Should You Buy or Hire a 20ft Shipping Container in Australia?

Should You Buy or Hire a 20ft Shipping Container

If you’ve ever needed extra space on-site, moved house, or looked into setting up a pop-up café or bar, chances are you’ve come across a 20ft shipping container. They’re everywhere — on construction sites, farms, in backyards, and even turned into tiny homes. But are they really worth buying, or is hiring the smarter choice?

Let’s unpack that.

What Exactly Is a 20ft Container?

A 20ft container (that’s about 6m long x 2.4m wide x 2.6m high) gives you a surprising amount of room — roughly 33 cubic metres. That’s big enough to fit the contents of a 2–3-bedroom home, a decent-sized business shipment, or a small workshop setup.

They’re built tough — marine-grade steel, wind and watertight, designed to survive the ocean — which means they can handle whatever the Aussie climate throws at them: blistering heat, storms, or coastal salt air.

The Different Types of 20ft Containers

Depending on what you need it for, there’s a few types worth knowing about:

• Standard Containers – the all-rounders for general storage or transport.
• High-Cube Containers – 30cm taller, perfect if you’ve got bulky gear or want more headroom for a conversion.
• Reefer Containers – refrigerated units for food, drinks, or pharmaceuticals.
• Open-Top Containers – great for loading tall machinery or equipment from above.
• Open-Side Containers – ideal for retail fit-outs or pop-up bars where side access matters.
• Flatrack Containers – built for the heavy-duty stuff, like vehicles or oversized loads.

Why 20ft Containers Are So Handy

If you ask anyone who’s owned one, you’ll hear the same three things: they’re versatile, tough, and secure.

Versatility

A 20ft container can be used for storage, transportation, on-site office space, affordable micro-housing or a pop-up bar. It’s easy to customise your container, adding windows, doors, toilets, electricity and more.

Durability

Made of maritime-grade steel, 20ft containers can withstand extreme weather conditions. And with a bit of maintenance, your container should easily last for 25 years or more.

Security

Not only are containers made of steel, but an added lockbox will mean it’s almost impossible to break into one. You can safely store your valuable goods inside.

Not Sure if 20ft Is the Right Size?

To put it into perspective, a 20ft container fits around 11 Euro pallets or 9–10 standard pallets, that’s a fair bit of gear. For most moves or storage jobs, it’s a good middle ground.

But if you’re planning a big move or large-scale storage, you might want a 40ft container. It doubles your space. On the other hand, if space is tight or you only need to store tools or garden equipment, a 10ft or 8ft container could be spot on — compact, easy to move, and still very secure.

Buying vs Hiring – What’s Better?

Here’s the honest answer: it depends on how you’ll use it.

Buying

If you’ll use your container long-term — say for a home office, storage, or a business setup — buying makes sense. You can customise it however you like and even sell it later on. Many Aussies we’ve helped end up using theirs for years.

Renting or Leasing

If you just need it for a few months — maybe for a renovation project, seasonal stock, or a one-way move — hiring is cheaper and hassle-free.
We see plenty of customers start on a short-term hire, then decide to buy later once they see how useful it is.

You can rent short-term (a few weeks to a year), long-term (three to five years), or even lease-to-own, where you pay over time and keep it at the end.

What to Ask Before You Buy or Hire

If you foresee regular, long-term use of your 20ft container, it makes sense to purchase it outright. Doing so is often the most cost-effective option. Plus, it allows you to modify the container as much as you wish and recoup some of the costs by selling it in the future.

However, if you only want to sporadically use a 20ft container, it’s worth considering your rental options. Depending on your usage, it may work out cheaper, and you’ll reduce your maintenance and storage costs.

If you want to rent your container, you have several options:

• One-way rentals, ideal for home relocations or one-off goods transportation
• Short-term rental (up to 1 year)
• Long-term rental (three to five years)
• Leasing with the option to buy outright at the end of the contract

What to Look for in Your 20ft Container?

Whether you rent or buy your 20ft container, ask your vendor about these points:

Quality Control and Certifications

Your container should have Wind and Watertight (WWT) qualities so your goods remain safe, no matter the outside conditions. For added protection, you can ask about an insulated 20ft container. Make sure to also check the PTI report and CSC plate.

Price

It’s worth shopping around to ensure you get good value for money. Here at CBOX Containers, we guarantee the best price, plus our rental and leasing contracts have flexible conditions.

Delivery

Can the vendor deliver your new 20ft container to you? How quickly can they do this? And, what are the additional costs? 

Customisations (If Required)

Do you need electric outlets, windows or furnishings such as shelving units or bunk beds? Often, your vendor can provide these customisations so you don’t have to worry about it. 

Guaranteed Best Price and Quality for Your 20FT Container

We have an extensive range of new and second-hand 20ft containers available for purchase or hire. Ring 1800 433 455 or email au.sales@cboxcontainers.com for a custom quote — we guarantee the best prices, cheap trucking rates and fast delivery.