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Units We Move · Shipping Containers

Moving a 20ft Shipping Container

Moving a 20ft shipping container sounds simple until the route runs between buildings, across a sloping yard or into a corner a lorry cannot reach. MOVER™ specialises in on-site container movement and final positioning, using specialist machinery and a planned working method rather than relying on a crane for every job.

Whether you need to move a 20ft container a short distance across your own site, or bring one in by road and position it somewhere awkward, the first step is the same: tell us about the container, the route and the final position so we can assess what is realistic.

Start your 20ft enquiry 0330 133 5694
Blue shipping container standing on a paved site
01On-site repositioning
Moving a 20ft container that is already on your site to a better position.
02Transport and positioning
Road delivery to the nearest safe point, then movement to the final spot.
03Assessed first
Access, ground and final position are checked before a method is confirmed.

Repositioning a 20ft container on an existing site

Many 20ft moves never leave the site. A storage yard is reorganised, a construction compound changes shape, a container needs to sit closer to a building or further from a boundary. Repositioning a 20ft container on site is often about small distances with very little room for error.

A 20ft container is shorter than a 40ft, so it can sometimes use routes and turns that a longer unit cannot. That does not mean it will fit everywhere. Door orientation, neighbouring units, levelling at the final position and how the container is approached all matter just as much.

Blue shipping container being handled by container moving machinery on a concrete surface
On-site moves start with the surface, the route and where the doors need to face.

Transport or on-site positioning: which do you need?

Road transport gets a container to an address. On-site positioning takes it from wherever a lorry can safely stop to the place it actually needs to be. Some jobs need only one of these; plenty need both.

  • Move or reposition on the same site: no road journey, just movement within your boundary.
  • Transport between locations: collection and delivery, which our parent group can support through standard haulage.
  • Transport and position on site: delivery to the nearest suitable point, then specialist movement to the final position.

Access and manoeuvring space for a 20ft container

Gateway widths, tight turns, kerbs, bollards, parked vehicles, overhanging trees and overhead cables can all affect how a 20ft container reaches its position. We look at the whole route, not just the gap at the entrance.

Space at the final position matters too. Think about how close the container needs to sit to walls, fences or other units, and whether its doors will still open where you need them.

Is a crane needed to move a 20ft container?

Sometimes. A crane or lorry-mounted crane can work well where it has room to set up and reach the final position. Where it cannot reach, cannot set up safely or would need to lift over buildings, specialist ground-level positioning may be a better fit for part or all of the job.

Some tasks, such as stacking or lifting over an obstacle, may still need lifting equipment. We will tell you plainly which stages we can help with once we understand the site.

Ground conditions and gradients

Concrete, tarmac, gravel, grass and compacted hardcore all behave differently, and weather can change a route quickly. Slopes and changes of level affect both the move and how the container sits at the end.

We do not publish blanket gradient limits. Photographs, a description of the surface and any known soft or uneven areas help us judge whether the route is suitable or needs a different approach.

Before you enquire

Information that helps us assess a 20ft move

You do not need everything before you get in touch, but the more of this you can share, the quicker we can give you a useful answer.

  1. 01Where the container is now and where it needs to go, ideally with postcodes.
  2. 02Whether the container is empty or has items inside.
  3. 03The narrowest point on the route, with a rough width and any height restrictions.
  4. 04Photographs of the route, the entrance and the final position.
  5. 05The ground surface along the route and at the final position, including slopes.
  6. 06Which way the doors need to face and how close the container must sit to walls or other units.

What do you need to move?

Tell us what you’re moving, where it needs to go and what’s making the move difficult. We’ll review the details and help you work out the next step.

Send us your detailsCall 0330 133 5694
The assessment

How we assess a 20ft container move

Every move is assessed before a method is agreed. This is how it usually works.

  1. 01

    Tell us about the move

    Use the guide or call us with the container details, the type of move and what makes it difficult.

  2. 02

    We review the site

    We look at your information and photos, and ask for anything else we need. Some jobs need a site visit.

  3. 03

    We explain the next step

    We tell you what we think is realistic, which stages we can cover and what we need from you.

Recent work

Related projects

All recent work
FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Can you move a 20ft container that is already on my site?

Yes, on-site repositioning is one of the main things MOVER™ does. Whether it is suitable for your site depends on the route, the ground and the final position, which is why we assess each move before confirming a method.

Can a 20ft container be moved with items inside?

Tell us whether the container is empty, has items inside or you are not sure. Contents change the weight and how the load sits, so we may ask what is inside or recommend emptying it. We cannot confirm a loaded move until it has been assessed.

How much space do I need to move a 20ft container?

There is no single figure that applies to every site. It depends on the route, the turns, the final position and what surrounds it. Measurements of the narrowest points and photos of the route help us give you a realistic view.

Can you deliver a 20ft container as well as position it?

MOVER™ focuses on difficult on-site movement and final positioning. Where a job also needs road transport, that can be discussed as part of the same enquiry, and we regularly work alongside container suppliers and hauliers who deliver to site.

Where we work

Moving a 20ft container near you

MOVER™ is based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, and works across Staffordshire and the Midlands. Our case studies also include projects further afield, so if your site is elsewhere in the UK, tell us where it is and we will let you know whether we can help.

Planning a 20ft container move?

Answer a few short questions about the container, the move and the site. We will review the details and come back to you about the next step. Use What do you need to move? to get started.

What do you need to move?