If your business is looking for extra space that you might not need in six months, buying a unit or investing in new construction isn’t the answer. A rented shipping container gets you secure, weatherproof storage on your timeline, delivered to your site and picked up again when the job is done.
Great Lakes Kwik Space has been providing Chicagoland businesses with rental containers since 1990, and we’re still the area’s largest independently owned cargo storage container company. No matter what you’re storing and how long you need it, we can have a container at your door in as little as 24 hours.
“Awesome service, very good communication. Delivery went smooth and right on time. Would definitely use them again and recommend them to anyone looking to buy a storage container.” — Mike A.
Adding square footage the traditional way means construction timelines, permits, and a high price tag. Renting avoids all of that. When you rent a storage unit, you get a container appropriately sized for the job, placed exactly where you need it for as long as you need it.
When you choose rental storage, there’s no construction loan, contractor bid, or long waits for a building permit before you can start using the space. A rental container is delivered ready to load, offering an immediate solution.
Storage needs shift with seasons, projects, and inventory cycles. Renting gives you flexibility, so you’re not stuck paying for space you no longer use or owning a container you don’t need once the job wraps up.
We deliver on 24 hours’ notice in most cases. When a project moves faster than expected, or storage becomes urgent overnight, our efficient solutions allow you to respond accordingly.
Need a second container next month or a bigger one than you started with? Swapping sizes or adding units is much simpler than expanding a warehouse lease. Rental agreements give you more flexibility down the road.
“I needed a trailer quick and they got it to me the next morning. Good price and great delivery.” — John E.
We carry a full range of container sizes for rent, from compact units for residential projects to high-cube containers built for palletized freight. Measurements below are exterior and interior dimensions in feet and inches; actual units can vary slightly, so confirm exact specs with our team before finalizing an order.
| Container Type | Exterior Dimensions | Door Opening (W x H) | Cubic Capacity | Tare Weight | Max Payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10′ Standard Dry |
|
7’8″ x 7’6″ | 563 cu ft | 2,870 lb | ~ |
| 20′ Standard Dry |
|
7’8″ x 7’5″ | 1,165 cu ft | 5,050 lb | 62,150 lb |
| 40′ Standard Dry |
|
7’8″ x 7’5″ | 2,350 cu ft | 8,000 lb | 59,200 lb |
| 40′ High Cube |
|
7’8″ x 8’5 1/2″ | 2,694 cu ft | 8,775 lb | 58,425 lb |
| 45′ High Cube |
|
7’8″ x 8’5 1/2″ | 3,043 cu ft | 9,810 lb | 62,990 lb |
| 48′ High Cube |
|
8’2″ x 8’6″ | 3,454 cu ft | 10,850 lb | 56,350 lb |
| 53′ High Cube |
|
7’10” x 8’10” | 3,857 cu ft | 11,110 lb | 58,425 lb |
We also rent 45′ and 48′ storage trailers for businesses that need forklift or pallet-jack access. These trailers are useful if you plan to back a trailer straight up to a loading dock.
For most household moves or a single room’s worth of decluttering, a 10′ or 20′ unit is enough room. Contractors and businesses moving larger volumes of equipment, inventory, or furniture usually land on a 40′ standard or high-cube container.
“Great Lakes is a great company to do business with. Bob made sure everything is well taken care of!!” — Mike G.
Size is only part of the consideration for your storage needs. How a container opens and how it’s built determine its function, which makes a big difference when you’re actually loading and unloading it.
These are the most common units in our rental fleet: a single set of doors on one end, a fully enclosed steel box, and a flat floor rated for heavy, dense storage. If straightforward front-loading access covers what you need, a standard unit is usually the simplest and most cost-effective choice.
High cube units add roughly a foot of interior height over standard containers, which makes a significant difference when you’re stacking pallets, storing tall equipment, or just need more room for bulky items. Our 40′ and 45′ high cube containers are popular with businesses that want more cubic volume without a larger footprint on-site.
Double door units open at both ends instead of just one, so you can load and unload from either side without shifting anything already inside. That layout is useful on job sites where trucks need to pull in and offload fast or in warehouse settings where traffic moves through the container from both directions.
Side door containers add access along the length of the unit in addition to end doors, making it much easier to reach a specific pallet or box without unloading everything in front of it. Retailers storing seasonal inventory, and any business that needs to grab individual items on demand, tend to prefer this configuration.
Container rentals solve different problems for different kinds of businesses. Here’s how our customers typically put them to use.
Jobsite theft and weather damage to tools and materials are two of the most common headaches on a construction site. A rented container gives crews a lockable, on-site place to store equipment overnight instead of hauling it back and forth every day. When the project finishes, the container leaves with the rest of the site equipment.
Seasonal inventory spikes, such as holiday stock, back-to-school merchandise, or overflow from a slow-moving supplier
shipment, don’t need a permanent home. A rental container parked behind the store or warehouse absorbs the overflow without committing to more square footage than you’ll use for the rest of the year.
Festivals, pop-up markets, and seasonal operations like holiday tree lots or fireworks stands need secure storage for a short, defined window of time. Renting matches the container to the season and its demands, rather than leaving you with equipment to store or sell once the event wraps.
Raw materials, spare parts, and finished goods awaiting shipment all need space that doesn’t interrupt production floor operations. A container placed just outside the facility keeps inventory secure and out of the way without pulling square footage from the plant itself.
Renovations, moves, and downsizing projects often call for short-term storage that a garage or shed can’t accommodate. A 10′ or 20′ container gives homeowners a secure spot for furniture, appliances, or construction materials for the duration of the project.
Not every storage need calls for the same solution. Great Lakes Kwik Space offers both rental and purchase options, and the right call usually comes down to how long you’ll actually need the space.
If your storage need has a defined end date, renting keeps costs matched to actual use. This is common for construction projects, seasonal inventory pushes, and relocation. With a rental, you’re not left managing a container once the need has passed, and you can adjust size or quantity as the project changes.
Businesses with an ongoing, predictable storage need often come out ahead by purchasing. If you know you’ll want secure on-site storage indefinitely, owning removes the recurring rental cost over time. We sell both new and used containers to accommodate these needs.
Our team walks through the timeline and volume of what you’re storing before recommending a rental or a purchase. If your plans change mid-rental, moving from renting to buying the same container is often possible, so let our team know about this possibility when you place your order.
Beyond the specs table, a few practical questions help narrow down which rental actually fits your situation.
Short-term projects are usually a straightforward rental with minimal planning involved. Longer commitments of six months or more are worth discussing directly with our team, since rental terms and rates can be structured differently for extended use.
If you’ll be accessing the container repeatedly and need to reach specific items without a full unload, a side door or double door configuration saves a significant amount of time on-site. Otherwise, a standard single-door container is usually simpler to work with and gets the job done.
Delivery trucks need a clear, relatively flat approach with enough room to maneuver a container into position. A tight driveway or a lot with overhead obstructions, like low tree branches or power lines, can limit which sizes are workable. Flag any access concerns with our delivery team ahead of time so there are no surprises on drop-off day.
Dense, heavy loads like tools, machinery parts, or inventory pallets do well in standard-height containers. Bulkier, lighter items like furniture, boxed goods, or seasonal displays benefit from the extra headroom of a high cube unit.
When you rent from Great Lakes Kwik Space, you can expect a straightforward process from our team of container experts.
We deliver directly to your site and place the container where you need it, whether that’s a driveway, a jobsite, or a loading dock. Most orders go out within 24 hours of confirmation. Let us know about any access restrictions before delivery day so we can plan accordingly.
Rental lengths are built around what the job actually requires. If your timeline shifts, reach out and we’ll adjust the term rather than lock you into a schedule that no longer fits.
Every rental unit is weatherproof and fitted with secure locking hardware to keep contents protected from both the elements and unauthorized access. If a unit shows wear that concerns you on delivery, let our team know, and we’ll address it.
What makes Great Lakes Kwik Space a top choice for rental storage in Chicagoland? These qualities set us apart from our local competitors.
We’ve operated in the Chicagoland market for more than three decades and remain the area’s largest independently owned cargo storage container company. Our local footprint leads to faster delivery windows and a team with real familiarity with the region’s job sites, warehouses, and access points.
From compact 10′ units to 48′ high cube containers, plus double door and side door configurations, we carry the range needed to match a container to the job instead of pushing a one-size-fits-all unit.
Rental containers are constructed from durable, weather-resistant materials and built to be wind- and watertight, so contents stay protected through everything Chicago weather brings: heat, humidity, snow, and the stretch in between.
Great Lakes Kwik Space is a veteran-owned business affiliated with the Marine Corps League. Customers working with us are supporting a locally rooted, veteran-run operation, rather than a national logistics chain.
We tell customers what a rental will cost and what it includes before the container ever leaves our lot. We never have any surprise fees buried in the fine print, and our team always stays reachable by phone to address any questions that come up mid-rental.
“Their customer service sets Great Lakes Kwik Storage apart. They took the time to understand our needs and offered options to meet those needs. I will use them again.” — Sterling M.
Whether you’re storing tools on a jobsite, absorbing overflow inventory, or covering a home renovation for a few months, a rental container from Great Lakes Kwik Space gets you secure space without the cost or commitment of building permanent storage. We’ve delivered containers across Chicagoland since 1990, and our team can help you land on the right size and rental term for what you’re storing.
Ready to get started? Call 866.524.6603 or request a free quote online today!
Most orders are delivered within 24 hours of confirmation, though exact timing depends on container availability and your site’s accessibility. Call ahead if you’re working with a tight deadline, and we’ll confirm what’s realistic for your location.
It depends on volume and how you plan to load it. A 10′ or 20′ unit typically covers residential projects, seasonal inventory, or a single jobsite’s tool storage. Larger operations moving palletized freight or bulk materials usually need a 40′ standard or high-cube unit. If you’re not sure, describe what you’re storing, and our team will recommend a size.
Rental terms are flexible and built around your project rather than a fixed contract length. Some customers rent for a few weeks during a renovation; others keep a container on-site for months or longer. Let us know if your timeline changes and we’ll adjust the term.
Requirements vary by municipality, and some Chicagoland suburbs regulate container placement on residential or commercial lots. Check with your local zoning office before delivery, and let our team know if you need placement details (dimensions, weight) to include in a permit application.
In many cases, yes. If your storage need turns out to be longer-term than expected, ask about converting your rental into a purchase. Terms depend on the specific unit and how long it’s been on-site, so contact us directly to discuss options.
Rob was always very honest and upfront about everything and took the time to explain everything I needed.
“highly recommended. They provided us with a great storage container with ontime services.”
“Bought a used container, its perfect, no leaks and in good condition.”
“Good service and prompt delivery. A great option for temporary storage at a decent price.”
