40ft shipping container hire
Hiring a 40ft container (67 m³, twice a 20ft) costs from £65 a month on long-term hire, excl. VAT, delivery, collection and deposit. It is the size for large volumes: industrial storage, the contents of a large house, palletised goods or a site base.
Key specifications
- External dimensions (L×W×H)
- 12.19 × 2.44 × 2.59 m
- Internal dimensions (L×W×H)
- 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m
- Door opening (W×H)
- 2.34 × 2.28 m
- Usable volume
- 67 m³
Dimensions and specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| External dimensions (L×W×H) | 12.19 × 2.44 × 2.59 m |
| Internal dimensions (L×W×H) | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m |
| Door opening (W×H) | 2.34 × 2.28 m |
| Usable volume | 67 m³ |
| Tare weight (empty) | 3,750 kg |
| Max payload | 26,700 kg |
40ft container hire rates in 2026
Monthly rates fall the longer you commit. Compare the indicative rates below with quotes for the same volume, condition, equipment and services; delivery, access and the capacity you need also affect the price.
| Term | Monthly rate | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term (< 3 months) | £100 – £260/month | Moving, activity peaks, transitional storage. |
| Medium-term (3 to 12 months) | £80 – £197/month | Long-running site, seasonal stock, logistics overflow. |
| Long-term (12 months+) | £65 – £158/month | Permanent storage, archives, industrial buffer. |
Indicative monthly rates excl. VAT. Delivery and collection (£315 – £735, depending on location) and any deposit (£840 – £2,100) are extra; payment and refund follow the contract terms. Ask for an itemised quote with the total.
What do people hire a 40ft container for?
- Bulk storage — when a 20ft is too tight: the furniture of a large house, palletised stock, big equipment. 67 m³, about 26 Euro pallets on the floor.
- Large building sites — centralised storage of tools and materials for a full crew, locked on site, for the whole project.
- Logistics and import-export — buffer stock between inbound and outbound flows, warehouse overflow, preparing a container before shipping.
- Moving a large house — the contents of a three- or four-bedroom house fit in a single 40ft, delivered to your door and collected once you have moved in.
- Seasonal industrial stock — series production, spare parts and equipment stored out of season at a low cost per m³.
- Bulk archives — document holdings, samples and material to keep long term with dehumidification.
Hire or buy a 40ft: where is the break-even point?
Theoretical example with rounded figures, to be replaced with your own quotes (resale at around 60% is an assumption, not a guarantee): a used Grade A 40ft costs around £1,607 to buy, plus £525 delivery, so £2,132 invested. Resold at ~60% of its value 24 months later (£964), the theoretical net cost is about £1,168 over 2 years, or ~£49/month.
On long-term hire, the same 40ft costs £65 – £158/month. Buying therefore becomes cheaper beyond 18 to 24 months of continuous use. Below that, hire avoids tying up capital and the hassle of reselling such a bulky unit.
A 40ft is heavy and hard to resell quickly (specialist transport, fewer buyers than for a 20ft). If your need is one-off or uncertain, hire is all the more relevant in this format. For fixed, permanent storage, buying wins.
Extra costs and terms
Three items always add to the rate. The 40ft also needs enough access for delivery.
Round-trip delivery
Charged on top: £315 – £735 depending on area. A 40ft needs a longer lorry and a clear manoeuvring area — check access (gateway width, height, bends) before ordering.
Deposit
A deposit of £840 – £2,100 is required at signing (cheque or card pre-authorisation). It is higher than for a 20ft because the unit is worth more, and is refunded within 15 to 30 days of the end-of-hire inspection.
Contents insurance
The contract covers the container, not the goods stored in it. For valuable business contents, check your business insurance or take out an 'off-site storage' extension (£84 – £263/year depending on declared value).
Siting and levelling
At over 12 m long, a 40ft needs flat, stable ground so the doors stay aligned. On soft ground, put concrete pads under the 4 corners to stop the frame twisting.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire a 40ft container?+
Long-term (12 months+): £65 – £158 a month. Medium-term (3 to 12 months): £80 – £197. Short-term (under 3 months): £100 – £260. Add delivery and collection (£315 – £735) and a deposit (£840 – £2,100) refunded at the end of the contract.
20ft or 40ft: which should I hire?+
A 40ft gives 67 m³ against 28-33 m³ for a 20ft, but needs twice the ground space and clear lorry access. If you have more than about 35 m³ to store, or you handle pallets, a 40ft usually makes sense; below that, a 20ft is enough and easier to deliver. Compare quotes for the same volume, condition and services.
How much space do I need for a 40ft?+
Allow a flat area of roughly 12.5 × 2.5 m, plus manoeuvring room for a 15-18 m lorry. Access is the most common problem with this size: measure the gateway width, height clearance and turning space before ordering.
Can the container be stacked or moved after placement?+
A 40ft can only be moved with a hiab or crane; it is not a DIY operation. Stacking is reserved for equipped depots and is generally not allowed at the hirer's site for safety and insurance reasons.
Is the hired container watertight and secure?+
WWT (wind and watertight) describes a condition advertised as keeping out wind and water. Check the roof, doors and seals; ask for the condition on delivery and any commercial warranty, with its duration and exclusions, to be written into the quote. A WWT or Grade A/B label alone does not create a contractual warranty.
Who pays for delivery and collection?+
The hirer, on top of the monthly rate: £315 – £735 round trip depending on area and access. End-of-contract collection is generally included in this fee — confirm on the quote, especially if access is tight.
Your 40ft on hire, wherever you need it
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