Skip to content 
Kenya’s urban centers are witnessing a growth in container commercial shops.
These colorful structures, fitted with roller shutter doors, have become a common sight on business streets across the country.
From Nairobi and Mombasa to Nakuru, Kisumu, Eldoret, and beyond, the proliferation of container stalls in the construction industry is undeniable.
But why the sudden popularity of these structures?
The Cost of Building a Container Shop
As far as prices are concerned, a 20ft container stall with three shops costs anywhere from Kes. 350,000 to Kes. 450,000 while a 40ft container stall with six shops costs between Kes. 600,000 to Kes. 700,000.
These prices make them viable options for small and medium-sized businesses.
Additionally, ease of development and acquisition further enhances their appeal.
Container stalls can be quickly assembled and modified with single units being ready for use in as little as seven days.
A 20ft container unit can be made into a maximum of three shops while a 40ft can accommodate a maximum of six shops (most clients prefer 40ft with 5 evenly-spaced shops).
You might be asking, what are container shops made of? Here’s a breakdown;
- A steel 40ft or 20ft shipping container
- Roller shutter door(s). These vary in width starting from 3ft. They can be as wide as 30ft in some establishments.
- Electric wiring and fittings (bulbs, sockets, switches, wiring and consumer
- Interior partition
- Spray paintwork on both external and internal surfaces
The table below breaks down the typical container variations, the types of container commercial stalls, the sizes of stalls in use, and their respective prices.
| Type of Container | Number of Shops/Stalls | Sizes of Each Shop/Stall in Feet (Length x Width) | Prices in Kenya Shillings |
| 20Ft Container | With 2 shops | 10Ft (L) x 8Ft (W) | 300,000 – 400,000 |
| 20Ft Container | With 3 Shops | 6.6Ft (L) x 8Ft (W) | 350,000 – 450,000 |
| 40Ft Container | With 5 shops | 8Ft (L) x 8Ft (W) | 600,000 – 700,000 |
| 40Ft Container | With 6 shops | 6.6Ft (L) x 8Ft (W) | 600,000 – 700,000 |
| Combined Container Commercial Stalls | The numbers, sizes, and prices for these complexes depend on the number of containers used. Containers can be designed into one large spacious structure with a hydraulic roller shutter door or several roller shutter doors spaced next to each other. Also note some designs can feature combinations of container stalls with offices, stores, ablutions, and even recreation spots. | ||
Types of Container Stalls Available in The Kenyan Market
1. Single-Unit 20Ft Container Stalls
These are fabricated from single 20ft containers.
The commonest designs will have either 2 or 3 shops depending on client specifications.
In some cases, container shops can be combined with equipment stores, ablution sections, or a utility office.
2. Single-Unit 40Ft Commercial Stalls/Shops
Can be fabricated into, stores, ablutions, and recreational spots such as a gym.
3. Container Shops/Stalls Complexes
Here, several containers are combined to create large, complex shopping spaces.
You might have seen stacked container malls or shopping centers, especially in most towns in Kenya.
These can be several 20ft or 40ft containers or combinations of 20ft and 40ft stacked into ground-floor sections and first-floor sections.
These will have structural features such as staircases, balconies, and walkways with protective barriers as well as complete roofing.
Essentially, container commercial stalls are flexible units that can be expanded over time and into whatever structural features you might desire.
The Benefits of Purchasing Container Shops or Commercial Stalls
1. Low Acquisition and Maintenance Costs
Commercial stalls are relatively cheap to build.
Our estimates suggest container shops cost 8.5% cheaper than concrete.
This is mainly because of the basic structural features including roller shutter doors, electric wiring and fittings, interior partition and spray paintwork.
To maintain the shops, a yearly painting routine is required.
Essentially, post-construction repairs are extremely rare and if any, little money is required.
2. Short Fabrication Timelines
Container shops and stalls can be completed in just 7 days (sometimes 5 in case of urgency).
This is mainly because minimal water-based work is incorporated in the form of painting; a one-day affair that allows the paint to dry properly.
Much of the work revolves around dry materials that are easy to fit and install.
Also, container stalls are relatively simple structures that don’t necessarily require interior insulation and or ceramic tiles.
3. They are Easy to Move From One Place to Another
Much like any other container structure, commercial stalls are readily loaded, transported, and offloaded.
Their geometric nature allows them to easily fit on trucks and in small spaces.
Made of steel, containers are strong and thus can withstand long-distance shipment.
Thankfully, there is a large number of trucks, cranes, and forklifts that can transport these from cities such as Nairobi to remote locations within and outside the country.
4. Flexibility of the Container Units Allowing Room for Expansion
Shipping container stalls have become versatile and adaptable solutions for a wide range of uses from personal and domestic to large-scale and commercial.
Thanks to their high flexibility, they can be expanded into larger units.
The units are also geometrically designed to accommodate more units either vertically or horizontally. This way, you can start with a single unit and add more to the same as time goes by.
The flexibility of container shops also means they can be changed from one type of business to another, for instance, adding shelves to develop a retail store or removing them to form an equipment store.
Also, two adjacent shops can be merged into one by removing the partition.
This limitlessness makes them viable options for investors who believe in regular transitions.
5. They are Long-Lasting
Generally, shipping containers are built to last decades and to withstand rough weather conditions both on land and at sea. Remember these are the foundations for commercial stalls.
Containers are made of powerful Corten Steel which has two important properties; it has high tensile strength and is designed to withstand corrosion.
Corten steel is made in such a way that it allows the formation of an external layer of rust and thus requires no repainting on the core surface. This feature alone highlights why shipping containers are high-value equipment.
Note that over 95% of the materials that make up container shops are steel.
Very little is plastic (electricals) or wood (the container floor).
6. Container Shops are Strong and Hence Extremely Secure
We’ve pointed out that these units have Corten steel walls.
Anywhere in the world, roller shutter doors are some of the most secure lockup equipment.
They are used in high-volatile business premises such as banks, warehouses, supermarkets and malls, restaurants, city shops, clubs, and boutiques.
These are made of steel and have internal motor brackets and pulleys that allow them to roll up and down the doorway.
They are designed with safety locks which can be padlocked into place ensuing maximum security.
Hence, they are vital for maintaining security at your place of business.
7. Container Stalls are Aesthetically Appealing
To attract customers, beauty is integral.
Fabricated container shops are some of the most colorful assets coming in a wide variety of brilliant colors.
Some units even have multiple color combinations including blue and white, yellow and black, black and red, orange and green, etc.
The radiant and energetic colors seize the attention of shoppers and trigger emotional reactions to products and services.
With high creativity in paintwork, your commercial stalls can be a hub for businesses to really take off and explode.
Businesses that Container Shops Accommodate
In the Kenyan markets, there are countless small and medium enterprises.
This is partially because they require minimal capital as well as small spaces to establish.
Hence, container shops offer convenient accommodation for the same.
These include;
- Groceries and fruit vendors
- Barbershops and salons
- Retail shops and distributorships
- Chemists and pharmacies
- Electrical and electronic shops
- Equipment shops and stores
- Boutiques and Dry cleaner shops
- Butcheries
- Gas supply stations
- Wines and spirits spots
Check out this container stall project we delivered to one of our clients along Waiyaki Way, in Nairobi.
Have Business Ideas? Premium Containers is Here to Help
In a nutshell, container commercial shops are hotcake properties in Kenya’s real estate.
From the information we have uncovered, the high affordability, immense strength, ease of transport, high flexibility, and high resale value are some of the factors that make these types of equipment worth the investment.
As far as investments go, the container stalls offer high competition to other forms of enterprise such as schools, commercial offices, and residential rental properties.
It is an exciting time for prime plot owners.
If you are looking to acquire commercial stalls anywhere in the country, be sure to engage us right away. ricated from 40Ft shipping containers.
Most designs will feature 5 shops even though some clients would prefer 6 shops.
Combination approaches can be incorporated so that a 40ft accommodates shops in addition to off
Check out more container shop designs on our YouTube channel below.
