• 102 Gosport St, Hemmant, Brisbane QLD 4174
  • sales@gatewaycontainerpark.com.au
  • Call: (07) 3348 6463
Gateway Container Sales & Hire
Gateway Container Sales & Hire
Gateway Container Sales & Hire
Menu 
  • Shipping Containers
      • Containers for Sale & Hire by Size
        • 10ft Containers
        • 20ft Containers
        • 40ft Containers
        • Container Specifications
      • Containers for Sale & Hire by Type
        • General Purpose Containers
        • High Cube Containers
        • Side Opening Containers
        • Open Tops
        • Flat Racks
        • Insulated Containers
        • Refrigerated Containers
      • Container Modifications
        • Branded Containers
        • Flammable Goods Storage
        • Portable Offices
        • Workshops
        • Accommodation Units
        • Lunch Rooms
        • Container Shelters
        • Training Containers
        • Switch Rooms
        • Ablution Units
        • Document & Archive Storage
      • Container Accessories
        • Container Security
        • Container Insulation
        • Container Ventilation
        • Container Shelving
        • Electrical Fitouts
        • Access Doors & Windows
        • Container Painting
          • Bargain Box

  • Self Storage & Hire
  • Delivery
  • FAQ
  • Our Difference
    • Our Company
      • About Us
      • Our Team
      • Testimonials
      • Industry Memberships
      • Sponsorships
      • Privacy Policy
    • Competitive Advantage
      • Ask an expert
      • Buy direct from the source
      • On site workshop & depot
      • On site storage
      • Guarantee
      • Service Area
      • Our Terms
      • Buy Back Policy
      • Industry Specialised
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Get a Quote
MENU CLOSE back  

All About 53ft Containers

You are here:
  1. Home
  2. Shipping Container, Modified Shipping Containers
  3. All About 53ft Containers
Container_Stacking

Most shipping container homes are built using either 20ft or 40ft shipping containers, a standard size agreed many years ago, and often described in terms of Twenty Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs). The USA and Canada, however, have been using 53ft long containers for road and rail transport since 1989. A 53ft high cube container has 60 percent more volume than a 40ft container and can make a real difference to a home or office container conversion.

40ft and 53ft Size Comparison

The 40ft standard shipping container is 12.192 metres (40ft) long, 2.438 metres (8ft) wide, and 2.896 (9ft 6inches) metres high. This gives an internal volume of 75.3 cubic metres (2,660 cubic feet). The floor area is 29.724 square metres (320 square feet).

The 53ft container is much larger inside. They are 16.15 metres (53ft) long, 2.896 metres (9ft 6 inches) high, but are 2.59 metres (8ft 6 inches) wide. This gives them a volume of over 121 cubic metres (4280 cubic feet). The floor space is 41.82 square metres (424 sq ft), giving you an extra 12.1 square metres of added floor space over the standard 40ft shipping container – that could be enough space for a toilet and shower room in your container home as well as giving you the other 40ft space for your other living arrangements.

As such, if you’re looking for extra space for your container home conversion, then you should seriously think about a 53ft container. For an idea of how much larger these are, see this video of a family trying to unload a 53ft container from a low loader truck – you will see how much longer it is than a standard 40ft container.

What are 53ft containers used for today?

When they were first rolled out in the USA, 53ft containers were built for road and rail intermodal transport across the US and Canada. Thousands of them transit the US and Canada on the road and by rail and are the container of choice for transcontinental transport because you can fit so many more goods into them relative to the 40ft container.

DTTX_724681_20050529_IL_Rochelle

These were not designed to handle the same rigours as sea containers and the road versions, at least, should not be the ones you seek to use in building a container home. However in 2007, the container shipping line APL started using 53ft containers for the Asia Pacific route between China and the US. These were built to handle the same conditions as their 40ft equivalents, and if converting them you can expect the same long life as you would the 40ft containers used today.

Unlike the 40ft equivalents there aren’t that many sitting about, as in 2013 APL stopped taking the 53ft containers. In 2015 however, two shipping companies started using the larger boxes for routes between the US and Canada and the US and Puerto Rico. More of these containers that have been designed to be thrown about and abused by the weather are coming onto the market all the time. Where it might be difficult to get a container on a container ship, Roll On Roll Off (RoRo) ships are able to transport them around the world, for instance from the continental US to Australia. 

Converting a 53ft container?

As with their 40ft equivalents, 53ft containers can be stacked – as such you can have a multi-storey construction in much the same way as you would a 40ft unit construction. They also come as reefers, so you can deal with insulation with as much ease as you may have the reefer shipping container. They are fixed to a concrete pad or piles in just the same way – the only real difference is in the size and space you get from using them.

The costs of converting a 53ft container into a home will be broadly similar to that of a standard conversion. You can do the same container modifications to them, such as removing walls for a double width home as well as cutting holes for windows and doors.

Got a 53ft container you need modifying?

Here at Gateway Container Sales we have the expertise to modify and deliver your large high cube container wherever you may be! Get in touch and we will give you a free consultation to discuss your needs, as well as putting you in touch with the right people to help you design and build your container home.

Please note – at Gateway Container Sales we do not stock or supply 53 ft containers. If you want to use one for your construction you will be responsible for sourcing and importing the container. We would be happy to discuss modifying it upon request.   

 

 

Posted on March 10, 2016
By Mark FinneganShipping Container Modified Shipping ContainersLeave a comment
Tags:shipping container modifications53 ft shipping containers

Related Topics

9593320-3×2-940×627
Could Tiny Homes Help Tackle Tasmania’s Housing Crisis?
February 18, 2019
636730436206921253-ANZ–7
Air New Zealand Teleports People By Shipping Container?
February 11, 2019
Container mountain
Running Horse Wines Container Cellar Door Celebrates Landscape and Wine
February 4, 2019

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

clearPost Comment

The Gateway Guarantee

Gateway carry hundreds of containers to choose from in our 2 depots, have decades of experience and know the container business inside out. We guarantee delivery of containers to the South East QLD and Northern NSW region by truck, rail or sea, or any combination thereof.

Gateway is 1 of 5 companies in Queensland who can purchase shipping containers direct from the shipping lines, so you can be sure you are buying or hiring:

  • Direct from the source
  • Widest range of containers
  • Fastest turnaround
  • Guaranteed delivery
  • Quality workmanship

If we don’t have the box you need onsite, we will source the best quality box, for the best value, faster than any other provider. Read More about the Gateway No Nonsense Guarantee.

Get a Quote Today!

gateway-bargin-box

Quick Links
  • Shipping Containers
  • Self Storage & Hire
  • Delivery
  • Container Specifications
  • Guarantee
  • FAQ
  • Our Company
Tune into the 20ft Tabloid
Specials, expert tips, creative containers, innovative mods - shipped straight to your inbox!
Facebook Feed
Contact Information

Contact Gateway Container Sales
Email enquiry
Phone: +61 7 3348 6463
Fax: +61 7 3348 6588

We are open:
6am to 4:00pm Mon-Fri

Gateway Container Sales and Hire Pty Ltd
Australian Owned & Operated GatewayAddress:
102 Gosport St, Hemmant QLD 4174

FacebookTwitterGoogle+
Storage & Shipping Containers For Sales & Hire | Brisbane, Gold Coast, QLD – Gateway Containers. © 2019
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy