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Other Containers
Specialised Shipping Containers: Reefer, Open Top, Flat Rack and More
Most projects are served by a standard 20ft or 40ft container. Some are not. If your cargo is over-height, temperature sensitive, classified as dangerous goods, or simply awkward to load through a set of end doors, there is a container built for it. This page covers the specialised range: what each type does, when it earns its higher price, and which ones we can source across Australia.
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Containers built for specific cargo
Refrigerated containers (reefers)
An insulated container with an integrated refrigeration unit, capable of holding temperatures from around −25°C to +25°C. Reefers need a constant power supply, either from mains, a generator or a clip-on genset during transport.
Common uses run well beyond food. Reefers work as cool rooms for hospitality, storage for pharmaceuticals and chemicals, and as the basis for cold storage on remote sites. Used units that are no longer certified for sea freight often still hold temperature perfectly well on land, at a fraction of the cost. See our refrigerated container page
Dangerous goods containers
Purpose-built for storing and transporting hazardous substances: flammable liquids, corrosives, oxidising agents, gas cylinders and agricultural chemicals.
The features that matter are the ones you cannot retrofit cheaply. A bunded floor contains spills, forced or passive ventilation clears vapour, electrical fittings are rated for hazardous areas, and signage and placarding meet the relevant standard. Common sizes are 10ft and 20ft, and units are usually specified against Australian Standards such as AS 1940 for flammable and combustible liquids.
Storage requirements for dangerous goods are set by state, not nationally, and quantity thresholds decide what you are obliged to do. Get the compliance question answered before you order the container.
Read our guide to dangerous goods container rules in Australia
Containers with different access
Open top containers
A standard container with the steel roof replaced by removable roof bows and a tarpaulin. Cargo goes in from above by crane, which suits anything too tall or too heavy to move through the end doors like machinery, steel, timber, mining equipment.
Worth knowing before you order: the roof aperture is smaller than the internal dimensions, because the top side rails and door header stay in place. See our open top container page
Flat rack containers
A container floor with two end frames and no side walls or roof. Flat racks carry loads that exceed the width or height of any enclosed container: plant, vehicles, boats, pre-fabricated sections, oversized machinery.
Because there is nothing to shelter the cargo, lashing and weather protection are your responsibility. In exchange you get the highest payload capacity in the range. See our flat rack container page
Side opening containers
Doors along the full length of one side, in addition to the standard end doors. Loading by forklift becomes straightforward, and every pallet is reachable without unpacking the ones in front of it.
This is the type that most often justifies its cost through labour saved rather than capacity gained. It suits pallet storage, workshops, retail conversions and any site where the container is opened daily. See our side opening container page
Double door containers
Doors at both ends, sometimes called tunnel containers. You can drive through, load from either side, or split the interior into two separately accessible zones with a partition.
Useful on tight sites where you cannot always approach from the same direction, and for storage that two parties share.
Containers with different dimensions
High cube containers
The same length and width as a standard container, 305mm taller at 2.89m. The extra height matters for bulky freight and even more for conversions, where a standard 2.59m container leaves very little headroom once you have added flooring and a ceiling. See our high cube container page
Pallet-wide containers
Around 50mm wider internally than a standard container. That sounds trivial until you try to fit two Australian standard pallets side by side, which a standard container cannot do without wasted space. Over a full load the difference in usable capacity is substantial.
6ft containers
The smallest unit we can source, and not an ISO standard size, so dimensions vary by manufacturer. Two formats are common: a shortened container at full width, roughly 2m long, and a cube-shaped unit measuring around 1.8m on each side.
A 6ft unit suits sites where even a 10ft container will not fit: courtyards, rooftops, narrow laneways, small trade premises. It is also light enough to be moved with equipment that could never lift a 20-footer, which keeps delivery and relocation costs down.
48ft containers
The 48ft pallet-wide container is built for domestic intermodal transport on road and
rail, not for international sea freight. Manufacturers design them specifically for
logistics operators rather than shipping lines, which means the internal width is set
to take two Australian pallets side by side instead of following the ISO sea freight
profile.
The numbers are what make them worth the switch: around 97m³ of internal volume and 24
pallet spaces on the floor. Fitted with vertical load bars, that doubles to 48 pallet
spaces double-stacked, which is where the size takes its name from in day-to-day use.
They are lighter than a comparable sea freight container, because payload matters more
than stacking strength when the container never goes on a ship. If your operation moves
palletised freight between depots, this is usually the most efficient unit available.
Worth knowing: a 48ft pallet-wide container is not stackable or seaworthy to ISO
standard, and it needs the right chassis. Ask about handling before you commit.
Which specialised container do you need?
Specialised containers are priced by scarcity as much as by specification. A reefer costs more than a standard container because of the machinery inside it. A flat rack costs more because there are fewer of them and they do not stack empty.
The practical question is whether the specialised feature saves you more than it costs. Side opening doors that cut half an hour off every load pay for themselves on a busy site. A reefer bought for occasional use rarely does.
Tell us the cargo, the site and how often the container gets opened, and we will connect you with suppliers who hold the right stock in your state.
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Our expert team is here to help you secure your ideal 40ft shipping container.
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FAQs
You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers
All you need to know about 40ft shipping containers.
01
Anything outside the general purpose range of 10ft, 20ft and 40ft standard containers. That covers different access (open top, flat rack, side opening, double door), different dimensions (high cube, pallet-wide, 6ft, 48ft) and different cargo requirements (refrigerated, dangerous goods, tank).
02
Yes, though the gap varies widely. High cube containers cost only slightly more than standard. Reefers and dangerous goods units carry a significant premium because of the equipment and certification involved. Availability affects price as much as specification does, so quotes move with regional stock.
03
Usually. Used reefers are a common way to get cold storage at a lower price, and units that no longer meet sea freight certification often work perfectly well on land. For dangerous goods containers, check that the compliance features are intact and documented before you buy.
04
Often, yes. Doors, windows, insulation, ventilation and electrical fit-outs can be added to a standard container by a modification partner. Whether that beats buying a purpose- built unit depends on the specification. Adding side doors to a standard container is routine. Turning one into a compliant dangerous goods store rarely is.
05
Longer than standard, because stock is thinner. Standard containers are usually available from a nearby depot. Reefers, flat racks and 48ft units may need to come from another state, which affects both lead time and transport cost.
06
We connect you with vetted suppliers across Australia. Between them the network covers the full specialised range. Availability depends on your state and the current market, which is why we quote against your actual requirement rather than a price list.