our plumbing guide for details.
Carpentry: False ceilings (gypsum or PVC), partitions (metal stud + gypsum or glass), built-in furniture (wardrobes, kitchen units, shelving), flooring (vinyl, ceramic tile, engineered wood).
Painting and finishing: Surface treatment (rust removal, priming), exterior epoxy paint, interior paint, cladding (timber, fibre cement, stone veneer). See our painting guide.
Mechanical: Split-unit AC installation, kitchen extraction hoods, ventilation systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a container conversion cost in Kenya?+
Conversion costs range from Kshs 300,000 for a basic shop fit-out to Kshs 4,000,000+ for a premium container home or cold room. The cost depends on the container size, fit-out level, and services included. Call 0715 557 559 for a free quote.
How long does a container conversion take?+
Simple conversions (single office, kiosk) take 10–14 days. Standard conversions (fitted office, classroom, shop) take 14–21 days. Complex projects (multi-container homes, cold rooms, clinic complexes) take 4–8 weeks.
Do you buy the container or do I supply it?+
We can do either. We usually source the container for you as part of the conversion package — we know the market and can source the best-condition container for your application. If you already own a container you want converted, we are happy to work on your unit.
Can you deliver to upcountry locations?+
Yes. We deliver across Kenya using flatbed trucks and crane lorries. Delivery costs depend on distance from Nairobi — typically Kshs 40,000–120,000 for most major towns. For remote locations, we conduct a route survey before confirming delivery.
What warranty do you provide on conversions?+
We provide a 12-month structural warranty on all fabrication work and a 6-month warranty on all fit-out materials and labour. Equipment warranties (ACs, refrigeration units, water heaters) follow the manufacturer's terms.
Can you work on a container I already have?+
Yes. If you own a container that needs modification or fit-out, we can work on it either at our Nairobi yard or on-site at your location. We will inspect the container first to assess condition and identify any structural repairs needed before fit-out begins.
Do you provide CAD drawings for approvals?+
Yes. For projects requiring county government or regulatory approvals, we provide AutoCAD architectural drawings. For complex structures (two-storey configurations, large multi-unit buildings), we can engage a licensed structural engineer to provide a stamped structural report.
Ready to Buy?
Call or WhatsApp us for pricing on any container product in Kenya.