What Size Shipping Container Do I Need? A Simple Guide to 10ft, 20ft and 40ft Containers

The most common question we get at our Hastings depot is "what size do I need?" The right answer saves you money, fits your site, and gives you room to grow. Here's how the main sizes compare, and who each one suits.

The quick answer

• 10ft (and 8ft): tight spaces, garden storage, tools, a small site store.

• 20ft: our most popular size. It fits the contents of a 2–3 bedroom house.

• 40ft: big storage, farm and commercial use, larger conversions.

• 40ft high cube: an extra 30cm of height, great for tall machinery or a conversion with more headroom.

Container sizes at a glance

• 10ft: about 3.0m long × 2.4m wide × 2.6m high, with roughly 16m³ inside. Best for garden gear, tools and small sites.

• 20ft: about 6.1m × 2.4m × 2.6m, with roughly 33m³ inside. Best for household moves, farm stores, sheds and sleepouts.

• 40ft: about 12.2m × 2.4m × 2.6m, with roughly 67m³ inside. Best for commercial storage, machinery and offices.

• 40ft high cube: about 12.2m × 2.4m × 2.9m, with roughly 76m³ inside. Best for tall items, homes and conversions.

Exact measurements vary slightly between manufacturers. See our Container Specifications page for the details of what's in stock.

Four questions to help you choose

1. What are you storing? Make a rough list. A tractor, a boat or pallets of stock need a different box from household furniture. If in doubt, go one size up. Most people fill their container faster than they expect.

2. How much room is on your site? Measure the spot, and remember the delivery truck needs space to get in and place the container. Tell us about gates, slopes, overhead wires and soft ground and we'll plan the delivery with you.

3. Is it for storage or a conversion? For a sleepout, office or workshop, a 20ft works well for one room. A 40ft gives space for two rooms, or a room plus storage. Refrigerated (reefer) containers are popular for conversions because the walls, floor and ceiling are already insulated.

4. Will your needs change? Leasing lets you start with one size and swap later. If you know you'll need it for years, buying usually works out better.

Come and see them in person

Pictures only tell you so much. You're welcome to visit our depot at 1260 Maraekakaho Road, Hastings, to walk through the sizes and pick your container. Just give us a call first so we can have it ready.

We deliver across Hawke's Bay and the wider North Island, and nationwide on request.

Ready to find the right size? Call Dan on 027 463 5895, email Dan@coastcontainers.co.nz, or browse our containers for sale and lease.