How to Choose the Right Shipping Containers for Your Next Project

Imagine if you didn’t have to rent a space to set up that new pop-up shop or art gallery you have been dreaming about starting. What if the frame you could use to build your next big project came in the form of a steel box? Not just any box, but a shipping container.

Shipping containers are no longer just a means of facilitating global trade. They are increasingly being used by talented and creative individuals as a versatile starting point for all kinds of innovative projects.

Whether you want to build a home office, a studio space for making art, or a cozy guesthouse, shipping containers offer a ready-made foundation that can save you both time and money. Their minimalist and industrial aesthetic can complement a wide range of different uses and functions, so no matter what direction you want to take your project, you can do so.

Not only are shipping containers perfectly adaptable to a wide assortment of projects, but they are also incredibly durable. They can stand strong in any urban, rural, or remote setting.

Plus, you can cut, stack, insulate, and customize your container to suit your exact needs. If you have been looking for a practical, sustainable, and creative way to launch your next project, a shipping container may be exactly what you need.

Important Factors to Consider for the Right Shipping Containers

Although modified containers can serve as the ideal building blocks for your next task, finding the right shipping containers to meet your needs is the key to making it a success.

When still in the planning phase, there are several key matters worth considering to help you determine the best shipping containers to go with, including the following:

1. Container size

When choosing the right shipping container for your next project, one of the first things to consider is the available container size options. Thanks to their modular design, you can stack, connect, and combine containers in many different ways. Before you can start planning the specifics of your project, though, you need to figure out which container sizes to go with.

Shipping containers come in a few standardized sizes, and considering the square footage of these different options can help you decide on what you need to make your vision come true.

For instance, if your goal is to make a cute and comfy pop-up shop or a small-scale food stall, a standard 20-foot container will probably suffice. On the other hand, if you want to develop a spacious fitness studio or an expandable retail space with a showroom, a 40-foot container might align more with your requirements.

2. Container condition

After settling on the perfectly sized container, another major consideration is whether you want to go with a new or used container. When it comes to the condition of shipping containers that you can purchase, there are generally two main options available: “one-trip” or used containers.

Whereas a “one-trip” container has only been used once to ship a load of cargo, it is possible that a used container may have been used tens or even hundreds of times over a period of up to 20 years or more.

As you might expect, used containers tend to show many more signs of wear, including dings, dents, and surface rust. These signs of wear are generally much less noticeable or nonexistent on “one-trip” containers.

Not only are used shipping containers less aesthetically pleasing, but due to the years of wear, they are also generally not as long-lasting. However, if you have a tighter budget to maintain, a used shipping container may help with that.

3. Container type

Aside from size and condition, you should also think about the type of shipping container to best serve your needs. There are several different kinds of shipping containers that are unique when it comes to their form and function.

One of the first distinctions to be aware of is standard vs. high-cube options. These differ only in terms of their height, with high-cube containers standing an extra foot taller than standard ones, at 9 feet and 6 inches tall.

Beyond high-cube containers, there are also several other specialized container types that are worth looking into, including the following:

• Open-top containers: As their name suggests, open-top containers have an open ceiling, which makes them best if you require extra ventilation or if you are thinking of stacking multiple containers. For instance, if you want to create a greenhouse, you can leverage the open top for natural sunlight, or you could stack two containers to make a multi-tiered office space.
• Open-side containers: With these units, there is a large side opening, making them ideal if you need wide visibility. This feature could also work if you are building a pop-up restaurant, bar, or cafe, and you want to interact with customers easily.
• Double-door containers: With doors at both ends, these units work well for spaces like coffee kiosks, as one end can be for ordering drinks and the other could be for pickup. Alternatively, this kind of container may work as an event tunnel or walkthrough installation at an exhibit.
• Flat rack containers: These containers are missing both the roof and the long sides, so they could be best for irregular setups. With the addition of decking and railings, a flat rack container could easily function as a portable stage or event platform.

Reach Out to Sigma Container Corporation for the Ideal Shipping Containers for Your Needs

Now that you know what to consider as you search for the best types of shipping containers for your next job, you just need a reliable place to find them. This is exactly what Sigma Container Corporation can provide.

We offer an assortment of ISO steel shipping containers that come in all sizes, so we are confident that we can find one that matches your needs. We have both new and used containers available for sale. We also offer container rentals if you only need a shipping container on a short-term basis.

If you require some serious container modifications, we can also help in this department. We have top-notch equipment and employ skilled professionals, allowing us to perform all kinds of mods to meet your needs. From roll-up doors to louver vents and partition walls, we can handle it all, making it easier and faster to bring your project to fruition.

For more information about the various shipping containers we carry, or to learn more about our container modification services, call Sigma Container Corporation at (855) 340-3342 or contact us here.