Shipping containers for home storage: rent or buy

Which container for building work, a house move, self-storage or a garden shed?

Internal volume gives an idea: 1,172.4 cu ft for a 20ft, geometric volume before securing the load. Leave a passage if you need to access your belongings during the work, and keep space to open the doors.

How much does a container for home storage cost?

The US catalog lists container specifications and indicative prices where comparable references are available. Ask for a written total that identifies applicable state and local sales taxes, delivery and unloading. Tax treatment depends on the transaction and destination; no universal rate is calculated here.

The US container-price checklist explains what to request in a quotation. Have you spotted a used container sold by a private individual? First read the precautions when buying from a listing.

Container storage for a house move: what should you budget?

Moving house: questions to ask the rental company

• Can the container be collected loaded and delivered to the new address? At what price, and with what permissible loaded weight for the truck and the lifting?
• Does it need to be emptied at the departure address, then collected empty? In that case, compare with storage at a depot between the two homes.
• Where will the truck park at both addresses, and who applies to the municipality for permission if the street is occupied?
• What minimum term, what notice period, and how much does an extra month cost if the move-in date slips?

Storage: at home or at a depot?

At your home, your belongings remain close at hand, but the container takes up space on your property and is delivered by truck. At a depot, nothing is delivered: you bring your belongings and access them during the site's opening hours. For long-term storage, compare with buying: compare the rental charges over your expected duration with the purchase price, transport, upkeep and any resale assumptions.

Should I buy a shipping container for storage at home?

How do I request a container quote for home delivery?

The request is received by the ContainerFox team, who review it, may ask for clarification, and then search for suitable suppliers themselves. No number of responses is guaranteed.

For the same size and condition category, the displayed price differs from one seller to another: compare quotes on the same specification with ContainerFox, free of charge and with no obligation.

A difference between public offers is not a saving: only quotes drawn up on the same specification will tell you what you will pay.

Product models are for quotation. ContainerFox does not publish unverified US sale prices or promise stock. A company shown on the site does not automatically receive your request.

ContainerFox does not promise:

• the lowest price on the market
• a number of quotes: a request may not receive any
• a response time
• stock or availability
• that the displayed price covers delivery or unloading
• a label or a ranking of sellers
• that the companies shown on the site receive the request

How does delivery of a container to a private home work?

• Truck access: width of the road, bends, slopes, branches and cables above the route, from the road to the final position.
• Gate and entrance: measure the clear width and height, then photograph them for the quote.
• Ground and supports: have ground bearing capacity, drainage, frost and settlement risks assessed, and specify supports or foundations for the actual container, contents and local conditions. Nominal size or an example tare weight is not a foundation design.
• Unloading: tilt-bed, truck-mounted crane or separate lifting, as assessed by the carrier; have the drop-off point, in front of the gate or at the final location, written into the quote.
• Parking on the public highway: if the truck or container needs to occupy the street or sidewalk, even for the duration of delivery, check with the municipal authority: a permit may be required.
• Neighbors: let your neighbors know the day and duration of the maneuver, and keep a clear passage during the operation.

Apply the building code adopted by the state and the local requirements. Obtain site-specific design and local approval; no national frost depth or generic corner-block foundation is assumed. Plan safe truck and lifting operations with the delivery team.

Do I need a permit for a backyard storage container?

Temporary use is not an automatic exemption. Explain the duration, intended use and any foundations or services to the local zoning and building authority. A separate home is not the same use as incidental domestic storage.

Check the building code adopted in your state, municipal zoning and any applicable permit or inspection requirements. A container home, a backyard storage container and an accessory dwelling unit can follow different approval routes. Ask the local authority before ordering; no US-wide size or duration exemption is assumed.

ICC: model building code, repurposed shipping containers, checked 2026-10-01. This guidance does not determine an individual application.

How to insure and protect a container installed at home?

• Your belongings: have the cover (theft, fire, water damage) and its conditions confirmed, for example padlock closure.
• The rented container: ask what the deposit and the rental company’s insurance cover, and who pays for any damage.
• Locking: a sturdy padlock; ask the supplier whether the container has a lock box to protect the padlock.
• Dampness: a metal container can cause condensation. Raise furniture off the floor, allow air to circulate, do not store anything damp, and have the door seals checked.
• Positioning: away from water runoff, with enough room to open both doors.

For more information: protecting goods stored in a container.

Questions about containers for home storage

Useful pages for your project