Serious volume. A 40ft container gives you 67m³ — double the length of a 20ft for well under double the price. The workhorse for farms, warehouses and big storage jobs.
| Option | From |
|---|---|
| Used (cargo-worthy) | $2,600 |
| New (single-trip) | $5,500 |
| Hire | Call for rate |
Price guide only — Brisbane-depot floor pricing; regional prices vary with local stock and freight. Call 1300 235 972 for today's exact price, delivered.
Grades, plainly: As-is units are sold as seen and are not sold watertight — watertight applies to cargo-worthy and new grades only. Your quote always names the grade, and photos of the actual unit are available on request before delivery.
| External | Internal | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 12.19m | 12.03m |
| Width | 2.44m | 2.35m |
| Height | 2.59m | 2.39m |
| Door opening | 2.34m wide × 2.28m high | |
| Capacity | 67.7m³ | |
| Tare weight | 3,800kg | |
Full comparison across all sizes on our dimensions page.
A 40ft gives you just over 12 metres of internal length and about 67 cubic metres — the floor of two 20fts in one box, usually for noticeably less than two 20fts cost, and with one delivery instead of two. It takes long things a 20ft never will: lengths of steel and pipe, irrigation gear, timber, a boat on its trailer (measure first), or pallet racking the full length of one wall. For a farm, a warehouse overflow or a whole house with room to walk, it is the better buy. Two 20fts still make sense if you want to keep things apart — chemicals away from feed — or may split them across two sites later.
The container is big, but the delivery is the part to plan. Many 40fts are delivered by a sidelifter, a trailer with its own cranes that lifts the container off sideways and sets it down beside the truck. That needs a long, straight, firm strip for the truck to park on — allow around 30m — and clear space beside it where the container will land. Larger tilt-trays are used too, and they need a long straight run in line with the drop spot. Either way, soft ground, tight farm gates and overhead lines are what stop a 40ft delivery, not the container. Check your site against our delivery page, and send photos if you are unsure.
On rural properties the 40ft is the one that replaces a shed: chemicals and fertiliser at one end, tools and spares at the other, and a ride-on in the middle. It keeps out vermin and light fingers far better than an open machinery shed. Remember that the doors are the same size as a 20ft's — 2.34m wide — so round bales and wide machinery will not go in, however long the box is. Our farm container guide covers the setups that work. In commercial yards, a 40ft on hardstand beside the shed is the cheapest extra floor space a business can buy.
A standard 40ft is 2.59m tall outside with 2.39m of internal height. A 40ft high cube adds about 30cm, which matters if you stack pallets two high, store tall machinery or plan to line and work inside. Used high cubes often sit only a little above standard 40fts in price, so it is worth asking for both. Every cargo-worthy 40ft we sell is inspected and sold wind and watertight; as-is 40fts are cheaper and are not sold watertight.
Local access notes, common uses and how delivery is quoted for each area:
The setups we see working on rural properties every week — and the honest word on what containers do badly on a farm, like round bales.
Access widths, ground prep and truck types — everything to sort before delivery day so your container lands exactly where you want it.
Real-world price ranges for new and used containers, what moves the market, and how to make sure you're comparing quotes properly.
40ft containers are delivered by a larger tilt-tray or sidelifter — allow around 30m of straight access and firm, level ground. We'll confirm access requirements when we quote your delivery.
Almost always, yes — both to buy and to deliver. Two 20fts make sense when you need flexibility to split them across sites later.
Yes — the 40ft high cube adds about 30cm of internal height for the same footprint and is often similar money. Great for racking and bulky gear.
Usually not. Most 40ft containers do not have forklift pockets and are too long to balance on tines, so they are moved by sidelifter, crane or tilt-tray. Put it where you want it to stay.
The container is 12.19m by 2.44m. It sits on its four corner castings, so it needs level, firm support at each corner — sleepers or concrete blocks — rather than a full slab. Leave room to open both doors fully at one end.
Quotes within the hour*
Tell us what you need and we'll come back with a straight price — container plus delivery to your site, no surprises.
*During business hours. After hours, first thing next morning.