Shipping Container Dimensions and Uses – Which is Right for You? | 10 ft Containers

Compact and Versatile 10ft Shipping Container

For most purposes, a compact shipping container size is the 10-foot. These containers may seem small, but the practical uses of these containers make them one of the most versatile of sizes. However, it is worth noting that a 10-foot shipping container doesn't measure ten feet, either inside or out!

Creative Uses of 10ft Containers

The primary use of a 10-foot shipping container is to ship or store a small quantity of goods or possessions. But the uses aren't limited to serving as a large metal box; with some imagination, this compact storage container size is remarkably versatile for alternative uses.

Office Space	Job-site Storage	Garden Shed
Need a home office or an office inside a larger space like a warehouse? It may be small, but it provides everything you need and privacy to work as a dedicated office space.	Segregating items into smaller 10-foot shipping containers gives different trades dedicated storage and can make running your site more efficient.	These containers provide excellent storage for garden tools with better security than a wooden shed for high-value power tools or a ride-on mower.

Bike Storage	Retail Space	COVID-19 Testing Site
This shipping container size isn't large enough for anything other than a super-compact car. Still, it provides excellent garaging for expensive bikes (motor or pedal), keeping them safe from weather and thieves.	Shipping containers have seen a rise in popularity being used as retail stores. They provide the perfect space for creating a store front to do business and can also be used as secure storage for the items being sold.	Many pop-up COVID-19 testing sites use storage containers to work out of. Since containers are so versatile and mobile, they make the perfect space for temporary testing sites that may need to move based on demand for testing.

A 10-foot storage container gives you plenty of functionality with a smaller footprint when space is in short supply.

Dimensions

Shipping containers dimensions include a standard width: 8 feet, giving an internal measurement of 7 feet and 8 inches. This standard width facilitates moving the shipping container by sea, road, or rail as all the handling equipment is standardized. The exterior height of the shipping container is standardized at 8 feet 6-inches unless you opt for a high cube for more headroom at 9 feet 6-inches. The interior measurement is slightly smaller at 7 feet 10-inches or 8 feet 10-inches. The length of the 10-foot storage container is a tiny bit less than 10-foot, at 9 feet 9.75-inches which translates to an interior length of 9 feet 3-inches.

Volume

When you are working out what you can fit inside a 10-foot shipping container, the storage container dimension that matters is the volume. A standard 10-foot shipping container has 561 cubic feet available for careful packing. To get an idea of what that means – you can fit the contents of a one-bedroom apartment inside or between four and five motorbikes.

Weight

The Tare weight of a 10- foot shipping container is 2,850lbs, and the maximum cargo weight is 19,530lbs.

The tare weight is the weight of the empty 10-foot storage container. The cargo weight excludes the tare weight and is the maximum weight you can fit inside this shipping container size. Above this weight, you may get structural damage causing the floor to sag and possibly break when the shipping container weight load exceeds this figure.

This cargo weight equates to 712 standard gold bars, which occupy a fraction of the available volume (about 60 cubic feet). If you intend to move a laden storage container, the storage container weight limitation is more important than the volume. But if you need to store bulky but light items, the storage container dimensions that matter to you are the volume.

What Can Fit Inside?

There are plenty of items that will fit comfortable inside a 10-foot storage container with room to spare.
Some examples include:
• A fully made-up king-size bed.
• Four to five motorcycles or quad bikes.
• The contents of a 2-3 room apartment.
• 7 standard king-size mattresses stacked flat or on end.
• 6 large and tall refrigerators.
• Over 20,000 standard paperbacks – but this will exceed the weight limits.

Some items won't fit because they are too long or bulky, and these include:
• Standard kayaks – these start at ten feet for most sports.
• A car – the average car length is 13.6 ft.
• A caravan or a large camping trailer

The essential factor in deciding if the item will fit is the object's dimensions compared with the interior dimensions of the storage container. Using a ten-foot kayak as an example, you could fit it in diagonally, but it would restrict the rest of the available space. If you want to store sporting kayaks for a club (typically exceeding 16 feet), the next storage container size with custom racking is a better choice.

10ft Container VS Other Sizes

Small footprint	More portable by road
If you have a small garden or limited space to fit a storage container, this shipping container size is more likely to fit into your available space.	A 10-foot shipping container doesn't need the same truck size as a larger storage container.

Durable and weatherproof for secure storage	Excellent pop-up building for various purposes
You get these features at every storage container size, but it's reassuring to get the same quality in a compact unit.	Ticket booth, small shop, information kiosk, or compact office.

Will a 10ft Storage Container Fit Your Needs?

Before you ask for a quote for a ten-foot storage container, you need to know the answers to some standard questions:

Will Everything Fit Inside?

What you can store inside this shipping container size depends on many factors:
• Volume of contents - you can do a quick check by estimating the volume of the contents you need to store by treating each item as a simple box.
• Physical dimensions – objects that are longer, taller, or wider than the 10-foot shipping container's internal dimensions won't fit, although you can carefully position some tricky items.
• Weight – unless you are dealing with exceptionally heavy items, you will probably be within the loading limits.
• Access – if you need to go in and out to retrieve items, you need to leave some space to maneuver.

Most people find it challenging to visualize the amount of space available inside the container. You can use masking tape to mark up a room in your house with the internal dimensions of the 10-foot storage container to give you a visual clue of how the space feels and if your items will fit.

Rent or Buy?

Renting may be the best option if you need short-term storage either at your home or business or if you want to rent storage space on a dedicated site.

Buying is probably the best option if you want permanent use of the 10-foot shipping container. For example, if you're going to bury your 10-foot storage container underground to create a wine cellar, buying is likely your only option.

Do You Have Enough Room?

Although a ten-foot shipping container is compact, you still need a place that gives access for the delivery and enough room to position the 10-foot storage container. When you consider the potential location, remember you need to access the inside of the container for loading and unloading.

If you haven't got enough space to have a 10-foot storage container at your place, you can opt to rent storage space off-site. Plus, if you are moving or putting stuff into long-term storage, you may be able to get a container delivered to your drive to load up and then have it transported elsewhere.

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