Choosing the Right Modified Shipping Container Types and Sizes

Many industries utilize shipping containers to help them conduct business more efficiently. While modified shipping containers can be used as mobile offices, that’s just the beginning.

Modified shipping containers can be used as mobile testing facilities for healthcare services, housing for temporary workers or displaced people, restrooms, dry storage facilities, pick-up stations for online retail orders, etc.

Shipping containers can be modified and customized with various features to fit specific purposes. Continue reading for tips to help you decide on the appropriate container types and sizes for your intended purposes.

Focus on Standard Shipping Container Sizes

A standard 20-foot or 40-foot shipping container should do the trick for most industries and uses.

A 20-ft container has the following specifications:

Exterior: 20’ Long X 8’ Wide X 8’6” High
Interior: 19’4” Long X 7’6” Wide X 7’9” High
Approximately 150 sq ft of space
Approximately 1200 cu ft of space
Opting for a “high cube” container gives you a height of 9’6”, while the rest of the dimensions remain the same.

A 40-ft container has the following specifications:

Exterior: 40’ Long X 8’ Wide X 8’6” High
Interior: 39’5” Long X 7’8” Wide X 7’9” High
Approximately 300 sq ft of space
Approximately 2400 cu ft of space
Opting for a “high cube” container gives you a height of 9’6”, while the rest of the dimensions remain the same.

Understand Shipping Container Terms

The container industry has coined its own terms over the years. Many interchangeable terms mean “shipping container,” such as:

Shipping container, which is the most used term.
Ocean container, sea container, or “seacan” refers to a container used on overseas shipping vessels.
An Intermodal container is a container used across different types of transportation, such as cargo ships, semi-trucks, trains, and more.
A Conex box, which is often short for “container express.”
An ISO container is a container manufactured in compliance with International Organization for Standardization specifications.

Explore Uses for Common Shipping Container Types

Cargo containers are used to transport cargo on a ship. Once these containers receive modifications, they’re no longer certified to transport cargo.

One-trip containers have only traveled from overseas one time. These containers are recommended for most uses, especially when it comes to working and living spaces.

Used containers have typically traveled back and forth overseas several times. This means that these containers usually have wear and tear due to their numerous trips overseas. These containers are best for storage purposes.

Dry containers are what most modified shipping containers start as.

Refrigerated/reefer containers have built-in climate control systems to regulate temperatures. These containers are utilized to transport temperature-sensitive cargo.