The size most jobs start with
The 20ft container is the standard unit of world shipping — cargo volumes are even counted in twenty-foot equivalent units — which is why it is the most common size to buy or hire. For storage it is a sensible default: big enough for the contents of a small house during a move or renovation, a trade business’s tools and materials, farm fencing gear and feed, or seasonal stock for a shop.
Inside you get about 5.90m × 2.35m × 2.39m, roughly 13.9 square metres of floor and 33.2m³ of space. The doors open to about 2.34m × 2.28m.
Planning the inside
On paper the floor takes ten Australian standard pallets (two across, five deep), but two pallets side by side leave very little of the 2.35m internal width spare, and you need room to handle them. For pallet storage, check your pallet sizes and handling equipment before relying on that number.
For household or tool storage, a common layout is shelving along both walls with a clear aisle down the middle, heavier items at floor level and anything you need often near the doors. Label boxes on the side that faces the aisle. If you need taller items or shelving, compare a high cube, which adds about 30cm of height.
Condition: match the grade to the contents
Because 20ft containers are so common, there is usually a choice of grade. New single-trip units have made one loaded journey and are the tidiest option for a visible spot. Cargo-worthy used units have worked at sea and show dents, repairs and surface rust, but are a practical choice for storage. Watertight applies to those two grades only; as-is units are sold as seen and are not sold watertight.
Ask about the actual container, its doors, seals and floor, and ask for photos — we can send them on request before delivery. Read about the grades.
Delivering a 20ft
Empty, a 20ft weighs about 2,200 kg. Depending on the site it may arrive on a tilt-tray or a side loader, and each needs a different amount of room. The truck needs a clear run at the spot, space to unload and clear air above; the transport team works out which vehicle suits your site.
Tell us about the driveway, gates, slope, soft ground after rain, overhanging branches and powerlines, and which way you want the doors to face. Delivery is quoted with the container and the day is confirmed when you order. See what to check before delivery.
Buy or hire a 20ft
A 20ft is a common choice to hire for renovations, moves and short projects. If the job has a likely end date, compare the hire total — including delivery and collection — with buying outright. If the storage need is ongoing, buying is usually worth pricing. Hiring and buying both start with the same few details: your suburb, what is going inside and how long you need it.