I currently have a 24'x24' garage that on top of needing more work than it's worth is just too small. I have been battling a major lack of space for years now. I would like to tear the garage down and put up something like a 30'x40' but the major hold up is where do I put the contents of the current garage. I have been considering buying a 40' shipping container to use as a shed for the time being and then a place to put the rest of the garage contents when I finally getting around to tearing it down. Anyone bought a shipping container? How much did you pay? Did you regret the purchase? The container would probably be sold in 2-3 years after the new garage is built.
40' Shipping Container Shed
- Thread starter RustyGoat
- Start date
6768rogues
Banned
I have rented them for large commercial construction projects and I have paid about $100 per month. For short term use, that is a good way to go. Around here, used standard containers sell for about $3000 plus a couple of hundred for delivery, and places that rent them also sell them. For two or three years, buying and selling later is a decent option. If you are geographically near a port, they are plentiful and cheap, the further away the fewer there are and the more they cost. Standard are 8x8 but tall models are available. They are air and water tight when new, so they store things well, just don't lock yourself inside.
If you order one, it will slide off the back of a truck or trailer. Tell them whether to put it on the transport vehicle with the doors to the front or to the back, so it slides off in the right orientation. Later you can sell it and it will cost a few hundred bucks for the new owner to have a company move it.
If you order one, it will slide off the back of a truck or trailer. Tell them whether to put it on the transport vehicle with the doors to the front or to the back, so it slides off in the right orientation. Later you can sell it and it will cost a few hundred bucks for the new owner to have a company move it.
Last edited:
The Jungle
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=404733
I paid $3500 for each container and then spent another $500 each for small repairs and paint.
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https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=404733
I paid $3500 for each container and then spent another $500 each for small repairs and paint.
Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal
That's bad ***! I plan to paint the container to help keep my neighbors from hating me too much.
Lucid Moments
Well-known member
I bought a 20' container a while back to store stuff in until I could get my shop built. Paid $1,500 for it delivered. It has been so useful that once my shop is complete I plan on moving it behind the shop and keeping it for longer term storage. Which probably means it will get filled up with junk, but hope springs eternal and all that.
stingry
Well-known member
Bought a 40 ft container a few months ago. $3300 delivered from Denver CO to western Nebraska. Great storage, water and bug proof.
Pluribus
Well-known member
Have had one for over five years now and have zero regrets on the purchase. They're a bit on the rare side, but if you can find one with doors on both ends, it's the way to go. That way you don't have to fight your way the whole length through it with bulky stuff.
bad_idea
Well-known member
Here a 40' conex will run you $2k-$3k. They are very plentiful here as we have the Norfolk International Terminal just 60 miles away.
Look into zoning restrictions before you go too far. Many counties have restrictions on them for farm use only. Just takes one cranky neighbor to cost you a fortune in getting rid of it asap when they call the city.
Look into zoning restrictions before you go too far. Many counties have restrictions on them for farm use only. Just takes one cranky neighbor to cost you a fortune in getting rid of it asap when they call the city.
My first 20ftr I paid rent on for a year and the project hit a 6 month delay with another year left on the schedule so I said how much and wrote a check. That container hit a few job sites thru the years but eventually got delivered to my property for a storage unit. A few years later I bought a 40ftr to add to the collection and turned it into my machine shop which mates (parallel) up to my actual shop area. The first couple years I dealt with walking around and realized how much time I lost continually walking 150ft at a clip so I cut in a roll up door into the side of it.
Guess I could sum it up that if you think you'll be needing it for 2-3yrs I'd highly suggest you just buy one, you'll get your money back out of it when and if you're ever finished with it. It's been 8yrs since I bought the 40 and I paid around $2500 delivered. From what I've seen posted on this board recently prices haven't changed much for a decent used unit.
Guess I could sum it up that if you think you'll be needing it for 2-3yrs I'd highly suggest you just buy one, you'll get your money back out of it when and if you're ever finished with it. It's been 8yrs since I bought the 40 and I paid around $2500 delivered. From what I've seen posted on this board recently prices haven't changed much for a decent used unit.
I live in a "city" of a couple hundred people with only the township to worry about. There are a lot of people around me with semi trailers sitting around for storage and junk cars sitting everywhere so I'm not worried about one shipping container.
jacric2005
Well-known member
Our place has a "big rig" trailer set up as a shed. Has a man door and a wide door at the end. I sandblasted, painted and put on a matching shingle roof so it matches the other structures. Would like to do simple lighting some day. We use it for firewood, scrap lumber, fencing supplies, kids stuff dumping ground, etc.
Farrier
Well-known member
Dollar for dollar, containers are the best bang for the buck. We have two 40' high cubes.
Just FYI, if you set the container flat on dirt, you will eventually get mold and moisture/rust. I ended up putting in simple 6" deep square footings on all corners.
Just FYI, if you set the container flat on dirt, you will eventually get mold and moisture/rust. I ended up putting in simple 6" deep square footings on all corners.
It's a solid plan. I bought a 20' container for about $2300, two years ago. I had to look for a while as there is a lot of dealers on the coasts masquerading as local dealers. Just takes some time to figure out the racquet. I used it to move my tools from my home to the job site where I built my new house and shop. I used the container for expensive stuff and a 20x30 quonset for general storage. I thought I would sell them both after I was done (well technically still not "done") but I don't see that happening now. Just need to figure out a quicker easier way to get in and out of the container. Maybe a roll up door. I can see painting it at some point. too. I looked at a couple at auctions that were beat to hell and stunk like death. They sold for as much or more than I paid for mine - just crazy. That made me very weary of buying one sight unseen and having it delivered. You can see my red container on the upper right side of the photo. The white and green quonset is right next to it.
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code4pay
Well-known member
I use a 40 ft high top container as my workshop, here in OZ it cost me 4,500 painted and delivered. It is a bit narrow of course but it is miles ahead of what I had.
I have 2 whirlybird roof vents I added and it is under some trees which helps keep it cooler, but it still get warm when direct sun hits it.
I have 2 whirlybird roof vents I added and it is under some trees which helps keep it cooler, but it still get warm when direct sun hits it.
7635tools
Well-known member
I bought (2) 40’ high cubes a couple years ago. Paid $1700.00 each. One of the best things I ever did. You can’t build a shed that size for that kind of money.
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bad_idea
Well-known member
That's truth. I built a nice 8x16 shed 5 years back for $1600 worth of materials. Just materials. $1700 is a heck of a deal.
rburke65
Well-known member
I always thought they would be a great idea for just that reason.....very inexpensive in the big picture!
I started with one 40' to store supplies and have since added a 20', and two more 40's. Onei have is a high cube which is nice, if you will use the added height. I paid $1700 for my first one and have paid less for the others. I was very patient and waited for good deals to come along. Find your nearest container yard and talk to them, they know who has a lot of containers coming and going and who can move them for you. I found all of mine via craigslist. Brokers often end up with boxes sitting in a yard and paying storage on them, so they are motivated sellers. Make certain you go down to the yard and personally inspect the unit. My last seller gave me 5 units to choose from. I climbed in, over, and under them to pick the best one. Look for soft/rotten floors, doors with rusty/stiff hinges or bent locking bars. Look the roof over for dents, sags or creases as these will lead to water pooling and eventually rusting through. I installed mine on a level base of 3" crushed recycled concrete and it has worked out well. Good luck in your quest. I'd be lost without my storage containers!
OldNeons, same deal here. In Hawaii we have a ton of containers, it’s the only way anything gets here really. The container resellers stack them 3 high in giant rows. I showed up with an extension ladder and was “that guy” for about 4 hours to find my two. Worked out very well though, but I agree and reiterate to inspect throughly... especially the doors.
If you will utilize the existing door setup you can drill and install zerk fittings on the hinges, that helped immensely.
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If you will utilize the existing door setup you can drill and install zerk fittings on the hinges, that helped immensely.
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bad_idea
Well-known member
Smell! We have had a few that came in stinking bad. Smells that settle into the steel and never, NEVER comes out.