Hire Storage Containers in Market Harborough
Shipping Containers of Birmingham supplies high-grade Corten steel units with wind- and watertight seals and heavy-duty locking gear. These features ensure your goods stay dry and protected from theft and harsh weather. By choosing our service, you gain the benefit of secure, flexible storage directly on your site, eliminating the need for expensive off-site warehousing and reducing your transport costs.
Our trusted advisors provide expert information about hiring storage containers in Market Harborough. We help you find the most cost-effective way to protect your assets. We guide you through the correct procedures for delivering a unit to your premises in Leicestershire, ensuring a smooth, efficient process. Shipping Containers of Birmingham understands that the condition of the unit is vital to our clients. We work to ensure every container we provide to Market Harborough is sturdy, secure, and ready for use.
Options for Container Hire in Leicestershire
With more than 30 years of experience, Shipping Containers of Birmingham prides itself on a comprehensive hiring service for all customers in Market Harborough. We offer a variety of sizes and types to meet the needs of diverse sectors, including retail and construction, as well as agriculture and private storage.
20ft Storage Containers
The 20ft unit is our most popular choice for hire. It provides approximately 150 square feet of floor space, which is enough to hold the contents of a standard three-bedroom house. Its size allows it to fit into most parking spaces or yard corners without blocking essential access for other vehicles. You can check the specific 20ft Shipping Container dimensions here to see if it suits your site layout in Market Harborough.
40ft Storage Containers
For large-scale industrial projects or agricultural storage, the 40ft container is the standard solution. These units offer double the volume of a 20ft container, making them ideal for bulky machinery, long pipes, or extensive building materials. They are a common sight on construction sites and large depots across Leicestershire. Review the 40ft Shipping Container specifications to ensure your premises can accommodate the unit and the large delivery vehicle.
Technical Terms Defined
- Corten Steel: A high-strength, weathering steel that forms a stable, rust-like appearance to protect against deep corrosion.
- Wind and Watertight: A guarantee that the unit has no holes and the door seals are intact to keep the weather out.
- HIAB: A truck fitted with a hydraulic crane used to lift and place containers on-site.
- Lock Box: A steel shroud that protects the padlock from tampering and bolt cutters.
- CSC Plate: A safety certificate required for containers used in international shipping.
- One-Trip: A brand-new container that has made a single journey from the factory to the UK.
Specialist Storage Solutions
Shipping Containers of Birmingham supports the diverse logistics landscape of the Midlands with specialist equipment. If your project in Market Harborough requires more than a standard dry box, we can supply units designed for specific tasks.
Refrigerated Containers
For businesses in the food, drink, or pharmaceutical sectors, we provide refrigerated containers, also known as reefers. These units feature an onboard motor to maintain a steady temperature, ensuring your perishables stay fresh. We supply these in both 20ft refrigerated and 40ft refrigerated formats.
Open Top and Flat Rack Units
If your cargo is too tall for a standard container, an open-top unit allows crane loading through the roof. For oversized machinery that is wider than a standard unit, we provide flat racks. These are essential for heavy engineering projects or local infrastructure work near Market Harborough.
Delivery and Site Access in Market Harborough
Shipping Containers of Birmingham manages your delivery logistics from start to finish. We use HIAB vehicles to offload the units, enabling precise placement on your land. To ensure a successful delivery, you must prepare the area in accordance with our guidelines.
Vehicle Requirements
Our delivery trucks are large HGVs. A vehicle for a 20ft container is roughly the size of a refuse truck, while a 40ft container requires a full articulated lorry. You must ensure the entrance to your site in Market Harborough is wide enough, and the path is clear of parked cars or narrow gates. The truck needs a hard-standing ground, such as concrete, tarmac, or compacted hardcore. We cannot drive on soft grass or mud as the vehicle and the container will sink.
Overhead Clearance
The crane arm needs significant space to lift the unit safely. You must check for overhead power lines, telephone cables, or low-hanging tree branches. If there are live power cables near the vehicle, safety rules require a minimum distance of 20 metres. Always inform Shipping Containers of Birmingham of any obstructions during the quote stage to avoid failed delivery charges.
Level Ground
The area where the container will sit must be level. If the unit is tilted, the steel frame can twist, which makes the heavy doors very difficult to open or close. We recommend using railway sleepers or paving slabs under the four corners of the container to keep it level and provide airflow underneath the floor.
Planning Permission and Compliance
In many cases, a shipping container is considered a temporary structure and does not require formal planning permission. However, this depends on how long the unit stays on-site and its location. If you are in a conservation area or plan to keep the unit for more than 28 days in a residential area, you should check with the local authority.
We recommend consulting the Harborough District Council planning portal for specific guidance on your project. If you plan to use the unit for international export from a local business park, ensure the container has a valid CSC plate. Shipping Containers of Birmingham can provide containers that are certified for global travel.
Hire vs Buy: Which is Better for You?
Our container team will discuss the best budgeting possibilities for your Market Harborough enquiries. We can help you check if buying a shipping container in Market Harborough is better than a long-term hire.
When to Hire
Hiring is the most economical choice for short-term needs, such as a home renovation, seasonal retail stock overflow, or temporary building site storage. It preserves your capital and allows us to collect the unit when you no longer need it. This removes the hassle of trying to sell or move the container later. Shipping Containers of Birmingham handles the collection once your project is complete.
When to Buy
If you need storage for more than 18 to 24 months, buying a unit usually offers better value. Ownership allows you to modify the container, such as adding electricity, lining the walls, or painting it in your company’s colours. Shipping Containers of Birmingham supplies both new (one-trip) and used containers for sale to suit your budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to hire a storage container in Market Harborough?
Hire rates depend on the container size and the total duration of the contract. Delivery and collection costs are calculated based on the distance from our depot to your site in Market Harborough. Use our quote form for a precise price tailored to your postcode.
Can I choose the colour of my hired container?
Our hire units usually come in standard colours like blue or green to look professional on-site. If you have a specific colour requirement to match your business branding in Leicestershire, please let us know. While we cannot always guarantee a specific shade for hire units, we do our best to find a suitable unit from our current stock. Shipping Containers of Birmingham can provide repainting services for purchased units.
How do I prevent condensation inside the container?
Condensation occurs when temperature changes cause moisture to settle on the steel ceiling. You can manage this by using moisture traps or by installing a unit with an anti-condensation coating, such as Grafo-therm. This is vital if you store sensitive items, such as furniture, paper records, or textiles, in Market Harborough. You can learn more about maintenance on our about us page.
What condition will the storage containers be in?
Generally, we stock both brand-new and used containers. For hire, we ensure all units are wind- and watertight, with functional door seals. If you need a specific grade for a high-profile site in Market Harborough, we can send pictures of the actual containers we aim to provide before you commit to the hire.
How quickly can you deliver to Market Harborough?
We typically deliver containers within 3 to 5 working days of an order being confirmed. If you have an urgent need for storage at a construction site or business park in Leicestershire, please call Shipping Containers of Birmingham to check current lead times and vehicle availability.
Are the containers secure against theft?
Yes, our containers are built from heavy steel and are very difficult to breach. Most of our units for hire in Market Harborough come with a lock box fitted. This protects your padlock from being cut with bolt cutters. When you use a high-quality padlock inside the lock box, you get the highest level of security for your property.
Can you move the container once it is on my site?
We use HIAB cranes to place the container exactly where you need it. However, once the driver has disconnected the crane and left the site, the container is static. Moving a container while it is loaded is not possible with our standard delivery vehicles. If you need the unit relocated in the future, Shipping Containers of Birmingham can arrange a professional lift-and-shift service.
