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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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"Thanks very much for a really efficient service. Would recommend your company to anyone. You did what it said on the tin!" Ian
20th February 2026
order - a Used 10ft Container
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"Very good service and communication throughout the process." EDGEPS Limited
13th February 2026
order - five Used 10ft Containers
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"Price, availability, condition of the container and the availability to collect our container on our own transport were all perfect!" Neely Transport
11th February 2026
order - a Used 10ft Container
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"Excellent service from start to finish; from the ordering until the final delivery. Professional and friendly, even to the point of seeing how level and if we were happy with the container on delivery and set in place." A Robinson
9th February 2026
order - a Used 10ft Container
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"We were happy with the process from start to finish." Elmton Services Ltd
27th January 2026
order - a Used 15ft Container with Personnel Door and Electric Roller Shutter Door from our Clearance page
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"We've just had delivery of our 30ft container and all is good thank you. I just wanted to write to say what a nice, pleasant and talented driver you have delivering for you, nothing was too much trouble, obviously knew exactly what he was doing and could place this huge container within millimetres of where we wanted it. We were really really impressed, thank you for a great service." C & D King Ltd
26th January 2026
order - a New 'Once-Used' 30ft Container
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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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