Onsite storage
Why Onsite Storage? The Case for a Conex Box
An onsite storage container puts secure, weatherproof storage right where you need it: beside your house, your shop or your job site. No driving to a storage facility, no gate hours and, if you buy, no rent that never ends.
What onsite storage means
Onsite storage means keeping your extra equipment, stock or belongings on your own property instead of at a self-storage facility. The most common way to do it is with a steel shipping container, often called a conex box. It's delivered by truck, set down on your site and ready to use the same day.
Because a container is a portable building rather than a permanent structure, you can usually place it without a building project, use it for as long as you need, and move or sell it later.
Onsite storage vs a self-storage unit
| Onsite storage container | Self-storage unit | |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Any time, a few steps away | During the facility's gate hours |
| Trips | None: load it where you work or live | A drive every time you need something |
| Cost over time | Buy once, or rent and stop when you're done | Rent every month for as long as you store |
| Security | Steel walls, lockable doors, a lock box if you add one | Shared facility, your own padlock |
| Loading | Drive up to the doors on your own site | Carts, lifts and corridors at many facilities |
| Moving it | Can be picked up and moved with your stuff inside, by arrangement | You move everything yourself |
| When you're done | Sell or reuse the container | Nothing to show for the rent |
A storage unit can make sense for a short stay when you have no space on site. For storage you'll need for many months, or that you use every day, onsite storage is usually more convenient and often costs less over time.
Who uses onsite storage
- Homeowners: renovations, moves, garage overflow, seasonal gear and garden equipment.
- Contractors: tools and materials on the job site, locked up overnight. See our conex box rental options for project-length storage.
- Farms and ranches: feed, tools, parts and equipment, away from weather and pests.
- Businesses and retailers: seasonal stock, records, fixtures and overflow inventory beside the shop or warehouse.
- Schools, churches and nonprofits: sports equipment, event gear and donations.
- Restaurants and food businesses: cold storage in a refrigerated container.
Why a conex box works so well
- Built for the weather. Containers are made to cross oceans, so a sound one keeps out wind and rain.
- Strong and secure. Corrugated steel walls and heavy locking bars on the doors make it hard to break into, especially with a lock box covering the padlock.
- Rodent resistant. With sound floors and door seals, there are no gaps for animals to get in.
- Ready the day it arrives. No foundation pour or construction: it's set on level ground and you start loading.
- Easy to add to. Shelving, lighting, vents, extra doors and windows can all be added. See custom and office conex box builds.
- Holds its value. A container you buy can be resold or reused when you no longer need it.
Choosing a size
- 8ft and 10ft: tight spaces, small yards and compact equipment.
- 20ft conex box: the most popular size for onsite storage. It fits most driveways and holds the contents of a typical one- or two-bedroom home.
- 40ft conex box: large inventories, farms and job sites with room for a bigger truck.
- High cube: an extra foot of height for tall items and shelving. Compare every size on the conex box sizes page.
New, used or rented?
- Used conex box: the best value for plain storage. A wind and watertight unit keeps your things dry at a lower price.
- New conex box: a one-trip unit in like-new condition, for storage that customers or neighbors will see.
- Rent or rent-to-own: rent a conex box for a project with an end date, or spread the cost with rent-to-own.
Planning your site
- Pick the spot. Level, firm ground, with room to open the doors fully.
- Check access. The delivery truck needs a long, straight approach and clear space overhead, free of wires and branches.
- Check local rules. Some towns and HOAs need a permit or limit where a container can sit. Ask your zoning office before you order.
- Plan for dry storage. Set the container on blocks or gravel so air flows underneath, and add vents or moisture absorbers for anything sensitive to damp.
- Lock it up. Add a lock box and a quality padlock, and keep the doors facing where you can see them.
Tell us your ZIP code and a little about your site when you request a quote, and we'll confirm the right size, condition and delivery for your onsite storage.
Good to know
Questions and answers
Is onsite storage cheaper than a storage unit?
Over time it often is. A storage unit charges rent every month, while a container you buy is a one-time cost plus delivery, and you can resell it later. For a few weeks of storage, renting a container or a unit may cost less, so compare both for how long you need it.
Do I need a permit for an onsite storage container?
It depends on your town and, for homes, your HOA. Some places allow containers without a permit, some only for a set time, and some need a permit for any placement. Check with your local zoning office before you order.
How much space do I need for an onsite storage container?
Allow the container's footprint plus room to open the doors, and a long, straight approach for the delivery truck. Describe your site when you request a quote and we'll confirm access.
Will my things stay dry in a storage container?
A wind and watertight container keeps out rain. Condensation can still form when temperatures swing, so add vents or moisture absorbers, and keep the container slightly raised off the ground.
Can I keep a container on my property permanently?
Often, yes, where local rules allow it. Many owners paint the container to match the house or business and screen it with fencing or planting.