Storing Furniture in a Shipping Container

Lots of people use shipping containers for storage, and we are regularly asked about the best way to storage furniture in a shipping container – the short answer is, carefully. Shipping containers are designed for moving items around the world, and weren’t originally designed for long term storage. Because of this, they can heat up in the summer, and get damp when the temperatures shift from days to nights. However, with some planning and a few small changes shipping containers are a great alternative for storing furniture.

To start, if you plan on storing antiques or cherished family items like Grandma’s chest of drawers that may be sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity, it might be best to look for alternatives to a shipping container. Shipping containers work great for storage, but there is the chance for temperature shifts and humidity.

Build a Roof

If your container is going to be used for long term furniture storage it’s a good idea to build some type of roof over or on top of the container to protect it from the sun. This will provide some insulation and a barrier between the direct heat of the sun and the top of the container.

The roof doesn’t have to be anything too fancy, some simple trusses and plywood will work well and provide some extra protection for everything inside.

Condensation Prevention

Condensation can be another issue when storing furniture in a shipping container. Hot days and cool nights can mean that the temperature shifts will cause moisture to build up inside of the shipping container, and if you’re storing wooden furniture of any type this can cause problems.

If you’re storing mattresses be sure and use mattress bags. They will help to keep the mattresses clean and dry.

There are a couple of simple ways to prevent moisture to build up inside of a container. The first, and most simple way to prevent some condemnation is to dump a bag of cat litter into an old bucket. The cat litter is a natural desiccant that can help to pull some of the moisture out of the air. The second, and possibly more effective way to manage moisture is to add shipping container vents into the container. Whirly bird vents are good, but in windy and rainy storms some rain may end up inside of the container. After market shipping container vents are a good alternative as they help to keep the ambient temperature inside of the container closer to the external temperature, reducing the chance of condensation for form.

Furniture Storage in a Shipping Container

New and used shipping containers are great for storing household items, including furniture. General furniture storage, as well as antique furniture storage, is possible if you plan ahead and manage the internal temperature and moisture levels; both things that you’d need to do with any type of storage.

If you are in the market for a new or used shipping container for furniture storage the sellers on ContainerAuction.com can help you find it. The active sellers work with shipping lines and leasing companies around the world to help them remarket and sell their new and used inventory of shipping containers. To inquire about a specific container use the contact button on that page, or if you have general questions about shipping containers you are invited to contact the ContainerAuction.com staff directly.