40ft Shipping Containers for sale London

Purchase 40ft shipping containers in London to meet your shipping needs, providing ideal solutions for extensive storage and transportation.

40ft Shipping Container

40ft Shipping Containers for Sale in London

As the workhorse of global trade and the cornerstone of modern logistics, the 40ft shipping container offers an unparalleled combination of space, security, and versatility. At Shipping Containers of London, we offer a premier selection of new and used 40ft containers, providing robust solutions for storage, transportation, and conversion projects throughout the capital.

Why Choose a 40ft Shipping Container?

When you require substantial, secure space, the 40ft shipping container is the industry-standard solution. Offering double the storage capacity of its 20ft counterpart with only a marginal increase in cost, it represents exceptional value. These units are ideally suited for a wide range of applications, from international freight and large-scale commercial storage to custom-built spaces such as offices, workshops, and even homes.

At Shipping Containers of London, we maintain an extensive inventory, ensuring we can supply and deliver the right container to your site promptly, whether you’re in the heart of the city or in surrounding areas like St Albans or Guildford.

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Core Features and Built-In Benefits

Exceptional Durability and Lifespan

Our 40ft containers are constructed from high-tensile Corten steel, a material engineered to withstand the harshest maritime conditions. This anti-corrosion steel offers exceptional resistance to rust and atmospheric corrosion, ensuring a long, reliable service life of up to 25 years with proper care. The foundation is a 27 mm-thick marine-grade plywood floor laid over steel cross-members, strong enough to support heavy cargo and forklift operations.

Uncompromising Security

Security is paramount. Every 40ft container features heavy-duty, weatherproof double doors fitted with multiple locking bars. Most of our new and many used units also include a factory-fitted lockbox, a hardened steel shroud that protects your padlock from tampering with bolt cutters or grinders, providing a significant deterrent to theft.

Vast Internal Capacity

The generous internal dimensions provide approximately 2,390 cubic feet (67.7 cubic metres) of usable space. This is typically sufficient to store the contents of a 3-4 bedroom family home, two standard family cars, or around 20 standard UK pallets, making it an incredibly efficient solution for both personal and commercial storage.

Technical Specifications

The following table details the standard specifications for our 40ft dry containers. Please note that exact dimensions and weights can vary slightly between manufacturers.

Standard 40ft Shipping Container Specifications
Specification Dimension / Detail
External Dimensions (L x W x H) 40ft x 8ft x 8ft 6in (12.19m x 2.44m x 2.59m)
Internal Dimensions (L x W x H) 39ft 5in x 7ft 8in x 7ft 10in (12.03m x 2.35m x 2.38m)
Door Opening (W x H) 7ft 8in x 7ft 5in (2.34m x 2.28m)
Cubic Capacity 2,390 cu ft (67.7 m³)
Tare Weight Approx. 3,750 kg (8,270 lbs)
Payload Capacity Approx. 26,730 kg (58,930 lbs)
Maximum Gross Weight 30,480 kg (67,200 lbs)

For cargo that requires extra vertical space, we also offer 40ft high cube containers, which provide an additional foot of height.

New vs. Used 40ft Shipping Containers

We provide both new 'one-trip' and quality used containers to meet diverse needs and budgets.

New 'One-Trip' Containers

For clients requiring pristine condition, maximum longevity, and a unit ready for international export, our new containers are the ideal choice. Having made a single journey from the factory, they are free from significant dents or rust and present a clean, professional image perfect for customer-facing applications or as a base for high-end conversions.

Reliable Used Containers

Our used containers offer an unbeatable combination of reliability and affordability. Each unit is rigorously inspected and certified to be wind and watertight, ensuring your stored items remain safe and dry. While they may exhibit cosmetic signs of their previous life at sea, they are structurally sound and suitable for a wide range of storage and conversion projects.

Versatile Applications: From Storage to Structures

  • Business & Commercial Storage: Ideal for storing excess retail stock, archiving documents, or securing tools and materials on a construction site in Lewisham.
  • Personal & Household Storage: Provides ample space for the entire contents of a house during a move or renovation, or for storing classic cars, garden machinery, and bikes.
  • Container Conversions: The 40ft unit is the most popular choice for conversions. Its ample, open-plan space is perfect for creating site offices, workshops, pop-up cafes, art studios, and even modular homes.
  • International Shipping: All our containers are ISO-compliant and can be CSC-plated, making them ready for global freight transport.

Customisation to Your Specifications

A standard container is just the beginning. Our in-house fabrication team can modify your 40ft container to suit any purpose.

  • Access Solutions: We can add personnel doors for easy pedestrian access and windows (with security shutters) to introduce natural light.
  • Climate & Atmosphere Control: We offer comprehensive insulation and lining, install ventilation systems, and can fit electrical packages for lighting, heating, or power sockets.
  • Exterior Finishing: Let us paint your container in your specific corporate RAL colour or apply durable branding and logos, turning your storage unit into a marketing asset.

Explore the possibilities on our dedicated container conversions page.

The Purchasing Process

We make it straightforward and transparent to acquire your 40ft container.

  1. Initial Enquiry & Quote: Start with a free online quote that details your specific requirements.
  2. Expert Consultation: Our team will contact you to discuss the best new or used options and any necessary modifications.
  3. Order Confirmation: Once you’re happy with the proposal, we’ll confirm the details and arrange for payment.
  4. Professional Delivery: We will schedule a delivery date that suits you, utilising our fleet of HIAB crane vehicles to place the container precisely on your site. Please see our delivery guidelines for access requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the expected lifespan of a 40ft container?

With proper placement on level ground and basic maintenance, a new 40ft shipping container can last for over 25 years. Used containers also offer many years of reliable service.

What is a 40ft high cube container?

A high cube container is 9ft 6in tall, providing one foot of extra vertical height compared to a standard 8ft 6in container. This is ideal for storing taller items or for conversions that require extra headroom.

Are your used 40ft containers guaranteed to be waterproof?

Yes. Every used container we sell is guaranteed to be wind and water-tight. We thoroughly inspect all units to ensure their structural integrity and weather resistance before dispatch.

Can a 40ft container be transported on UK roads?

Yes. We deliver our 40ft containers using specialised HIAB lorries, which are designed to transport and lift these large units into position on your site.

A few of our Trustpilot reviews.

Amazing Service

Jeremy and the Team were very easy to work with. extremely quick to respond to our needs and the overall delivery was spot on. The container supplied was brand new and exceptionally clean, ready for our items to be stored safely and securely.

What a refreshing experience

What a totally, refreshingly, brilliant company to deal with. They do what they say they will do at a time they say they will do it. Completely up front about everything: quality, cost, delivery etc. Nothing hidden. They accommodate the customer as far as humanly possible and their communications are spot on. I wish more companies were like this one.

20' x 8' Container Delivery

The service from this company was excellent. We were working to tight deadlines and Jeremy was incredibly prompt in his communication, from the initial quote to the follow up email, to check everything had been received. He phoned the haulier and arranged a delivery around our schedule and Andy (the driver), kept us informed, so we knew exactly when he was arriving.

A professional company, that I would recommend highly.