Choose a container manufacturer by sending the same specification to several companies. The price of one module is not enough: the number of independent units, construction, delivery and after-sales service all matter. Below, we explain differences between offers without assigning deceptively precise ranking positions.
Prepare the same request for quotation for every supplier
Provide the delivery location, a site sketch, planned unit numbers and sizes, and the access arrangements. State whether you need containers only or also installation and lock integration. Ask for drawings showing usable dimensions and ground requirements.
Include the first-phase deadline and potential expansion. The supplier can then explain transport constraints, the installation sequence and the availability of compatible units. Without this information, you may be comparing little more than similar-looking photographs.
Four examples of different systems
The information below comes from manufacturers' descriptions checked on 12 September 2026. We have not carried out our own structural tests. Delivery availability to your actual location, prices and service terms must be confirmed in a quotation.
| Company | Type of solution described | What to clarify |
|---|---|---|
| Procontainers | Flat-pack storage units, with front-entry or multiple side-entry options. | Internal divisions, anti-condensation equipment and unloading scope. |
| CONTAINEX | Storage containers, including used units. | The exact model, unit condition and suitability for the intended subdivision. |
| KOVOBEL | Demountable containers also presented for self storage applications. | Door configuration, security and order fulfilment at your location. |
| Janus International Europe | MASS and Vault external units, with different entrance options. | The product variant, logistics and local installation and service scope. |
The comparison is based on the public product pages of these four companies. [Procontainers — system descriptions and manufacturer FAQs] [CONTAINEX — new and used storage containers] [KOVOBEL — containers for self storage] [Janus International Europe — MASS and Vault external units]
This overview compares the scope of the offers without ranking them. Before choosing a supplier, request quotations for the same facility layout and equipment.
Check the construction and day-to-day usability
- What are the internal dimensions and the clear door opening?
- Are the doors and locks convenient for customers using the facility independently?
- How are corrosion protection, drainage and ventilation addressed?
- What instructions apply to support points, assembly and periodic inspections?
- Does the manufacturer allow for later subdivision or door replacement?
For a larger order, it is worth visiting a similar completed facility with its operator's permission. Check how the doors operate, how units are marked and how easy they are to approach. Do not treat one completed project as proof that every site is profitable: a visit primarily helps assess the product and its organisation.
Compare delivery and installation responsibilities
Agree the handover location, timing, packaging, vehicle and unloading equipment. Confirm who provides the installation team, supports and checks that the units are positioned correctly. A quote ‘including delivery’ does not always cover everything needed to start renting.
Request a payment schedule and the procedure for receiving a damaged shipment. If you buy abroad, clarify paperwork, tax and claims arrangements with the appropriate advisers. You need to know whom to call if a delivery is incomplete.
Choose a complete offer that you can verify
Compare the top 10 self storage suppliers
Create a spreadsheet with your requirements, the supplier's response and the document confirming each important feature. Separate included items from optional extras. Compare the entire first phase: the same usable floor area, number of entrances and scope of preparation.
Record the scope of each quotation item
Add the response format below to your shared request for quotation. Ask each supplier for a separate row for containers, unit partitions, locks, transport, unloading and installation where relevant to your order. Tie each response to a quotation number and version. A supplier's response is a statement; record supporting documents or a way to check it separately.
| Status | What to add |
|---|---|
| Included | The item and quantity covered, and where the scope is described. |
| Priced separately | The scope and separate amount, or confirmation that a price has not yet been provided. |
| Customer to arrange | The work or supply the customer needs to arrange and what must be agreed first. |
| To clarify | The specific question that remains unanswered. |
| Not applicable | Why the item is not needed in this configuration. |
Row to copy: Item and quantity: [complete] | Scope status: [choose from the table] | Supplier's response: [complete] | Price, currency and whether tax is included, if provided: [complete or “not provided”] | Quotation — number, version and section: [complete] | Document or agreed way to check: [complete or “none”] | Open question: [complete or “none”].
Hypothetical example, with no actual price: item “Unloading one delivery”; status “To clarify”; supplier's response “Transport included”; unloading price “Not provided”; reference “Example quotation A, version 1, Transport section”; document or way to check “None”; question “Does the quotation also include unloading equipment and the unloading work? If not, who needs to arrange them?”. Do not mark unloading as included solely because transport is included.
Keep an unanswered item as “To clarify”, rather than entering zero or “Included”. When two quotations cover different scopes, ask suppliers to clarify the same items before comparing totals. For items that need checking, agree what will be verified at handover and against which document. This record organises questions; it is neither a technical design nor an acceptance report.
Before deciding, clarify the warranty, exclusions, inspections and parts availability. A good offer translates into a specific delivery scope and clear responsibilities for both sides. A broad product range is useful, but it does not replace matching the solution to your land and customers.
Sources
Sources checked: .