How much space do you need for a shipping container delivery?
You need three things: room for the container to sit, clear access for the truck to reach that spot, and headroom above it with no obstructions. The footprint of a 20ft container is only part of the picture, because the delivery truck needs more room than the container itself to get in, line up, and set it down. How much space depends on your access and whether we use a tilt tray or a crane. Here is how to size it up before you book a shipping container hire in Perth.
Three parts to the space question
When people ask about space for a shipping container delivery, they are usually only picturing the container sitting there. In practice you are planning for three zones: where the container lands, the path the truck takes to get there, and the clear air above. Get all three right and delivery is quick. Miss one and the truck may not be able to place the container where you want it.
The space you need for a shipping container delivery
1. The landing spot
This is where the container will sit for your hire. It should be firm and reasonably level, and big enough for the full length of a 20ft container with a bit of room around it so you can open the doors and walk past. Think about the orientation too. If you need to access the doors from a certain side, point that out so we set it down the right way.
2. Truck access to the spot
The truck needs a clear, ideally straight path from the street to the landing spot. With a tilt tray, the truck reverses up and slides the container off the back, so it needs a decent straight run behind the landing point. Watch for narrow gates, tight corners, parked cars, soft ground, and sharp slopes along that path. If a truck simply cannot reach the spot, that is where a crane comes in, lifting the container from where the truck can park into a position it could never back into.
3. Headroom above
Clear air above the spot is easy to forget. Check for low branches, power lines, eaves, carport rooflines, and pergolas over the landing area and the approach. Headroom matters most for crane placement, because the container is lifted up and over before it comes down. If there are overhead obstructions, tell us early so we plan around them.
Tilt tray or crane, and what each needs
We deliver with a tilt tray or a crane to suit your access. They need space differently.
- Tilt tray: suits open sites with a clear, straight run. The truck needs room to reverse and slide the container off, so you want length and a clear approach more than anything.
- Crane: suits tight or awkward sites. The truck can park where there is room and the crane lifts the container over fences, gardens, or other obstacles into a smaller spot. You still need clear headroom for the lift.
You do not have to work out which one yourself. When you book, describe your access or send a couple of photos, and we will tell you the best method and confirm it fits before we turn up.
A quick way to measure up your site
- Pick the spot and make sure it fits a 20ft container with room to open the doors.
- Trace the path a truck would take from the street and look for narrow or soft sections.
- Look up and check for branches, wires, and rooflines over the spot and the approach.
- Note anything tight or unusual and tell us when you book.
Walking your site with those four steps takes a few minutes and saves a wasted delivery run. If something is borderline, we would rather know in advance so we bring the right gear.
Common access problems and how we get around them
Most sites have at least one awkward feature. The good news is that very few of them actually stop a delivery, as long as we know about them before the truck leaves. Here are the ones that come up most.
A narrow gate or side path
If the spot is behind a fence with only a narrow gap to reach it, a tilt tray often cannot get through. A crane can lift the container over the fence and set it down on the other side, so the gate width stops mattering. Measure the gap and tell us, and we will plan accordingly.
Soft or sloping ground
Soft lawn, sand, or a steep slope can make a tilt tray placement tricky and can affect how level the container sits. Point these out so we choose the method and the exact spot that works best. A firm, level corner is always the easiest landing zone if you have one.
Overhead wires or branches
Power lines and low branches are the obstruction people forget until the truck arrives. They matter most for a crane lift. If your only clear landing spot sits under wires, tell us early so we can work out whether a tilt tray placement nearby is a better fit.
Shared or busy access
On units, strata blocks, or busy job sites, the path to the spot may be shared with cars, other trades, or deliveries. Clearing that path for a short window on delivery day makes everything faster and safer.
Why it pays to plan the space first
A few minutes sizing up your site up front beats a failed delivery every time. When you know the landing spot fits, the truck can reach it, and the air above is clear, the drop-off is usually quick. When one of those is missed, the container may end up in the wrong spot or the run may need to be rescheduled. That is why we ask for an honest picture of your access when you book a 20ft container hire, including photos if anything is tight. With the right method chosen ahead of time, delivery and pickup are smooth, and there are no hidden fees on either end.
Not sure your site fits? Ask us
If you are unsure whether your space works for a container delivery, send through the details and we will sort it before delivery day. We deliver across Perth and surrounding areas, owner-operated, with drop-off and pickup included and no hidden fees. Get in touch about container hire in Perth by calling Stock'n Lock on 0416 692 022 or emailing contact@stocknlockau.com.