Shipping containers for home storage: hire or buy

Which container for building work, a house move, self-storage or a garden shed?

Internal volume gives an idea: 33.1 m³ for a 20ft, geometric volume before securing the load. Leave a passage if you need to access your belongings during the work, and keep space to open the doors.

How much does a container for home storage cost?

These external supplier examples are quoted excluding VAT. For a standard-rated sale or hire from a VAT-registered supplier, a private buyer normally pays 20 % VAT in addition. Our shop displays both its VAT-inclusive sale price and its price excluding VAT. Confirm the condition, stock and full delivered total with the seller.

Each purchase price, with its date and type (“from”, displayed price, promotion), is on the Container prices page. Have you spotted a used container sold by a private individual? First read the precautions to take with an advert.

Container storage for a house move: what should you budget?

Moving house: questions to ask the hire company

• Can the container be collected loaded and delivered to the new address? At what price, and with what permissible loaded weight for the lorry and the lifting?
• Does it need to be emptied at the departure address, then collected empty? In that case, compare with storage at a depot between the two homes.
• Where will the lorry park at both addresses, and who applies to the council for permission if the street is occupied?
• What minimum term, what notice period, and how much does an extra month cost if the move-in date slips?

Storage: at home or at a depot?

At your home, your belongings remain close at hand, but the container takes up space on your property and is delivered by lorry. At a depot, nothing is delivered: you bring your belongings and access them during the site's opening hours. For long-term storage, compare with buying: compare the hire charges over your expected duration with the purchase price, transport, upkeep and any resale assumptions.

Should I buy a shipping container for storage at home?

How do I request a container quote for home delivery?

The request is received by the ContainerBook team, who review it, may ask for clarification, and then search for suitable suppliers themselves. No number of responses is guaranteed.

For the same size and condition category, the displayed price differs from one seller to another: compare quotes on the same specification with ContainerBook, free of charge and with no obligation.

A difference between public offers is not a saving: only quotes drawn up on the same specification will tell you what you will pay.

External supplier price examples are research, not ContainerBook sale offers. The shop's own sale prices are presented separately. A company listed in the directory does not automatically receive your request.

ContainerBook UK does not promise:

• the lowest price on the market
• a number of quotes: a request may not receive any
• a response time
• stock or availability
• that the displayed price covers delivery or offloading
• a label or a ranking of sellers
• that the companies in the directory receive the request

How does delivery of a container to a private home work?

• Lorry access: width of the road, bends, slopes, branches and cables above the route, from the road to the final position.
• Gate and entrance: measure the clear width and height, then photograph them for the quote.
• Ground and supports: a flat and stable site, with supports at the corners (blocks, slabs or ground beams, to be confirmed with the supplier); an empty 20ft container weighs about 2,200 kg.
• Offloading: lorry-mounted crane or separate lifting; have the drop-off point, in front of the gate or at the final location, written into the quote.
• Parking on the public highway: if the lorry or container needs to occupy the street or pavement, even for the duration of delivery, check with the local council: a permit may be required.
• Neighbours: let your neighbours know the day and duration of the manoeuvre, and keep a clear passage during the operation.

Do I need planning permission for a garden container?

Temporary use is not an automatic exemption. Explain the duration, intended use and any foundations or services to the local planning authority. A separate home is not the same use as incidental domestic storage.

Check the relevant nation: England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. Building regulations approval is a separate matter; Scotland uses the building warrant system.

GOV.UK planning guidance — England, checked 2026-09-28. This guidance does not determine an individual application.

How to insure and protect a container installed at home?

• Your belongings: have the cover (theft, fire, water damage) and its conditions confirmed, for example padlock closure.
• The hired container: ask what the deposit and the hire company’s insurance cover, and who pays for any damage.
• Locking: a sturdy padlock; ask the supplier whether the container has a lock box to protect the padlock.
• Dampness: a metal container can cause condensation. Raise furniture off the floor, allow air to circulate, do not store anything damp, and have the door seals checked.
• Positioning: away from water runoff, with enough room to open both doors.

For more information: protecting goods stored in a container.

Questions about containers for home storage

Useful pages for your project