XL containers (3 m wide)
XL containers are insulated room containers with an external width of 3.00 metres instead of the usual 2.44 metres or so. Inside that gives about 2.79 rather than 2.23 metres – a good quarter more width at the same length. Some manufacturers call this version a premium or wide container.
The extra half metre changes what one module can do. At standard width there is usually only room for furniture along one wall. In an XL container two desks can face each other, a meeting table fits with chairs on both sides, and corridors in container complexes become far more comfortable. The price is a permit-requiring abnormal-load transport, because three metres exceeds what road traffic rules allow without a permit.
Typical uses
- Site management office for several people over long projects
- Meeting and training room with a table in the middle
- Open-plan office in a container complex with fewer modules
- Break room with seating on both sides
- Living module with the bed across the long axis
- Temporary practice, consulting or treatment room
- Classroom or group room built from fewer, wider modules
Sizes and dimensions
| Size | External approx. L × W × H | Internal approx. L × W × H | Floor area approx. | standard for comparison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 ft XL | 6.06 × 3.00 × 2.60 m | 5.85 × 2.79 × 2.34 m | 16.3 m² | 13.0 m² |
| 25 ft XL | 7.60 × 3.00 × 2.60 m | 7.40 × 2.79 × 2.34 m | 20.6 m² | 16.5 m² |
| 30 ft XL | 9.15 × 3.00 × 2.60 m | 8.95 × 2.79 × 2.34 m | 25.0 m² | 20.0 m² |
Approximate values, manufacturer-dependent. The supplier's data sheets are authoritative.
✓ Advantages
- Around 25% more floor area per module
- Furniture possible along both long walls
- Fewer modules for the same area – fewer joints and couplings
- Much more comfortable for permanent occupancy
! Points to consider
- Transport is an abnormal load needing a permit
- Higher purchase price and hire rate than a standard module
- Smaller supply, especially on the used market
- Usually couples only with XL modules from the same system
Equipment and options
- Insulated sandwich walls, windows with shutters or grilles
- Electrical installation with consumer unit and CEE inlet
- Electric heating or air conditioner with heating mode
- Hard-wearing floor covering
- Prepared for coupling into multi-module complexes
- Optional: sanitary fittings, kitchenette, partitions
Price guide
- Purchase
- noticeably above a standard module of the same length
- Hire
- higher than standard, premium varies by supplier
- Transport
- permit, possibly escort vehicle – much dearer than standard
Rough orientation values without guarantee; prices vary by region, condition and market.
What to look out for
- XL pays off when several people work in the room permanently. For a single workplace the standard module is more economical.
- Request transport early: abnormal loads in Germany are permitted via an online procedure (VEMAGS) that needs lead time.
- Check the access – three metres of load width needs more room in bends, gateways and at the site.
- In complexes, make sure all modules come from the same system; XL and standard cannot always be coupled directly.
- Have transport costs itemised in the quote rather than comparing module prices alone.
Frequently asked questions
Why does moving an XL container need a permit?
The permitted width of vehicles including their load on German roads is 2.55 metres. An XL container at 3.00 metres exceeds that, so an exemption permit for an abnormal load is required. That costs time and money and may include route conditions.
Can XL and standard modules be combined?
Some systems allow it, many do not. Because of the different widths, coupling profiles and roof connections do not simply match. Ideally plan a complex with one supplier and one system.
Is XL worth it for a three-month site?
Usually not. On short deployments the higher transport costs count twice because the container must go there and back. XL shows its strengths on long projects and permanent installations.
Related guides
Planning with xl containers (3 m wide)?
Compare sizes, costs and buying vs. renting in our guides.
