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Shipping Containers For Moving House
Moving soon? Boxhub's shipping containers are ideal not only for transporting household items from one property to another, but storage after your move as well.
Using Shipping Containers for Moving House
Shipping containers are constructed using durable COR-TEN steel exteriors and feature watertight, windowless designs that maximize security and privacy. Additionally, they typically cost less than renting a self-storage unit, and can be adapted to fulfill a variety of needs even after you've moved into your new home.
What Kinds of Shipping Containers Are Best for Moving House?
Shipping Container Sizes
Shipping containers come in several different sizes with standardized capacities. The two most common shipping containers are 20-feet and 40-feet long.
20ft Containers
A 20 ft container has an internal volume of 1,172ft³. It can store the equivalent of 200 standard mattresses, two compact cars, or 9,600 wine bottles.
This container is ideal if you're shipping a small volume of heavy cargo, such as commercial or manufacturing equipment an heavy appliances.
40ft Containers
A 40 ft container has an internal volume of 2,385ft³. It can store the equivalent of 400 standard mattresses, four compact cars, or 19,200 wine bottles.
Its capable of carrying double the volume of a 20-foot container, though not as much weight. You can use this container to ship bulky, yet lighter goods such as cotton, electronics, and consumer furniture.
Shipping Container Conditions
Shipping containers come in a variety of different grades, or conditions. Here's how to select the right condition based on your needs and budget.
New or One-Trip Containers
These units have only been used once to ship a single load of dry cargo overseas. They're the newest, nicest containers you can buy — and the priciest.
Built to last 25-30 years, they're ideal if you plan to convert your container into an additional living space or long-term storge unit on your property after you've moved into your new home.
Cargo-worthy Containers
These units have previously been used, but can still be certified to ship cargo overseas.
While they may show some exterior signs of wear, all of Boxhub's cargo-worthy containers are inspected for structural integrity, so they'll work just fine for storing and transporting items while you're moving house. They're also less expensive than new containers.
Wind and Watertight Containers
These units have been retired from shipping.
They typically have patches of surface rust or slight cosmetic damage, but their floors are intact, their doors seal properly, and they're guaranteed watertight, meaning they'll work fine for storing goods during your move. These are the most budget-friendly containers on the market.
Other Ways You Can Use Your Shipping Container
One of the things that makes shipping containers the best option for moving house is that they can be repurposed to full a variety of needs after you've settled into your new home.
Car Storage
Convert your shipping container into a compact garage to store standard cars and seasonal vehicles like snowmobiles, ATVs, and jet skis.
Furniture Storage
Store household furniture — like couches, tables, and dressers — until needed or sold in a 20-foot or 40-foot shipping container.
Storage Shed
Use your container as a durable shed to store gardening equipment and outdoor supplies like lawnmowers, wheelbarrows, and leaf blowers.
General Self-Storage
Add a shipping container to your property for ad hoc self-storage needs — from sports equipment to seasonal clothes, furniture to appliances.
Additional Living and Working Space
Turn your shipping container into an additional living space like a granny suite or office once you've moved into your new home.
FAQ
Shipping containers are an excellent option for moving house. They're made of COR-TEN steel, which means they're extremely durable and capable of carrying large amounts of household goods. Their wind and watertight design keeps your items safe from the elements before, during, and after your move, and their windowless design maximizes security and privacy. What's more, shipping container self-storage units can be conveniently stationed on your property so you can continue using them even after you've moved into your new home.
Shipping containers come in a variety of standardized sizes and conditions, making it easy to choose a container that best fits your moving needs. The most readily available sizes are 20-foot shipping containers, which have an internal volume of 1,172ft³, and 40-foot shipping containers, which have an internal volume of 2,385ft³. Choosing the right size and condition of your container depends on your moving needs and budget. For example, 20-foot shipping containers are ideal for a smaller volume of heavy goods, such as appliances and gardening equipment. Meanwhile, 40-foot containers can handle more volume, but less weight. This makes them ideal for things like furniture or electronics.
For a more detailed breakdown of container sizes and conditions, check out this helpful guide to choosing the right shipping container.
You can buy shipping containers directly through Boxhub's website or by speaking to a member of our team via phone, email, or live chat. To buy a shipping container online:
Step 1
Visit our online store and enter your delivery zip code.
Step 2
Pick the size and grade of container you'd like to purchase
Step 3
Review your shopping cart and choose your preferred payment method.
Step 4
Validate and complete your purchase.
Questions? Reach out to us on 888-356-2954 at any time.
If you purchase a shipping container through Boxhub, you can have it delivered to your property or pick it up from a local depot. If you choose to have your container delivered, an experienced truck operator will inspect your container to confirm it meets your order's size and condition requirements before loading it onto their truck. Then they'll drive the shipping container to your property and carefully offload it in your preferred location.
If you notice something unexpected with the container, call us at 888-356-2954.
You need to make sure that your drop-off site is safe and accessible for the delivery driver.
They will need enough space to maneuver the truck and offload your shipping container. They will also need a smooth, solid road — surfaces like sand, mud, snow, and loose dirt won't work for a delivery.
When choosing where you want your shipping container placed, keep in mind that shipping containers used for storage should rest on level, stable surfaces. This prevents the doors from warping and becoming difficult to close. A cement or asphalt foundation is best, as it will provide a firm, level surface for the container and will stop water from pooling around the bottom.
You can also protect your shipping container self-storage unit from groundwater by raising it on level wooden blocks or iron plates.
If you notice something unexpected with the container, call us at 888-356-2954.
A shipping container can be used to store and transport a variety of household items, such as furniture, gardening equipment, electronics, appliances, and even cars, as-is. After you've moved, you can also customize your shipping container with windows, doors, and specially made shelving units to suit any longer-term storage needs, or to convert your unit into an additional living space, like a standalone office.
Boxhub offers shipping container modification kits for purchase. For a full breakdown of what's available, please call 888-356-2954.
You don't need to do anything to prepare your shipping container for moving house. If you like, you can clean the interior and exterior of the storage unit using a pressure washer. After you've successfully transported your goods to your new home, you can choose to modify your container to suit your longer-term storage needs, such as adding insulation, windows, doors, or security cameras.
Standard shipping containers are 8 feet, 6 inches tall. This measurement is true for standard 20-foot and 40-foot containers. High-cube shipping containers are a foot taller than standard shipping containers, measuring 9 feet, 6 inches tall.
The price of shipping containers varies based on their size, condition, and where they're located. For example, a 20-foot container will typically be cheaper than a 40-foot container. A new “one-trip” container — which has only made one trip across the ocean — will be more expensive than a wind and watertight container, which has been retired from shipping after 12-15 years.
To get an estimate of how much your ideal shipping container will cost, request a quote from our team.
Wondering, "where can I find shipping containers near me?" -- look no further. Boxhub is your number-one resource for shipping containers in the United States. Boxhub offers new and used shipping containers across the US in a variety of cities and states. Visit our online store here.