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A shipping container makes a solid, lockable garage that can be delivered in one piece and used the same day. It keeps cars, motorcycles, boats and tools dry and out of sight, and it moves with you if you sell the property.
This guide covers which container fits your vehicle, the door options, double garages with a roof between two containers, the floor and ramp, ventilation and security, permits and costs.
Inside, a standard container is about 7ft 8in wide. A 20ft is about 19ft 4in long inside, a 40ft about 39ft 5in. The cargo doors open to about 7ft 8in wide and 7ft 6in high.
| Vehicle | Typical length | Container |
|---|---|---|
| Compact or midsize car | about 15 to 16 ft | 20ft fits, with little room to open the car doors |
| Full-size SUV | about 17 to 19 ft | 20ft is very tight, a 40ft is the better choice |
| Full-size pickup | close to or over 20 ft | 40ft |
| Motorcycles, ATVs, lawn tractors | small | 10ft or 20ft |
| Boat on a trailer | depends on the boat | Usually a 40ft. Check the width and the height on the trailer |
Width is the real limit. Measure the vehicle with the mirrors folded and leave room to get out. A 40ft container also leaves space for a workbench and storage behind the car. Our guide to shipping container sizes compares all sizes.
Two 40ft containers placed parallel, 12 to 16 feet apart, with a roof between them create a covered double carport or garage with lockable storage on both sides. The roof can be a steel canopy, an arched cover or a timber truss roof. It has to be engineered for your wind and snow loads and anchored to the containers.
The other option is two containers side by side with the inner walls removed, which gives one room just under 16 feet wide. That needs steel beams where the walls come out. Our guide to joining two shipping containers shows how.
Container floors are built to carry forklifts, so the weight of a car is no problem for the floor. The container should sit level on blocks, piers or a slab, which puts the floor several inches above the ground, so plan a short ramp at the doors. A gravel or concrete pad in front keeps the approach firm in wet weather. Our guide to shipping container foundations compares the options.
Never run an engine inside a closed container. Exhaust fumes build up fast in a steel box. Add vents high and low for air exchange: a wet car brings water inside, and without ventilation it condenses on the roof and walls. In humid climates, insulating the roof helps.
Store fuel cans and propane outside the container, fit a smoke detector if you add power, and keep a fire extinguisher by the door.
A container locks better than most garages. The weak point is the padlock, which bolt cutters can reach. A lock box welded over the lock handle covers the padlock and makes it much harder to attack.
A container used as a garage is usually treated as an accessory building. Zoning decides where it may stand, how close to the property line and how large it may be, and HOA rules may restrict containers altogether. A permanent garage with electrical work usually needs a building permit. Check with your local planning department before you order. Our guide to the shipping container shed covers similar rules for smaller units.
The container itself starts at about $1,045 for a used 20ft and about $1,395 for a used 40ft at the depot. Delivery depends on the distance, see our guide to shipping container transport cost. A roll-up door, a foundation or pad, vents and electrical work come on top. A simple storage garage with the original doors costs little more than the delivered container, while a double garage with a roof is a larger project that needs a contractor.
Listings
The sizes most buyers choose for a garage, with current starting prices at US depots. Vetted local suppliers quote delivery to your ZIP code.
Depot prices updated October 2026Structurally sound, wind and watertight and fit for shipping. A safe all round choice for storage and job sites.
Twice the floor space of a 20ft at a lower price per square foot. Great for business stock and farm storage.
Extra foot of height for racking and bulky goods, at used container prices.
Full length side doors for forklift loading, vehicles and pop-up shops.
Starting prices at the depot, based on current inventory at major US container depots. Delivery, sales tax and local fees are extra and depend on your ZIP code. Your supplier confirms the final price in your quote.
See all containers and pricesA compact or midsize car fits, but there is little room to open the doors inside. For larger vehicles, or to have space around the car, choose a 40ft.
Most full-size pickups are close to or over 20 feet long, so they need a 40ft container. Check the height and width with the mirrors folded against the door opening of about 7ft 8in by 7ft 6in.
For simple, lockable storage, usually yes, because the structure arrives finished. With roll-up doors, a roof between two containers and electrical work, the cost moves closer to a conventional garage.
Often yes, especially for a permanent garage or one with power. Zoning and HOA rules also apply. Check with your local planning department first.
Yes. The opening needs a welded steel frame because the wall carries part of the structure. Installed roll-up doors typically cost about $1,500 to $3,500.
shipping-containers.com is a marketplace, not a dealer or a builder. Send one request with your ZIP code and the containers you need, and vetted local suppliers respond with delivered prices. One request, multiple quotes, no fees. Some suppliers in the network also handle modifications such as roll-up doors. Compare sizes and grades on shipping containers for sale.
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Andreas Atrott is the founder of CUBX - shipping-containers.com and its sister sites shipping-containers.com.au in Australia and containerbasis.de in Germany. He has spent more than 15 years in the container industry, across sales, modifications, and custom builds, and shares what he has learned on his YouTube channel, Andy Knows Containers. That practical experience shapes how the platform helps US buyers match the right container to their project.
Container types
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