Buying a shipping container, 40 foot or other size, can be a great benefit to a company if used wisely. Besides the obvious shipping uses, a 40-foot container can also be used to store items, create extra workspace and even be considered a home. Even when using a container for shipping, there are many customized options, and you should always be aware of all shipping container regulations.

The 40-foot container applications and uses are as wide as your imagination. If you can think of a use, a container sales company can usually customize the 40-foot container to meet your needs. Learn container uses by:

1. Researching 40-foot shipping container options.

2. Finding out more about shipping containers as storage options.

3. Customizing 40-foot containers and finding alternate uses for them.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use the 40-foot cargo container for all your shipping needs

The obviously large size makes the 40 container ideal for large shipments. Whether your shipping by truck across the country or looking to export your products and need a 40 foot ocean container, consider your options and choose a container that is durable, reliable and made of a material suitable for your product.

I recommend: Use the information provided at Export911 to get a better understanding of container shipping and options including the 40-foot container options and benefits. Compare shipping options with Chassis King. They are a worldwide supplier of new and used containers.

Find 40-foot containers for sale to use as storage additions

The 40-foot shipping container also makes a great storage unit. Whether you need extra office storage, on-site contractor storage or just an extra area for odd and ends that don't fit in a business or home storage area, the 40-foot container is a large-scale extra storage option. Containers can even be converted into temporary offices for construction sites or companies during remodels.

I recommend: UniTeam offers aluminum or steel fabricated containers for storage and shipping purposes. Compare storage area and overall cubic storage space of each. Aztec Containers provides several container application and use ideas such as containers converted into storage units and more. They offer customization including doors, windows and ventilation.

Customize your 40-foot container or find alternative uses

Get custom containers for specific uses. Sound proof a container for housing a noisy generator, or order a fire-proof container, container with built-in security mechanisms or more custom options. Shipping containers even make good housing. The 40-feet container dimensions make it a large enough space for a small apartment beginning structure or even a house if several containers are put together.

I recommend: Convert a 40-feet container into an office, store, fire proof office, storage unit and much more with ideas you find at S. Jones Container Services, or go beyond "outside the box" when you consider what one person built with used 40-foot containers. Read the USA Today article "Shipping containers become distinctive housing on land."

Whether you are actually shipping cargo across the ocean or just want a sturdy, large storage facility, a 40 foot container is surprisingly easy to find for your business. Typically, a container 40 foot long is actually about 39 feet and 4 inches long, 7 feet and 6 inches tall, and 7 feet and 8 inches wide inside. That means a 40 foot container is about 84 cubic yards. That's a lot of storage space--and for a reasonable price.

At 40 feet, container products may either be purchased or rented. Speciality containers are also readily available for specific business purposes. To determine which type of 40 foot ocean container is right for your business, consider the following:

1. For how long will you need the container?

2. Will you be storing anything perishable inside the container?

3. What other special amenities will you need in a 40 foot cargo container?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Determine how long you'll need the 40 foot container

For shipping or short term storage, consider renting a 40 foot ocean container. If you need long term storage, or will be shipping repeatedly, it's usually most economical to buy a used shipping container.

I recommend: Excellent 40 foot containers for sale or rent may be found at Aztec Containers Inc. They are offered either new or used and are made of steel. Mckinney Trailers and Containers also rents 40 foot containers.

Use a refrigerated 40 foot cargo container for perishables

If you plan to ship or store anything that's perishable, a refrigerated storage container (also called a 'reefer') is a must.

I recommend: TRS CONTAINERS leases and sells refrigerated units made of aluminum, steel, and fiberglass. Shipper Owned Container also offers 40 foot refrigerated containers, new and used, using either diesel or electricity for coolness. PS-West is another good source for refrigerated units.

Choose a 40 foot shipping container to suit your other business needs

There are lots of options when it comes to buying or renting speciality 40 foot shipping containers. For example, there are containers that open from the top, containers with double doors, insulated containers, and remarkably comfortable containers for use as temporary office space.

I recommend: Sea Box Inc. both sells and rents insulated 40 foot shipping containers, as well as open top containers. Falcon Storage offers double door containers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Need a 12,000 square foot office? Want it for about $20,000? Then consider building it from shipping containers! Believe it or not, there are even people building homes from 40 foot ocean containers.

Containers used for shipping are much talked about in building circles, with 40-foot container installation and maintenance being prime concerns. Indeed, shipping container buildings are the ultimate in recycling. Used 40-foot containers for sale are relatively inexpensive, and some containers are even free because it's less expensive for shipping companies to buy new ones and too much trouble to sell used ones. Being made of steel, container buildings are resistant to fire and wind. Their size (the average 40-foot container dimensions are 8 feet wide by 8.5 feet tall by 40 feet long) also makes them great for building modular homes or offices.
But building with several 40-foot shipping container products is an evolving craft. There are many different ways to construct container buildings, and many questions to ask yourself before you launch into container design. Here are three important areas to consider:
1. What sort of foundation is best for 40-foot container buildings?
2. How do you add plumbing and electricity to 40-foot container products?
3. How do you maintain 40-foot shipping container buildings?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Build a foundation for a 40-foot shipping container building

Foundations for 40-foot container buildings vary, and each style has its pros and cons. Concrete blocks are perhaps the most popular foundation for shipping containers, as long as they are reinforced with rebar. Another popular choice is a pin foundation, which is especially popular among eco-friendly builders.

I recommend: DIY Network offers tips on creating container buildings, including ideas on pin foundations. BobVila.com, home of the famous television building expert, also provides ideas about proper foundations for shipping container buildings. Use the search feature at this website to find lots of tips on building shipping container homes. Paul Sawyers offers an e-book on building with 40-foot ocean container products, including how to create a foundations for them.

Add plumbing and electricity to a 40-foot ocean container building

The most expensive part of creating a shipping container building is adding plumbing and electricity. It's possible to buy modified shipping containers (designed for portable office use) with electricity already installed. You can also buy components to add electricity specifically to such containers. Plumbing a shipping container building really isn't any more difficult than plumbing a normal home.

I recommend: Royal Wolf sells accessories for a container 40 feet long, including those that add plumbing and electricity to container buildings. For a good article with step-by-step information on how to add plumbing to container buildings, see eHow.

Maintain a 40-foot cargo container building

Steel buildings rust. That's why it is vital to give your steel shipping container building an excellent paint job. To make container buildings look less like shipping containers, many contractors are now adding stucco exteriors to them, which may require less frequent painting.

I recommend: For container buildings finished with stucco, DoItYourself.com offers good tips on maintaining various types of stucco. DiscoverLiveStream.com has tips for painting steel cargo containers and maintaining a good paint finish.

Gone are the days when shipping containers all looked alike: Ugly, rusted rectangles. Today, there are a broad range of 40-foot containers suitable not just for shipping, but also for storage--and even building. Some feature variations straight from the manufacturer, while others have professional modifications. You can find these for a number of industries, including construction companies, storage facilities and any business requiring either inexpensive, sturdy buildings or safe and durable long-term storage. As you shop, you're likely to run across lingo used to describe these modifications or variations. With that in mind, this guide will help you learn the terms used to differentiate between different types of 40-foot shipping containers available on the today's market.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Chassis

When speaking of shipping containers, a chassis is a metal frame on wheels used to mobilize the container. Sometimes chassis are permanent, but more typically you will purchase these for the purpose of moving the 40-foot container to a new location.

I recommend: ChassisKing pictures and describes a variety of chassis suitable for 40-foot containers.

High cubes

High cubes are taller than standard 40-foot shipping containers. A standard shipping container is approximately 8 feet and 6 inches tall, but a high cube is about 9 feet and 6 inches tall. Almost all high cubes are 40 feet, but not all 40-foot containers are high cubes.

I recommend: Container Alliance offers a chart comparing typical sizes of shipping containers, including several sizes of high cubes.

Open top

Open top containers are shipping containers with an easy to remove lid. They work well for cargo or storage that needs a crane in order to move it.

I recommend: Interport Maintenance Co. explains how its open top containers work and offers idea about how you can use its 40-foot containers.

Double door

A double-door 40-foot container has doors on both of its ends. Double-door shipping containers are ideal for long-term storage, as they allow easier access to the container's contents.

I recommend: Paragon Industries pictures and describes a typical double-door metal container.

Tween deck

Tween deck shipping containers have shelves, or decks, inside them, running the full length of the container. This makes shipping or storing smaller items more manageable.

I recommend: Click on the "Full Access Tween Deck" photo or link at the website for TRS Containers to view and read a PDF about tween deck containers made for the military.

ISO

ISO stands for International Standards Organization. Companies use ISO containers ship, truck and train transportation.

I recommend: For more information about ISO containers, visit GlobalSpec.