Containers, Conex Box, or Shipping Containers
What is the difference between Shipping Containers, Self-Storage, Conex Boxes, Cargo Container?
If you are looking to gain some extra storage to declutter your home or office, you meet with a deluge of names from Conex box, big box storage, self-store, shipping containers, and sea cans. Are they all the same thing? What exactly do these terms mean? You don't need to be mystified, although all metal boxes are not the same, they all provide storage space.
What is a Shipping Container?
A shipping container is a box made from Corten steel constructed in a standard shape and size for transporting goods safely and securely by sea, rail, and road.
Reinforced corners allow connection to other containers and anchor points, and lifting by crane without tearing, even when fully loaded. The base contains forklift pockets to allow movement by forklift – within weight restrictions.
A sea-worthy shipping container has a CSC plate detailing its fitness to carry cargo. If you need to ship your house contents or merchandise by sea, you need a certified sea-worthy shipping container. If you need somewhere to store your camping gear or equipment, you can use a retired shipping container as a storage container – with or without modifications.
What is a Storage Container?
A storage container does not need to meet the stringent construction, dimensions, and materials of a shipping container. A storage container can be built from lower-grade steel and to any width, length, and height desired. It provides clean, dry storage but can never be used to transport goods or possessions by sea freight. Most storage containers on the market are used shipping containers, but you can buy or rent steel boxes created as storage solutions.
What is Self-Storage?
Self-storage is the term given to a means of storage packed and unpacked by the user. A self-storage solution includes:
• Renting lockable space inside a building as a self-storage unit.
• Erecting a shed or parking a storage container on your property to provide storage on your premises.
• Renting a storage container or storage box at a container site, away from your property.
• Renting lockable space inside a building as a self-storage unit.
• Erecting a shed or parking a storage container on your property to provide storage on your premises.
• Renting a storage container or storage box at a container site, away from your property.
What is a Conex Box?
The name 'Conex' is a blend of 'container' and 'express,' and it is a shipping container by another name. The Conex box has two standard lengths – 20 and 40 feet. Other sizes and high cube formats are less common but available. The standard size lets the Conex box and its contents travel by sea, rail, and road.
What is a Cargo Container?
Cargo container is yet another name for a shipping container or Conex box. The name refers to the fact that the shipping container carries cargo – goods transported from one place to another.
So what are the Differences Between the Container Types?
Conex boxes, cargo containers, shipping containers, and sea containers refer to the same type of standard rust resistant Corten steel box mainly manufactured in China and used in shipping and transporting goods across the world.
These boxes share the standard features of reinforced corners and base pockets for forklift trucks. If they are currently in use for cargo transport, they have regular inspections and certifications for freight-worthiness – shown by a CSC plate.
Shipping containers are strong enough to be used as modular building blocks, but metal box storage containers aren't suitable because they don't have the same level of structural reinforcing.
Differences in costs depend on the availability and condition of used shipping containers compared with the raw materials and labor cost of creating a metal storage box. The metal storage box may contain a lower grade thinner steel with less weather and corrosion resistance. A used shipping container (or Sea Can) may cost less or more than a metal box storage container depending on age and condition.