Mobile offices are key to productivity on busy construction and industrial sites. They give teams a place to meet, work or simply take a break from the elements. They can even serve as sales offices and pop-up retail spaces. But which would better serve your needs, a mobile office trailer, aka jobsite trailer, or a shipping container office, aka office container or conex office?

A container office is a modified shipping container. It must be trucked in and is placed with a forklift. Once placed, it can be moved to another location on the jobsite by the rental provider thanks to its forklift pockets.

A mobile office trailer rests on a wheeled chassis and is towed onto a site. It generally sits a few feet above the ground and requires stairs or a ramp to enter.

Here are five factors you’ll want to consider when deciding between a mobile office trailer and a container office.

What do you need the mobile office for?

Each type of mobile office has its advantages for different applications.

Office container

• Ideal for large construction sites and heavy industrial sites
• Durable enough to withstand rugged environments and personnel entering and existing with heavy boots
• Can be configured as one space or two, and each of those spaces can be used as an office or storage space
• Comes with a work surface and filing cabinets
• Bathrooms may or may not be available features

Mobile office trailer

• Ideal for planning offices, sales and retail offices and special events
• Ideal if you need more than one office or a conference room
• Multiple floor plans available so you can configure the space to your meeting and storage needs
• Many floorplans have bathrooms
• Countless possible modifications and finishes
• May require skirting as well as stairs or a ramp

Either type of mobile office can be ordered equipped with chairs, desks, filing cabinets and even trash baskets and a coffee maker so there’s no need to spend time outfitting the office when it arrives on site.

How much space do you need?

Shipping container offices are generally available in 8’ x 20’ and 8’ x 40’ sizes. If you need more space, your equipment vendor can piece together two or more containers by removing a wall. If space is still tight, the vendor can build a small container complex by stacking two or three containers and adding exterior stairs.

Mobile office trailers are available in a wider variety of sizes. United Rentals can provide units ranging from 24’ x 8’ to 70’ x 14’. Most customers plan on 100 to 150 square feet per person that will be using the trailer.

How much customization do you need?

United Rentals’ jobsite trailers and container offices come equipped with HVAC units, lighting, electrical hookups and outlets, data ports and built-in work surfaces. Whether you choose a jobsite trailer or a container office, you’ll have the basics.

From there, a mobile office trailer allows for much more customization than a container office. You can choose between different floor and wall coverings, install custom lighting features and have the trailer painted with the color of your choice, for example.

Container offices allow for more limited customization. Windows, and doors can be cut out, venting can be added, and you can choose rollup doors, double doors or hatches. Lighting is available in fluorescent, incandescent and low voltage. Insulated walls can help save money on heating and cooling.

How much durability do you need?

How heavily will the mobile office be used, and in what conditions? Both jobsite trailers and container offices are durable. But because a container office is built from a shipping container made of heavy, 14-gauge steel, it can handle more wear and tear.

How level is the ground?

A container office can be placed on many surfaces, including dirt, gravel and concrete. Ideally, the ground should be completely level. In a pinch, a container can be placed on a slight incline if the surface is solid.

A mobile office trailer, on the other hand, is easier to level out because it’s on wheels. And because it’s raised up on a chassis, it’s okay if the ground beneath it is uneven or bumpy.

Either a container office or a mobile office trailer can be a great option depending on your needs. Once you understand the differences between the two, the choice is usually clear.

Visit our marketplace to browse our selection of mobile offices and request a quote.