*All prices include GST
20ft Shipping Container
Sale and hire from our Landsborough yard, delivered across South East Queensland.
The 20ft shipping container is the most-bought size in Australia for a reason: it holds a two to three bedroom home, fits ten standard pallets, drops onto most suburban driveways, and sits inside the weight limit a single tilt-tray can deliver in one run. We sell and hire 20ft containers from our Landsborough yard on the Sunshine Coast, with delivery across the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Northern NSW.
Quick spec: External 6.06 m × 2.44 m × 2.59 m. Internal volume 33 m³ standard, 37 m³ high cube. Payload to roughly 28 tonnes. ISO certified.
20ft Shipping Container For Sale
Stock turns over weekly. Confirm live availability on our containers for sale page or call the yard.
20ft Shipping Container Hire (Monthly)
Hire a 20ft container delivered to your site.
| Included in your hire | Not included |
|---|---|
| Delivery in and out within our SE QLD service area | After-hours delivery |
| Lockbox fitted | Mid-term relocations |
| Full access to your container during the term | Return-trip fee if access fails on delivery day |
| Wind and watertight container, ISO certified | End-of-hire clean if returned dirty |
| 30 day minimum hire term | Site preparation and ground bearing |
Past the 30 day minimum, the hire rolls month to month. Cancel with reasonable notice and we’ll book the pickup.
If you decide to keep the container at the end of the project, we can typically apply a portion of paid hire toward purchase. Worth raising at the time of quote so we can scope it for your project.
Full hire terms, regional pricing and the quote form sit on the shipping container hire page.
20ft Shipping Container Dimensions and Capacity
Standard ISO dimensions, consistent across the major manufacturers. The figures below are pulled from our current stock specifications.
| Dimension | 20ft Standard Height | 20ft High Cube |
|---|---|---|
| External Length | 6,058 mm | 6,058 mm |
| External Width | 2,438 mm | 2,438 mm |
| External Height | 2,591 mm | 2,896 mm |
| Internal Length | 5,898 mm | 5,898 mm |
| Internal Width | 2,352 mm | 2,352 mm |
| Internal Height | 2,393 mm | 2,698 mm |
| Door Aperture (W × H) | 2,340 × 2,280 mm | 2,340 × 2,585 mm |
| Internal Volume | 33.2 m³ | 37.4 m³ |
| Tare Weight | ~2,120 kg | ~2,290 kg |
| Payload | ~28,360 kg | ~28,190 kg |
| Max Gross Weight | 30,480 kg | 30,480 kg |
Pallet capacity. A 20ft holds ten standard Australian 1165 × 1165 mm pallets at single height, or eleven Euro pallets. Stack two-high in a high cube and you double the count if your goods stack safely.
What Fits in a 20ft Shipping Container?
A 20ft holds the contents of a typical two to three bedroom Australian home. Furniture, white goods, a sedan or small 4WD, plus general storage all fit comfortably with a load plan.
For trades, a 20ft is enough room for a full tradie’s tool fit-out: racking down one wall, generator, compressor, cordless tool charging bench, and floor space for materials. We see plenty of Sunshine Coast and Brisbane builders run a 20ft as a mobile site shed across a 6 to 18 month build.
For agriculture, a 20ft on a Lockyer or Northern Rivers block holds feed drums, fencing, hand tools and a quad bike at once. The full-height door aperture means equipment loads in without dismantling.
For events, a 20ft stages full bar fit-out, dance floor stack, sound rig and signage for a single-festival site. Lock it overnight, drive away in the morning.
A 20ft High Cube adds 305 mm of internal height. Useful if you’re stacking pallets, storing mattresses on edge, or fitting taller tools and machinery. For long items beyond 5.9 m internal length (full structural timbers, full-length sheet metal, longer boats and canoes), step up to a 40ft shipping container.
Shipping Container Condition Grades: What WWT, B, A, AAA and Single Use Mean
We grade our containers using the standard Australian industry framework. Same terms you’ll see across Royal Wolf, SCF, Container Traders and the rest of the market.
Wind and Watertight (WWT)
Sealed and dry. Cosmetic flaws, surface rust, dings. No CSC plate, so not certified for shipping. The cheapest entry into a 20ft and the right choice for paddock storage, builder site storage, or anywhere cosmetics don’t matter.
B Grade
A working container with disclosed defects: dents, repaired patches, heavier paint wear. Step up from WWT with a small price premium. Good for site storage and yard use where appearance matters slightly more than the cheapest option allows.
A Grade and AAA Grade
Tidier cosmetics, stronger paint, fewer or no patches. AAA is the cleanest used grade we stock. The right call for residential placements where the container is visible from the house, retail and customer-facing applications, or anything you’ll convert.
Single Use (Single Trip)
Imported once with cargo, delivered to Australia, sold near-new. Premium price. Choose this if you’re modifying, painting, or placing in a high-visibility application. Available in both Standard and High Cube.
NOR (Non-Operational Refrigerated)
We also stock NOR (Non-Operational Refrigerated) containers as a specialist option. Ex-refrigerated containers with the working refrigeration removed, sold as insulated dry storage. Useful for temperature-stable storage on a tighter budget than a working reefer, common buyers being food prep, electronics, and medical supply storage.
Modifications and Side Opening / Double Door Variants
Two non-standard 20ft variants we stock are worth a separate mention.
Side Opening. Doors run the full length of one side of the container. Pallet access without unloading the deep end, which suits warehouses, retailers and event hire. Side Opening trades at a premium over a Standard 20ft (price on request, depending on stock at the time of order).
Double Door. Doors at both ends. Drive-through access for vehicle storage, longer items in and out, faster pallet rotation. Usually slightly more than a Standard 20ft.
For modifications such as vents, lights, personnel doors, racking, painting and signage, we work with local fabricators on the Sunshine Coast. Container modifications covers the common scopes.
Council Rules for Placing a 20ft Container at Your Place
For temporary placement during a build or renovation, most South East Queensland councils allow a 20ft container on residential land without a development application for a defined period. The window varies by council. Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Brisbane City Council, Gold Coast City Council and the major Northern Rivers councils each set their own rules, commonly between 3 and 6 months. Confirm the rule with your local council before delivery.
For permanent placement, building approval is usually required. Under the National Construction Code, a container on residential land for permanent use is treated as a Class 10a non-habitable structure, which triggers footing engineering, tie-down design and certifier sign-off. Conversion to habitable space (Class 1 dwelling) is stricter again and usually requires a licensed QBCC builder in Queensland.
Permit and engineering costs add several hundred to several thousand dollars to a permanent-placement project. Worth pricing in before you commit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a 20ft shipping container cost in Australia?
Prices and stock vary across the Australian market; our storage container prices guide covers the national ranges.
What's the difference between a 20ft Standard and a 20ft High Cube?
A 20ft High Cube is 305 mm taller internally (2,698 mm vs 2,393 mm). External length and width are identical. High Cube is the right call if you’re stacking pallets two-high, fitting taller items, or converting the container to a workshop or studio.
Can you deliver a 20ft to my house in Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast or the Gold Coast?
Yes, this is our core service area. We deliver tilt-tray from our Landsborough yard across the Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Northern Rivers in NSW. For sites with restricted access, we can quote a side loader or hiab crane delivery instead.
How long does delivery take, and what do I need to prepare?
For a tilt-tray delivery in our standard service area, allow 30 to 45 minutes on site once the truck arrives. You need about 18 metres of straight run-back from the placement spot, 4 metres of vertical clearance, and a level firm surface (compacted gravel, hardstand, or hardwood sleepers on lawn). Move cars off the driveway and clear any low-hanging branches before the truck arrives.
What's the minimum hire term for a 20ft?
30 days. After that, the hire rolls month to month and you can return the container with reasonable notice.
Do I need council approval to put a 20ft on my block?
For temporary placement during a build or renovation, most SE QLD councils allow it without a development application for 3 to 6 months (varies by council). For permanent placement, building approval applies under the National Construction Code, which triggers footing engineering and certifier sign-off. Check with your local council before delivery.
Get a 20ft Shipping Container in South East Queensland
Real prices from real stock, sale or hire, delivered from our Landsborough yard across the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Northern NSW.
