Storage Container & Sea Van Rental: Sizes, Specs, and How to Choose
Everything you need to know before renting a storage container or sea van in Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo County: real sizes, real condition grades, and what actually fits your project.
API Trailers rents and sells storage containers and sea vans in three core configurations: an 8×20 sea van (19’4″ interior length), an 8×40 sea van (39’5″ interior length), and an 8×24 storage container (1,500 cubic feet). Units are available new, one-trip, cargo-worthy, used, or as-is, for lease or purchase, delivered anywhere in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo County. Call 805-328-6031 for current pricing and availability.
If you need secure, weatherproof storage on a job site, a farm, or at a business, a steel storage container or sea van is usually faster to get in place and cheaper than building anything permanent. The two terms get used interchangeably, but they are not always the same thing, and picking the right size and condition grade makes a real difference in both cost and how well the unit holds up for your project.
This guide covers every configuration API Trailers offers, what separates a sea van from a general storage container, and how to think about condition grades before you commit. You can also see the full storage container and sea van lineup or the San Luis Obispo container rental page.
Storage Container vs. Sea Van: What Is the Difference?
A sea van is a container originally built to ship cargo overseas: 14-gauge corrugated steel construction, rated to stack under real load, with a marine plywood floor 1⅛” thick. A storage container can refer to that same type of steel cargo container repurposed for ground storage, or to a lighter-duty unit built specifically for stationary storage rather than ocean transit.
In practice, if durability, security, and stackability matter (construction sites, agricultural operations, long-term outdoor storage), a sea van is the stronger choice. If you need general storage space and appearance or transit-grade toughness is not the priority, a storage container works and is often the more economical option.
Not sure which one fits your project?
Call API Trailers and describe what you are storing. We will tell you exactly which size and condition grade makes sense.
The 8×20 Sea Van
A storage container delivered to a residential driveway
Big enough for a full set of hand and power tools, pallets of materials, or a small business’s document and equipment archive, and small enough to place in a driveway, side yard, or tight jobsite corner in most cases without a permit.
Best Uses
- Construction site tool and material lockup
- Small business inventory or archive storage
- Agricultural equipment and supply storage
- Residential storage during a move or remodel
- Seasonal retail or event storage
The 8×40 Sea Van
Multiple units staged for a large-volume project
Double the length of the 20ft unit: full pallet racking, vehicle and equipment storage, or overflow inventory for a warehouse that has run out of floor space.
Best Uses
- Warehouse overflow and pallet storage
- Large construction projects with multiple trades on site
- Fleet parts and equipment storage
- Municipal and school district bulk storage
- Agricultural and winery staging
The 8×24 Storage Container
A single storage container ready for delivery
A dedicated storage configuration between the two sea van sizes, built for straightforward general storage rather than heavy-duty cargo use. Interior racks are available to maximize usable space.
Best Uses
- General business or garage-overflow storage
- Document and records storage
- Equipment storage for landscaping, trades, or property management crews
- Homeowner storage during renovation
All Sizes at a Glance
| Configuration | Exterior | Interior Capacity | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8×20 Sea Van | 20′ × 8′ × 8’6″ | 19’4″ × 7’8″ × 7’10” | Jobsite tools, small business storage |
| 8×40 Sea Van | 40′ × 8′ × 8’6″ | 39’5″ × 7’8″ × 7’10” | Warehouse overflow, large projects |
| 8×24 Storage Container | N/A | 1,500 cu ft | General business/residential storage |
New, Used, Cargo-Worthy, or As-Is: Which Condition Do You Need?
New-condition units ready for lease
Condition affects both price and what the container is fit for:
New / One-Trip
Made a single ocean voyage before being sold. Minimal wear, best exterior condition, highest cost.
Cargo-Worthy (CW)
Inspected and certified structurally sound for shipping. Solid mid-range option without paying for like-new condition.
Used
Functional and weather-resistant but shows cosmetic wear: dents, rust spotting, faded paint. Most economical for pure storage use.
As-Is
Sold or rented without inspection guarantee, priced lowest. Best for short-term or low-stakes storage needs.
Modified units, new or used, are also available with custom cutouts, added doors, shelving, or ventilation built to your project.
Renting a Container vs. Building Permanent Storage
| Factor | Rent a Container | Build Permanent Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Low, monthly rate only | Full construction cost |
| Time to use | 24-48 hours, same-day in Santa Maria | Weeks to months for permitting and construction |
| Permit typically needed | No, in most cases, for temporary placement | Usually yes |
| Flexibility | Month-to-month, relocate or return anytime | Fixed in place |
| Best for | Project-length or ongoing needs where flexibility matters | A permanent, unchanging space requirement |
Where We Deliver
API Trailers’ own delivery fleet moving a container to a job site
API Trailers leases storage containers and sea vans to Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County, including Santa Maria, Lompoc, San Luis Obispo, and Nipomo. Keeping the leasing radius tight keeps delivery fees reasonable for customers in our service area. If you are outside Santa Barbara or SLO County, call and we will let you know what is possible.
Built in California. By the People Who Designed Them.
Most companies renting storage containers in California are resellers. They buy units from a third party, mark them up, and lease them out. When something goes wrong, a quality issue, a wrong condition grade, a delivery mistake, you are dealing with a middleman who did not build or inspect the unit and has limited ability to fix it.
API Trailers is different. We are the manufacturer.
Every container and sea van in our fleet is inspected, graded, and maintained by API Trailers directly at our Santa Maria facility, and delivered by our own drivers, not a subcontracted trucking company. When you lease a container from API Trailers, you are dealing directly with the company that stands behind it, not a reseller three steps removed from where it came from.
in California
for rent or purchase
building every unit
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to get a storage container or sea van on your site?
API Trailers manufactures and leases storage containers and sea vans from our Santa Maria factory. California DOH certified. Same-week delivery available in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo County.