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Refurbished Shipping Containers

Buy refurbished shipping containers in a range of sizes for storage, commercial and conversion projects. Each container is professionally restored, repainted and available for delivery throughout the UK.

Refurbished Shipping Containers

Shipping Containers For Refurbishing

What goes into refurbishing a shipping container?

Refurbishing a shipping container involves more than just a fresh coat of paint, it’s about restoring its strength, practicality, and appearance to make it as good as new.

The refurbishing process typically involves:

  • Thorough inspection: Identifying structural issues such as dents, rust, or leaks.
  • Surface preparation: The container is carefully rubbed down to remove dirt, grease, rust, and old paint for a smooth finish.
  • Repainting: A fresh coat of high-quality paint is applied for both aesthetic appeal and protection against the elements.
  • Servicing: The doors and hinges are thoroughly checked, oiled, and adjusted to ensure they open and close smoothly. Any suspicious or damaged parts on the doors are identified and replaced to maintain full functionality.
  • Floor maintenance: The floor is inspected, and any necessary repairs are made to ensure it is in good order. This may involve screwing down any loose parts to maintain strength.
  • Structural examination: The container is carefully examined for any holes, dents, or other structural issues, which are then repaired to ensure the container’s integrity.
  • Comprehensive assessment: Beyond just cleaning and painting, a full structural inspection is conducted to ensure the container is in good working condition and ready for use.

Why buy a refurbished shipping container from Universal Containers?

When you choose a refurbished shipping container from Universal Containers, you can trust that every unit has been carefully restored to provide reliability and security. Each container is inspected for quality and fully restored to ensure it meets your project’s needs.

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Quality Assurance

We are committed to delivering the highest quality refurbished shipping containers. Each container undergoes a thorough inspection and refurbishment process to ensure it’s durable, structurally sound, and ready for use.
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Fast Delivery & Installation

We know how important it is to stay on schedule, which is why we prioritise quick delivery and installation of your container. Our team works efficiently to get your container to you on time and set it up exactly where you need it, ensuring a smooth process with minimal disruption to your project.
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Competitive Pricing

We offer unbeatable value with our competitively priced refurbished shipping containers. You get a cost-effective, high-quality product that’s been restored to excellent condition, ensuring you don’t have to compromise on durability or performance while staying within budget.
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Unmatched Customer Support

Our commitment to exceptional customer service is evident in every step of your purchase journey. Whether you need help selecting the right container for refurbishment or need expert guidance throughout the process, our dedicated team is always available to assist you, ensuring a stress-free experience from start to finish.

Explore our full range of shipping containers

We’ve been refurbishing shipping containers for 40 years. 

We can design and fabricate any bespoke specification for your used container. Contact our team with your needs and requirements and we’ll make it a reality.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are refurbished shipping containers?

Refurbished shipping containers are repainted and restored used containers, offering a practical and affordable solution when a new container isn’t in the budget. Perfect for projects where appearance matters, these containers are thoroughly inspected and repaired to suit a variety of needs.

Are refurbished containers wind and watertight?

Yes. All our refurbished shipping containers are checked to ensure they are fully wind and watertight. Doors seal correctly, floors are solid, and any structural issues are addressed before the container is made available for sale.

What condition can I expect a refurbished container to be in?

Refurbished containers show fewer signs of wear than standard used containers. You can expect a clean interior, functional doors, a sound floor, and an exterior that has been repaired and repainted for a smarter finish.

Are refurbished shipping containers suitable for long-term use?

Yes. With proper maintenance, refurbished shipping containers are well suited for long-term storage, workshops, site use, or conversions. Their steel construction and refurbished finish help protect against weather and corrosion.

Can refurbished containers be modified or converted?

Yes. Refurbished containers can be customised with additions such as doors, windows, insulation, electrics, ventilation, or shelving. They are a popular starting point for workshops, storage units, and other container conversions.

Are refurbished shipping containers secure?

Absolutely. All refurbished containers are built from heavy-duty Corten steel with strong cargo doors. For added security, we can supply and fit lock boxes, high-security padlocks, and other shipping container part & accessories.

Don’t just take our word for it

Find out why our customers love us and our products

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Stephen Edwards
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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.
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Sales @ H and B Electrical
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Great service from start to Finish, Stephen Woolley was very thorough and professional. Thanks for all your help Stephen H&B Electrical Services
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David Wilden
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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.
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Mike Gathercole
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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
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Graham Sanderson
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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.
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My AIMS Ltd Manchester
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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.
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nick curtis
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Great and quick service.. Colin was really helpful and knowledgable
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zeshan s
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prompt service, Colin was very helpful
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David Heath
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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.
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Richard Banning
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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.

Our containers in action

See some of the ways our amazing customers are using their containers.

Case Study: B&Q Click & Collect Container Conversion for Tesco Car Parks Case Studies
Case Study: B&Q Click & Collect Container Conversion for Tesco Car Parks

Universal Containers converted three new 30ft high cube shipping containers into branded Click & Collect units for B&Q, ready for use at selected Tesco car parks.

From Contraband to a Forever Home: Blackpool Zoo’s Shipping Container Tortoise Habitat Case Studies
From Contraband to a Forever Home: Blackpool Zoo’s Shipping Container Tortoise Habitat

Blackpool Zoo has rehomed a group of rescued Sulcata tortoises, several of them seized by UK customs from smugglers, in a converted 16ft shipping container on its Kidepo Trail.

Case Study: Branded Container Gym for Salford City FC Case Studies
Case Study: Branded Container Gym for Salford City FC

Universal Containers was commissioned to design and build a bespoke container gym for Salford City FC, providing players with a dedicated on-site training space.

Case Study: Garden Room Office Container Case Studies
Case Study: Garden Room Office Container

Despite restricted site access, we delivered a fully insulated, light-filled container office with carefully planned glazing, heating and electrics. The finished space provides a practical, year-round working environment suited for everyday use.

Case Study: Compact Coffee Shop Case Studies
Case Study: Compact Coffee Shop

We built a fully functional compact coffee shop from a shipping container with doors for customer access, a roller shutter for security, a serving hatch, and a small kitchen area complete with water heater and sink. 

Case Study: Shipping Container Museum & Workshop Case Studies
Case Study: Shipping Container Museum & Workshop

In the pursuit of enhancing their museum and workshop facility, the Locomotive Society sought a creative solution to provide a welcoming space for their members, while adhering to the historical aesthetic of their railway centric environment.

Case Study: Garden Center Case Studies
Case Study: Garden Center

Universal Containers embarked on an exciting project to enhance a garden centre’s retail experience by supplying and customising two shipping container cabins. The goal was to seamlessly link these cabins on-site and transform them into a vibrant and functional gift shop.

Case Study: Outdoor Catering Unit Case Studies
Case Study: Outdoor Catering Unit

A restaurant had been operating successfully for several years. However, due to increasing demand and limited space within the restaurant premises, the owners decided to expand their operations by introducing an outdoor catering unit.

Case Study: Shipping Container Ticket Office Case Studies
Case Study: Shipping Container Ticket Office

The local rugby club had been using a small, outdated ticket booth that no longer met their needs. The club’s management sought a more efficient and visually appealing solution that could accommodate their growing fan base.

Case Study: Chemical Store Shipping Container Conversion Case Studies
Case Study: Chemical Store Shipping Container Conversion

The client, an Industrial Chemical Storage Company specialising in chemical production and storage, faced the challenge of storing hazardous chemicals on their premises while adhering to stringent health and safety regulations.

Dropside Shipping Container Conversion Shipping
Dropside Shipping Container Conversion

Universal Containers take pride in continually pushing the boundaries in product development within the shipping container industry.

32ft × 10ft Stacked Cabins
32ft × 10ft Stacked Cabins

These 2 large 32x10ft cabins were built for a British transport company. They requested a large space to act as a welfare facility for drivers and staff in the peak district. Due to the customer’s specific requirements, one unit was not large enough so we suggested 2 units, however floor space was an issue on-siteContinue reading “32ft × 10ft Stacked Cabins”

32×10 Green Office Offices
32×10 Green Office

This particular office unit was completed for a North-West-based container hire company.

20×10 Gas Bottle Store
20×10 Gas Bottle Store

Custom Built Atex Coshh store for storing gas bottles. This unit was custom built with corrugated steel panels 20ft long x 10ft wide. It had a fully ventilated floor from galvanised steel mesh, as well as 4 aluminium louver vents in the walls. We also fitted galvanised box section racks with chains on to holdContinue reading “20×10 Gas Bottle Store”

Corrugated 32×10 Office / Store room
Corrugated 32×10 Office / Store room

Corrugated steel cabin 32ft x 10ft with adjustable jacklegs anti vandal steel personnel door and anti-vandal aluminium sliding windows in steel shutters. Painted externally in non-corrosive container paint in a vibrant red. Internally with walls where lined in a cost-effective melamine faced chipboard and fully insulated throughout in Rockwool. The floor had hard wearing vinylContinue reading “Corrugated 32×10 Office / Store room”

20ft Multi-Bay Unit
20ft Multi-Bay Unit

Standard shipping container transformed into a bespoke storage unit. With multiple purposes across many industries. For example, self-storage companies or engineering companies for members of staff to lock tools away when not in use. The unit was split evenly into 8 small rooms approximately 5ftx4ft each by steel partition walls for security. Each room withContinue reading “20ft Multi-Bay Unit”

Looking for a completely custom solution?

We have a wide range of base containers that can be customised to your needs, however we realise that sometimes you need something completely ‘Outside the box’.

Contact us and one of our experts will be in touch to help design the container of your dreams

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