Why settle for a plain steel box when you can turn it into exactly what you need?

Shipping containers are great for storage — but that’s just scratching the surface. The real fun begins when you realise just how customisable they are. Need a portable office? Workshop? Pop-up café? Bike garage with a solar-powered disco ball? With the right modifications, a shipping container becomes a blank canvas for secure, steel-clad creativity.

But here’s the rub: some mods are essential. Others are overkill. And some might be pointless unless you’ve got very niche ambitions (looking at you, container wine cellars).

In this guide, we’ll break down the best, most useful and most popular modifications you can make to a shipping container — whether you’re hiring short-term or buying to convert.

If you’ve only ever thought of shipping containers as static storage units, you’re missing a trick. These 10ft, 20ft or 40ft boxes are some of the most versatile, modifiable structures you can buy — and for businesses, homeowners and tradespeople alike, they offer incredible potential with just a few clever upgrades.

At Cubus, container modifications are one of the most common things our customers ask for. From adding a simple set of shelves to transforming a container into a mobile retail unit, the options are as broad as your imagination (and the container’s internal dimensions).

You don’t have to break the bank, either. Some of the best mods are simple, affordable, and make the unit far more usable.

This guide walks you through:

• The best value modifications for storage
  
• Essential upgrades for office and workshop use
  
• Cosmetic mods to improve kerb appeal
  
• Energy, lighting and tech integrations
  
• When to go DIY vs letting Cubus handle it for you
  

Ready to supercharge your container? Let’s get into it.

1. Doors & Access

Why it matters: Stock, people and tools don’t move well through narrow double doors.

Top door mods:

• Personnel door (with key lock)
  
• Roller shutter (for workshops or retail)
  
• Extra-wide double doors
  
• End-wall or side access conversions
  

🚪 Pro tip: Add ramps for wheeled kit or frequent loading/unloading.

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2. Windows & Natural Light

Perfect for: Offices, studios, retail setups.

Options include:

• Fixed acrylic windows
  
• Double-glazed UPVC units
  
• Shuttered or barred windows (for security)
  
• Skylights or polycarbonate roof panels
  

Letting in natural light makes the space feel like a room — not a bunker.

3. Insulation & Lining

If you’re using your container year-round, this is a must.

Insulation types:

• Rockwool or mineral wool
  
• PIR rigid board
  
• Spray foam
  

Lined with ply, OSB or metal panelling depending on use.

Benefits:

• Keeps heat in (or out)
  
• Prevents condensation
  
• Makes it easier to control internal temperature
  

💬 Ask Cubus about lining packages for office or food-grade use.

4. Electrics & Lighting

For when you’re powering:

• Tools and equipment
  
• Computers and screens
  
• Fridges, kettles, heaters
  

Standard mods:

• Power sockets
  
• Internal lighting
  
• External floodlights
  
• Circuit board and external hook-up point
  

🔋 Battery, solar or generator? We can help recommend the right source.

5. Racking & Shelving

The king of internal storage mods.

Whether you’re storing tools, stock or spare loo roll, custom racking transforms a container from a pile-it-high mess into an organised workspace.

Types:

• Steel racking
  
• Ply shelving
  
• Wall-mounted hooks and bins
  
• Pegboard systems
  

🔨 Easy to install, or let Cubus pre-fit it for you.

6. Paint, Cladding & Cosmetics

Want your container to look less like, well, a container?

Options include:

• Repainting (any RAL colour – match your brand or house)
  
• Timber cladding for garden aesthetics
  
• Vinyl wrapping for logos or designs
  
• Green roofs (sedum or grass) for eco-integrations
  

🌿 Great for home use, schools, retail or community spaces.

7. Ventilation & Temperature Control

Important for: Electronics, tools, fabrics, perishables.

Mods to consider:

• Louvered vents
  
• Air conditioning or extraction units
  
• Passive vent holes
  
• Insulated roof panels
  

🌬️ A small upgrade that prevents big problems like mould or warping.

8. Advanced Fit-Outs (Office, Retail, Workshop)

For more ambitious conversions:

• Partitions & rooms
  
• Flooring upgrades (vinyl, resin, laminate)
  
• Toilet and washroom fit-outs
  
• Workbenches and tool stations
  
• Display counters and shelving
  
• Heating, cooling and CCTV
  

🏗️ Cubus can handle full workshop or office conversions — just tell us what you need.

9. Security Additions

Don’t overlook security. These upgrades are essential for peace of mind.

Options:

• Lockboxes (steel shroud around padlocks)
  
• High-security padlocks
  
• Anti-theft bars
  
• Window shutters
  
• CCTV kits (battery or solar)
  

🔐 A small spend that pays off tenfold if you’re storing valuable kit.

10. Modifications That Don’t Make Sense

🚫 Things we don’t recommend unless you’ve got a very niche use case:

• Tiling interiors (they’ll crack)
  
• Plasterboard (too fragile)
  
• Carpet (absorbs moisture)
  
• Big side cut-outs (compromises structural strength)
  

When in doubt, ask. We’ll steer you right.

Case Study: “From Plain Box to Portable Workshop”

Maria runs a mobile bike repair business in Leeds. She ordered a 20ft container from Cubus and requested:

• Double doors + ramp
  
• Shelving + tool walls
  
• LED strip lighting
  
• Branded wrap
  
• Lockbox and battery pack
  

Now it’s her secure on-site workshop. She says:

“It’s brilliant. It stores everything, looks great, and moves with me to jobs. Cubus made it hassle-free.”

Want to upgrade your container?
From racking to roller shutters, we’ve got you covered.
✅ Quick turnarounds
✅ Expert fit-outs
✅ Affordable, practical mod

👉 Talk to our team about custom containers