A shipping container office is a workspace built inside a steel container shell, fabricated offsite and delivered ready to position and connect. On construction sites, yards, farms and remote projects it does the job of a demountable building while being genuinely transportable, securable and weatherproof from the day it lands.
What you can get
BWContainers supplies container offices and site accommodation in several forms:
- Container offices — a modified shipping container fitted out as a workspace, typically in 10ft, 20ft or 40ft shells
- Portable offices and workshops — compact 10ft units where space is tight or the office moves often
- Jackleg site office cabins — purpose-built site cabins in sizes such as 16ft × 10ft and 20ft × 10ft, sitting on integrated legs rather than a prepared slab
- Anti-vandal steel office cabins — steel cladding and shutters where the site is unattended or security is a concern
- Combination units — office with ablution, canteen or change room in one shell
Browse the current range in modified containers and site cabins, or tell us what the office is for and we will point you at the right option.
Container office or jackleg cabin?
They solve the same problem differently, and the choice usually comes down to security and how often the unit moves.
A container office starts as a shipping container, so it keeps the container’s structural strength, weather sealing and ISO corner castings. It stacks, it craned-lifts predictably, it locks up like a container, and it handles rough handling and remote transport well. If the unit will be left unattended, moved between sites repeatedly, or shipped somewhere difficult, this is the stronger choice.
A jackleg cabin is a purpose-built site cabin on adjustable legs. It does not need a prepared slab, it can be positioned and levelled quickly, and it is generally lighter and cheaper to move short distances. Anti-vandal versions close the security gap with steel shutters. For a site that changes layout often, jackleg cabins are usually faster to work with.
Sizes and what fits
Office fit-outs are usually built into these shells:
- 10ft — roughly 2.8 m × 2.35 m internally. A one or two person office, a site supervisor’s base, or a secure workshop corner.
- 20ft — roughly 5.9 m × 2.35 m. The most common size: a two to four person office, or an office split with a store or amenities.
- 40ft — roughly 12 m × 2.35 m. A larger team office, or several rooms in one unit.
Height matters more than people expect. A high cube shell gives about 2.70 m of internal height instead of 2.39 m, and once you line and insulate a ceiling that difference decides whether the space feels like a room or a box. Most quality office conversions start from a high cube for this reason. Full measurements for every shell are in our container dimensions guide.
Specify these before fabrication
Office conversions are much cheaper specified up front than retrofitted. Settle these early:
- Insulation and climate — an uninsulated steel box is punishing in an Australian summer. Insulation, and usually air conditioning, is what makes it a workspace rather than a shed.
- Power — how many outlets, where, and what the unit connects to on site. Electrical work must be done by a licensed electrician and certified.
- Lighting and windows — window placement affects both daylight and security; shutters if the site is unattended.
- Doors — a personnel door rather than only cargo doors, and where it sits relative to your site access.
- Data and comms — cable entry points are far easier to include during fabrication.
- Amenities — whether ablution, kitchenette or a separate meeting space share the shell.
- Compliance — workplace requirements for the office, and any council approval if it stays long term. Confirm both before ordering.
Delivery and siting
A fitted-out office weighs considerably more than an empty container, which affects both the truck and the ground it lands on. Allow roughly three times the unit’s length in clear, straight approach for a tilt-tray delivery, plus manoeuvring room. Check overhead power lines, especially for a high cube. The ground must carry a loaded truck without rutting, and the unit must sit level — a container racked out of square gets doors that will not close, which matters more on an office than a store.
Where the unit has to clear a fence or building, a crane lift is required. Our delivery preparation guide covers approach, footings and drainage in detail.
Common questions
How much does a shipping container office cost?
It depends on the shell size, its condition grade, and the fit-out specified — insulation, air conditioning, electrical, windows, doors and any amenities. A basic office in a used shell and a fully fitted mine-spec unit are different products at different prices. Current pricing is shown against the individual units, and delivery is quoted for your address. Our guide to container prices explains what drives the figure.
Do I need council approval for a container office?
Often yes, particularly for long-term placement or anywhere the unit is used as a workplace. Requirements vary by council and by whether the office is temporary or permanent. Check before ordering — it is a short conversation that avoids an expensive relocation.
Are container offices insulated?
Insulation is a specification, not a given. An uninsulated steel container is uncomfortable in Australian conditions, so any unit intended as a workspace should be insulated and usually air conditioned. Confirm what a specific unit includes before ordering.
Can a container office be moved between sites?
Yes, and that is one of the main reasons people choose one. A container shell has ISO corner castings, so it lifts and transports predictably. Services need disconnecting and reconnecting at each move, and the unit needs a level base at the new position.
What size container office do I need?
A 10ft suits one or two people, a 20ft two to four, and a 40ft a larger team or several rooms. If the office will also hold amenities or a store, size up rather than splitting a small shell.
Container office or site cabin — which is better?
A container office is stronger, more secure and better suited to rough transport and unattended sites. A jackleg cabin is faster to position, needs no slab and is easier to move short distances. Choose on security and movement frequency rather than on price alone.
Tell us the site, the headcount and how long the office needs to last, and we will work through the options with you — get in touch.
Delivery
Flat $200 delivery Australia-wide, about 7-10 business days. That is one national rate rather than a price that changes with your postcode. Where a site needs a crane lift rather than a standard delivery, tell us the access and we will confirm what is involved.