Which shipping container size suits you best depends on what you want to fit inside and how much space you have. From the compact 10ft to the roomy 40ft High Cube: below you can place the four most popular sizes side by side on dimensions, load volume and use, so you quickly know which way to lean.
You choose the right shipping container size by answering three questions: what will you store or do in the container, how much space is there at the placement location, and what budget do you have to buy or hire. For small, occasional storage a 10ft container is often enough, while a contractor with tools and materials usually ends up with a 20ft. Anyone looking for maximum volume for stock, a workspace or a container home soon looks at a 40ft or 40ft High Cube.
If you are torn between two sizes, the rule of thumb is: go for the larger one. A few extra cubic metres of space costs relatively little, whereas a container that is too small quickly becomes cramped as soon as your stock or your tools grow.
Buitenmaten (l × b); High Cube-varianten zijn 30 cm hoger. View stock →
At roughly 3 metres, the 10ft container is the smallest standard size. It fits on a small yard or in the garden and, with around 15 cubic metres of load volume, offers enough room for tools, bikes or seasonal items.
At roughly 6 metres long and some 33 cubic metres of load volume, the 20ft container is the most popular size. For materials and tools on the building site and for agricultural storage this is almost always the practical middle ground between space and footprint.
| Size | Length (approx.) | Load volume (approx.) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10ft | 3 metres | 15 m³ | Compact storage, garden, small yard |
| 20ft | 6 metres | 33 m³ | Building site, agricultural storage, tools |
| 40ft | 12 metres | 67 m³ | Large stock, house move, warehouse |
| 40ft High Cube | 12 metres, 30 cm extra height | 76 m³ | Insulated workspace, double stacking, container home |
Request a quote for the size you are considering, and feel free to compare two options in the same enquiry. On working days you receive a concrete price quote with stock and delivery date within an hour.
The 40ft container is roughly 12 metres long and, with around 67 cubic metres of load volume, offers plenty of room for a large stock, a full house move or use as a warehouse.
The 40ft High Cube has the same length and width, but is 30 centimetres taller inside: 2.90 metres instead of 2.59 metres. That gives around 76 cubic metres of load volume, and the extra height is especially valuable when double stacking pallets or when converting into a workspace with insulation and a ceiling, where headroom would otherwise be lost.
Every size is available both new (one-trip, virtually as-new) and used (cargo-worthy or A-grade, guaranteed wind and watertight and CSC-certified). Used usually offers the best value for money for storage, while new is attractive in a visible spot. A used 20ft container starts at from €1.500, a new one at on request; for a 40ft, used starts at from €2.000 and new at on request. If you would rather compare with a fixed storage building, also read how a shipping container compares with a steel shed.
If none of the four standard sizes fits perfectly, it is also worth looking at the full range including 45ft.
Reliable 20ft standard container, wind & watertight, ideal for storage or transport.
Extra height 40ft HC container — 2.70m internal height for maximum volume.
Spacious 40ft standard container with double doors, perfect for larger storage needs.
Would you like to adapt the container with extra doors, windows, insulation or a colour of your choice? That is done in our own workshop and always before delivery, whichever size you choose.
Tell us what you will use the container for and HEROX will happily help you find the right size at no cost. Leave your name and phone number or email address, and you will receive a reply within an hour on working days.
For a small yard or the garden, a 10ft container is usually the best choice. At roughly 3 metres long and around 15 cubic metres of load volume, it offers enough room for tools or seasonal items without dominating the plot.
Length and width are the same, but a 40ft High Cube is 30 centimetres taller inside: 2.90 metres versus 2.59 metres on a standard 40ft. That gives around 76 cubic metres of load volume compared with about 67 cubic metres, handy when double stacking or converting with insulation.
Yes, 10ft, 20ft, 40ft and 40ft High Cube are all available as new (one-trip, virtually as-new) or used (cargo-worthy, guaranteed wind and watertight and CSC-certified). Used usually offers the best value for money for storage.
For storing materials and tools on the building site and for agricultural storage, a 20ft is usually the practical middle ground: big enough for shelving and machinery, yet still compact enough to place anywhere. For larger volumes, a 40ft is a logical next step.
Whichever size you pick, HEROX delivers nationwide by crane lorry or sideloader, typically within 3 to 7 working days from one of its European depots. The condition is a reasonably flat, paved and accessible location.
View live stock with prices, or get a tailored quote within one business hour.
