Everything you want to know before you buy

We currently supply from stock:

• 20FT Shipping Container (6m) — 6,06 m lang, 33 m³, from €1.500 excl. VAT
• 40FT High Cube Shipping Container (12m) — 12,19 m lang, 76 m³, from €2.500 excl. VAT
• 40FT Shipping Container (12m) — 12,19 m lang, 67 m³, from €2.000 excl. VAT

Not sure which size? Read our size comparison or give us a call — we're happy to help. See all types in detail in our shop →

A new (one-trip) container has been shipped just once from the factory in China and, apart from that single sea voyage, is completely new. A used container has been in service with shipping lines for around 10–15 years for international transport. We supply used containers in three quality grades — A, B and C — so you can choose between appearance and price; all grades are wind- and watertight and perfectly suited to storage or transport. So the difference is mainly visual. Tip: we supply new 40ft as High Cube — more height for a better price.

Every used container is assigned a grade after the HEROX inspection. The higher the grade, the tidier the appearance — the construction and watertightness are sound in all three.In the shop you choose the grade per container — the price adjusts instantly →

No — it's part of the deal, and the rust actually works in your favour. A used container has spent ten to fifteen years travelling the world: stacked on decks in the Pacific, lifted in and out of ships by crane, hauled by road through Rotterdam and Hamburg. A seasoned sea traveller without a single dent simply doesn't exist — and those dents say nothing about what the container does: keep things dry and sealed.

Why rust is no weakness here. Shipping containers are made of Corten steel, a weathering steel developed specifically to live outdoors. When the surface meets salt water and air, a thin, dense layer of rust forms that bonds to the steel and seals it off. That layer is the protection — it's exactly how a container survives for years at sea without maintenance. So surface rust on panels or corner posts isn't corrosion, it's the steel protecting itself.

What we do check during inspection:

• Rust that goes right through the steel (perforation), especially in the floor cross-members and the underside — we reject or repair this
• Dents that affect the doors: the door must close smoothly and the seals must be watertight
• The roof: no cracks, no spots where water pools
• The floor: solid, dry, no soft spots

So the difference between our classes A, B and C comes down almost entirely to how it looks — not how well it works. Want a smart appearance with no marks? Then choose A-grade or a new one-trip, or have us spray it in your own RAL colour.

At HEROX, no container leaves the depot without our own quality inspection. What we check and, where needed, put right:

• Doors, hinges and locks — opening and closing smoothly, sealing properly
• Floor, roof and side panels — checked for damage and rust
• Seals — replaced where worn
• Watertightness — tested before it leaves our depot

Not up to standard? Then it doesn't go out — it's that simple. Only once our depot team has approved it is the container released. That way you know for certain you're getting a container you can rely on for years — no surprises on delivery.

With many suppliers, you only see what you've bought when it's delivered. Not at HEROX: 2 days before delivery you receive photos of your exact container, including the container number — the very same container that arrives on your site two days later. What you see in the photos is what you get. Still have a question or doubt after seeing them? One call to your contact and we'll sort it out before delivery. Prefer to see for yourself? You're welcome at our depot by appointment.

Watertight: yes. A shipping container is built to stand for weeks at sea; the steel walls, the roof and the double door seals keep rain and wind out. Every container we deliver is tested for watertightness at the depot.

Condensation is a different matter. It doesn't come from outside, but from within: warm, humid air inside the container settles on the cold steel — for example after a cold night followed by a sunny morning. That can create droplets on the ceiling that fall onto your belongings. Here's how to prevent it:

• Load dry items only — no wet timber, damp tents or moist cardboard boxes
• Set the container on blocks or sleepers, so air can flow beneath the floor
• Have ventilation grilles fitted: constant airflow, no moisture build-up (an option in the shop)
• For sensitive storage or use as a room: have the container insulated — that keeps the steel at temperature

Not sure what your application needs? Our team is happy to advise.

In most cases no — but it depends on where and how long you place the container. The rules of thumb:

• Temporary (renovation, house move, event, storage during a project) on your own land: almost always permit-free. In that case a container isn't a structure but a temporary provision.
• At the back of the plot or behind the front façade, not visible from the public road: usually permit-free, as long as you stay within the rules for outbuildings (the area and height allowed for your plot).
• Permanent, in view, or connected (power, water, as an office or living space): then the council views it as a structure and a planning permit is often required — certainly in a protected conservation area or where a zoning plan restricts outbuildings.
• Business premises or building site: as a rule permit-free if it's part of the business operations; on public land (a parking bay, for instance) you'll need a temporary exemption from the council.

In doubt? A quick call to your council's Permits department, or a check via the planning portal, gives you clarity within minutes. Do that before you order — then the container never has to wait.

Our prices are live in the shop and apply per branch — this is the current range with from-prices:All prices exclude VAT and transport. For used containers the quality class (A, B or C) determines the exact price; transport to your address appears straight away in your quote, crane truck included.

Click Quote (top right on every page) and answer a few short questions: which container, which quality, where it needs to go. You'll get a real quote on your screen right away — including transport by crane truck to your address, valid for 14 days and ready to accept digitally on the spot. Several containers, hire or bespoke work? That's possible in the same request; one of our team will then take a look and you'll receive a tailored quote within 24 hours on working days.

Transport costs are calculated based on the distance from our depot to your delivery address — and always include the crane truck and placement. So you never pay a separate crane surcharge. In the quote you see the total cost before you decide: the price you see is the price you pay.

At HEROX you don't buy from a middleman, but from the container specialist itself: our own depots, our own purchasing, our own inspection and our own transport. That lets us buy more sharply than anyone — and we guarantee it in black and white. Find the same container — same size, same quality class, including delivery by crane truck — cheaper at another European supplier? Send us that quote before you order: we'll match the price and give you extra discount on top. No small print, no 'collection only': just the same container for a lower price, with our inspection and our photos in advance. That way you know for certain that you never overpay at HEROX — and never have to compromise on quality to get a good deal.

All prices on our website are excluding VAT — so business and private customers compare the same net price. On your invoice we charge the VAT that applies in the country where we deliver, and state it separately: in the Netherlands that's 21%. Business? You receive a full invoice with our VAT number and your company details, so you can simply reclaim the VAT in your return; net, the container therefore costs you the amount excluding VAT. Private? Then the amount including VAT is the amount you pay — you'll see that in your quote, before you confirm anything. No surprises afterwards.

At HEROX you always pay a registered company against a genuine invoice — never in advance to an anonymous account. These are the payment options at this branch:

• Pay directly — 5% discount already includedThe shown price is your price when paying by bank before delivery. Pay later or financing adds a small surcharge.
• Receive first, pay within 30 days PrivateYour container is delivered first — you pay within 30 days via Klarna.
• Split into 3 interest-free payments PrivateThree equal payments, zero interest, via Klarna.
• Business: order now, pay in 90 days BusinessDelivered now, invoice due in 90 days. Instant approval on your VAT number.
• Business: spread over 12 months Business
• Business lease: 24 months Business
• Business lease: 36 months, lowest monthly Business

All options run through certified European payment and finance partners or via our own invoice with VAT number. That way you know for certain that your payment is secure and that HEROX is fully vetted and operates in line with European law and regulations.

You pay a registered company against a genuine invoice with a VAT number, you see photos of your container in advance, and you can choose to pay after delivery — something fraudsters can never offer. Read more on Secure payment.

A container is a substantial purchase, and unfortunately the online container market attracts fraudsters too. That's why we've set up our safeguards so that a fake supplier can never replicate them:

• A real company, a real invoice — you pay a registered business with a VAT number, all traceable
• Photos of your container, 2 days before delivery — including the container number; what you see is what you get
• HEROX inspection — every container checked at the depot, tested for watertightness and released by our depot team
• Digitally signed quote — price, transport and placement are fixed before you pay anything; no surprises afterwards
• Direct points of contact — you speak with the people handling your order, no call centre

You can read our full terms in advance in your quote — no small print afterwards.

In five steps — you'll also see them in the timeline at the top of this page:

1. Order confirmed — you sign digitally; price, transport and placement are fixed.
2. Invoice & payment — you automatically receive the invoice; as soon as the payment (or approval of your payment plan) is in, we start planning.
3. Preparing & scheduling — we select your container from our own stock and get in touch to arrange a delivery date that suits you.
4. Photos in advance — 2 days before delivery you receive photos of your container, including the container number.
5. Crane delivery on site — delivered and placed on the agreed day, exactly where you point.

As soon as your payment is in, we schedule the transport with our carrier. As a guide: your container is usually on your site within around 5 working days — depending on your location, how busy the carrier is and whether you've given a preferred date. You'll always hear the scheduled delivery time in good time; if that date doesn't suit, we'll arrange an alternative together. In a hurry? Say so with your request and we'll see what's possible.

With a lorry with a crane. Within a radius of 6 metres we place the container on the spot you designate. At the unloading location, allow for a clear access of about 5 m wide and 4 m high, and room for a lorry of about 18 m. The driver will run through the placement with you on site and, where needed, levels the container with a paving slab or wooden shims — handy if you have some ready.

A shipping container is exceptionally strong, but it's designed to rest on four corner points — on a ship or a chassis it never stands on its full floor either. If one corner sits lower than the other three, the whole steel structure 'twists' slightly. You'll notice it first in the doors: they jam, no longer close properly or leave a gap through which water can get in. That's why a good base isn't a detail, but the foundation for years of dry use.

What we advise:

• A level, hard base: concrete, paving, compacted gravel or well-compacted ground
• Four solid support points under the corners — ground-stabilising slabs, concrete tiles or railway sleepers — so the container is level and air can flow beneath the floor
• On soft ground: trackway mats or a crushed-hardcore bed, otherwise one corner sinks after the first downpour
• A paved access route: our lorry with crane weighs well over 30 tonnes when loaded and mustn't get stuck

Make sure the spot is ready before the driver arrives: level, clear and with tiles or wooden shims to hand for levelling the corners. The driver will run through the placement with you, but the unloading location and its accessibility are your responsibility — see also what happens if unloading isn't possible. Unsure about your location? Send us a photo beforehand and we'll think it through with you.

The lorry with crane arrives on the agreed day — but if the container can't be unloaded at the designated spot, the driver can't solve that on site. Think of it like a delivery driver standing at your door with a new sofa that won't fit up the stairwell: however much he'd like to, he can't deliver it. The most common causes:

• The access is too narrow or too low (less than about 5 m wide / 4 m high), or there's no room for a vehicle of about 18 m to turn
• The ground is too soft: the vehicle sinks or can't safely deploy the crane's outriggers
• The spot is out of the crane's reach (about 6 m from the vehicle), behind a building, under trees or under overhead cables
• The site isn't clear: parked cars, materials, a locked gate, no one present

How to prevent this: run through the checklist from the previous question, and agree an alternative unloading spot in advance — on the driveway, beside the building or on a neighbour's land, for instance — where the driver can divert if the first choice turns out not to be feasible. In doubt? Send us a photo or video of the route and the spot before delivery; we're happy to take a look.

Honest about the costs: you're responsible for the unloading location and the ability to unload there. If the vehicle has to return without delivering, we charge the failed-delivery fee: the transport there and back plus a fresh run for the second attempt. We want that no more than you do — which is why we stress it so much beforehand.

Hiring is the smart choice when you need space temporarily: a renovation, a project on the building site, an event or seasonal storage, without a large outlay. Here's how it works:

1. Choose your container and location. You request a hire price with your address and the expected period, and receive a price the same working day.
2. Minimum of 1 month. After that the hire can be cancelled monthly.
3. At the start you pay the first month plus a one-off service fee (see the next question). After that you only pay the monthly hire.
4. We deliver and place with the crane truck and collect the container again at the end of the hire. You don't have to arrange a thing.

Torn between hiring and buying? Request both prices in the same quote, and you'll see straight away where the tipping point lies.

Alongside the monthly hire, at the start you pay a single all-in service fee, once. The amount depends on your location (the distance to our depot) and is stated exactly in your quote. It covers literally everything to get the container to you and collect it again:

• Transport there and back: delivery at the start and collection afterwards, both included
• Crane placement and collection: our crane truck sets the container exactly where you want it and lifts it off again later
• Cleaning: delivered clean, and no cleaning charges on return
• Damage Protection Plan: damage up to €250 is automatically covered for the entire hire period, with no deposit
• Contract, inspection and administration, including direct contact with our team during the hire

Why a single amount? Because then you know exactly where you stand in advance. During and after the hire, nothing is added on top: no collection charges, no crane surcharge, no cleaning invoice.

Yes. HEROX has several workshops. You'll find all the options in our shop: access doors, windows, ventilation, insulation, sockets, lighting and interior walls. Finally, we spray the container in the RAL colour of your choice — completely bespoke.

For simple modifications (windows, doors, insulation) we allow 2–4 weeks; for more complex bespoke work 4–6 weeks. As soon as your request comes in, we'll give you the exact lead time.

A long time. A shipping container is built for salt water, storms and tonnes of cargo; on land it has a much easier life. A new (one-trip) container lasts 25 to 30 years with minimal maintenance, and a used A- or B-container a good 10 to 20 years more. The steel is Corten steel, which protects itself with a thin oxide layer; only deep scratches and standing water on the roof are worth keeping on top of (see our maintenance question below).

That's also why a container holds its value: unlike a wooden shed or a steel shed, you can simply have it lifted and resold years later — often for a large part of the purchase price. Need it somewhere else later on? We'll move it with the same crane truck we brought it on.

Little — and that's down to the material. Shipping containers are made of Corten steel (weathering steel). That steel deliberately rusts a little at the surface: the thin, dense layer of rust bonds to the steel and seals it, so the steel beneath can't rust further. Surface rust on a container is therefore not a defect but a protective layer — precisely why containers can stand outdoors for decades. What you do watch for is rust that can go through: spots where water pools or where the paint is damaged down to bare steel. Your annual maintenance in four points:

• Keep the roof clear — wipe away leaves, twigs and above all standing water after rain; the roof is the only surface where water can pool
• Touch up deep scratches — sand, primer, a coat of marine paint; you can leave surface rust spots be
• Door seals and hinges — grease hinges and locking bars once a year, keep the seals clean and supple
• Keep the underside dry — container on blocks or sleepers, so air keeps flowing beneath the floor

Want to know more? Read our detailed maintenance tips.

HEROX is a European container specialist with local branches. We buy in ourselves from shipping lines and factories worldwide, keep stock at depots across Europe and deliver with our own scheduling and regular carriers right to your site, crane included. No middleman, no reseller: you buy directly from the party that purchases, inspects, photographs and brings the container.

What sets us apart from an anonymous online offering is that we work locally. In each country a branch of our own with its own team that speaks your language, knows the rules and the roads, and deals with you personally. You don't call a call centre but the people handling your order, and you pay a registered company with a VAT number, against a genuine invoice. This is how trust should work with a purchase of this size.

HEROX has branches in several European countries, each with its own team, its own depot(s) and its own website in the local language. You're always helped by the branch of the country where we deliver:

• Herox Nederland Amsterdam
• Herox Europe this branch
• Herox Belgium
• Herox Czechia
• Herox Germany
• Herox Spain
• Herox Portugal
• Herox Italy
• Herox Slovakia
• Herox Romania
• Herox Greece

Your branch

Herox Europe
+1 938 348 837 7
info@herox-containers.eu