Shipping containers, designed to withstand the rigours of long journeys, heavy loads and extreme weather conditions, have emerged as a popular building material in modern architecture and design due to their inherent strength, modularity and cost-effectiveness.
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Our Converted Shipping Containers for Sale
Affordable, easy to set up and utilised for many functional needs, a converted shipping container is the ideal solution for more storage capacity, additional amenities including classrooms, medical facilities, workshops and more. MPB can supply and install new and used shipping containers as shells, as well as fully convert them with insulation, electrics and all required facilities. Browse our wide range of sizes.
What are Shipping Containers?
Converted shipping containers are simply large boxes made of corrosion-resistant steel used to transport goods by sea, rail or road and often referred to simply as “containers”.
They have revolutionised global trade by streamlining the transportation and handling of cargo. Thanks to their standardised sizes, they can be stacked and are equipped with locking mechanisms for security as well as being extremely durable. They are easily repurposed into buildings, storage units and other applications, and the most common sizes are 20-foot and 40-foot lengths.
MPB has been in the industry for decades and is able to ensure you get the new or used shipping container you require installed in the shortest possible time, whether you’re looking for a basic storage unit or a modified one.
Our process
Step 01 – Selection phase
At this point, you will discuss with our team the requirements you have for a shipping container installation. If you’re going to buy a shipping container or hire one, it’s important to consider the size and any internal fittings you may require. When these details and costs are agreed upon, we visit your site to assess the access restrictions and positioning.
Step 02 – Planning and compliance
Your shipping containers might not require planning permission – especially if they’re only for a temporary need, but if they are going to be more permanently in position and have mains services attached or be used as accommodation, then a planning application will need to be submitted. You can take care of this, or you can use our service to take care of it for you.
Step 03 – Preparation and modification
When all compliance steps have been taken care of, there may be groundworks that need to take place, such as foundations – if the building is more permanent – mains services connection as well as ducting and drainage. While the preparations take place onsite, the shipping container unit is either being manufactured or modified to include the desired features.
Step 04 – Installation
As converted shipping containers are designed to be transported by truck, your unit will be delivered in one piece to your site with the equipment and team of experts to get it installed and connected. If the container is going to be used for habitation, modifications such as adding insulation, windows and doors as well as partitions, electrical accessories, plumbing and HVAC systems will need to take place.
Step 05 – Handover
The final step sees the keys handed over so that the shipping container can be used for its new purpose – whether that is repurposed as an office building, toilet block, accommodation unit or canteen and kitchen area, you will have regulatory certification ensuring that it is compliant. If your new shipping container is for storage purposes, it can now be filled, and you will have access to the locking facilities.
Can We Help?
Get in touch with a member of our team to discuss your project.
Call: 01889 271 406admin@mpbltd.co.uk
Advantages of Using Converted Shipping Containers
Rapid Installation
As shipping containers are supplied in ready-built units, they are very quick to install. The amount of modification that you require for the unit may mean that the final handover takes a little longer, but without the need for traditional building processes, the entire construction time is vastly reduced. Also, as traditional construction can take a lot of time and generate a lot of waste, installing converted shipping containers instead will save these negative consequences.
Cost-Effectiveness
As converted shipping containers are portable and extremely durable, they are far more cost-effective than permanent structures – and especially when the need is short-term or uncertain in duration. Even with modifications of insulation and partitions, as well as electrical and plumbing connections, using shipping containers as buildings is a cheaper way to create additional working or living spaces than a traditional build would be.
Eco-friendly
The high-strength steel that our containers are constructed from is highly recyclable, so even when they come to the end of their useful life, the containers can be recycled. Their compact size also ensures the minimal use of footprint that the building needs, and as they don’t typically require deep or extensive foundations, they don’t cause vast disruption to local ecosystems and landscapes. It is also possible to add on other green technologies such as solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems.
Flexibility and Customisation
New and used shipping containers are designed to stack on top of each other for the transportation of goods, and this ability means it is easy to expand the installation with more containers which can be connected together internally or externally, to give more useable space inside.
Main Uses of Converted Shipping Containers
One of the most common uses for converted shipping containers is as single-unit standalone homes or stacked and arranged to create multi-storey residences. Offices for startups or businesses looking for unique office spaces can use shipping containers, as they can be configured and outfitted to create a positive work environment.
Applications
Other uses can be cafés, restaurants, hostels and hotels, retail spaces, classrooms and libraries, health clinics and even workshops or art studios. Their trendy, industrial-chic aesthetic makes them popular, as well as their cheaper price tag. Without modifications, the humble shipping container can be used for storage facilities in cities and rurally for farming purposes – the sky is the limit!
However, if they are going to be suitable for habitation, they may need to be insulated to regulate temperature – with windows, doors and partitions added – and electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems will need integrating along with interior finishes such as drywall or panelling. If you’re interested in one of our new or used converted shipping containers for sale or hire, get in touch with one of our expert team to discuss your needs.
Frequently asked questions
What is a shipping container used for?
Shipping containers can be used for a variety of purposes such as storage, pop-up shops, food and drink units and permanent retail outlets.
What sixes of shipping containers are available?
A standard sized shipping container is 20’ x 10’ but we do offer larger containers measuring 40’ x 10’.
What’s the difference between a shipping container and a storage container?
A shipping container is built for international transport of goods by sea, rail, or road.
- ISO certified – meets international standards for global shipping
- Extremely robust – made to withstand stacking, lifting, and harsh marine environments
- Standard sizes – typically 20ft or 40ft
- Cargo‑focused design – optimised for transport rather than easy access
- Often converted for other uses such as shops, offices, cafés, or pop‑up units
Shipping containers are ideal when you need maximum strength or plan to repurpose the container into a building or retail unit.
A storage container is designed specifically for secure on‑site or off‑site storage rather than transport.
- Not ISO rated – not intended for overseas shipping
- Designed for accessibility – easier doors and layouts for frequent access
- Cost‑effective – usually cheaper than shipping containers
- Wide range of sizes
- Commonly used on construction sites, schools, businesses, and domestic projects
Storage containers are best when you need secure, practical storage without the need for international transport or heavy modification.
Are shipping containers weatherproof and secure?
Yes, shipping containers are both weatherproof and highly secure, which is why they’re widely used for storage, transport, and conversion projects.
Can I hire as well as buy a shipping container?
Yes, our shipping containers are available to both hire and buy, depending on your needs and how long you plan to use them.
Can shipping containers be converted into offices, workshops or homes?
Shipping containers can be converted into all of those things by adding electrics, windows and readily accessible doors. However, we do not convert our containers into homes.
How are shipping containers delivered?
Typically, shipping containers are delivered via HIAB lorries and lifted into place. On occasion, they will be delivered via an articulated lorry and lifted into place via a mobile crane. This will depend on access to the desired site of the cabin.
In most cases, no permanent foundations are required.
- Cabins are placed on:
- Concrete pads
- Paving slabs
- Steel jacking legs
- Pre‑cast blocks
- The ground must be:
- Firm
- Level
- Capable of supporting the cabin’s weight
This keeps the installation temporary and avoids permanent alteration of the land.
Do I need planning permission to use a shipping container on my property?
You will normally need planning permission if the shipping container is:
- Used for commercial purposes
(e.g. storage for a business, a shop, café, office, or workshop) - Intended to be long‑term or permanent
- Converted or modified
(adding doors, windows, electrics, insulation, signage, or branding) - Visible from a public area and impacts visual amenity
- Placed on protected land, such as:
- Green Belt
- Conservation areas
- Near or within the curtilage of a listed building
- Part of a change of land use
(for example, residential land being used for business storage)
Local authorities often view shipping containers as buildings or structures, especially when they’re fixed in place or connected to services.
Other building types
