Ordering a shipping container is usually simple once you know two things: what size you need, and how delivery to your site actually works. Get those right and everything else, from positioning to ongoing use, tends to fall into place. This guide covers both, with Tilbury and the surrounding Thurrock area in mind.
Shipping Container Sizes Available in Tilbury
We supply a full range of sizes, from compact units for tool storage through to large containers for bulk stock and equipment. Which one suits your project usually comes down to a mix of what you’re storing, how much space you have on site, and how long you’ll need it for.
6ft and 8ft Containers
These smaller sizes suit customers who need somewhere secure for tools, a modest amount of stock, or household items during a move. They’re easy to position on smaller sites where space is tight, and because they’re lighter than larger units, they’re often quicker and cheaper to deliver too. See our 6ft shipping containers for details.
10ft and 20ft Containers
The most requested sizes for businesses in Tilbury, offering a good balance between storage capacity and footprint. A 20ft container is a common choice for construction sites, retail overflow and general commercial storage, largely because it fits comfortably on most yards while still holding a genuinely useful amount of stock or equipment.
40ft and Larger Containers
For businesses with higher volumes of stock or bulky equipment, a 40ft container gives significantly more capacity while still fitting on most commercial sites. These larger units tend to suit distribution businesses, larger construction projects, or anyone consolidating multiple smaller storage arrangements into one unit. For the full breakdown of sizes and what suits different projects, our guide to shipping container sizes from 6ft to 45ft is worth a read before you order.
How Delivery Works
Once you’ve chosen a size, containers are delivered directly to your site using specialist hiab or skip-loader vehicles, depending on access. The driver positions the container exactly where you need it, provided the ground is level and firm enough to take the weight. For most residential and commercial sites in Tilbury, this is a straightforward process that takes no more than an hour or two once the vehicle arrives.
Choosing the Right Delivery Method
Hiab vehicles lift the container off the back of the lorry and lower it into position, which works well where there’s decent overhead clearance. Skip-loader vehicles slide the container off using a chain and winch system, which suits sites with lower access but needs a longer, clearer run to position the unit correctly. We’ll advise on the best method for your site once we know the access and layout.
What to Prepare Before Delivery
A little preparation makes delivery day go smoothly. That means:
- Clearing the delivery route of overhanging branches, parked vehicles or narrow gateways
- Making sure the ground is level, firm and free of soft or waterlogged patches
- Having someone on site to confirm the exact positioning before the container is set down
- Checking access width against the delivery vehicle’s turning circle, particularly on residential streets
- Removing any obstacles such as bins, planters or vehicles from the intended container position
Our guide on what ground preparation is needed before container delivery covers this in more detail, and our transport guidelines page sets out the vehicle types and access requirements we work to, including turning circles and overhead clearance for each delivery method.
What Happens After Delivery
Once the container is in position, it’s ready to use straight away for most storage purposes. If you’re planning to convert it into an office, welfare unit or workspace, that’s a separate process that usually happens either before delivery, if you’re taking a pre-converted unit, or on site afterwards if a bespoke fit-out is needed. Either way, it’s worth discussing your plans with our team at the point of order, so delivery and any follow-on work can be scheduled together.
Hire or Buy: Which Makes Sense in Tilbury?
Once you know your size, it’s worth thinking about whether hiring or buying suits your situation better. Hiring makes sense for short-term projects, seasonal storage or anything where your needs might change in a few months’ time. Buying tends to suit businesses with an ongoing, predictable need for storage, where the container will stay in place for years rather than weeks. Either way, the size and delivery process stay much the same, so it’s a decision you can make separately from the practical logistics covered above.
Delivery Across Tilbury and Thurrock
We deliver throughout Tilbury, Grays, Purfleet, West Thurrock and the wider South Essex area, usually within a short turnaround once an order’s confirmed. Whether you’re storing equipment for a port-related business or setting up a domestic container for the first time, the process stays broadly the same: choose a size, confirm access, and we take care of the rest.
Get a Quote for Shipping Containers in Tilbury
Ready to order, or still deciding on the right size? Contact our team for pricing, or visit our shipping containers in Tilbury page for local availability.