Delivery Information

Delivery is free across the UK. We deliver shipping containers throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — and to the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands — at no charge, with no minimum order and no postcode surcharge. This page explains how delivery works, what your site needs to provide, and how long it takes. The contractual position is set out in our Delivery and Shipping Policy.

Where we deliver

England — all mainland postcodes, served from depots and haulage partners near the major ports and inland hubs.
Wales — all mainland postcodes. In parts of mid and north Wales narrow lanes dictate a smaller vehicle, so please describe the approach when you order.
Scotland — the Central Belt, Borders, Fife, Tayside, Grampian and the east coast are served routinely. Highlands, Argyll, Kintyre and the far north are covered on the same free delivery; because of distance and driver hours these routes run less often, so allow a little longer.
Scottish islands — the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland are delivered via ferry operators at no extra charge. Expect longer lead times and sailing-dependent dates.
Northern Ireland and the Isle of Wight — included in our free UK delivery, with dates subject to sailings.
Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey — delivered free of charge on the same basis as the rest of the UK. Dates depend on ferry sailings, so allow longer than a mainland delivery.

There is no delivery charge to any UK postcode and no minimum order value. The price shown for the container is the total payable, with no VAT added at checkout.

How your container is delivered

Tilt-bed lorry (standard)

The most common and most economical method. The lorry reverses into position, the bed tilts, and the container slides gently to the ground as the vehicle drives forward. Nothing is lifted over anything.

Needs: a firm, level, straight run roughly twice the container length behind the final resting position — about 20 metres for a 20ft container and about 30 metres for a 40ft.
Width: approximately 3.5 to 4.5 metres of clear width, including gateposts and opening gates.
Overhead: approximately 4.5 metres of clearance along the whole approach.
Placement accuracy: the container ends up broadly where the lorry can put it. It cannot be placed against a wall, in a corner or beyond an obstruction.

HIAB (lorry-mounted crane)

A crane on the lorry lifts the container and places it precisely, including over a wall, hedge or fence. It is the answer for tight or awkward sites. Tell us about the access when you order and we will send the right vehicle.

Needs: firm, stable ground for the crane outriggers, clear airspace above the lift and the lorry, and the ability to park within the crane’s reach.
Limits: reach and lift capacity are inversely related — the further out, the less it can lift. Most standard HIABs will not place a 40ft container at any meaningful reach. Tell us the required lift distance and we will confirm what is achievable.
Hazards: overhead power and telephone lines are an absolute bar to lifting beneath them.

Flatbed or trailer with customer offload

The cheapest haulage option. The container arrives on a flatbed and you offload it using your own telehandler, fork-lift or crane and a competent operator.

You are responsible for the lifting equipment, its capacity, the operator’s competence and the safety of the lift.
Offloading must be completed within the driver’s allowed waiting time, normally one hour, so have your plant and operator ready before the vehicle arrives.
A 20ft container weighs roughly 2.2 tonnes empty and a 40ft roughly 3.8 tonnes; a high cube is heavier again. Lift from the corner castings only.

Preparing your site

Access checklist

Measure gateway and driveway widths, including anything that projects — posts, walls, bins, planters.
Identify overhead obstructions: power lines, telephone cables, tree branches, barn doorways, height barriers.
Check ground bearing. Delivery vehicles run up to 44 tonnes gross. Soft ground, wet grass, new block paving, manhole covers, soakaways, septic tanks and cellar lights are all vulnerable.
Confirm the lorry can turn and leave. Cul-de-sacs, tight yards and dead-end farm tracks are the usual problems.
Arrange for parked vehicles to be moved before the delivery window opens.
Check local restrictions: weight and width limits, weak bridges, red routes, timed loading bans, low bridges and school-time congestion.

The base

The container should sit level on its four corner castings. A concrete pad, compacted MOT Type 1 hardcore, concrete blocks or railway sleepers all work well. Levelling matters: a container placed on uneven or soft ground can twist enough to stop the doors closing. A small air gap underneath improves drainage and slows corrosion.

On the day

Someone over 18 must be present to direct placement and sign for the container.
Keep children, animals and bystanders well clear of the vehicle and the container throughout.
Mark the intended position clearly, ideally with paint or pegs.
Inspect the container before signing. Note any damage or discrepancy on the delivery note.

Lead times

Stock containers to mainland England and Wales: typically 3 to 7 working days from cleared payment.
Central Belt and eastern Scotland: typically 5 to 10 working days.
Scottish Highlands and remote mainland: typically 7 to 14 working days.
Scottish islands, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Channel Islands: typically 2 to 4 weeks, subject to sailings.
Specialist units (side-openers, open-tops, flat racks, refrigerated) and modified containers: lead time confirmed when you order, commonly 2 to 6 weeks.

Lead times are estimates given in good faith and are not guaranteed unless we have confirmed a fixed date in writing. Weather, port congestion, driver availability, road closures and ferry cancellations all affect haulage.

Delivery windows and notice

We give a delivery date and, where the haulier allows, a morning or afternoon window. Hauliers do not generally offer timed slots. The driver will normally telephone ahead, typically 30 to 60 minutes before arrival, so please give us a mobile number that will be answered on the day.

Deliveries run Monday to Friday during normal working hours. Saturday deliveries can sometimes be arranged in advance; Sunday and bank holiday deliveries are not usually available.

Failed and aborted deliveries

If the vehicle attends and cannot deliver — nobody present, blocked access, unsuitable ground, insufficient turning space, or the site is not ready — the delivery is aborted. Delivery itself is free, but a wasted journey is not: a charge applies for the return visit, reflecting the haulage actually incurred. This is why we ask detailed access questions before dispatch: an honest description of a difficult site costs nothing, whereas an aborted artic costs real money.

If we cannot deliver for reasons within our control, we will rebook at no additional charge or, where appropriate, refund you in accordance with our Refund Policy.

Damage in transit

Inspect on arrival. Record any transit damage on the delivery note before signing and email photographs to info@blueportcontainer.com within 48 hours. Claims made after the container has been signed for as satisfactory and without a note of damage are far harder to substantiate. Full details are in our Delivery and Shipping Policy.

Collection

You are welcome to collect from the holding depot if you have suitable transport, but collections must be booked in advance and you must arrive with a vehicle capable of taking the unit. Depots will not load onto unsuitable trailers. Ask us for the depot address and opening hours when ordering.

How access differs by container type

The access notes above assume a standard box on a tilt-bed. Some categories change the picture. A 40ft unit from our shipping containers or high cube containers range needs a straight run of roughly 25 metres and a lorry length of clear approach, where a 10ft or 20ft storage container will often go into a domestic driveway. Flat pack containers arrive on a pallet and are carried to the spot by hand, which is the answer when nothing larger can reach it. Site cabins sit on adjustable jacklegs and tolerate uneven ground without a poured base. Container swimming pools and heavier modified containers are usually craned rather than tilted off, so tell us about overhead cables and tree cover when you enquire.

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