20ft Shipping Containers for Sale

Tough, reliable, and spacious, our 20ft containers are the most popular size of shipping container for a variety of uses. Perfect for businesses, construction sites, farms, schools, or home storage, they provide the right balance of durability and space.

4.9 of 5, Google rating score

Call: 0161 775 3217

ISO Certified Quality

Built to recognised international container standards.

40+ Years of Experience

Supplying containers for homes and businesses across the UK.

Structural Guarantee

Inspected for strength, security and durability.

Nationwide Delivery

Delivered to your door across mainland UK.

Size

Used 20ft Canteen Container

Refurbished break room for on-site teams.

Durable Corten steel build
Fully Rockwool insulated
Sink, worktop & water heater
2 Sliding window & lockable shutters

Starting from £6,550.00 ex. VAT £7,860.00 inc. VAT

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New 20ft Office Container

Fully fitted site office, ready to use.

Insulated & melamine-lined
Heater, lights & sockets included
Personnel door & lockable window shutter
Ideal for construction sites, temporary offices, or remote work locations

Starting from £7,390.00 ex. VAT £8,868.00 inc. VAT

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New 20ft Full Side Access Container (Both Sides)

Container doors on all sides for full access.

Built to ISO standards
High-security steel doors
Windproof & watertight
Great for frequent access from every side

Starting from £7,650.00 ex. VAT £9,180.00 inc. VAT

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New 24ft Canteen Container

Spacious break room for site teams.

Durable Corten steel construction
Spray foam insulated with melamine-lined interior
4 sliding windows with steel security shutters
Sink, worktop, water heater, lights & sockets

Starting from £12,234.90 ex. VAT £14,681.88 inc. VAT

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Large selection of 20ft shipping containers

All our 20ft shipping containers for sale are built from tough Corten steel, offering exceptional protection against corrosion, impact, and harsh outdoor conditions. Their standardised size makes them easy to transport and stack. With both new and used options available, you’re sure to find the right 20ft container for commercial, industrial, or personal use.

Why buy a 20ft shipping container from Universal Containers?

Quality you can trust

All our 20ft shipping containers are manufactured to the highest industry standards, guaranteeing their durability and reliability for diverse applications.

Competitive pricing

With the most competitive prices on 20ft shipping containers in the UK, our clear, upfront pricing makes it easy to get exactly what you need at the right cost, with no surprises or hidden fees.

Industry expertise & dedicated support

With over 40 years of experience in the shipping container industry, we’ve proudly served a wide range of industries, providing custom solutions and exceptional service. We’ll guide you every step of the way, from choosing the perfect container to coordinating container delivery.

Premium customisation options

We make it easy to get exactly what you need with a range of customisation options, including insulation, racking and shelving, utility installations, painting and branding, or any other bespoke modifications to bring your vision to life.

20ft shipping container dimensions

Specification	20ft Standard	20ft High Cube
External Length	6.058m (20ft)	6.058m (20ft)
External Width	2.438m (8ft)	2.438m (8ft)
External Height	2.591m (8ft 6in)	2.896m (9ft 6in)
Internal Length	5.898m (19ft 4in)	5.898m (19ft 4in)
Internal Width	2.330m (7ft 8in)	2.330m (7ft 8in)
Internal Height	2.393m (7ft 10in)	2.698m (8ft 10in)
Door Opening Width	2.337m (7ft 8in)	2.337m (7ft 8in)
Door Opening Height	2.261m (7ft 5in)	2.566m (8ft 5in)
Floor Space	13.94m² (150 ft²)	13.94m² (150 ft²)
Internal Capacity	33.13 m³ (1,170 cu ft)	36.95 m³ (1,305 cu ft)
Tare Weight	2,400 kg (5,291 lbs)	2,590 kg (5,710 lbs)
Max Payload	21,600 kg (47,620 lbs)	21,410 kg (47,201 lbs)
Max Gross Weight	24,000 kg (52,911 lbs)	24,000 kg (52,911 lbs)

We prioritise offering value for money, and providing affordable solutions that suit all budgets and needs.

Should you have any inquiries about buying a new or used 20ft shipping container online, require a personalised quote, or simply wish to discuss your options with our expert team, do not hesitate to contact us via the contact form or give us a call at 0161 775 3217 and speak to one of our experts.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a 20ft shipping container cost?

Our 20ft shipping containers start from £995 ex. VAT (£1,194 inc. VAT) for a used unit, while new (one-trip) 20ft containers start at £2,550 ex. VAT (£3,060 inc. VAT). Exact pricing depends on condition and specification.

What types of 20ft shipping container are available?

20ft containers are available in several configurations. Standard variants include used lower and higher grade, and new one-trip ISO certified units. We also stock a range of specialised 20ft containers, including high cube, double door tunnel containers, COSHH chemical stores, and full side access containers.

What can a 20ft shipping container be used for?

A 20ft shipping container is commonly used for secure storage, workshops, equipment storage, stock holding and container conversion projects. Its balance of capacity and footprint makes it one of the most popular container sizes.

Can a 20ft shipping container be modified?

Yes. A 20ft container can be customised with personnel doors, windows, insulation, electrics, shelving, workbenches and other features. If you have specific requirements, contact our team for a custom quote and advice on the available modification options.

What is the maximum payload of a 20ft shipping container?

A standard 20ft shipping container has a maximum payload capacity of approximately 28,000kg. This is the weight of contents only and does not include the container’s own weight (tare weight), which is typically around 2,400 kg. The data plate on each container shows the specific payload limit for that unit.

How much does an empty 20ft shipping container weigh?

A standard 20ft container has a tare weight of around 2,400kg. A 20ft high cube container weighs approximately 2,590kg due to its additional height. Specialised variants such as tunnel containers, COSHH stores, and full
side access units will be heavier depending on the modifications involved.

Don’t just take our word for it

Find out why our customers love us and our products

         Posted on Google  
    Stephen Edwards 
 
 
 
  Stephen and the team at Universal Container Services Limited have been super efficient and very helpful, I would recommend this company to anyone thinking about purchasing a container for any multi-use purpose.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    Sales @ H and B Electrical 
 
 
 
  Great service from start to Finish, Stephen Woolley was very thorough and professional.
Thanks for all your help Stephen

H&B Electrical Services
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    David Wilden 
 
 
 
  Very impressed with the quality of the containers and the facilities they have for insulating and boarding them. Many thanks to Stephen for spending time showing us around and helping us get a great deal.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    Mike Gathercole 
 
 
 
  We have just purchased a fully insulated container from Universal we visited the site prior to our order Colin and Stephen both in the sales office we brilliant they answered all our questions and were very helpful in processing our order thanks again lads really appreciated
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    Graham Sanderson 
 
 
 
  Scarcroft and District Allotments Association in York have used two containers from Universal - one 20' unmodified new container as a store and one 40' new container insulated and supplied with electrics package and two secure windows and a secure accessible door as a shop- to replace their 50+ year-old wooden hut used as a shop and association base.  Shaun McWilliams (project engineer) has been our main contact at Universal with oversight and support from Carl Jeffries (project manager).  They have been hugely supportive through a long process.  Nothing has been too much trouble for Shaun, adapting plans and offering choices at every stage - always friendly, imaginative and flexible.  We'd recommend Universal without reservation for any project involving shipping containers.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    My AIMS Ltd Manchester 
 
 
 
  We recently got in touch with Universal Containers Services as we were looking to stack two Containers
Excellent service provided by universal containers. We dealt with  Vanessa and her communication was excellent she kept us informed from point of order upto delivery. Delivery was fast and I would definitely recommend using this company.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    nick curtis 
 
 
 
  Great and quick service.. Colin was really helpful and knowledgable
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    zeshan s 
 
 
 
  prompt service, Colin was very helpful
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    David Heath 
 
 
 
  Ordered a container for a Scout group, we are so pleased with the service and the container. Very helpful and nothing was a problem, arrived on time and looks amazing. We would definitely recommend and use again.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    Richard Banning 
 
 
 
  We were impressed with the service provided by Stephen on our first order , we have purchased another 2 containers , the service and quality was very good and would recommend the company if you are looking to purchase.
  
 
  
  Load more
 
 
   Google rating score: 4.9 of 5, based on 406 reviews

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