Frequently Asked Questions

What container sizes do you sell, and what are the actual dimensions?

We supply 10ft, 12ft, 20ft, 30ft and 40ft containers, plus high cube variants. A 20ft measures roughly 6.06m long, 2.44m wide and 2.59m high externally; a 40ft is about 12.19m long. A high cube adds around 0.3m of height, taking external height to about 2.90m. Internal dimensions run about 100mm less than external, so plan racking and pallet layouts around the internal figures.

Which size should I choose?

Work out what you are storing, then allow room to walk in and reach it. A 10ft or 12ft suits garden gear, tools and tight suburban blocks. A 20ft is the workhorse for renovation storage, farm storage and site lock-up. A 30ft or 40ft suits bulk stock, machinery and commercial yards. If you would fill about 80 per cent of a size on day one, go up a size.

What do the container grades mean?

Australian sellers use four grades. New (or one-trip) containers have made a single voyage and are cosmetically near-perfect. Cargo Worthy (CW) units are used but certified structurally sound and carry a valid CSC plate, so they can still be shipped. Wind & Water Tight (WWT) units are dry inside but retired from shipping, with more rust and dents. As-Is units are sold in current condition with no guarantee of being watertight.

What is included with the container?

You receive the container itself with its standard cargo doors, locking bars and marine plywood floor, and delivery at a flat $350 to any address in Australia. Modifications such as personnel doors, windows, vents, shelving, lighting, insulation and lock boxes are optional extras we can quote with the container. Footings, padlocks and site preparation are not included unless you ask for them.

How long will delivery take?

Delivery takes 7 to 10 days from order confirmation. That one window covers the whole job — confirming stock, grade and access, booking transport and carrying the unit to your site — so there is no separate handling period to add on top of it. The same 7 to 10 days applies everywhere in Australia: a metropolitan address in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide or Canberra and a regional property in the NT, northern WA or far north Queensland are quoted the same lead time.

How much does delivery cost?

Delivery is a flat $350 to any address in Australia, in AUD and inclusive of GST. It is the same fee in every state and territory, metropolitan or regional: there is no distance or postcode calculation, no rural or remote surcharge and no fuel surcharge. All other prices are also in AUD and inclusive of GST. If your site needs a crane or side-loader rather than a standard tilt-tray that is charged separately, so let us know before you order.

What access does the delivery truck need?

A tilt-tray needs roughly 20 metres of straight, clear approach to place a 20ft container, and considerably more for a 40ft, because the truck reverses in and slides the container off the tilted tray. Check the whole path, not just the drop point:

• gate and driveway width, plus turning room for a rigid truck
• overhead powerlines above the drop zone, which stop a tilt-tray outright
• low branches, eaves, awnings and carports
• firm ground — soft soil, sand or wet lawn will bog a loaded truck
• retaining walls, septic tanks and irrigation lines the truck would cross

Do I need a crane?

Usually not. Most deliveries in Australia are by tilt-tray, which needs no lifting equipment on your side. A crane or side-loader is needed when the container must be lifted over a fence or obstacle, placed precisely on prepared footings, stacked, or set down in a yard too tight for a tilt-tray to reverse into. It costs more, so raise it with us early.

Do I need council approval for a shipping container?

It depends on your council and your intended use, and requirements vary considerably between councils and states. Temporary storage kept behind the building line and removed within a set period is often exempt or treated as minor development. A container that is permanently fixed, connected to services, used as a habitable room, office or shop, or placed in a heritage or bushfire-prone area is much more likely to need a development application.

In cyclone regions of northern Queensland, the Northern Territory and northern Western Australia, engineered tie-down is commonly required as well. Always confirm the rules with your local council before you order.

Can I move the container later?

Yes — that is one of the main advantages of a container over a built shed. It can be loaded back onto a truck and relocated whenever you need, provided access still allows it. Keep the unit on level footings so it does not twist, and keep the access path usable: a relocation is only as easy as the truck approach. Relocation is quoted separately.

Are shipping containers watertight?

New/one-trip, Cargo Worthy and Wind & Water Tight containers are all designed and sold to keep rain and weather out. As-Is units carry no such guarantee and may have holes or doors that no longer seal. If a dry interior matters, choose WWT or better. To keep any container watertight, sit it level on footings so the doors close squarely, and keep the roof clear of pooled water and leaf litter.

Will it rust, and what maintenance does it need?

Containers are built from weathering steel for a marine environment, so they are very durable, but they will develop surface rust over time, especially near the coast. Maintenance is simple: keep the unit off wet ground on footings, clear the roof and drainage channels, touch up paint chips before they take hold, and lubricate hinges and locking bars once or twice a year.

Can I paint the container?

Yes. Containers take paint well. Clean the surface, remove loose rust and flaking paint, prime bare metal, then use a quality exterior enamel or industrial-grade paint. A lighter colour noticeably reduces heat gain inside, which matters in most of Australia. We can also supply a container painted to your colour before delivery.

Do containers get condensation, and should I insulate?

Yes, condensation is real. Warm humid air meeting a cold steel roof overnight produces moisture that drips onto whatever is below — often called container rain. Passive vents or whirlybirds are inexpensive and help a great deal. For anything you will spend time in, or for moisture-sensitive stock, insulate properly: spray foam, or a battened and lined cavity. A high cube is the better base for an insulated fit-out because the lining does not cost you headroom.

How secure is a shipping container, and what is a lock box?

A container is one of the most secure storage options available — welded steel walls, no windows and heavy locking bars. The weak point is the padlock. A lock box is a welded steel shroud covering the padlock and shackle so bolt cutters cannot reach them, and it is the cheapest meaningful security upgrade available. Pair it with a closed-shackle padlock.

What modifications can you do?

Common modifications include personnel doors, roller doors, windows with bars or shutters, ventilation, insulation and lining, electrical fit-out with lighting and power points, shelving, partition walls and lock boxes. We also supply purpose-built container cabins and offices and portable buildings where a converted standard box is not the best starting point.

Do you sell refrigerated containers, and what power do they need?

Yes, we supply refrigerated (reefer) containers. A reefer is an insulated container with an integrated refrigeration unit and needs a dedicated three-phase supply — a standard domestic power point will not run one. Have a licensed electrician confirm your supply and install a suitable outlet before delivery. Tell us your temperature range and location and we will match the right unit.

How do I pay, and do you provide a tax invoice?

Payment at checkout is by direct bank transfer (EFT). Our bank details are supplied with your order confirmation, and we begin order handling once payment is received. All prices are quoted in AUD and are inclusive of GST, and you will receive a valid tax invoice showing the GST component for your records or BAS.

What is your returns policy, and is there a warranty?

We offer 30-day returns. Return freight and a restocking fee may apply, and a container must be in the condition in which it was delivered. Modified and custom-built units are made to your specification, so please confirm your requirements carefully before ordering.

Grade is our assurance of condition: a Cargo Worthy unit is certified structurally sound and carries a valid CSC plate, while As-Is units are expressly sold without any condition guarantee. If something is not as described on arrival, contact us straight away with photographs so we can sort it out.

How do I get a quote?

Tell us the size and grade you want, your delivery address and anything we should know about site access, and we will quote the container in AUD including GST, with delivery a flat $350 anywhere in Australia. Email sales@shippingsolutionspty.com or call 1300 000 000, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM AEST. We deliver Australia-wide, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart, Darwin, Newcastle, the Gold Coast, Wollongong, Geelong, Townsville and Cairns.