Shipping containers in Perth come down to one choice most people get wrong: buying too fast, from the wrong supplier or team, without checking the total cost of shipping containers first. If you have ever had a project delay because a shipping container did not turn up on time, or opened a quote to find delivery, GST, and container modifications added on top of the price you thought you were paying, you already know why this matters.
ABC Containers has been operating out of Bibra Lake for more than 30 years, selling, hiring and modifying an extensive range of new and used shipping containers for buyers right across Perth and WA. Whether you are a site manager who needs a compliant dangerous goods shipping container before the next compliance check, a project manager who needs a dependable high cube shipping container, a supplier who requires a refrigerated shipping container, or a homeowner who just wants secure, weatherproof storage without overpaying, the same rules apply: get a straight quote, inspect the container you are buying, and deal with a supplier who covers the surprises rather than hiding them.
Why Perth Businesses Choose ABC Containers
Perth is full of container suppliers, so what actually separates one from another? For ABC Containers, it comes down to a handful of things that Perth businesses and homeowners keep coming back for.
- The complete satisfaction guarantee. ABC Containers stands by every new or used container it sells or hires, and our team covers the transport costs of any exchange. That is rare in this trade, where container transport is usually where the hidden costs live.
- No fuss, no pushy upsell. Clear, upfront advice on the ins and outs of buying or hiring shipping containers, with no runarounds.
- Stock ready for immediate delivery. Extensive range of new and used stock on hand at the Bibra Lake yard across 6, 8, 10, 20 and 40ft shipping containers.
- A team with 30-plus years of WA experience, including work for government, commercial, and mining clients such as BHP, Rio Tinto, Civmec, Apache and Minara.
Not every job fits a standard shipping container, so it helps that our team at ABC Containers keeps a wider range on hand. Need extra headroom for racking or a fit-out? A 40ft high cube container does the job. Moving stock that can’t handle Perth heat? Refrigerated containers are built for exactly that. Even a standard container can be reshaped through in-house modifications: doors, windows, shelving, ventilation, insulation and painting, so sorting the modifications you need upfront saves swapping containers later.
Getting a container onto site works the same way. A dangerous goods container and other tricky loads go out by side loader as well as tilt tray and HIAB, which matters when a driveway or side access is tight.
If you’re weighing up a high cube container, a refrigerated container, or a few container modifications, it’s worth raising it before you hire or buy, not after.
Shipping Container Sizes Available in Perth
Size is usually the first decision, and it depends entirely on what the container needs to do. Here’s the full range stocked at Bibra Lake, at a glance:
| Size | Typical floor area | Holds roughly | Common use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6ft / 8ft | ~1.5 to 2.5 m² | Garden shed of tools, mower, sports gear | Backyards, retail, tight sites |
| 10ft | ~3 m² | Studio worth of furniture, trade stock | Tradies, builders, small offices |
| 20ft | ~14 m² | 3-bedroom house contents | General storage, site offices, depots |
| 40ft / 40ft HC | ~28 m² | 4 to 5 bedroom house, large machinery | Mining, agriculture, bulk freight |
Floor areas and volumes are approximate. High Cube (HC) adds around 30cm of extra internal height to a standard 40ft.
Every size is available new build, as premium A grade, B grade, or as is, and all are wind and watertight.
New Versus Used Shipping Containers
This is the question almost every buyer asks, and there is no single right answer. A new build container costs more but comes with a longer working life and less to worry about down the track. A used container, picked properly, can do the same job for a lower upfront cost, particularly for storage or short- to medium-term site use.
The key is inspection. ABC Containers lets buyers pick their own container at the yard rather than buying sight unseen, which matters more in Perth than most places, since summer heat and coastal salt air can shorten the working life of cheaper, poorly maintained gear. If in doubt, walk the yard and look at the actual unit before you commit.
| Grade | Condition | Upfront cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| New build | Immaculate, longest working life | Highest | Long-term assets, dangerous goods builds |
| Premium A grade | Refurbished, painted inside and out | Mid | General storage, site offices |
| B grade | Good condition, wind and watertight | Lower | Budget storage, backyard use |
| As is | Wind and watertight, when available | Lowest | Short-term or cosmetic-tolerant use |
Container Types: General Purpose, High Cube, Refrigerated, and More
Beyond size, the type of container changes what it is good for. The range includes:
- General purpose (standard ISO) containers, the standard steel box most people picture.
- High cube units, with extra internal height for taller storage or workshop fit-outs.
- Refrigerated containers, for temperature-controlled storage or transport.
- Insulated containers and units fitted with shelving, for site offices or organised storage.
- Dangerous goods containers, bunded and ventilated to Australian Standard AS 1940-2017.
Buy Or Hire: Which Option Suits Your Project
If the job runs for a few months, hire usually makes more sense. If it is an ongoing need, buying starts to pay for itself. ABC Containers runs a try-before-you-buy path, where hire payments can convert into a purchase, so you are not locked into a decision on day one.
| Hire | Buy | |
|---|---|---|
| Best suited to | Short-term jobs, renovations, filling a gap before a permanent site office | Ongoing or long-term need |
| Cost profile | Lower upfront, ongoing hire cost | Higher upfront, no ongoing cost |
| Ownership | Container stays ABC’s asset | Container is yours, on the books |
| Flexibility | Try before you buy, convert hire into purchase | Locked in, asset is yours to modify or sell |
Hire also suits short-term storage during a renovation, or filling a gap while a permanent site office gets built. Buying suits businesses that need the container long term, or want the asset on the books rather than an ongoing hire cost.
Dangerous Goods Containers Built To AS 1940
Mining, construction and industrial sites in WA often need to store hazardous materials safely and legally, and that means a container built or modified to AS 1940-2017. ABC Containers builds and converts 10, 20 and 40ft dangerous goods containers to cover classes 3, 6 and 8, with bunded floors and ventilation designed for compliant storage.
| Class | Covers |
|---|---|
| Class 3 | Flammable liquids |
| Class 6 | Toxic and infectious substances |
| Class 8 | Corrosive substances |
This is one area where cutting corners is not an option. A compliance check that flags non-compliant storage can stop a job cold, so getting a properly built unit from the start avoids that headache entirely.
Self Storage and Mobile Storage Options
Not every storage need is site-based. ABC Containers also runs self storage at the Bibra Lake yard, plus a buy, hire or store model that flexes with what you actually need, whether that is short-term space during a move or ongoing commercial or industrial storage.
Delivery Across Perth and Regional WA
Most Perth metro deliveries land within 24 to 48 hours, using tilt tray, side loader or HIAB trucks depending on the site. Regional WA is serviced too, with prompt delivery to towns further out. The complete satisfaction guarantee means transport costs on any exchange are covered, which takes one of the highest hidden costs off the table.
Container Modifications and Custom Builds
ABC Containers modifies containers in-house, turning a general-purpose unit into a site office, workshop, dangerous goods store or custom build. Options include doors, windows, shelving, ventilation, insulation, painting and bunding, so a standard box can be built out to suit almost any job.
Pricing And How To Get a Fair Quote
Fair pricing starts with a quote that includes everything, not just the container itself. Here is the process:
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Enquire | Contact ABC Containers by phone or the online quote form. |
| 2. Quote | Get a free, all-in quote confirming stock and total cost, including transport. |
| 3. Delivery or pickup | Choose delivery to site or pick up your own container from the Bibra Lake yard. |
Serving Mining, Construction, and Home Projects Across WA
ABC Containers works with two very different kinds of buyers, and both get the same standard of service. Mining, construction, industrial and agriculture clients across regional WA need site offices, workshops, dangerous goods storage and bulk capacity, often with compliance front of mind. Perth metro trades and homeowners buy or hire smaller containers for storage, renovations and yard space, and value the local yard, fast delivery and the no-fuss promise just as much.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shipping Containers In Perth
Ready To Get Moving On Your Container?
If you are ready to get moving on a container for your next site, storage need, or backyard project, get in touch with ABC Containers for a free, all-in quote, or drop a comment below with your questions and the team will point you in the right direction.
Or call (08) 9418 8001