Do Shipping Containers Make Good Storage Sheds?

With spring now in full bloom, your honey-do list may include spring cleaning, and reshuffling all your lawn and garden tools in your garage. Have you been wanting to purchase a shed for all your yard gadgets but have been reluctant to pay the cost? How about considering a used shipping container instead of a traditional backyard shed? 

Let’s compare the benefits of choosing a shipping container over the traditional storage shed. 

Cost Considerations

One of the greatest benefits to using a shipping container as a storage shed is cost per square foot. It is much cheaper. For example, a used shipping container measuring 20’ long x 8’ wide x 8.5’tall costs around $2,500. This averages out to about $15.63 per square foot. By comparison, a typical 12′ x 12′ shed can cost at least $3,000 at your typical big box hardware store. That comes out to around $24.19 per square foot. Storage containers offer a cost saving of almost $10 per square foot. 

Endurance

Another advantage to using shipping containers as storage sheds is that they are better constructed.  They are built out of 14-gauge Corten steel. Corten steel is a steel alloy that when left unpainted will endure with a stable coating for several years. Shipping containers are painted with a high-quality industrialized paint that will protect the Corten steel. The entire bottom of a container is sprayed from the factory with undercoating, similar to what is used on an automobile. This significantly increases a shipping container’s ability to resist corrosion from the bottom.  

In comparison, unless you’re purchasing a costly vinyl shed, you will have to make sure that there is a fresh coat of paint on your wooden shed every few years. If not, the wood may split, crack, or rot. A storage container, even a used one, if left untouched, could easily sit for 10 years before needing any upkeep. 

Durability

Shipping containers are built to withstand the weight of six fully loaded containers stacked on top of them with 62,000 lbs. in each of the six storage containers. That’s the equivalent of 372,000 lbs.  

The floors are made of one-inch-thick, treated marine-grade plywood with “C” channel cross members, which means they will hold much more weight than the average person will ever store in them. It’s gratifying to know that you can safely store lawn mowers, quads, wood splitters, tractors, mini excavators, and other heavy equipment safely in a shipping container. 

Keep Critters Out of Your Storage Unit

Traditional storage sheds aren’t inherently secure, making it extremely difficult to keep rodents out. It’s been proven that mice can sneak into a hole as small as ¼” in diameter. Mice seek out sheds to make nests in to survive winter often settling in the engine compartment of a lawn tractor.  Additionally, they have a habit of nibbling on electrical wires of power equipment, which could result in expensive repair bills as well as down time due to equipment being in the repair shop. 

In comparison, shipping containers are built for long-distant transport. As such, they are constructed to be airtight and securely sealed, making our storage containers virtually mouse proof. Additionally, the doors of the container are secured with a double gasketed security seal, providing another layer of protection from harsh weather conditions, insects, and pesky rodents. 

Let us help you!

Whether you need extra storage, or a one-of-a-kind, personal project, Container One is ready to find the shipping container for you. Container One has been in the shipping container industry for over 28 years. We can provide basic storage for home or business, upgrades for commercial or job site applications, to ideas, plans and builders to deliver a complete custom project. Get started now by browsing shipping containers in your area.