Shipping Container Sizes: What To Know

Posted on 11/23/201812/10/2025 by BigApple

If you are seeking to relocate to New York City while adhering to a budget, it would be advisable to consider renting a shipping container. The utilization of shipping containers presents numerous benefits, including significant cost savings. Additionally, they can serve as a convenient solution for temporary storage requirements during the relocation process.

But, before deciding to rent one, you will need to know which shipping container size and type is the right one for your needs. Picking the container dimensions might seem really confusing and hard at first, but it really isn’t. After you read our simple guide, you will know everything there is to know about moving containers.

Shipping Container Types

Shipping containers are designed in a way to make the transportation of your items easy and safe. This is very important when you are planning to relocate everything you own. Especially if you are planning a cross-country move.

Since not all of us transport the same kind of goods, there are different containers that will suit everyone’s needs. You’ve probably already figured out that there are different kinds of moving containers. More than ten types! And all of them come in various sizes and are from different materials. So, what are the most common types of moving container?

Dry Containers. One of the most commonly used containers. They are perfect for transporting almost any item.
Flat Rack Containers. This will be your number one pick if you want to transport oversized items or construction gear since they come in bigger shipping container size.
Open Top Containers. Great for high items.
Tunnel Containers. They are similar to dry containers but have openings at both ends which is why you can load and unload much easier.
Refrigerated Containers. You will need these if you have temperature sensitive goods.
Car Carrier Containers. You are planning a long distance move, but don’t know how to transport your car? The answer is – Car carrier containers.

Most Common Shipping Container Size

As you already know, every type of shipping container comes in various sizes. Shipping container size sticks to international standard- ISO (Industrial Standards Organization). As a result of this, today’s shipping containers are customized in a way to meet everyone’s demands. Whether you need to transport heavy equipment or a bulk of grain, you will have the opportunity to rent (or buy) a perfectly sized container.

You are probably wondering why is it so important to pay attention to container’s size if you don’t have many goods to transport. It will fit in any container, right? Well, keep in mind that bigger containers cost more. And one of the ways to save money in the Big Apple is to find the right sized moving container.

Standard Container Size

Shipping containers come in standard sizes – 10ft, 20ft, and 40ft. If you have big, bulky or heavy items you can also get a container of a non-standard size. Every type of shipping containers comes in more than one size. There are two shipping container dimensions: external and internal. And since most of moving containers come in rectangular or cubic shape, its measures will include length, height, and width. It is important to know that, for example, external length isn’t the same as the internal length.

External Dimensions

At times of heightened stress, it is not uncommon for individuals to commit superfluous errors. One such mistake is selecting a shipping container of larger dimensions than the designated outdoor area. Another scenario involves placing the container in a location that impedes its opening due to insufficient space.

Neglecting to consider the container’s dimensions may result in significant complications, which are best avoided on the day of relocation. To circumvent such issues, it is imperative to undertake precise measurements prior to acquiring a shipping container.

Internal Dimensions

This one is easy. You will need to pay attention to internal dimensions in order to assure all your belongings will fit the container. Getting a big shipping container doesn’t mean it will be the same size on the inside. If you have high belongings, don’t forget to get the container with the right internal height.

What Size Moving Contianer Do You Need

There are a few things you’ll need to consider when thinking about the size of a shipping container. Firstly, if you are planning to use it as a small office, you will need enough space for your stuff. Get yourself the right sized container and then find reliable office movers NYC.

In short, think of its purpose. Secondly, think what items and how many of them will be in it. And thirdly, examine how adaptable your new space can be. Who knows, you might need a bigger space in the near future. Think of everything.

Where Can You Find Shipping Containers?

Don’t go for the cheapest solution! You need quality when you are thinking of getting a shipping container. Let’s put it like this. When you are planning a move to NYC, you will read NYC moving companies reviews, and then decide which one you will hire. It’s the same with shipping containers. There are many reliable companies with a service of renting a shipping container. Some even have an option to sell you one. No matter what will be the purpose of your future container, always go for the best option. Find a reliable company which will help you decide which shipping container size and type you need. You deserve the best, so don’t settle for less.

Advantages of Professional Movers Over DIY Moving

Posted on 11/19/201801/03/2026 by BigApple

When you move you need to make sure you do it properly. You can do it on your own, but we do not advise this. The reasons are multiple like lower efficiency, the risk of damage to belongings or injury, not properly organizing your items to name just a few.

If one possesses sufficient financial resources, it is advisable to engage the services of professional movers instead of opting for a do-it-yourself approach. This course of action will not only alleviate stress but also result in time savings. In the event that a decision has not yet been reached, the ensuing article will elucidate the advantages of enlisting the aid of professional movers as opposed to undertaking the task independently.

Saving Time

In this day and age of business, networks, offices every moment you can spend with your family and friends are extremely valuable. The thing you need to consider when moving on your own is that it takes a huge amount of what is most precious, time. This is especially important when long distance moving, these relocations are almost impossible without professional help.

When engaging the services of professional movers as opposed to undertaking a DIY move, one need not be concerned about the intricacies of the process. The professionals possess a wealth of experience in their field, which translates to a significantly reduced time frame for the move. Additionally, their well-coordinated teamwork ensures that one’s leisure time is not compromised. This affords the opportunity to relish quality moments with loved ones.

Little Effort From You

Not many people can relocate all their belongings without help. When you think about relocation the first thing that will pop up on your mind is carrying your heavy furniture. Then there is all the patience you need to have when you pack. To avoid all this you can pick professional movers over DIY moving. You can forget about lifting anything heavy or spending days to pack.

Professional movers are strong and work in teams so all the lifting will be done by them. You can even hire them to pack your belongings. This means you will avoid all the stress and effort that comes with relocation to another home.

You Avoid Damage to Your Items

When you lift heavy furniture or any other heavy item you can easily drop it, break it. Let’s say you want to move a piano, and you tried to lift it, but you dropped it so you broke the piano or injured yourself. All that can be avoided if you hire piano movers NYC. These situations are bad for you since you lost your valuable item, but even worse you can injure yourself or your loved ones.

By opting for professional movers instead of DIY moving, one can effectively circumvent the aforementioned issues. These experts possess the necessary expertise to transport weighty or fragile items without causing any harm to the valuable possessions. Furthermore, their extensive experience and collaborative approach significantly reduce the likelihood of any injuries. As a result, one can enjoy a sense of tranquility, secure in the knowledge that their belongings will remain intact and no harm will befall anyone involved in the process.

Forget About Transportation

When you move on your own you need to think about everything. One of the more complicated things you will have to take care of in that case is transportation. This can be difficult even when moving locally when it is a long distance relocation it is a nightmare.

Professional movers will take care of transportation. You will not need to rent a truck, or damage your vehicle, or in the worst case make an accident since people tend to overfill their cars. Hiring the professional is a much safer and efficient option. They will know how many vehicles they will need. They also drive these trucks for the living so chances of accidents are much smaller.

Packing Made Easy

It is a widely acknowledged fact that the process of packing one’s belongings demands a significant investment of time and effort. This undertaking can prove to be an exceedingly stressful one, often spanning several days. In the event that one’s residence is of considerable size and contains a plethora of possessions, the process may even extend to several weeks. The prospect of such a protracted and arduous task is understandably unappealing, which is why the services of professional movers are deemed superior.

You won’t have to do much, maybe just say what you want to pack, what needs to be done with your belongings. Movers will do it with ease, efficiently since they have much more experience. The best part is the time you will save. They know how much packing NYC material they need so you won’t have to go to the store back and forth, tools are also taken care of so no need to buy them either.

Movers Will Organize and Label Your Belongings

This is an essential part of packing and moving your belongings. It takes a large amount of time, patience and skill. If not done properly it will waste a huge amount of your time, you will forget something important or even break a valuable item. If you do not want to take any of these risks you should hire professional movers over DIY moving. They know how to organize your belongings. They label the boxes properly.

When they label your boxes you will find what you need much easier. This will make the transition to your new home much easier. Movers will also mark fragile and valuable items as such. This means they will take extra care of these items. You can be careless because your valuable items are safe.

Moving to a new house or apartment is a huge step. It has a big amount of new opportunities, but it is also a huge amount of work. It takes your time and energy, which leads to stress. You can avoid this by hiring professional movers.

Prepare your home for your family before you move in

Posted on 11/05/201811/12/2025 by BigApple

Moving with your family is a hard task. It will take a long time and it will be stressful. Not just for you, your entire family will be stressed. You must get them ready for such a big life change. You will have to prepare your home for your family to make sure they start enjoying their new home as fast as possible. This is not an easy task, it can be quite tricky. Don’t worry we are here for you. We have gathered information about the best ways you can prepare your home before you move in so that you can have an easier time adapting to your new home. Continue reading “Prepare your home for your family before you move in”

Moving into a high rise apartment

Posted on 09/23/201807/11/2023 by BigApple

When the moving in the building time comes, it is not easy as it sounds. You need to have a good organization and a good preparation for it. Still, there are reasons why is better to live in a building. If you have chosen to live in a building, you are not making a mistake. You just need to choose wisely the apartment and you need to organize your moving. In this article, we are going to present to you how to organize your moving into a high rise apartment. Continue reading “Moving into a high rise apartment”

What Is a Certificate of Insurance for Moving

Posted on 08/22/201812/10/2025 by BigApple

To move to a different house, you need to gather a lot of paperwork. You might have heard of a certificate of insurance for moving, but you probably have no idea what it really is. Don’t worry, as you are not the only one!

A lot of people have misconceptions about this paper and think that it does not make a big difference whether or not you have it. Why this is not true, you are about to find out, because Big Apple Movers always have your back!

What Exactly Is a Certificate of Insurance for Moving?

Since there is a big probability you do not know what exactly a certificate of insurance is, we feel obligated to explain the significance of this piece of paper. Perhaps, after finding out everything about it, you might realize why it is so necessary and, dare we say, mandatory.

When moving to New York, your first task should be to hire reputable and, most importantly, insured movers. Insurance protects you and your furniture from any possible damage that may arise. Having that in mind, you should know that a lot of property managers will request to see a written proof that you have chosen an insured moving company before they let you move into the building.

At this juncture, the certificate of insurance assumes significance. Despite its perceived complexity, a certificate of insurance is a legal document issued by the insurance provider of the moving company. It is imperative that all parties involved in the moving process are adequately insured.

When Do You Need to Show a Certificate of Insurance?

To be fair, to have this certificate is not mandatory in all situations. However, if you do not have it when the property manager asks for it, you will not be able to move in. Moreover, a certificate of insurance is always needed when moving into an urban area, which all NYC boroughs are. Therefore, if you wish to avoid any delays when moving, it is wise to get this piece of paper in due time.

Furthermore, to ascertain whether the presentation of the aforementioned certificate is mandatory, there is a straightforward approach to determine this. You may inquire with the property manager of your prospective residence regarding their policy on the matter. This method is the most reliable and expeditious means of confirming the necessity of this documentation.

What Information Is On a Certificate of Insurance?

In order for a certificate to be valid, it needs to have some specific information written on it. The mentioned pieces of information are:

A certificate of insurance for moving should state that your movers have a license to operate in that area.
This certificate will state the address of your new home.
Finally, it should list all the different scenarios for which you might need to use the insurance coverage.

Slowly, you should be getting a grasp on how necessary this piece of paper is. When making all the moving estimates – related, make sure to include this certificate. Trust us, having it can save your life (and your relocation)!

Why Do Property Managers Ask to See a Certificate?

Even flies on the wall know that relocation is risky, and oftentimes, damaging. During a relocation, a lot of things could go wrong, which would result in the damage to your items. However, besides your items, a part of the building could also get damaged. Obviously, a building is not your property, so someone needs to be held accountable if the damage does arise.

A certificate of insurance effectively resolves this issue, absolving both yourself and the property manager of any liability. In the event of any mishap, only your movers will be held accountable for any associated expenses. It is important to note that minor damages such as scratches on walls are not uncommon during the moving process, given the challenging nature of the task at hand.

How to Get a Certificate of Insurance for Moving?

While obtaining some other NYC building permits may be a long process, getting a certificate of insurance is not! Cheer up, as this is good news! All you have to do is have a talk with your moving coordinator, and they will do all the necessary things for getting this paper. They will contact the building management for some pieces of information, however, this is none of your worries. All you have to do is sit back and relax.

To ensure a smooth and efficient moving process, we kindly request that you make your request for a certificate in a timely manner. Ideally, it would be greatly appreciated if you could inform our movers of your need for this certificate at the time of booking. However, we understand that circumstances may arise, and we are happy to accommodate requests made up to several days prior to the move. We kindly advise against waiting until the last minute to make this request, as it may cause unnecessary delays and complications.

How To File A Moving Insurance

Hiring reliable movers is one of the best things you can do for your relocation. Movers have the right skills, are efficient, and will save you time, energy, and even money when they take care of your belongings. However, accidents do happen even to the best movers, and you may end up with a few things stolen or damaged.

Hopefully, this won’t happen, but knowing the process of how to file a moving insurance claim will make it easier for you to do it just right.

Take Photos of Items

Prior to the relocation process and prior to securely packing items into moving boxes, it is recommended to capture photographic evidence of the items. This photographic documentation serves as compelling evidence of the items’ condition prior to the relocation and can greatly enhance the likelihood of a successful claim.

Make an Inventory List

Make a list of all the things you are moving. The movers will also make a list, but it’s a good idea to have your own to prevent errors. Make a few copies of the list, keep one for yourself, and give one to the movers.

Having an inventory list makes it easier to detect any lost items. So, make sure you know how to create a moving inventory list and keep it close just in case.

Take Photos of the Damage

Just like you took photos of the items before the relocation, it is time to take photos once again. Having before and after photos will make your claim strong. Remember not to throw away the damaged items after you take photos, as the moving company might ask you for physical evidence. If the damage is done to your home, take photos of the damaged parts.

Keep Track of Every Conversation

This is a useful thing to do during your relocation. Keep track of each conversation you have with your movers. Write down the date, who you spoke to, and what was agreed. You will be able to create a timeline in this way, and your moving claim will take less to complete.

Also, you should save not only conversations, but also receipts, documents, and any paperwork you received from the movers. If you send originals when filing a moving claim, make a hard copy just in case you have everything with you.

How Moving Expenses Deduction Works

Posted on 08/13/201808/11/2023 by BigApple

The new Tax Law states that from 2018, moving expenses deduction will only be available to some military personnel. However, if you have relocated in the years prior to 2018, we have some good news for you! In some cases, Federal Tax Law allows you to get a refund on certain moving expenses if your relocation was business-related.

Therefore, if you have started a new job, relocated your office or started working for the same employer but on some other location, you are eligible for moving expenses deduction. Unfortunately, not all expenses are deductible, and they depend on a couple of criteria.

What Are Moving Expenses?

Moving expenses are defined as the costs incurred for packing and shipping personal belongings to a new location. These expenses also encompass storage fees and transportation costs, including fuel expenses. It is widely acknowledged that moving expenses can accumulate to a significant amount.

Hence, if the relocation is job-related, it is advisable to explore the possibility of obtaining reimbursement. However, it is crucial to exercise caution and ensure compliance with the necessary requirements to qualify for a deduction.

The Distance Requirements for Moving Expenses Deduction

Wouldn`t it be perfect if there were no limitations, and you could get a deduction for any and every relocation? Unfortunately, that is not the way life works. There are some criteria which must be met if you are to get a deduction. And, they start with the distance traveled.

If your knowledgeable office movers in NYC have relocated you in the same city, we are sorry to inform you that you will not be eligible for a deduction. The rule is that your new place of work must be 50 miles farther than your old house. Fifty miles is not a small distance, by no means. Therefore, if you think, or know, that there are 50 and more miles from your job and your last home, feel free to ask for a deduction.

Also, when measuring the mileage, the IRS will make sure you use the shortest route. They want to be sure you are doing everything by the book.

The Time Requirements

Beware, because there are a lot of small restrictions here. If you do not meet even one of them, you stop being a candidate for moving cost deduction.

To qualify for moving expenses deduction, you must be working for at least 12 months. There is no requirement for you to work for only one employer. Thus, if the need arises, you can divide your time between a couple of them.
You must be a full-time worker for at least 39 weeks during that first year.
Luckily, there are no requirements to how many days and hours you work, as long as you fulfill the norm of your industry.

Big Apple Movers advise you to check everything before you start thinking about moving cost deduction. These rules cannot be bent, and there is no way of getting around them.

Deductible Moving Expenses?

Luckily, there is not a shortage of moving expenses that can be deducted. However, there is a difference between short distance moving and moving interstate, or even abroad. If you had a DIY move and short distance move, and you have transported your furniture by yourself, you can get a deduction for gas, oil and even highway tolls. When accumulated, these expenses can produce a significant amount of money, so it would be good to get some of that money back. On the other hand, if you had a long distance move, you could get a reimbursement for the plane tickets, and the best thing is that this deduction applies to the whole family.

Moreover, if there was a need for you to rent cheap storage NYC, you should know that you can also be deducted for these expenses, as well. However, there is a limit, since this deduction only applies to periods of up to 30 days. Therefore, if you had to use a storage unit for more than a month, you will not be able to deduct it from your moving expense.

How and When Can You Claim a Deduction?

Moving expenses deduction is a unique one. Why is this the case? Namely, you can claim this deduction even before you are sure that you satisfy all of the requirements. However, it is not the most recommendable course of action. If at the end of those twelve months, you have failed to meet one or more requirements, you will have to return the deduction. Have in mind that most taxpayers usually fail to meet the criteria, and they have to return the money once the 12-month period ends.

To claim a deduction is easy. All you have to do is report your expenses on IRS Form 3903. Attach that form to the tax return for the year when you moved, and the process is over. If it turns out you have to return the deduction, you can do it in two ways.

For your next tax return, make sure to include the original amount of your moving expenses deduction.
Calculate your tax without including the moving cost deduction.

If you are not good with taxes, it is never a bad idea to seek professional help. The IRS will not be lenient if you make any mistakes with your taxes. Avoid trouble whenever you can!

If you think you could qualify for moving expenses deduction, you should give it a try. However, be careful, as you might have to return everything at the end of the year.

Category: NYC moving tips