Shipping Containers for Sale
Containers Direct is an award winning, nationwide supplier of shipping containers.
Containers Direct are one of the leading suppliers of new shipping containers, used containers and converted containers. One of the few British manufacturers of new build containers and specialists in container conversions, from container offices to storage containers of all shapes and sizes including a wide range of flat pack containers. Founded in 2008 the company rapidly gained a reputation for innovation, leading the way in supplying cut price containers straight from the docks. The opening of the fabrication depot in 2010 allowed new research and development of ways to re-purpose ISO containers, bringing to the market a range of standard branded offices, gyms, classrooms and much more. We pride ourselves on being one of the first container resellers to realise the full potential of a container structure.
The shipping container itself has an interesting history. Invented by Malcom McClean in 1956, it was a concept that massively reduced the costs of both shipping and transport, allowing Asia to become the new workshop of the world. A key feature of the shipping container is that it's intermodal, i.e. suitable for safe transportation on a wide variety of modes of transport. A container can be loaded with goods on the back of a lorry in the Far East, lifted onto a train, moved onto a container ship and arrive in a port in the UK to be trucked to a factory. Throughout this journey the doors are only opened twice, once for loading and once for emptying. To endure shipment in harsh marine environments, heavy handling in ports, depots and factories, shipping containers must be incredibly strong. Containers are also reusable, so they must be durable enough to withstand this sort of rough handling as they travel around the world for over a decade or more. Extreme resilience is needed for loading with up to 27 tons of cargo and withstand stacking up to 9 containers high!
This enormous strength and durability makes them ideal for use as storage containers AND the perfect structures for converting to suit a wide range of uses. The production of a shipping container is carbon intensive so Containers Direct specialise in working with second-hand shipping containers after they've been released from their working life on shipping fleets. They are given a new lease of life by repurposing them with a low carbon footprint in our in-house depot.
We are well known for our container offices, safe chemical stores and pop up shops for a variety of applications, including burger and coffee bars and retail outlets. We create joined-up containers to make larger spaces for use as classrooms, festival exhibition stands and garage containers. We pioneered the shipping container living roof, a valuable part of a conversion project in capturing carbon and increasing bio-diversity. This is now available as a stand-alone product..
We are well known for our container offices, safe chemical stores and pop up shops for a variety of applications, including burger and coffee bars and retail outlets. We create joined-up containers to make larger spaces for use as classrooms, festival exhibition stands and garage containers. We pioneered the shipping container living roof, a valuable part of a conversion project in capturing carbon and increasing bio-diversity. This is now available as a stand-alone product..
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Quality you can see, experience you can trust
We regularly showcase our work as we believe it's much easier to capture in pictures than try to visualise it. Over the years we have built up a vast library of pictures, displaying a wide variety of applications, so why not explore our case studies as there is every chance you will see finished pictures of something very similar to your project.Our welders were raised in the docks of Liverpool and Bootle, so there's very little about shipping containers they don't know! Along with our welders we have a highly skilled team of time served joiners, painters, plumbers and electricians on hand, ready to bring your ideas to life.
Tell us your requirements and your delivery postcode using our Quick Quote form to get the ball rolling. Alternatively call us direct to speak to one of team to discuss what we can offer.
Container Conversion Specialists
Discover our award-winning container conversions service for bespoke shipping container modifications and custom builds. From chemical stores, site offices, and pop-up shops to portable toilets and food outlets, we can design and build to your specification.
Call us free on 0800 0612 575
Our Online Brochure
You can view our Container Conversions brochure here, or why not take a look at some of our amazing work?
Case Study of the Month
November 2025CS104153 - Community playground cafe and bike hire store - 2 x 20ft
The Vench, a much-loved adventure playground and community centre in Lockleaze, Bristol operates as part of the Groundwork South project. Groundwork "takes practical action to create a fair and green future in which people, places, and nature thrive." So we were excited to be chosen to provide two upcycled containers to their Bristol location. We converted one to use for their bike hire scheme and another as a pop-up cafe in the playground. They were pushed together side by side to resemble one large building but on the inside they are very different!Take a look at some of the most engaging work we have undertaken in recent years. With detailed pictures, step-by-step guides, and in-depth insights into many projects, our case studies cover a wide range of applications.
Just some of the clients we've worked with...
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Shipping Container Blog
Monday 17 November 2025
There are all kinds of options for those who want to keep their motorcycle secure in a heavy duty shed, A good motorcycle store can extend the life of your bike by protecting it from the elements and theft. Choosing the right size to suit your needs is an important part of this.
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Monday 17 November 2025
In shipping container terms once used containers are referred to as new or one trip containers. They are manufactured in China and shipped over to the UK for sale loaded with cargo. Transporting the container filled with cargo lowers costs, which is passed on in the retail price. Find out what the typical condition of one-trip shipping container will look like.
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Monday 10 November 2025
Used shipping containers offer great value for money, as they are built to last and withstand many years of heavy weight bearing and rough transit. They will be handled many times in ports and container depots throughout the world, and spend years on high seas. This will be reflected in the appearance of the container.
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Tuesday 4 November 2025
The shipping container conversion boom has given rise to containerised buildings being a common site in the wild nowadays. From pop-up shops and food stalls, to portable offices, and even small homes, you may be curious as to why a recycled metal box is rapidly finding its why into our landscape.
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Testimonials
As a long established and reputable shipping container company, we want to instil confidence in our customers that we can deliver on our promises, and provide high quality products and service.But don't just take our word for it, see for yourself what our past and present clients have to say about Containers Direct.
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Committed to Quality
We are ISOQAR Approved and certified to ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems, demonstrating our commitment to excellence. We are also members of MakeUK, who champion British manufacturing, and the Container Self Storage and Traders Association (CSTA), representing global operators and innovators. In addition, we are registered members of JOSCAR, the Joint Supply Chain Accreditation Register.
ISO Cert No. 13586-QNS-001
ISO 9001:2015
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