Shipping Container Sizes Explained

The sizes we supply

We stock and supply 6ft, 8ft, 10ft, 20ft and 40ft containers. All of them share the same 8ft external width and the same full-width double doors at one end, with a factory-fitted lock box on the new units. What changes is length, height and how easily the container can be craned into position.

• 6ft, 8ft and 10ft: external height between 7ft 4in and 8ft 6in, with roughly 300 to 460 cubic feet inside. Full details on the 6, 8 and 10ft container page.
• 20ft: 8ft 6in high as standard or 9ft 6in as a high cube, with around 1,170 cubic feet inside. See the 20ft container page.
• 40ft: 8ft 6in or 9ft 6in high cube, with roughly 2,370 cubic feet, or about 2,690 in a high cube. See the 40ft page.

Small units: 6ft, 8ft and 10ft

These are the sizes people buy for gardens, allotments, small yards, sports clubs and site compounds. They take a mower, tools, bikes, feed, stock or seasonal kit and they fit through gateways and down driveways that a 20ft would never manage. A 6ft unit is roughly the footprint of a large garden shed, but made from corten steel with a lockable steel door and no annual creosote job.

The trade-off is cost per cubic foot. A 10ft container is not far off the price of a 20ft in many weeks, so if the space and access exist, most people end up better served by the larger unit. Buy small when access, planning sensitivity or the size of the plot genuinely demands it, not just because the load looks small today.

The workhorse: 20ft

The 20ft is the size we move most. It holds the contents of a typical three-bedroom house, a full workshop, or pallets stacked two high down both sides with a walkway between them. It is short enough to be craned into a reasonable yard or field entrance, and it is the size most conversions start from, whether that is a kiosk, an office or a side-opening unit.

A 20ft high cube adds a foot of internal height. That extra foot matters if you are racking the walls, storing tall machinery, fitting lighting and insulation, or converting the unit into a working space where head height under an insulated ceiling gets tight quickly.

Bulk storage: 40ft

A 40ft container is the cheapest storage per cubic foot we sell, but it needs the site to match. You need a straight, firm run to bring the lorry alongside and enough clear length to lift and place the container without swinging it over anything fragile. On the right site, one 40ft beats two 20fts on both price and usable floor space; on a tight site, two 20fts are far easier to position and can be sited apart.

Choosing a height: standard or high cube

Standard containers are 8ft 6in externally, high cubes are 9ft 6in. Internally you lose a few inches to the floor and roof structure. Choose a high cube if you plan to insulate and line the unit, if you need to walk under lighting comfortably, or if you are storing anything close to 8ft tall. Stay with standard height where overhead clearance on the approach is limited, or where the container sits somewhere its height is visually sensitive.

Do not forget the space around it

The most common sizing mistake is measuring the container and forgetting the doors. The double doors swing out roughly 8ft in an arc at one end, so you need clear space in front of them and a firm surface to stand on while loading. Allow room to walk round the unit as well, both for maintenance and so that damp and leaf litter do not build up against the panels.

Delivery needs more room again than the container itself. Our lorry-mounted crane needs clear width, overhead clearance and a straight run to lift and place the unit. Work through the delivery access checklist before you commit to a size, and read preparing the ground so the unit sits level once it lands.

Quick checklist

• Work out the volume you need, then add a third for access and future stock.
• Measure the tallest and longest single item that has to go inside.
• Check the approach: width, height, turning room and the surface underfoot.
• Leave clear space in front of the doors and room to walk round the unit.
• Decide standard or high cube based on lining, racking and head height.
• Decide condition next - see new versus used containers.

Still torn between two sizes? Ring us with the job and the site and we will tell you which one we would put on the lorry. You can also browse new containers and used containers, or check what we can deliver in your area.