Container FAQ

We usually deliver our storage and shipping containers using a hiab vehicle. This is a flatbed or skeletal trailer with a hydraulic crane (hiab) located behind the cab. These vehicles range from 20ft to 65ft in length and are usually around 10ft wide (once mirrors etc. are taken into account) and 14ft high, although, dimensions do vary according to vehicle specifications. Different vehicles have different capabilities and so there is not a one size fits all answer to the reach or abilities of the hiab vehicles we use, we can however utilise a specific vehicle should we think your site may need it which is why it is important to share as much information as possible with us.

Hiabs are available as single rigids which are suitable for delivering smaller containers, wagon and drags for when you may need a vehicle with a little more flexibility and articulated vehicles which deliver multiple containers or 40ft / 45ft containers. We can also deliver units up to 14ft wide by working with our hauliers who have police dispensation for the majority of the UK.

Containers and cabins are best sited on hard-standing level grounds. Our container delivery driver will need to park parallel to where the container will be off-loaded.

Safety is our priority when we are delivering your container so it is important that you ensure that the off-load area is free of personnel and obstructions. We also cannot deliver in areas where there are overhead cables, over grass or on weakened grounds (for example, if there are drains / fire hydrants / underground car parks).

If you are having multiple container deliveries, we may use different vehicle types to keep costs down, for instance, we may used one hiab vehicle and a number of non-hiab vehicles to run containers in and then be off-loaded by the hiab which may remain on site. It is important to consider space requirements for these kinds of deliveries as often the vehicles will need to sit parallel to each other to accommodate this.

Similarly, if you have off-loading facilities of your own on site, like a forklift truck, we may be able to deliver your container on a non-hiab vehicle which again would reduce costs.

This varies from council to council.  Containers are temporary structures, that said, if they are on site for an extended period of time some councils may take an alternative view. We always recommend that you contact your local planning office prior to purchasing / hiring a container so that they can share the local position on containers.

We always find that the most obvious approaches to condensation control are the most effective, for example;

• Do not store white goods or timber that has been stored outside (items that hold water),
• Do not store we tack or clothing in the container.
• Be aware that in poor weather, the doors should be closed as much as possible. In warm weather, try and keep the doors open for a little while to allow air to circulate.
• Do not store items too closely together or touching the walls.

Containers come with vents as standard and these are usually sufficient to prevent condensation (alongside the steps mentioned above). However, extra measured can be taken such as placing moisture traps inside containers.  We are also able to spray an anti-condensation foam onto the container ceiling which helps with the effects of condensation. More extreme measures are available for container condensation control such as ply lining and insulation or heating and ventilation options.

We work closely with a number of finance companies who have vast experience of providing finance to customers who require multiple containers. From self storage companies to warehousing experts, these professionals are able to source competitive finance deals for containers. We then work with the finance companies to supply the units within their requirements.

Finance companies usually only deal with container orders of multiple units. However, we are happy to work with you if you are looking at spreading the cost of a container on a short-term basis, please discuss your needs with us, if we can accommodate, we will!

Yes, new containers have been used on one occasion to bring goods into the UK following their build in China. During the journey by container vessel to the UK they may experience some bumps or scrapes or even more severe damage.  Despite this, all of the containers are checked by the receiving depot when they arrive in the UK and any required repairs will be actioned.  Unless you are buying an ‘as is’ new container (which would be very unusual!), your new container will always be dry and weather proof.

Used containers have been used on multiple occasions over a number of years to transport goods around the world  by container vessel. They will experience damage throughout this period and they will have been repaired a number of times. Despite this, we purchase containers from shipping lines usually in two conditions, either WWT (wind and water tight) or CW (Cargo-worthy – could still be shipped). Either of these conditions will be weather proof and dry.  Like new containers, used containers are checked upon their arrival to our UK depots and any repairs are actioned.

The choice is yours! In our experience, the decision usually comes down to a number of factors:

• Budget: There is currently a price difference of around £1,000 between new and used containers (Correct September 2024),
• Aesthetics: If you need your container to ‘look good’ you should select a new container, these have been shipped once, they are available in blue or green and will definitely look better than a used container which will have been shipped several times and will have considerably more bumps, scrapes, scratches and fading paintwork,
• Use: If you are using a container for storing your household items, you may want to purchase a new one, however, if you are storing plant, construction or agricultural items for instance, a used one will absolutely be sufficient. Similarly, if you are modifying your container and spending a lot of money on it, we would always recommend a new container.
• Longevity: A new container will typically have a lifespan of 25-30 years whilst a used one would be around 10-15 years,
• Specification: Containers have changed slightly in recent years to accommodate the sales market. Therefore, it is common for new containers to have easier to open doors, more vents, better flooring and a lockbox fitted when compared to used containers.

Containers were invented to standardise the way that goods were able to be transported around the world by sea, road and rail.  Containers are known as ‘ISO containers’, ISO stands for ‘International Organisation for Standardisation’ which sets the specification for the way containers can be transported worldwide.  Standard ISO containers are mainly only available in 20ft or 40ft lengths (although 45ft options are available they are quite scarce), so, true containers are only available as 20ft or 40ft units.  As standard they are 8ft wide and 8ft 6ins high (although high cube options are available which are 9ft 6ins high).  This level of standardisation exists so that containers can fit onto a standard ‘bed’ and can be stacked on each other intermodally. 

That said, there is definite demand for containers of varying sizes.  Most popular are 10ft and 30ft containers but we get asked for and have supplied every size imaginable! If the standard 8ft length and 8ft 6ins height can be retained as part of your specification, we would cut your container down from a larger unit, making any size up to 40ft possible. These special sizes are available as cut downs from new or used containers.

Sometimes, our customers just cannot accommodate the standard height or width of standard containers. In this case, we would custom build a container from the ground up.

It is important to note that cut down and custom built containers cannot be shipped.

Regrettably, we do come across customers who have been scammed when purchasing a shipping container. We have built this fact sheet to help you to avoid shipping container scams. Our advice is:

• Never comment on an advert / post on Facebook / Instagram, always send a private message or contact the company direct from their website – We have noticed that scammers ‘jump on’ to comments on social media posts to then contact potential customers directly with an amazing deal, once the customer parts with their money it quickly becomes evident that it was a scam.
• We will always only e-mail you from address ending @3jservices.co.uk, we will not send invoices on Facebook, we will always e-mail them,
• Our website is 3jservices.co.uk, ALWAYS contact us on the telephone numbers on our contact us pages.
• When you receive an invoice, ALWAYS call us on one of the numbers on our website to confirm our bank details are correct.
• Do your research on the company, does it add up? Are we who we say we are?
• Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is!

Believe it or not, considering we sell shipping containers, very few people who we sell to actually end up shipping their container! The vast majority of our customers use their containers for domestic storage and they never leave the UK again.

It is therefore, really important that you tell us if you intend to ship your container. In order to be shipped, your containers CSC (Convention for Safe Containers) plate needs to be in date. This is essentially the containers passport which shows a shipping line that the container has been inspected and is suitable for shipping. New containers usually have a five year CSC validity and they are inspected once built.  That said, a new container may have experienced damage during its first journey that invalidates its CSC, whilst this is exceptionally rare, it is always worth informing us in advance that you are shipping so that we can ensure a suitable new container is delivered to you.

Used containers may not be suitable for shipping, they have to be cargo-worthy and they have to have their CSC plate updated with a sticker that shows the shipping line that it is suitable for shipping (this usually only has 12 months validity so it is important to remember that your containers journey must be complete within that time period!). Similarly, some of the shipping lines that we work with instruct us to neutralise containers that are to be used for onward shipping, this means that the start of the containers individual and unique unit number has to be changed and any identifiable markings (like decals) have to be removed from the container and from the CSC plate. If this is not completed it will cause a problem somewhere along the line.  It is therefore crucial that you inform us that you intend to ship your container.

We expect new containers to have a lifespan of around 25-30 years.  Used containers have usually been utilised in the shipping industry for around 10-15 years so once they enter the re-sale market we expect them to last a further 10-15 years.

Yes is the short answer, however, it is important to consider these factors:

• Planning: Check with your local authority what their view is on whether you will require planning for a shipping container in your garden, councils vary on their outlook on this so it is definitely worth a quick call,
• Access: We deliver using hiab vehicles (a hydraulic crane behind the cab). This vehicle needs to be parallel to the off-load location. Whilst we can deliver over walls / hedges, you need to consider whether the vehicle can pull up next to the off-load location. We cannot just park on a road and off-load the container either, correct traffic planning needs to be considered if we need to off-load roadside and should be discussed with your local council. Overhead obstructions like trees and cables are also a problem and need consideration. We cannot off-load over a house using our hiab vehicles,
• Siting: Your container needs to be sited on level hard-standing ground.

Shipping containers are constructed with steel and as such are secure by nature. 

The majority of our customers add padlocks to their containers.  New containers are fitted with security lockboxes as standard which is a slimline steel cowl located on the container doors which houses a locking lug.  A padlock can easily be inserted into the locking lug. Used containers do not have lockboxes as standard but they can easily be fitted relatively cost effectively.  The purpose of the lockbox is to protect the padlock from items like wire cutters or grinders being used on it to access the container.

If you do not want to have a lockbox fitted to your used containers, there is a handy area on the locking bars of the container where the customs catches would previously have been located where a lock can be attached, however it is important to note that this would not be housed in any way.

The majority of used shipping containers will have marine ply flooring as standard, this is usually a 30mm thick heavy duty wood.

At time of build, the flooring installed is containers is varnished to protect the boards and eradicate any pests.

The ply boards of shipping containers are fixed to the steel cross-members that form the robust load-bearing floor of a shipping container. The beauty of the cross-members is that they keep the wooden floor of the container off the ground which helps to keep it water tight and protect against vermin.

More recently, new containers have been fitted with the more environmentally friendly bamboo flooring or PU coated flooring. These options remain durable and easy to care for.

Yes, you should expect between 8-10 vents on new shipping containers and four on used containers. The vents are located high up and  are intended to encourage a small amount of air flow within the container to aid in preventing condensation and to reduce any odours.  They are of course designed to prevent the ingress of water.

Shipping containers are predominantly manufactured from Cor-Ten steel. Otherwise known as ‘weathering steel’, Cor-Ten is designed to rust and create a protective patina which in turn prevents further rust. It is an extremely durable material.

A number of other materials form the finished product of a shipping container, from its wooden, bamboo or PU coated floors to its steel cross members providing the integral strength to the flooring. Containers are inherently designed with strength, integrity and water-proofing in mind.

Yes. We have extensive experience in modifying shipping containers to suit a wide range of applications.

Some of our more simple modifications may be fitting a personnel door, a window or lining a container out.  We can apply anti-condensation ceiling coatings, re-paint containers or provide shelving and ramps.

Some of the more complex modifications we carry out on shipping containers are complete turnkey solutions which wholly transform the humble shipping container to laboratories, restaurants and workshops.

Furthermore, we are able to offer off the shelf solutions for offices, canteens and toilet blocks – whilst these are not traditional containers, they hold a similar content and are a cost effective alternative to container conversion.

Yes, we hire out standard 20ft and 40ft containers. If you require a more bespoke container, or a container with some modifications, we may also consider offering this on a hire basis subject to a pre-agreed minimum hire period.

Our hire quotation will include the cost of delivering and collecting the container.

It is sometimes cheaper to purchase a container as we do find that many of our hire customers keep the container much longer than initially anticipated! As such, we are happy to confirm a pre-agreed price at the time of sale that we would purchase your container back from you within a 3 year period. This can result in a significant cost saving and peace of mind.

To act as a guide, the prices that we are quoting at present (correct September 2024) most frequently for a standard 20ft used container with a fairly local and straight-forward delivery would be around £1,450 + VAT, a new (once shipped) container on the same terms would presently be around £2,450 + VAT.  Please take these figures as a starting point and contact us for an accurate and official quotation.  Supply and transport can mean that we can get the container to you more cost effectively or unfortunately, certain areas will cost quite considerably more.

You will notice that very few people advertise the cost of shipping containers, this is because there are just so many variables. Whilst many people do look for standard 20ft and 40ft containers, many also have some kind of modification or specialised piece of equipment, for which costs can vary massively. Similarly, the cost of transporting containers can vary enormously around the country.

Similarly, container prices can fluctuate quite considerably on very short notice as they are influenced so greatly by international factors and supply.

Yes. We have been known to deliver containers in the early hours of the morning and the depths of night, we have also completed full site set ups over weekends. However, it is important to note that there is a cost implication to this.

Our professional drivers are governed by drivers hours rules and tachographs to help keep our roads safe. Our drivers have to follow regulations that dictate the amount of hours they are allowed to drive a) per day, b) in a week and c) in a two week period. The scheduling of this works best with deliveries that are between normal business hours, when we break outside of these normal business hours it impacts the amount of deliveries the driver is able to complete during a normal week or two week period, they can only deliver containers when the depots are open for them to collect and drop off containers.  Therefore, there is a surcharge involved with any out of hours or weekend deliveries.

This varies massively between models and specifications of hiab vehicles. If you have concerns about your delivery it is important that you share those with us, as we can often provide a vehicle to accommodate your needs. 

It is not unreasonable to say that a vehicle would have around a 12 metre reach, however, some vehicles have less than this so you should always discuss your needs with us.

We can usually deliver standard containers to you within a week.

If you are looking for your shipping container to be modified in any way, the lead time will very much depend on the level of container modification and the current workload in our workshops.

Shipping containers are best sited on level hard-standing ground, however, it is not necessary to spend a massive amount of money building a base for your container to be sited upon.

As long as the four corners of a container are supported and level, this will be sufficient. Heavy duty paving slabs in each of the four corners are ideal, or, railway sleepers to the front, back and middle of the containers also work well.

If the four corners f a container are not level (even if they look level!), the container can ‘rack’, this is when the door gear becomes out of square and it makes the container very difficult, and sometimes near impossible, to open and close.  It is therefore important that your container is well supported and level. 

We also recommend equally spacing the cargo in your container to prevent racking, and, if you are putting a lot of heavy items in, it is best practice to regularly check the doors are working well rather than filling it and dealing with the issue afterwards!

Yes, we are happy to provide a guaranteed price at the time of quotation that we would be willing to buyback your container from you within the next three years. We usually cover the cost of collection (as long as nothing has changed since delivery).

Yes, shipping containers can be stacked. 

It is important to consider how you will access the top level of containers when stacking.  We are able to provide fixed staircases with large landings allowing the container doors to open or mobile staircases for your containers. Customers often have a personnel door installed in the top container to assist with access. You would also need to ensure that the containers are secured with stacking cones or twist locks – we can assist with this.

Our depots are working facilities with heavy plant and machinery moving throughout the day.  Furthermore, our containers are stacked in stows several containers high and released on a ‘next in stack’ basis.  Therefore, the viewing opportunities are limited. We do have some smaller satellite depots where you may be able to view a container, however, it would be unlikely that anything you viewed would be the container you received for the reasons already mentioned. If you do visit out depot, it is strictly by appointment only, you have to be chaperoned at all times, hold full liability insurance and full PPE is required.

Our containers are stacked in stows several containers high and released on a ‘next in stack’ basis. Due to the size of containers, we cannot ‘put one aside’ in depot whilst we wait for it to be delivered. Similarly, the costs and space that would be required to move several containers out of a stow to access a single one would be significant. When put like this, it is easy to see why it would be difficult to choose a container. That said, if you require a particular colour and we have it in stock or it is realistic to access it, we will always try to accommodate

Please see our charts below for our 20ft and 40ft shipping container dimensions, if you are looking for other sizes or container types, please view our container dimensions page.