your ultimate guide to renting a shipping container

How to Rent a Shipping Container: A Step-by-Step Guide

Quick Summary

To rent a shipping container, pick your size (10ft, 20ft, or 40ft), make sure you have a flat driveway or pad, get an upfront quote, and schedule your delivery. Our local drivers deliver the container using specialized tilt-bed trucks or our high-precision BoxBot system for tight spots. You load at your own pace right on your property, pay month-to-month, and give us a call when you are ready for pickup. Most deliveries happen within 24 to 48 hours of booking.

Table of Contents

Whether you are a homeowner staging a move, a general contractor securing high-value tools on a commercial job site, a retailer managing seasonal inventory overflow, or a farmer protecting harvest supplies, renting a shipping container is the most efficient way to get secure space fast. Instead of renting a moving truck and burning daylight driving back and forth to an off-site facility across town, a heavy-duty storage box is set down right on your property, job site, or commercial lot, giving your team or family 24/7 drive-up access on your own schedule.

This guide walks through the entire process in order: sizing, pricing, site prep, delivery, packing, and pickup.

Step 1: Tell Us What Project You Are Working On (and for How Long)

Before requesting a quote, get clear on three core questions: What are you storing? Where will the container sit? How long will you need it?

Having a clear goal helps you choose the right container size, avoids paying for extra space, and ensures your project runs smoothly.

Popular Reasons People Rent a Storage Container:

  • Home Remodeling & Renovations: Protect furniture, rugs, and appliances from paint, drywall dust, and construction foot traffic.
  • Moving at Your Own Pace: A moving container rental lets you pack over days or weeks instead of cramming your entire household into a single frantic weekend.
  • Decluttering & Home Staging: Clear out extra clutter so your home looks spacious and inviting for open houses and real estate photos.
  • Job Site & Construction Storage: Lock up expensive power tools, building supplies, and equipment right where your crews work every day. Need a place to review plans or host site meetings? A portable on-demand office rental (or basic 20ft office container with windows, outlets, and shelf brackets) keeps your project manager organized and gear secure in one central jobbox setup.
  • Retail & Business Overflow: Keep seasonal inventory, display fixtures, or event gear reachable on-site without paying for off-site warehouse space.
  • Farms & Agriculture: Keep equipment parts, seed, and harvest supplies dry, secure, and close to where you work.

You will also hear these called Conex boxes. People are referring to the same heavy-duty, 14-gauge Corten steel storage container.

A 20ft container rental being used as extra residential storage

Step 2: Choosing the Right Size (10ft, 20ft, or 40ft)

The right size gives you room to load comfortably without taking over your entire driveway or site. A 20ft container is our most popular choice and comfortably holds the contents of a 2 to 3 bedroom home. 

Size

Outside Dimensions (L x W x H)

Max Load Capacity

Ideal Use Case

10ft Container

10′ x 8′ x 8.5′

~[X] lbs

Small garage cleanouts, studio apartments, tight city lots

20ft Container (Most Popular!)

20′ x 8′ x 8.5′

~[X] lbs

Whole-home moves, kitchen remodels, trade equipment storage

40ft High Cube

40′ x 8′ x 9.5′

~[X] lbs

Large farms, major construction sites, commercial inventory

Practical Container Sizing Advice:

  • When in doubt, go up one size. Most people underestimate how much a garage or extra bedroom actually holds. A box that is too small leads to high stacking, restacking, and frustration. Extra space speeds up loading and leaves room for last-minute items. 
  • A 40ft High Cube offers the best value per cubic foot. It does not cost twice as much to rent as a 20ft unit, making it the smartest deal for large residential or commercial projects.
  • 10ft containers can be harder to find. Because 10ft boxes are custom-built rather than standard ocean freight sizes, local supply is tighter. If you need a 10ft container, book early.

Need exact door clearance, interior dimensions, and weight specs? Check out our complete shipping container dimensions guide.

Step 3: Is Renting Always the Better Option??

Deciding whether to rent or buy comes down to your project timeline and whether you plan to modify the unit.

  • Rent a container if: You need storage for a few months (1 to 12 months), want lower upfront costs, or prefer having our team haul the container away when your project wraps up.
  • Buy a container if: You need permanent, multi-year storage on your property, or you want custom changes, like adding windows, personnel doors, louvered wall vents, or spray foam insulation. (Note: We only perform custom modifications on purchased containers).

The Break-Even Point: If you know you will need on-site storage for more than 24 to 36 months, buying a container usually costs less over time than long-term renting.

Not sure yet? Many customers start with a rental and decide later. You can explore shipping containers for sale if you choose to buy down the road.

Step 4: How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Shipping Container?

Monthly rental rates for standard storage units start at about:

  • 10ft Container: Starting at $150 / month
  • 20ft Container: Starting at $125 / month
  • 40ft High Cube: Starting at $185 / month

Note: These are baseline rental rates. Your exact rate depends on your local operating yard, current stock, and delivery distance.

What Is on Your First Invoice

Your first invoice covers three items: your first month’s rent, the initial delivery fee, and the prepaid pickup fee. There are no hidden admin fees, and you can keep the box as long as you need on a straightforward monthly billing cycle.

How to Compare Container Rental Quotes (and Spot Hidden Fees)

The monthly rate is only part of the price. When comparing quotes from regional or national brands, ask for the full first-invoice total: first month’s rent, the delivery fee, and the pickup fee. Delivery and pickup charges vary widely between companies, so a low monthly rate can hide a much higher total. Also watch for these common traps:

  • The “28-Day Billing” Trap: Some national container companies bill every 28 days instead of monthly. That’s 13 bills a year instead of 12, which adds an extra full month of rent.
  • Fuel Surcharges & Admin Fees: Always ask whether the delivery quote is final or whether extra charges get added on delivery day.
  • Mandatory Insurance Line Items: Ask whether damage waivers are optional or automatically added to your bill.

Found a lower quote? We’ll match it. If you have a written quote from a local competitor for the same container size, rental term, and delivery address, we’ll match it. Send it to us when you request your quote. 

Step 5: Getting your Space Ready For Delivery

A smooth container delivery process combines a little site prep with expert equipment placement on delivery day.

Site Prep Checklist

  • Choose a Firm, Level Surface: Place your container on gravel, asphalt, concrete, or firm packed dirt. Avoid soft mud or low spots where water collects.
  • Use Wood Corner Blocks: Placing 4×4 or 6×6 wood blocks under the four corner castings lifts the box slightly. This protects your driveway, allows air circulation underneath, and keeps the container level so the double doors open effortlessly.
  • Decide Door Direction: Decide ahead of time whether you want the double doors facing toward your house or out toward the street.
  • Mark Underground Utilities: Mark sprinkler heads, septic lids, and water lines so heavy delivery equipment does not drive over them.

What Happens on Delivery Day

  1. Driver Courtesy Call: Your driver calls when they are on the way to confirm your site is clear. (Driver Tip: Make sure cars are moved off narrow street approaches so our truck has room to align).
  2. Standard Tilt-Bed Placement: For standard driveways, a 20ft container requires roughly 60 to 70 feet of straight clearance, 10 feet of width, and 14 feet of overhead height clear of low branches. The truck tilts its bed and slides the container gently into position.
  3. BoxBot Precision Placement: Have a tight driveway, sharp turns, or sensitive pavers? We utilize our BoxBot delivery system, a remote-controlled delivery robot that drives the container into position independently. The BoxBot eliminates tire scrubbing on your driveway and allows us to nudge containers into tight carports, side yards, and job-site nooks with pin-point precision.
  4. Level Check & Walkthrough: The driver verifies the container is level and the double doors latch smoothly before departing. If you’re there, they’ll walk you through the container and answer any questions. Not home? No problem. The driver will leave [a care sheet / photos] covering how to use and look after your container, [including how the lock box works and who to call with questions]. 
Boxbot delivery system providing a smooth delivery process for the customer

Step 6: Using your Container – How to Pack and Lock It

A little planning when you load saves you a lot of digging later.

  • Put Heavy Items Low: Place heavy dressers, appliances, safes, and book boxes flat on the wooden floor.
  • Balance Interior Weight: Keep weight spread evenly from side to side and front to back inside the box.
  • Leave a Walkway: Keep a narrow aisle open down the center so you can reach items in the back without unloading the whole container.
  • Use Moving Blankets: Wrap wood finishes and delicate items to prevent surface scratches.
  • Label Your Boxes: Label boxes on three sides so you can read them when stacked.
  • Load “Open-First” Items Last: Keep essential items right near the doors—like extension cords, basic hand tools, cleaning supplies, and paper towels.

Stopping Condensation (“Container Rain”)

Steel keeps rain and snow out, but temperature swings can cause moisture in the air to condense on the ceiling. Using a simple moisture-absorbing tub (like DampRid) inside the container catches humidity and keeps your gear bone-dry.

Lock Security

Every Get Simple Box unit features a welded steel lock box enclosure. This thick steel housing covers your padlock so bolt cutters and pry bars cannot reach it. We recommend using a Master Lock 6850, which fits perfectly inside the housing. Avoid combination locks, as outdoor weather can make the dials stick over time.

What You Cannot Store

Do not store hazardous materials inside a rental container, such as gasoline, propane tanks, paint thinners, or fireworks. Also, because containers are not climate-controlled, sensitive items like fine wine or delicate artwork should be stored in an indoor space.

Step 7: Ready for Pickup Or Need an Extension?

When your project comes to an end, you stay in total control:

  • Schedule Pickup: Empty and sweep out the container, then give your local yard a call. We will come retrieve it promptly using our tilt-bed truck or BoxBot system.
  • Extend Your Rental: Remodel taking longer than planned? Keep your container month-to-month for as long as you need it.
  • Relocate Loaded: Moving to a new home in the same area? In most service areas, we can pick up your 20ft loaded container and move it directly to your new address.

Shipping Containers vs. Storage Pods vs. Moving Trucks

A rented container is one option for portable storage. Here is how it compares to other choices:

FeatureGet Simple BoxStorage PodSelf-Storage FacilityRental Moving Truck
LocationDelivered to your siteDelivered to your siteDrive across townYou drive it
Delivery PrecisionTilt-Bed + BoxBot Remote PlacementLevel-lift systemYou transport itemsDriveway parking only
Access Hours24/7 On-Site Access24/7 On-Site AccessLimited gate hoursOnly while rented
Material14-Gauge Corten SteelWood / Fiberglass / PlasticCommercial BuildingVehicle Cargo Box
Loading StyleEasy ground-level accessGround-level accessWalk through hallwaysHigh steep ramps
Lock ProtectionWelded steel lock boxExposed padlockStandard facility lockStandard latch
Best ForRemodels, moves, job sitesShort light movesLong-term off-site itemsSingle-day moves
Get Simple Box storage containers delivered with care by people who care

Where Can You Rent a Storage Container Near You?

Looking for a storage container rental near you? Get Simple Box delivers clean, secure containers from local yards across four West Coast states:

  • Washington: Serving Whatcom County, Skagit County, North Puget Sound, and Central WA from local yards in Lynden, Burlington, Stanwood, and Ellensburg.
  • Oregon: Serving Salem, Keizer, Albany, Woodburn, and the Mid-Willamette Valley from our Salem yard.
  • Arizona: Serving Phoenix, Glendale, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, and the Sun Valley from our Phoenix hub.
  • California: Serving Palm Springs, Indio, Cathedral City, and the Coachella Valley.

Shipping Container Rental FAQs

How much does it cost to rent a shipping container?

Baseline monthly rates start at $125/month for 20ft units, $180/month for 40ft High Cube or basic office units, and $150/month for 10ft units. Delivery and pickup fees are quoted separately based on your mileage from the nearest yard.

How long can I keep a rented container?

As long as you need it! Rentals run on a simple month-to-month plan, so you can extend your rental as your project progresses.

How fast can I get a container delivered?

In most local service areas, we deliver containers within 24 to 48 hours of booking, depending on yard schedules.

Do I need to be home for container delivery?

No, but you’re welcome to be. If you’re there, the driver will walk through the container with you and answer questions on the spot. If you can’t be there, [confirm your placement spot and door direction with us ahead of time, and] the driver will leave [a care sheet / photos] with everything you need to use and care for your container.

Can you move my container while it is loaded?

Yes! In most service areas, local relocation is available on 20ft containers. We can pick up your loaded container at your old house and deliver it directly to your new home.

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