This new 40ft shipping container is the standard 8 ft 6 in dry cargo unit that most of our customers end up ordering: a sealed Corten steel box with one set of full-width cargo doors, a marine plywood floor and a CSC safety plate on the door. Prime Cargo Box sells it as a new unit, so you are not inheriting someone else’s dents, patched corners or tired door seals.
Below you will find the full specification, what the container is built from, how much room it actually gives you and what to sort out before delivery day. If you already know you want a new 40ft shipping container, you can add it to your cart or send us your delivery details for a quote.
Why Buyers Choose a New 40ft Shipping Container
A 40ft box gives you roughly double the floor space of a 20ft for a lot less than double the money, and you only need to prepare one placement area and arrange one delivery. That is usually the deciding factor for builders, farmers, importers and anyone running a yard who needs bulk, lockable storage.
Choosing a new 40ft shipping container over a used one matters most when the container will sit outside for years or be shipped with cargo. A new unit has a full paint system, straight panels, door gaskets that have never been compressed for a decade and locking bars that line up without a hammer. If you plan to resell it later, a container that started its life with you also holds its value better.
New 40ft Shipping Container Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Container type | 40ft standard dry container (40′ GP) |
| Condition | New |
| External length | 40 ft (12.19 m) |
| External width | 8 ft (2.44 m) |
| External height | 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) |
| Internal length | Approx. 39 ft 5 in (12.03 m) |
| Internal width | Approx. 7 ft 8 in (2.35 m) |
| Internal height | Approx. 7 ft 10 in (2.39 m) |
| Door opening width | Approx. 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m) |
| Door opening height | Approx. 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) |
| Cubic capacity | Approx. 2,390 cu ft (67.7 m³) |
| Tare weight | Approx. 8,270 lbs (3,750 kg) |
| Maximum gross weight | 67,200 lbs (30,480 kg) or 71,650 lbs (32,500 kg), depending on the build rating |
| Payload | Approx. 59,000 to 63,300 lbs (26,700 to 28,750 kg), depending on the gross rating |
| Construction | Corten weathering steel, corrugated walls and roof |
| Floor | Marine-grade plywood on steel cross members |
| Doors | Double cargo doors at one end, four locking bars with padlock lugs |
| Other | Gooseneck tunnel, ISO corner castings, CSC safety approval plate |
Figures vary slightly between factories and production runs. The tare weight and maximum gross weight for your exact unit are printed on its CSC plate and door markings, and we confirm them on your quote.
How Our New 40ft Shipping Container Is Built
The whole shell, including the roof, side walls, front end and door frame, is Corten steel. Corten forms a tight surface oxide that slows corrosion compared with ordinary mild steel, which is why it is used across the container industry. The corrugation in the walls is what lets a container stand up to stacking loads while staying relatively light.
The floor is marine-grade plywood fixed to steel cross members. It is rated for forklift traffic inside the container, so you can drive a pallet truck or small forklift in through the doors instead of carrying everything by hand.
At the door end you get two full-height doors, each with two locking bars. Rubber gaskets around the frame keep the unit wind and watertight. One practical point many first-time buyers miss: a 40ft container does not have forklift pockets like a 20ft does. It is lifted by its corner castings with a crane, a side-lifter or a tilt-bed truck, so plan your unloading method with that in mind.
What Customers Use a 40ft Container For
Most people buy a new 40ft shipping container for one of these jobs:
- Bulk storage for building materials, tools and machinery on construction sites
- Overflow warehousing for retail stock, furniture and seasonal goods
- Farm storage for feed, fertiliser, equipment and spare parts
- Exporting your own goods, vehicles or equipment in a container you own
- Conversions such as workshops, site offices and storage rooms, using our container modification options
As a rough guide, the 67.7 m³ interior takes around 24 to 25 standard pallets on the floor, or the contents of a large family home. If you need extra headroom for tall machinery or stacked pallets, look at our new 40ft high cube container, which adds a full foot of internal height.
Do You Have Room for It?
A new 40ft shipping container needs a level patch of ground about 12.2 m by 2.5 m. The delivery vehicle needs a lot more than that. A truck carrying a 40ft unit usually needs a straight approach of well over 30 m and enough clearance overhead for the container to tilt or be lifted off. Soft ground, low branches and overhead cables are the usual problems, so walk the route before you order.
For a base, compacted gravel, a concrete slab or level blocks under the four corners all work well. What you want to avoid is the container sitting twisted on uneven ground, because a twisted frame makes the doors hard to close and can stop them sealing properly.
New, One-Trip or Used: Which 40ft Should You Buy?
| Option | Condition | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| New 40ft shipping container | Unused, clean paint, full seal life | Long-term outdoor storage, conversions, resale value |
| 40ft one trip shipping container | Carried a single load from the factory | Near-new condition at a slightly lower price |
| Used 40ft shipping container | Retired from shipping service, visible wear | Budget storage where looks matter less |
If you need access from both ends, our 40ft double door shipping container has cargo doors at each end. You can also browse every unit in our 40ft standard containers range or the wider new shipping containers for sale page.
CSC Plate and Shipping Use
Every new 40ft shipping container we sell carries a CSC safety approval plate, issued under the International Convention for Safe Containers. If you want to load the container with cargo and send it by sea, shipping lines and ports will expect that plate to be present and valid. The external size follows the ISO 668 container dimension standard, which is why it fits standard chassis, cranes and ship cells anywhere in the world.
How to Order From Prime Cargo Box
- Tell us what you need. How many new 40ft shipping containers you want, delivery address and whether the container is for storage or shipping.
- Get your quote. We confirm the unit price, delivery cost and the exact tare and gross ratings.
- Agree the delivery. We check site access and the unloading method with you before booking transport.
- Pay and receive. Payment terms are set out in our billing and payment policy, and delivery details are in our shipping and delivery policy.
When your new 40ft shipping container arrives, open and close both doors, check that all four locking bars engage, look over the floor and confirm the CSC plate is fitted. Five minutes on delivery day saves a lot of back and forth later.
Keeping the Container Secure
Steel walls are only half the story. Most break-ins on storage containers happen at the doors, so it pays to think about locking from day one. The locking bars on a new 40ft shipping container have padlock lugs, and a shrouded lockbox welded over those lugs makes it far harder to get bolt cutters onto the padlock. Ask us about adding one before delivery.
Placement helps too. Turning the doors to face a wall, a fence or another container leaves little room to work on them. If the unit will hold valuable tools or stock, many owners add an internal bar or a second lock on the inner door and keep the container visible from a building or camera.
Finally, keep the paperwork. The CSC plate and container number identify the unit, so record the number on your insurance and asset list.
Frequently Asked Questions
How heavy is an empty new 40ft shipping container?
Around 3,750 kg (8,270 lbs). Use the tare figure on the CSC plate of your unit when you book lifting equipment or a truck.
Is a new 40ft shipping container watertight?
Yes. New units are supplied wind and watertight, with intact door gaskets and a sealed roof. Keep it level and the doors will continue to seal properly.
Can I add a personnel door, windows or shelving to a new 40ft shipping container?
Yes. Modifications can be arranged before delivery. Tell us what you have in mind when you request your quote.
Do you ship worldwide?
Yes. We arrange delivery for buyers around the world. Send us your address or nearest port and we will quote the delivery separately from the container.
Can I buy more than one?
Yes, and multiple units are often cheaper per container to deliver. Contact our sales team with your quantity.
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