Frequently Asked Questions

A 10ft container measures roughly 2.99m long, 2.44m wide and 2.59m high externally. Internally it gives approximately 2.83m long x 2.35m wide x 2.39m high, about 15.9 cubic metres of capacity and 6.6 square metres of floor area. The door opening is around 2.34m wide by 2.28m high and the tare weight is about 1,200kg. A 10ft unit is the usual choice where space is tight, such as small gardens, courtyards and restricted yards.

A standard 20ft container measures 6.06m long, 2.44m wide and 2.59m high externally. Internally it gives approximately 5.90m long x 2.35m wide x 2.39m high, about 33.2 cubic metres of capacity and 13.9 square metres of floor area. The door opening is around 2.34m wide by 2.28m high, tare weight is about 2,200kg and maximum payload is typically around 28,000kg. This is the most popular size for site storage, garden stores and small workshops.

A standard 40ft container measures 12.19m long, 2.44m wide and 2.59m high externally, giving internal dimensions of approximately 12.03m long x 2.35m wide x 2.39m high, about 67.7 cubic metres of capacity and 28.3 square metres of floor area, with a tare weight of roughly 3,800kg.

A 40ft high cube shares that length and width but stands 2.90m high externally rather than 2.59m, giving an internal height of about 2.69m and roughly 76.3 cubic metres of capacity, with a door opening around 2.34m wide by 2.58m high. The extra 300mm of headroom makes high cubes the default choice for insulated conversions, offices and workshops, where a lowered ceiling would otherwise feel cramped. High cubes are also available in 20ft and 45ft lengths.

A new or one-trip container was manufactured recently and has made a single loaded voyage from the factory to the UK. It has clean, unmarked paintwork, a sound floor, fresh seals and smooth door gear, and is usually supplied in one corporate colour. A used container has spent several years in the shipping fleet and will show dents, scratches, surface rust, patch repairs and previous liveries, but a properly graded used unit remains structurally sound and weathertight. New units cost more and look better; used units offer the best value where appearance is secondary to function.

Wind and watertight (WWT) means the container is structurally sound and sealed against the weather, with no holes in the roof, walls or floor and with functioning door seals. It is intended for static storage on land. Cargo-worthy (CW) is a higher grade: it meets WWT standards and is additionally certified fit to carry freight at sea, with sound corner castings, undamaged top and bottom rails and a valid CSC plate issued under the International Convention for Safe Containers. Shipping goods internationally requires a cargo-worthy unit; for storage in a yard or garden, wind and watertight is normally sufficient and less expensive.

A wind and watertight container keeps rain out, but it is not damp-proof in the sense of being immune to internal moisture. Containers are sealed steel boxes, so moisture from damp goods, wet floors, humid air trapped at loading or the ground beneath has nowhere to escape. Condensation, often called container rain, forms when warm moist air meets cold steel, usually the underside of the roof overnight.

To reduce it: site the container on level pads or sleepers so air circulates beneath it; keep the factory-fitted vents clear and add more if you store damp-prone goods; store items dry and off the floor on pallets or racking; use desiccants for sensitive contents; and consider insulating and lining the unit, which is the most effective long-term solution because it keeps the steel above dew point. For genuinely moisture-critical storage, an insulated and vented conversion or a dehumidifier is the reliable answer.

It depends on the location, the use and how long the container stays. In many cases a container used for domestic storage within the curtilage of a house can be sited under permitted development rights, which generally require the structure to be incidental to the enjoyment of the dwelling, not forward of the principal elevation facing a highway, within height limits and within the permitted proportion of the garden. On commercial and construction sites, containers used temporarily in connection with building works, or sited for a limited period, may also fall within permitted development or temporary use provisions.

Permission is more likely to be needed if the container is a permanent structure, is used as living accommodation or separate business premises, sits in a conservation area, National Park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is near a listed building, or is prominently visible. Rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. We strongly recommend checking with your local planning authority before ordering. Obtaining any consent, and complying with covenants, leases and landlord permissions, is your responsibility.

Containers do not need conventional foundations, but they must sit level and be supported at the corners, where the load is carried by the corner castings. The usual approach is concrete pads, paving slabs or hardwood sleepers under each corner, with intermediate supports for a 40ft unit. Raising the container 100–150mm keeps the underside dry, allows air to circulate, prevents the floor bearers standing in water and reduces rust. Existing concrete or tarmac is ideal. Avoid soft, sloping or freshly laid surfaces, and make sure water drains away from the doors.

As a guide, a 20ft delivery needs a clear, straight, firm approach of about 18m by 3.5m; a 40ft delivery needs about 27–30m. Tilt-bed deliveries need roughly the container length again behind the lorry for the run-off. A HIAB crane delivery needs approximately 6m of clear overhead space, free of power lines, cables, branches and canopies, and the ground must support a loaded lorry and the HIAB stabiliser legs. If you are unsure, send us photographs of the route and delivery position and we will advise before you order.

Hire suits short and medium-term needs such as construction phases, seasonal overflow, events and refurbishments: you pay delivery and collection plus a periodic hire rate, and we take the unit back afterwards. Purchase usually makes more sense once the requirement extends beyond roughly 12 to 18 months, because containers hold their value well and can be resold or relocated. Buying also allows modification, which hire agreements normally prohibit. We are happy to compare both options against your expected duration.

No. Delivery is free on every container order anywhere in the United Kingdom, including the Scottish Highlands, the Scottish Islands, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Isle of Wight. There is no separate delivery line at checkout and no postcode surcharge. Offload is arranged as part of the delivery. Deliveries outside the UK are quoted separately.

Delivery is typically 7–14 working days from cleared payment, anywhere in the United Kingdom — mainland England, Wales and Scotland, the Scottish Highlands, the Scottish Islands, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Isle of Wight. Modified and bespoke units follow the same window once the specification is confirmed at order stage. Island and Northern Ireland routes depend on ferry sailings.

We accept bank transfer and major debit and credit cards. Payment is required in full before delivery unless a credit account has been agreed in writing. For modified and bespoke orders a deposit is taken at order stage with the balance due before dispatch. Prices are quoted exclusive of VAT unless stated otherwise, and VAT is applied at the prevailing rate where chargeable.

A container is a welded steel box with heavy-duty locking bars, which is a strong deterrent in itself. Security improves considerably with a lock box — a steel shroud welded over the padlock area that shields the shackle from bolt croppers and angle grinders — used with a closed-shackle or disc padlock. Anti-tamper hinge covers, second internal locking bars, ground anchors and alarm sensors are also available. Where possible, position the container with its doors facing a wall, fence or building. We can fit lock boxes and padlocks before delivery.

Yes. Common modifications include personnel doors, windows, roller shutters, extra vents, insulation and internal lining, electrical fit-out with sockets, lighting and consumer units, partition walls, shelving and racking, mesh security grilles and bespoke paint finishes in any RAL colour. We also build portable site offices, welfare units, guard booths, security huts and flat pack modular units. Send a sketch or description and we will prepare a specification and quotation. Note that made-to-order and modified units are excluded from the 14-day distance selling cancellation right once fabrication begins.

Yes, with the right equipment. An empty 20ft container weighs roughly 2.2 tonnes and a 40ft around 3.8 tonnes, so a HIAB lorry, telehandler, suitably rated forklift or crane is required. Never drag a container across the ground, as this damages the floor bearers and undercarriage. Empty the unit first, and remember the new position needs the same access and levelling preparation as the original delivery. We can quote for relocating containers within the UK.