What is a shipping container?
A shipping container is a standard metal box made from Corten steel that meets international standards for strength, dimensions, and weather resistance. The standard shipping container sizes mean equipment found in ports and warehouses worldwide can handle the cargo containers. A shipping container can stack on a boat, load on a truck or train, and in some cases fit the cargo hold of a plane.
Shipping containers keep their contents secure from weather, pests, and thieves and move between different transport methods without the need for loading and unloading the contents.
How big is a sihpping container?
The standard width of a shipping container is 8ft. The variation in storage capacity comes from the length and, to a lesser extent, the height. Most shipping containers are 8ft 6 inches tall, but you can get a high cube or taller shipping container at 9ft and 6 inches. Still, these are relatively rare compared with the ready availability of standard sizes. The popular lengths for shipping containers are the 20ft shipping container and 40-foot shipping containers. Other lengths are available, and a small 10ft container fits into tight spaces but still provides practical extra storage. A 53ft shipping container (maximum length) can transport the entire contents of a family home. The exterior dimensions of a shipping container are about an inch or so larger than the interior dimensions. The walls and roof of the shipping container are typically corrugated steel, and you have reinforcing bars along the edges, and these reduce the interior space by a small amount. The weight information is essential because there are legal restrictions on US roads about the weight a truck and trailer can carry and its distribution.
What projects can shipping containers be used for?
The versatile shipping containers first official use as a building registered at the Patent Office in 1987. Human ingenuity means many shipping containers had a second life in all manner of inventive projects. Shipping containers as building modules have links to a growing awareness of environmental issues, plus they are ideal modules to build any accommodation you can dream up. If you need storage, accommodation, or transport possessions or supplies, a shipping container or selection of shipping containers will meet your needs efficiently and affordably.
How much does it cost to buy or rent a shipping container?
The price of shipping containers for rental and purchase depends primarily on the length of the container. More cubic feet cost proportionally less per cubic foot, but the overall cost is more for the larger shipping containers for rent.
The other factors influencing the shipping container prices include:
• Height – standard or high cube.
• Door opening – edge or side.
• Modifications – windows and personnel doors.
• Condition and age.
• Interior fittings.
The other factors influencing the shipping container prices include:
• Height – standard or high cube.
• Door opening – edge or side.
• Modifications – windows and personnel doors.
• Condition and age.
• Interior fittings.
It's best to get a quote for the options that best meet your needs. Discussing what you need may result in an offer of some alternatives that may be better than your additional plans.
Where are shipping containers available?
Shipping container sales are available from many sources – shipping companies, private individuals, and dealers in shipping containers. Searching for 'shipping containers near me' gives you local options for shipping containers for rent or shipping container sales. The best source for your shipping containers depends on your needs. If you want a fleet of new shipping containers for transport, working directly with a supplier may be your best option for bulk purchase. If you want a single used shipping container for a unique project, obtaining that container from a reputable company with years of experience gives you help and support for all transaction stages. Buying direct from a seller may seem like a great deal, but ensure you get to inspect the container and check transport costs from the container's location to yours. When you add all the extras, the bargain buy may not be the best option for your budget and convenience.
How can shipping containers be used for residential solutions?
Shipping containers are ideal building modules for any residential need and can form the base structure for:
• Storage sheds.
• Garages.
• Extensions.
• Wine cellars.
• Home offices.
• Art and craft studios.
• Holiday homes.
• Entire house.
• Garages.
• Extensions.
• Wine cellars.
• Home offices.
• Art and craft studios.
• Holiday homes.
• Entire house.
Whatever you want from your extra space, a shipping container is a speedy and effective solution to building your residential project from a cabin in the woods to an architect-inspired family home.
Are shipping containers climate-controlled inside?
Shipping containers are not automatically climate controlled but modifying them to reduce heat, humidity, and condensation is always a sensible option, even if you only want the shipping container for storage.
Modifications and actions that improve climate conditions inside a shipping container include:
• Air vents – fixed or louvered to encourage airflow through the container.
• Air conditioning – a small unit is straightforward to fix for human comfort or if the contents require climate control in harsh environments.
• Exhaust fans – these actively drive airflow and remove moist, humid air from the interior.
• Dehumidifiers – a practical solution to taking water out of the air and removing it if you have access to mains electricity.
• Cat litter – the granules absorb water. If you use the shipping container for storage and don't have access to power, then using an absorbent material is helpful.
• Commercial desiccants - keeping goods dry is a universal problem, and these products can absorb as much as three times their weight in water from the air.
• A coat of bright white paint reflects the heat and reduces the build-up of condensation and humidity inside the container.
• Choose your position – shade is good but avoid overhanging trees.
• Add a heat-reflecting roof and insulate the sides.
• Mount on a base to allow airflow underneath to cool the interior.
• Stack the contents to maximize airflow and check regularly.
Modifications and actions that improve climate conditions inside a shipping container include:
• Air vents – fixed or louvered to encourage airflow through the container.
• Air conditioning – a small unit is straightforward to fix for human comfort or if the contents require climate control in harsh environments.
• Exhaust fans – these actively drive airflow and remove moist, humid air from the interior.
• Dehumidifiers – a practical solution to taking water out of the air and removing it if you have access to mains electricity.
• Cat litter – the granules absorb water. If you use the shipping container for storage and don't have access to power, then using an absorbent material is helpful.
• Commercial desiccants - keeping goods dry is a universal problem, and these products can absorb as much as three times their weight in water from the air.
• A coat of bright white paint reflects the heat and reduces the build-up of condensation and humidity inside the container.
• Choose your position – shade is good but avoid overhanging trees.
• Add a heat-reflecting roof and insulate the sides.
• Mount on a base to allow airflow underneath to cool the interior.
• Stack the contents to maximize airflow and check regularly.
Are shipping containers strong? (bullet-proof)
The base material for shipping containers is steel, and the construction is strong enough to let you stack shipping containers on a cargo deck of a ship up to nine boxes high. A shipping container can stand up to a tornado or earthquake and is a self-contained durable structure.
The typical measure for the strength of anything like a steel sheet is if it can stop a bullet. Bullets come in all shapes and sizes, and a steel sheet will stop light bullets from a 0.22 caliber firearm and may stop some bullets from higher caliber weapons at a distance. But don't expect it to stop an armor-piercing shell because they pass through military-grade steel armor plating.
If you want to set up a firing range inside a 20-foot shipping container, add some custom bullet stopping panels or restrict the caliber of the weapon discharged on the range. If you are building a cabin in hunting territory, your shipping container is relatively bulletproof but if it is a concern, add additional reinforcing. Durable steel is naturally fire-resistant, and shipping containers are frequently helpful in providing training scenarios for firefighters. The box is a challenge for any vandal or thief, and by adding a secure padlock inside a lockbox, you can be confident that your shipping container provides secure storage for your property.
Do shipping containers last forever? will it have to be replaced?
Shipping containers are durable, but no artificial object is eternal. Steel is susceptible to rust, and a regular coating of paint and other maintenance is necessary to prolong your shipping container's useful life. As a transport unit or cargo box, a shipping container's life splits into ten years of seaworthy transport and then ten years of storage or other use after that. In practice, when incorporated into a building, cladding and other materials protect the shipping container from wear and tear, and you expect it to last as long as any other building. A shipping container wears out through rust and physical damage. If you protect your shipping container from corrosion and mechanical harm, then you won't need to replace it for a long time. If your shipping container rusts or suffers from heavy impacts, its useful life is shorter, and you need to replace it when it is no longer fit for your purpose.
which size shipping container will work best for my project?
The type of shipping container that works best for your project depends on your project's nature and duration. If you want a shipping container to hold your stuff while you decorate a room, you need enough cubic feet to contain your possessions. A few moments with a measuring tape and a notepad will give you an estimate of how much storage space you need. A construction project or home office depends on how much space you comfortably need and your proposed layout.
One 20-foot shipping container gives a floor space of approximately 160 square feet, enough as a small office, pop-up shop, or site kitchen. Instead of moving up to a 40-foot shipping container, you may prefer to double up with two 20ft shipping containers welded together to give a more useable square space rather than a more extended space. Work out your floor plan and then choose the shipping container combination that gives you the least amount of work to modify your modules.
How will i receive my shipping container?
When you buy or rent a shipping container for your property, you will get some advice on how much space and clearance are necessary to deliver and install the shipping container. Plus, we will explain how to prepare the shipping container site because different States have different rules for ground preparation and support.
Can i have a shipping container on my property?
Most properties can have a shipping container installed for temporary or permanent purposes, but you need to pay attention to State and local regulations. Adding power or making modifications by adding windows may require a permit. The deeds to your property may restrict what and where you can place items like shipping containers. If you are building a home or an extension, you need to follow building regulations. A quick check of your local rules and regulations will highlight any action or permits you need before having a shipping container delivered and installed.