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Containers Direct logoQuality you can see, experience you can trust.
Quality you can see, experience you can trust.

The Shipping Container - A Brief Guide

What was the shipping container built for?

Developed in the 1950s to carry cargo around the world, the shipping container became one of the most disruptive technological advancements of the last century. Decimating traditional docks like London and Liverpool by slashing the cost of international shipping, it paved the way for Asia to become the workshop of the world, at the expense of traditional manufacturing industries in Europe and North America

The rise of the shipping container has seen millions of winners and losers. Luckily for you the customer, and us at Containers Direct, we're on the winning side! Shipping containers are an ideal structure for something as simple as a cheap storage unit, right through to bold and imaginative living spaces.

How has the shipping container adapted?

For many years shipping containers were used as they came off the ship - a basic unit with a uniform width of 8ft, 20ft or 40ft long, and either 9ft 6 or 8ft 6 high. However, over the last 10 years a number of innovative and imaginative British companies have emerged treating shipping containers like building blocks; cutting them down to create shorter containers, slicing them apart to make wider containers, and transforming them into anything from portable buildings that can blend into woodland environments, to mobile luxury hotels. Containers Direct are proud to have been at the forefront of this industry!

Now you're a bit more familiar with the shipping container why not go to our Popular Containers range?

Our Popular Shipping Containers

An industry leading choice of optional extras

Our choice of upgrades can be used to adapt your container to make it fit for your particular purpose. For instance, wood cladding can help with planning permission requirements. Whether it's a steel ramp, ply lining or doors in the side, our range of modifications to second hand containers are carried out by our own skilled, in-house workforce and are offered at prices that reflect our commitment to giving our clients the best deals. When you buy a refurbished steel container from Containers Direct, you can be assured of quality and value by our 12 month guarantee.



Request a Quick Quote!

Contact our sales team for your no-obligation quote, including delivery!

Testimonials

As a long established and reputable shipping container company, we want to instil confidence in our customers that we can deliver on our promises, and provide high quality products and service.

But don't just take our word for it, see for yourself what our past and present clients have to say about Containers Direct.
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"This was the first time we have ever bought a container and you made the process simple and straight forward. From selection and payment, down to the delivery, all very easy! Great work guys!" Gareth Richards - TPT Fire Maintenance Ltd
25th March 2026
order - a Used 15ft Container
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"Good communication; Cory was very knowledgeable and always responded promptly via email." Idverde Ltd
21st March 2026
order - a Used 8ft Container with Electrics & Durbar Flooring from our Clearance Page
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"I found the process efficient and professional. Communication was superb." Plymouth Cricket Club
17th March 2026
order - a 3m Flat Pack Container Store
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"All in all a really good experience. The sales process particularly was really good and informative, and all my questions were handled promptly and without any fuss. The information packs were really useful and informative, and made things really clear." Ben Hull
17th March 2026
order - a Once-Used 15ft Container
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"The delivery driver was excellent. Very professional, friendly and helpful to position the container exactly where we wanted it." Stuart Thorne
12th March 2026
order - a Used 16ft Container
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"Very happy with the delivery time - 7.00am. It was great to get a call the day before asking if 7.00am was ok. Being a school this was perfect for us. The driver was on time and was able to offload before any staff or students arrived on site. Thank you." Vince Perry - The Kingsbrook School
9th March 2026
order - a Used 20ft Container with external Rustic Cladding
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Committed to Quality

We are ISOQAR Approved and certified to ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems, demonstrating our commitment to excellence. We are also members of MakeUK, who champion British manufacturing, and the Container Self Storage and Traders Association (CSTA), representing global operators and innovators. In addition, we are registered members of JOSCAR, the Joint Supply Chain Accreditation Register.

ISOQAR Approved – ISO 9001:2015 Certificate No. 13586-QMS-001
MakeUK Member – Supporting British Manufacturing
Container Self Storage and Traders Association Member
JOSCAR Registered Member
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