If you import goods through Bangladesh, store cargo near the port, or move goods from Chittagong to Dhaka or another city, you will almost certainly need a shipping container. Renting a container is often the practical choice when you need it for a limited time, for one shipment, for a project, or for storage, and you do not want to buy a container outright.
This guide explains how to rent a 20ft or 40ft shipping container in Chittagong Port: the two sizes, the main types, when to choose each size, the rental process, the documents to keep ready, the inspection checklist, and the factors that affect cost. Prices are not listed here, because cost depends on type, size, condition, duration, and delivery location. Confirm the cost for your requirement by WhatsApp or email before you book.
Total Import Solution, since 2016, helps businesses with sourcing and import support, including container-related enquiries connected to shipments through Chittagong Port. The contact details at the end of this article are the way to ask about availability and cost for your requirement.
What Does It Mean to Rent a Shipping Container?
Renting a shipping container means you use a container owned by someone else for an agreed period and for an agreed purpose, and you return it at the end of that period. You do not own the container. The rental arrangement normally covers the container itself. Transport, loading, unloading, port handling, and customs work are often separate matters, so ask clearly what is included and what is not included before you agree.
People rent containers for several common reasons. An importer may need one to receive goods arriving by sea. A trader may need one to hold goods at a yard for a short time. A construction company may need one for site storage. A manufacturer may need one to move raw material or finished goods. Renting can be useful when your need is temporary, when you want to avoid the cost and responsibility of owning a container, or when you need one quickly for a specific shipment. Buying can be useful when you need a container for a long time and for repeated use. Think about duration first: for a few weeks or months, rental is often the first option to check.
Before you enquire, write down the basics: what you will put in the container, the rough volume and weight, the delivery location, how long you need it, and whether it will stay in one place or move by road. These answers decide the size, the type, and the rental terms.
20ft vs 40ft: What Is the Difference?
The 20ft and 40ft shipping containers are the two most commonly used standard sizes. The main difference is length. A 20ft container is about half the length of a 40ft container. The width and the height of a standard container are generally the same for both sizes, unless you choose a high-cube version, which is taller.
A 20ft container is compact. It is easier to place in a smaller yard, easier to move on a smaller road, and often easier to handle when space is limited. A 40ft container is longer and holds roughly twice the volume of a 20ft container in general terms. It is useful when you have a larger volume of cargo and you want to move it in one unit instead of two.
The table below gives a general comparison. Always confirm the exact internal size and capacity of the actual container you are offered, because condition and design can vary slightly, and the container data plate is the reference for that unit.
| Feature | 20ft container | 40ft container |
|---|---|---|
| Length | About 20 feet, around 6 metres | About 40 feet, around 12 metres |
| Width | Standard width, around 2.4 metres | Standard width, around 2.4 metres |
| Height | Standard height, around 2.6 metres | Standard height, around 2.6 metres |
| Volume | Smaller, roughly half of a 40ft | Larger, roughly double a 20ft |
| Best for | Smaller loads, limited space, heavier cargo in a compact unit | Larger volume, lighter and bulky cargo, fewer units to manage |
| Handling | Easier to place in a tight space | Needs more space for placement and for truck movement |
Do not choose by length alone. A 20ft container can suit dense and heavy cargo, because the weight is carried in a shorter unit. A 40ft container can suit bulky cargo that takes up space but is not very heavy. If your cargo is both heavy and bulky, you may need more than one container. Also think about the delivery site: a 40ft container needs a longer approach for the truck and trailer, and more space to set it down. A narrow road, a tight turn, a low gate, or a small yard can make a 40ft delivery difficult, so measure the approach and placement area before you confirm a 40ft rental.
Container Types You May Come Across
A standard dry container is the most common type. It is a closed steel box with doors at one end. It is used for general cargo that does not need temperature control, such as packed goods, cartons, machinery parts, textiles, and many other dry products. If your cargo is dry, packed, and not sensitive to temperature, a standard dry container is usually the first type to consider.
A reefer container is a refrigerated container with a cooling unit that keeps cargo at a controlled temperature, for certain food products, medicines, and other temperature-sensitive goods. It needs a power supply, so confirm the power arrangement and temperature range before you book.
An open-top container has a removable roof, often a tarpaulin cover, instead of a solid steel roof. It is used for cargo loaded from the top by crane, or for cargo taller than a standard door opening.
A flat-rack container has no side walls and no roof, or only collapsible ends. It is used for oversized cargo and heavy machinery that does not fit inside a closed box, and loading and securing need careful planning.
A high-cube container is taller than a standard container by a small amount, giving extra volume for light and bulky cargo. If your cargo is tall, ask whether a high-cube is available. Not every type is available at every time, so if you need a specialist type, enquire early.
When to Choose a 20ft Container
Choose a 20ft container when your cargo volume is small or moderate and fits in a shorter unit, such as a smaller shipment, a partial load, or a first trial order. It can also suit dense and heavy cargo, because a compact unit is easier to manage for weight distribution. Choose a 20ft when your delivery site is tight: a narrow road, sharp turn, low gate, or small yard makes a 20ft easier to deliver and place, so measure the space first. It also works as a site store for tools, materials, and stock, taking up less ground space than a 40ft container.
When to Choose a 40ft Container
Choose a 40ft container when your cargo volume is large and you want to move it in one unit, reducing the number of containers, seals, and deliveries to manage. For bulky goods such as furniture, garments in cartons, and light machinery, a 40ft container is often the practical choice. It also suits light cargo that takes up a lot of space: load heavier items at the bottom, lighter items on top, and secure the load so it does not shift. You need enough space at the site, with a clear approach for a long trailer and a flat, firm surface. Ask for a comparison for your requirement, and decide on the total cost, not on size alone.
Who Rents Containers in Chittagong?
Importers are the most common renters. They bring goods through Chittagong Port and need a container to receive, hold, and move cargo to a warehouse in Chittagong, Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj, or another city. Exporters also rent containers: they load goods at a factory, seal the container, and send it to the port. Traders and wholesalers rent containers for storage and for movement between markets. Construction companies rent them for site storage, manufacturers for raw material and finished goods, and small businesses and first-time importers rent them to start with one shipment without buying a container.
How the Rental Process Normally Works
Step 1: Share your requirement. Contact Total Import Solution by WhatsApp or email and share the basics: size, type, cargo, quantity, delivery location, the date you need the container, and the rental duration. If you are not sure about the size, share the cargo details and ask for advice. Be clear about the purpose, because a container for sea transport, road transport, and storage at a site can have different requirements.
Step 2: Get the rental terms and confirm the cost. Ask what the rental cost is, whether it is charged per day, per week, or per month, what is included, and what is not included, such as delivery, transport, loading, or port charges. Ask about any deposit, when payment is due, and what happens if you keep the container longer than agreed. Ask for the terms by WhatsApp or email so you have a record. Prices depend on type, size, condition, duration, and delivery location, so confirm the cost for your requirement at booking.
Step 3: Confirm availability and book. Once you agree on the terms, confirm the booking with the delivery date, delivery address, and a contact person with a phone number. Confirm the time window for delivery, and make sure someone will be at the site to receive the container. If the site has a gate, a guard, or a fixed opening time, share that in advance. If you need the container on a specific date, book early, because availability in Chittagong can change with the shipping schedule and demand at the port.
Step 4: Inspect the container on delivery. When the container arrives, inspect it before you sign for it. Check the outside and the inside, the doors, the door seals, the floor, the roof, and the walls. Look for holes, rust, damage, and water marks. Open and close the doors and check the locking rods. Note any damage you find, and take photos. If the container is damaged or not suitable for your cargo, raise it at once. Do not load cargo into a container with a leaking roof, a broken door, or a damaged floor.
Step 5: Load the cargo carefully. Put heavier items at the bottom and lighter items on top, distribute the weight evenly, use pallets where suitable, and secure the load so it does not move. Count the cargo as you load it, keep a packing list, seal the container after loading if it will move by road or by sea, and note the seal number.
Step 6: Transport, unload, and return. Arrange transport with a truck and trailer suitable for the size; a 40ft container needs a longer trailer than a 20ft. For export, allow time for the port procedure and the vessel cut-off time. At the destination, unload carefully, count the items against the packing list, clean the container, and arrange the return as agreed. If you need it longer, inform the supplier before the period ends and ask for an extension. After return, confirm in writing that the rental is closed and keep the record.
Documents to Keep Ready
Keep the basic documents ready so the process does not stop. For a business rental, keep a copy of your trade licence or business registration, the delivery address in full, and the contact details of the person who will receive the container. For an import, keep the bill of lading, commercial invoice, and packing list ready. For an export, keep the export documents ready as per your shipment and buyer. Keep a rental note with the size, type, period, delivery date, location, and cost, plus the container number and seal number if one is used. If customs clearance is involved, your clearing and forwarding agent will normally handle the customs documents, so share the container details with your agent in good time.
Chittagong Port, Customs, and Delivery
Chittagong Port is the main seaport for Bangladesh’s import and export cargo. For an import, the vessel arrives, the container is discharged, customs clearance is completed by your clearing and forwarding agent, and after clearance the container can be released for delivery to your warehouse or yard. For an export, the container is loaded at your factory or warehouse, sealed, sent to the port, and loaded on the vessel. Confirm the vessel cut-off time with your agent and plan transport so you do not miss it. Delivery from the port is normally by road, so the truck must suit the container size and the driver must know the address and contact person. Customs and port charges are separate from the rental cost in most cases, so ask clearly which charges are included and which you will pay separately.
Inspection Checklist Before You Accept a Container
Check these points on delivery, and note anything wrong before you sign. First, the doors: open and close them, check the locking rods, handles, and seals, and look for gaps. Second, the roof and walls: look for holes, dents, rust, and daylight coming through. Third, the floor: check for broken boards, soft spots, stains, and a strong smell. Fourth, the inside: check for water marks and previous cargo residue. Note the container number, take photos inside and outside, and if you find a problem that affects the cargo, raise it at once and ask for a replacement unit.
What Affects the Rental Cost?
No fixed price is given here, because the cost depends on several factors. Size matters: a 40ft container normally costs more than a 20ft. Type matters: a reefer, open-top, or flat-rack normally costs more than a standard dry container. Condition, rental duration, delivery location, and availability at the port also affect the cost. Always compare the total cost, including delivery and any deposit, and confirm it in writing before you book.
Common mistakes to avoid: booking the wrong size, not measuring the delivery site, loading without inspection, and keeping a container beyond the agreed period without notice. Each can cause delay and extra cost.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I rent a 20ft container in Chittagong Port?
Yes, if available. Share your cargo, delivery location, and dates by WhatsApp or email to check.
2. Can I rent a 40ft container in Chittagong Port?
Yes, if available. Check that your site has enough space for a long trailer first.
3. Which is better, a 20ft or a 40ft container?
It depends on your cargo. A 20ft suits smaller or heavy loads; a 40ft suits larger, bulky loads.
4. What cargo can go in a dry container?
General dry cargo, such as cartons, packed goods, textiles, and machinery parts.
5. Can I rent a reefer container?
Reefer containers are available in general, but availability varies. Confirm power and temperature needs at booking.
6. How long can I rent a container?
It depends on the rental terms. Confirm the period, the rate, and the extension process before you book.
7. What documents do I need to rent a container?
Keep your trade licence, delivery address, contact details, and shipping documents ready, as explained above.
8. Do I need customs clearance for a container?
If the container is part of an import or export shipment, your clearing and forwarding agent normally handles customs clearance.
9. Can the container be delivered to Dhaka?
Yes, delivery by road is normally possible. Confirm the delivery cost and timing for your address.
10. How do I check a container before accepting it?
Check the doors, seals, roof, walls, and floor, look for leaks and damage, and take photos.
11. What if the container is damaged on delivery?
Raise it at once, do not load cargo into it, and ask for a replacement unit if it affects the cargo.
12. Can I use a rented container for storage?
Yes, a rented container can be used for storage if that is agreed in the rental terms.
13. What affects the rental cost?
Type, size, condition, rental duration, delivery location, and availability at the time of booking.
14. Is there a deposit for renting a container?
It depends on the rental terms. Ask about any deposit and how it is settled before you book.
15. How do I book a container with Total Import Solution?
Contact Total Import Solution by WhatsApp or email with your size, type, cargo, delivery location, and dates.
Total Import Solution — Contact Us
Total Import Solution, since 2016, provides sourcing and import support for businesses, including container-related enquiries connected to shipments through Chittagong Port. For availability and cost for your requirement, contact us:
- WhatsApp: +8801977954302
- Email: info@totalimportsolution.com
- Website: totalimportsolution.com
