New, cargo-worthy or as-is — which grade the job actually needs
What the three grades mean, what they cost, and how to work out which one your job needs without paying for condition you will never see.
Type · General Purpose
General Purpose Shipping Containers
The standard box, and the right answer most of the time. Corrugated steel, marine-ply floor, double cargo doors at one end and, in cargo-worthy grade, sealed against rain from above.
What you are getting
- New single-trip and quality used units in 10ft, 20ft and 40ft
- Every cargo-worthy unit is checked wind and watertight before it is loaded
- As-is units are cheaper again and are not sold watertight — the faults are described before you buy
- Lock box fitted so a padlock cannot be cut off easily
- Photos of your actual unit on request, sent before delivery
Grades, in plain language
New, or single-trip. Built overseas, loaded once to get here, and effectively unused. Clean paint, tight seals, a floor with nothing spilled on it. This is what you buy if the container will be visible from the house, converted later, or holding something that cannot tolerate a leak.
Cargo-worthy. A used unit still certified fit to carry freight. It has been to sea and it looks it, but the structure is sound and it is checked wind and watertight before it is loaded. For the overwhelming majority of storage jobs in this district this is the sensible purchase.
As-is. The cheap end. Sold on condition, described honestly, and not sold watertight. Some have a patched roof, some have a soft section of floor, some are simply ugly. If the contents must stay dry, this is not your grade — buy cargo-worthy instead.
Sizes it comes in
| Unit | External L×W×H | Internal L×W×H | Door W×H | Capacity | Pallets | Used from | New from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10ft Containers | 2.99m × 2.44m × 2.59m | 2.83m × 2.35m × 2.39m | 2.34m × 2.28m | 16m³ | 4 standard pallets | $4,350 | $6,400 |
| 20ft Containers | 6.06m × 2.44m × 2.59m | 5.90m × 2.35m × 2.39m | 2.34m × 2.28m | 33m³ | 10 standard pallets | $2,200 | $3,300 |
| 40ft Containers | 12.19m × 2.44m × 2.59m | 12.03m × 2.35m × 2.39m | 2.34m × 2.28m | 67m³ | 20 standard pallets | $2,600 | $5,500 |
| 40ft High Cube | 12.19m × 2.44m × 2.90m | 12.03m × 2.35m × 2.69m | 2.34m × 2.58m | 76m³ | 20 standard pallets | on request | on request |
Guide pricing only, ex GST. The figure you actually pay moves with the grade, with what is available that week, and with the run out to your address. Ring (07) 4141 7699 for a real number rather than a range.
As-is units are the cheap end and they are not sold watertight. They are sold on condition, described plainly, and we will tell you what is wrong with one before you buy it rather than after. If the contents have to stay dry, buy cargo-worthy.
What a general purpose container is built for
A general purpose container is the unit the world ships freight in: a steel box built to be stacked many high on a ship, lifted by its corners and left on a wharf through all weathers. That design is why it makes such good storage on land. The corner castings carry the weight, the corrugated walls are the structure, and the floor is marine-grade plywood on steel cross-members, rated for loads well beyond anything a farm shed or a household will put in it.
The doors are the part to look at. Cargo doors seal on rubber gaskets and lock with four bars that cam into the frame, and on a cargo-worthy unit they are checked before loading. Keep the hinges greased and the container level, and they will keep working for years.
Choosing the size and grade together
Pick the grade against the contents and the size against the space and access. For dry goods that must stay dry — tools, feed, household items, paperwork — buy cargo-worthy or new, which are wind and watertight. For things weather cannot hurt, such as steel, timber off-cuts or a spare trailer, an as-is unit is honest value, and we will tell you what is wrong with it before you buy.
Most general purpose orders across the South Burnett are 20ft; the 10ft suits tight town blocks and shed bays, and the 40ft suits bulk storage where there is a long, straight approach for the truck.
General Purpose — common questions
What is the difference between general purpose and high cube?
Height. A general purpose container is about 2.59m tall outside with 2.39m inside; a high cube adds roughly 300mm. For storage stacked to shoulder height a general purpose unit is the better buy. For workshops and conversions the high cube is worth the extra.
Can I paint a general purpose container?
Yes. Used units come in whatever colour the shipping line used, and many people repaint to suit the house or the shed. Prepare the surface properly and use a paint made for steel; a new single-trip unit is the cleaner starting point if appearance matters.
Is a general purpose container lockable?
Yes. The cargo doors take a padlock, and a lock box shrouds the padlock so bolt cutters cannot easily get at it. For extra security, place the container with the doors facing where you can see them.
Worth reading first
Red soil, slope and standing water — where a container should actually sit
Why the flattest spot is often the wrong spot, what red basalt country does to an unsupported container, and how to choose door orientation once instead of twice.
No-obligation quote
Get a general purpose quote
Stock turns over, so a call gets you a current answer rather than an old price list.
(07) 4141 7699Mon–Fri 7:30am–5pm, Sat 8am–12pm. If we are out on a run, leave a message or send the form and you will get a call back.