Overview
40ft shipping containers offer superb value secure dry storage. If you have enough space for one of these they will usually be a lot cheaper per square or cubic foot than other container sizes.
40ft containers come in 2 main options. standard height 40fts (8ft 6 high) and high cube 40fts (9ft 6 high) standard and high cube 40ft containers make up more than 50% of the global container fleet making them very commonplace. On resale that always means 40fts offer superb value for the space you get.
Made from COR-TEN A grade steel, a special alloy which forms a non-permeable rust layer when it ages. This rust layer won’t let water through, ensuring the steel will last an extremely long time. Almost every used container we get in in the 10-15 year age range has scratches. Its safe to assume some of these were done early on in its lifespan and 10-15 years later the rust has not go near to rusting through the 1.6-1.8mm corrugated sides in the containers, in fact we commonly see another 10+ years of solid use beyond this point.
The basic standard 40ft and 40ft high cube containers come with double cargo doors at one end only (other door configuration options are available – please see below). These are heavy duty cargo doors with 4 locking rods (2 on each door) and a heavy duty rubber door seal. Inside the container you will get a marine treated plywood floor throughout (some new ranges now have the options for an eco-friendly bamboo floor as well)
Various lashing points are included on the longitudinal rails and the front (non-door end) corner posts with a typical minimum 1 tonne max load per lashing point.
40ft shipping containers will commonly not come with forklift pockets. Some new (one trip) and used options may be available. They are very rare in used containers. When available they can only be used to lift the container when empty.
They will also come with a minimum 2x 25mm vents with bug / insect mesh (the exact number and the location of vents can vary slightly but they are nearly always fitted on the sides at the top). These vents allow the container to breathe a little but they do not offer a good level or air flow. We can always add in additional vents if you need air circulation inside your container.
Guarantee
All of our shipping containers are checked over by an experienced professional before sale. With the repair standard we specify we are confident to be able to offer our industry leading 2 year wind and watertight guarantee on all new, refurbished and used shipping containers used for storage use. This means if your shipping container has a natural defect which results in a leak or other issue relating to its fitness for purpose as a storage container in its first 2 years we will come out and repair it free of charge.
Lifespan
Shipping containers usually only suffer from wear when they are handled and moved to and from a truck, boat, train or container stack. As most of our customers buy a container that will remain static in one place, aside from the rubber door seal, there is very little to wear or go wrong with it.
We regularly see refurbished and used shipping containers that were supplied as used 10+ years ago performing very well with little to no maintenance. So you should expect this sort of lifespan. The only exception is the rubber door seals that can wear out more quickly if the doors are used frequently.
New or one trip shipping containers should last an extremely long time, but as manufacturing techniques change so frequently (every 5-10 years or so) it is very hard to test the exact lifespan of a container. We know that a typical one trip container is circa 12 years younger than a used shipping container, and as we would expect 10 years solid use from a used container, its pretty safe to assume that a 20+ year lifespan for a new shipping container is very achievable.
Container Condition
Shipping containers are available in various conditions which effect their price and lifespan.
New (One Trip)
New (or One Trip) shipping containers are the very best quality option available. Freshly built in a factory (normally in China) they are moved to the UK with freight inside them which helps dramatically reduce the overall cost of the shipping container. These almost new shipping containers may have the odd imperfection consistent with this first trip but they will be in otherwise immaculate condition.
These one trip shipping containers are approximately 12 years younger than the average refurbished or used container we sell (or 12-20 years younger than a used container sold by any other trader) so the container will have a significantly longer lifespan. If these containers are to sit static on your site then they will also remain in very good condition. In 12 years time a one trip container you purchased from us that has sat static on your site will more than likely in better condition than an average used container we are selling at the time.
These containers come in green or blue without any logos and look a lot smarter than a refurbished or used shipping container.
Refurbished
Refurbished shipping containers are the middle ground between new and used shipping containers. We take the best quality used shipping containers and ensure they are of sound construction, leak free, have a good solid floor, a fully operational door and intact doors seals (where applicable). These are a lot neater than basic used containers and a fair bit cheaper than new (one trip) shipping containers.
We also repaint these containers in your choice of basic colour in a marine quality paint and add a high security lock box (padlock cover) to the shipping container. As these are made from used shipping containers there will still be dinks and dents along the frame of the container, but the repaint will give a much smarter appearance when compared to a basic used container.
Sometimes we make a refurbished shipping container by cutting down a larger shipping container to size (for example a 40ft shipping container may be cut down to make 4x 10ft containers). In these cases we typically offer our easy open or flat panel door option. These fabricated doors are much lighter (but still made from steel at least as thick as the steel in the corrugated sides of the shipping container) and much easier to use over a long period of time but they do not come with a rubber seal around the doors.
Used
All our used shipping containers are sourced direct from shipping industry use. We do not offer used containers that have previously bought as ‘used’ as these shipping containers will commonly be of a poorer quality and have a much shorter remaining lifespan.
Used shipping containers will come in their original shipping liveries and will usually have some dents and surface rust. We sell these strictly as ‘cosmetics not guaranteed’ meaning we don’t and can’t guarantee how good they will look. If you require a smart shipping container we recommend looking at our refurbished or new (one trip) ranges. However, your used container will not have any large bows or dents – it will be in the correct overall shape, free of any holes or leaks and in a good stare of repair. Depending on your location and our nearest local depot, we can often offer viewings in our yard or photos of a specific container for your approval in advance of delivery.
Container Types
Information about the types of 40ft shipping container available.
40ft Standard Containers
Standard 40ft shipping containers (AKA dry freight containers, dry vans or general purpose containers).
These are 8ft 6 high externally and have 1 set of double cargo doors at one end only.
| External | |
| Length | 40ft (12190 – 12198mm) |
| Width | 8ft (2430mm – 2450mm) |
| Height | 8ft 6ins (2590mm) |
| Internal | |
| Length | 39ft 5ins (12033 – 12041mm) |
| Width | 7ft 8ins (2330mm – 2350mm) |
| Height | 7ft 10ins (2380mm – 2390mm) |
| Door Opening | |
| Width | 7ft 8ins (2330mm -2380mm) |
| Height | 7ft 6ins (2280mm) |
| General | |
| Other Info | |
| Cubic Capacity | 2386 cu ft (67.6m3) |
| Weight | 3.6-4.1 tons (3600-4100 Kg) |
| Max Cargo (Export only) | 30,480 Kg – 34,000 Kg (different max cargo weights available) |
40ft High Cube Containers
High Cube containers are higher than standard containers. They are ideal to store something too big to fit inside a standard container. They are also a good option if you want to store stacked pallets as the extra height makes it easier for the folk lift to access them.
40ft High Cube containers differ only from standard 40ft containers in that they are 1ft / 30cm taller:
| External | |
| Length | 40ft (12190 – 12198mm) |
| Width | 8ft (2430mm – 2450mm) |
| Height | 9ft 6ins (2890mm) |
| Internal | |
| Length | 39ft 5ins (12033 – 12041mm) |
| Width | 7ft 8ins (2330mm – 2350mm) |
| Height | 8ft 10ins (2680mm – 2690mm) |
| Door Opening | |
| Width | 7ft 8ins (2330mm -2380mm) |
| Height | 8ft 6ins (2580mm) |
| Other Info | |
| Cubic Capacity | 2700 cu ft (76.2m3) |
| Weight | 3.9-4.3 tons (3900-4300 Kg) |
| Max Cargo (Export only) | 30,480 Kg – 34,000 Kg (different max cargo weights available) |
40ft Side Opening Containers
Both Standard and High Top containers are also available with an additional set of fully opening doors down one of the long sides. As standard these are right handed side opening. This means as you look at the end doors of the shipping container from the outside, the side doors will always be on your right hand side. Left handed side opening containers do exist but are quire rare.
40ft Open Top Containers
Open top containers come with a single set of doors at one end only and a removable top (usually a tarpaulin). These are often used for the export of over-height cargo, or for shipment of cargo that needs to be loaded via crane from above. However, these are not popular for storage as they are more expensive and the open roof is not suitable for most storage applications.
| External | |
| Length | 40ft (12190 – 12198mm) |
| Width | 8ft (2430mm – 2450mm) |
| Height | 8ft 6ins (2590mm) |
| Internal | |
| Length | 39ft 5ins (12033 – 12041mm) |
| Width | 7ft 8ins (2330mm – 2350mm) |
| Height | 7ft 8ins (2330mm – 2350mm) |
| Door Opening | |
| Width | 7ft 8ins (2330mm -2380mm) |
| Height | 7ft 3ins – 7ft 6ins (2209mm – 2280mm) |
| Other Info | |
| Cubic Capacity | 2386 cu ft (67.6m3) |
| Weight | 3.7-3.9 tons (3700-3900 Kg) |
| Max Cargo (Export only) | Typically 30,480 Kg (different max cargo weights available) |
40ft Flat Rack Containers
Flat rack containers are a base with just two ends on the container (these ends are usually collapsible), or a platform which is just a solid base with no side walls or end walls. Both are used for the shipment of out of gauge (oversize) cargo. These are often used for quick and easy bridge building.
40ft Refrigerated Containers
These are units with temperature and humidity control. Exact specs will vary on age and manufacturer but most will have a set temperature range anywhere between -20 and -30 Celsius, and can go as high as +20-30 Celsius. Humidity can also be set and managed. 20ft refrigerated shipping containers are often used as cheap walk in fridges, freezers or ambient stores, however, as they are not built for this purpose, care needs to be taken to ensure they are suitable for your specific use.
Other 40ft Containers
There are a number of other types of 40ft container types that are very specialised. Examples include Tank Containers, Cakebox Containers, Offshore DNV Spec Containers for the oil and gas industry and more. Please contact us if you’re looking for something not listed above.