Flexible storage capacity in logistics: when is a container actually the right choice?

Every distribution centre experiences moments when the racking is full and the incoming flow shows no sign of stopping. Think of the busy festive season, a consignment arriving too early, or a wave of returns following a promotional campaign. Refurbishment work can also temporarily take part of the warehouse out of use. Renting extra square metres on a long-term basis is often too expensive and too slow for such peaks. Many logistics companies therefore look to storage on their own premises. This can work well, provided you are clear in advance about the problem you are trying to solve.

Peaks recur every year

In many sectors, the pressure on storage capacity follows consumer behaviour. According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), online retailers’ turnover in November 2025 will be 6.5 per cent higher than in the same month a year earlier. For fulfilment providers and their suppliers, this means more stock, more returns and more temporary buffers in the fourth quarter. As this peak recurs at roughly the same time every year, it is a good candidate for a temporary solution.

Which application requires which size?

The choice of container size depends less on the volume you need to store. It’s mainly about how often you need to access it and what equipment you use. A container with daily forklift traffic has different requirements to a buffer stock that is replenished weekly.

• A 20-foot container is usually suitable for storing surplus pallets or packaging materials at a distribution centre, possibly with several units placed side by side. This works well with a pallet truck if you position the doors on the side facing the loading bay.
• Bulk stock that is rarely accessed fits into a 40ft or 40ft high-cube container. This provides greater capacity per load, but goods at the back are difficult to access.
• A 10ft or 20ft container is sufficient for parts and tools at a project site. A smaller size fits on a cramped building site and is easier to move around.
• Long or bulky goods require an open-top or flat-rack container. Loading from above or from the side requires a crane and protection from the weather.

For most overflow situations at a distribution centre, the standard size is the starting point. A 20-foot shipping container has an internal length of just under six metres and a doorway through which a Euro pallet can pass without having to be rotated. This makes it suitable for rapid stock rotation. For those who primarily need volume and expect little movement, a longer version is usually more cost-effective per cubic metre.

What you need to sort out before the container arrives

The container itself is delivered quickly, but the preparation takes more time. Three issues keep cropping up in practice: the ground conditions, the permit and security.

A container placed on unpaved ground or sinking clinker paving will become lopsided. This causes the doors to jam and water to pool inside. A level, paved surface or a few concrete footings beneath the corners will prevent this.

Whether placing a container on your premises requires a permit varies from council to council. Under the Environment Act, the council’s environmental plan determines which activities require a permit, as explained by the Environment Information Centre. A container left in place for a few weeks is often treated differently from one that remains there for a year. You should therefore check this before placing the container, not after the event.

A container in a remote corner of the site is an easy target. A secure lock and a location within the CCTV’s field of view can help. Also check whether your insurance covers goods stored outside the premises, as this is by no means always the case.

When a container isn’t the right solution

A standard container is a steel box without climate control, which poses a real risk to temperature-sensitive goods such as foodstuffs, pharmaceutical products or cosmetics. In summer, the internal temperature rises significantly, and temperature fluctuations cause condensation. Without a refrigeration unit or a climate-controlled space, such stock should not be stored in a container.

The same applies to the storage of packaged dangerous goods, as these are subject to the requirements set out in PGS 15. The most recent version is PGS 15:2025 version 1.1, dated April 2026. A standard storage container does not automatically comply with these requirements, as specially equipped facilities are needed for this purpose.

Ultimately, a container is no substitute for permanent capacity. If the surplus stock persists even after the season is over, managing individual units on site can quickly become unmanageable. Think of stock outside the WMS, extra walking distances and tasks that aren’t part of the schedule. At that point, an additional warehouse, an external storage partner or a reorganisation of the existing warehouse is the better investment.

‘Temporary’ means: with an end date

A container works best as a buffer with a clear start and end. Decide in advance which goods it is intended for and how these will be recorded in your stock management system. In addition, schedule a time to assess whether it can be removed again. Whoever makes these arrangements will have extra space within a few days, without a temporary stopgap measure becoming a permanent part of the operation without anyone realising.