Buy Shipping Containers in Richmond

Welcome to Shipping Containers of London, your dependable local expert for container sales and hire in Richmond upon Thames. Whether you run a business in Twickenham, manage a sports organisation in Teddington, or expand your home storage setup in Barnes or Sheen, we provide straightforward storage choices. We know that navigating Richmond’s historic narrow streets, residential areas, and conservation zones requires real local knowledge. That is why we handle the hard work for you, helping you choose the right container size and managing a safe delivery using our specialist crane vehicles.

Container Sales in Richmond

Purchasing a shipping container gives you a permanent, highly secure space that belongs entirely to you. It is a fantastic long-term investment for local businesses needing extra stock space, retailers holding seasonal inventory, or clubs looking to safeguard expensive equipment. We stock an extensive range of units ready for prompt delivery to all TW and SW postcodes.

New One-Trip Containers

Our new containers are often called one-trip units. They are manufactured overseas, loaded with a single cargo assignment to the UK, and then brought straight to our depot. This means they arrive in immaculate condition with minimal wear. They feature secure, factory-fitted lockboxes and are finished in clean, neutral marine paint, like dark green or blue. If your container will be visible to the public, such as on a school campus, a retail site, or a residential driveway in Richmond, a one-trip unit is the ideal choice because it looks tidy and professional.

Container Sale Guide Prices

Guide prices for purchasing containers across our standard and specialised stock. Prices vary depending on size, availability, age, condition grade, specification, and delivery location.

10ft Standard Container

£1,850 – £3,000

20ft Standard Container

£1,150 – £2,100

20ft High Cube Container

£2,600 – £3,500

20ft Double Door Container

£2,900 – £3,600

20ft Side Opening Container

£5,000 – £6,000

20ft Open Top Container

£3,000 – £6,500

20ft Flat Rack Container

£2,300 – £6,500

20ft Refrigerated Container

£6,000 – £20,000

40ft Standard Container

£1,300 – £3,800

40ft High Cube Container

£1,300 – £3,400

40ft Double Door Container

£4,000 – £4,500

40ft Side Opening Container

£9,500 – £12,500

40ft Open Top Container

£3,800 – £7,500

40ft Flat Rack Container

£3,200 – £8,000

40ft Refrigerated Container

£5,800 – £21,000

45ft High Cube Container

£2,200 – £4,100

Used Wind and Watertight Containers

If budget is your primary concern and appearance matters less, our used containers are a fantastic choice. These units have typically spent 10 to 15 years working on international cargo ships. We thoroughly inspect each one to ensure it is completely wind- and watertight. This means the steel body is entirely intact, the door seals are sound, and your stored goods will stay completely dry. You should expect some cosmetic imperfections, such as surface rust, scratches, and dents, but the structural integrity is fully guaranteed. They are ideal for construction sites, industrial yards, and allotments.

Container Sizes and Types

We supply a variety of standard ISO sizes to suit different spatial constraints and storage volumes. It is vital to check the precise measurements before ordering to ensure the unit fits comfortably on your land.

10ft Shipping Containers

When space is limited, our 10ft units provide a compact footprint. They fit easily into standard parking spaces or smaller commercial yards, making them popular for urban sites in Richmond where land is at a premium.

20ft Shipping Containers

The 20ft container is our most popular option. It offers ample storage without taking over your entire site. An empty 20ft unit weighs around 2,200kg, which is its tare weight (the weight of the empty container). It can hold a significant payload, which refers to the maximum weight of goods you can safely load inside.

40ft Shipping Containers

For massive storage requirements, our 40ft containers provide double the volume of a 20ft unit. These are widely used by distribution businesses and large industrial sites. Because of their length, they require a clear, spacious area for delivery and positioning.

Container Hire in Richmond

If you only need extra space for a limited time, renting a container is the perfect alternative to buying. It saves you from a large upfront capital layout and gives you complete flexibility. Our hire units are perfect for short-term retail storage, seasonal business stock, or keeping household furniture safe during a major building renovation.

Flexible Hire Terms

Our container rental agreements start with a minimum hire period of just 8 weeks. This short commitment makes it easy to handle temporary storage challenges without hassle. Every single container we hire out comes equipped with a secure lockbox as standard, ensuring your items are fully protected from day one.

We calculate all delivery and collection transport fees right at the beginning of your agreement. This means you know the exact total cost of your hire upfront, with absolutely no hidden surprises down the line. You can explore our full range of rental options on our dedicated container hire page in Richmond.

Security and Build Quality

Marine shipping containers are engineered to endure incredibly harsh conditions on the open ocean. This exceptional build quality translates into an incredibly secure environment for your equipment, stock, or personal belongings on dry land.

Cor-Ten Steel Construction

Every container we supply is constructed from Cor-Ten steel, a specialised weathering steel alloy. If the exterior paint gets scratched, the exposed steel forms a protective oxide layer that halts further rust. This unique property keeps the structural core of your container solid and secure against the British weather for decades.

Heavy Duty Lockboxes

A lockbox is a thick steel housing welded directly onto the container doors. It wraps around your padlock, completely hiding the shackle. This simple but highly effective feature stops thieves from using bolt cutters, crowbars, or angle grinders to cut the lock. For maximum protection, we recommend pairing this with an insurance-rated, high-security block padlock.

Durable Marine Plywood Flooring

The interior base features 27mm thick marine plywood flooring. This timber is specially treated to resist dampness, rot, and insects. It is incredibly strong, designed to withstand the constant weight of loaded forklifts moving back and forth, so you can store heavy machinery, pallets, or building materials with total peace of mind.

Delivery and Site Preparation in Richmond

Getting your container delivered safely requires careful planning, especially around Richmond. We transport our containers using specialised HIAB vehicles, which are heavy-duty flatbed trucks fitted with an onboard hydraulic crane arm. This allows our driver to lift the container from the truck and place it directly onto your ground.

Essential Access Guidelines

To ensure a hassle-free delivery day, your site must accommodate the delivery vehicle’s physical dimensions and weight. Please check these key requirements:

Vehicle Width: The delivery truck requires a minimum clear width of 10ft to drive into your site. When unloading, the hydraulic stabiliser legs extend outward, requiring up to 18ft of width to keep the truck steady during the lift.
Overhead Clearance: The crane arm lifts the container high into the air. The delivery path must be completely clear of low-hanging tree branches, telephone wires, and building gutters. The vehicle needs a travelling height clearance of 14ft 6 in for standard containers and 15ft 6 in for high-cube models.
Solid Hardstanding Surface: Your container must sit on a firm, flat, and level surface such as concrete, asphalt, or heavily compacted hardcore. We cannot place containers on soft turf, grass, or muddy soil. The immense weight of the steel box will cause it to sink unevenly. When a container sinks at one corner, it causes the steel frame to twist, a problem known as racking, which jams the cargo doors and makes them impossible to open or close.

If your delivery site sits on a restricted road or near a busy high street in Richmond, you may need to secure a temporary parking suspension from the local council. For a complete breakdown of the preparation steps, take a moment to review our detailed Delivery Guidelines before placing your order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need planning permission for a container in Richmond?

In many cases, shipping containers are classified as temporary structures, meaning they do not require formal planning permission. However, Richmond upon Thames features numerous conservation areas, green belt land, and historic listed buildings where local rules are strictly enforced. If your unit will be in place long-term or is easily visible from a public road, we strongly recommend speaking with the Richmond Council planning team before placing an order. For more tips on setting up your site, read our article on key factors to consider before buying a container.

Can the delivery crane lift a container over a house or a high wall?

Standard HIAB crane trucks lower the container to the ground immediately adjacent to the vehicle. They are designed for close-range placement and cannot lift units over tall buildings, mature trees, or long distances. If your specific site demands a long-reach lift, we can often source a larger vehicle with an extended crane boom, provided you discuss this with us well in advance. Feel free to check our container dimensions page to review standard layouts, or simply contact us to discuss your specific access limits.

How do I stop condensation from forming inside the steel box?

Because containers are made of solid steel, changes in the outdoor temperature can cause moisture to collect on the internal ceiling, a common effect known as container rain. To protect your goods from dampness, we can treat the ceiling with Grafo-therm, an anti-condensation coating that safely absorbs moisture. If you plan to store moisture-sensitive items such as household furniture, archives, or fabrics, we highly recommend an insulated or lined unit. For helpful rental tips, take a look at our post on how hiring a shipping container solves your self-storage woes.

What sort of ground preparation should I complete?

Your container must sit on a completely level, solid foundation. If your ground is slightly uneven, a great solution is to place treated timber railway sleepers or thick concrete paving slabs directly underwater or underneath the four corner castings of the box. This simple step keeps the container perfectly level, ensures the heavy double doors swing open smoothly, and lifts the underside off the ground to allow healthy airflow. To help judge the space you need, check out our guide on how much a 20ft container can hold.

What is a CSC plate, and do I actually need one?

A CSC plate stands for the International Convention for Safe Containers. It acts as an official safety certificate, fixed directly to the front door of the container. You only need a valid, active CSC plate if you intend to load the container onto a commercial cargo ship for international export. If you are using the unit solely for static storage on your land in Richmond, you do not need to keep the plate active. To learn more about how these certificates work, check out our detailed piece on CSC plate information.