Portable Offices Guide

What is a portable office?

A portable office is a self-contained, insulated room built on a steel frame that can be delivered on a truck and used the day it lands. AAD Logistics sells seven portable offices and two portable cabins, all new, all delivered Australia-wide from the Port Macquarie. They suit site offices, sales offices, home studios, staff rooms and meeting rooms.

There are two types in the range. Modular portable offices are purpose-built rooms with insulated panel walls, windows, an entry door and an electrical fit-out. The 20ft Corten steel office is a container-based unit with a marine plywood floor, for buyers who want the toughness of a container shell.

Sizes in the range

Unit	Footprint	Notes
20ft portable office, Anthracite Grey	6.00 × 2.40 m	50 mm PUR insulation, vinyl floor, 2 windows, entry door
20ft portable office with internal door	6.00 × 2.40 m	Two rooms, 50 mm PUR insulation
BLACK designer portable office	6.00 × 2.40 m	Roller shutters on 2 windows
Premium portable office with end window	approx. 6.06 × 2.44 m	Insulated floor, walls and roof, Hörmann door
20ft glass-front portable office	6.00 × 2.40 m	200 mm PUR insulation, REHAU windows, double glass doors, blinds
Double portable office	6.00 × 4.88 m	Two modules joined for a large office or staff room
20ft Corten steel portable office	approx. 6.06 × 2.44 m	Container shell, marine plywood floor, around 13 to 14 m² usable
Vintage portable cabin	7.00 × 3.00 m	Floor-to-ceiling window, 2 sliding windows
PRESTIA premium portable cabin	7.00 × 3.00 m	Kitchen, separate toilet, floor-to-ceiling glazing

The 6.00 × 2.40 m units share the footprint of a 20ft container, so they travel on a tilt tray and fit where a 20ft fits. The 7.00 × 3.00 m cabins are wider and longer, and the double office is 4.88 m wide. Ask us about the delivery vehicle for those before you order.

Insulation in a Queensland summer

Insulation thickness is the number that separates a comfortable office from a hot box. The range runs from 50 mm PUR panels on the standard offices to 200 mm PUR on the glass-front office. The PRESTIA cabin combines 50 mm PUR with 50 mm rock wool.

• 50 mm PUR suits a site office used through the day with air conditioning, or a home studio in a shaded position.
• 80 mm and above holds temperature longer and reduces the load on an air conditioner in full sun.
• 200 mm PUR is a building-grade wall. It suits a full-time office or a unit that will be occupied in all seasons.

Orientation helps as much as thickness. Face the glazing away from the afternoon sun, or shade it, and the unit will run cooler at any insulation level.

Windows, doors and fit-out

Every office has at least two windows and its own entry door. The designer office adds roller shutters for security. The glass-front office has REHAU windows, double glass doors and Venetian blinds. The premium office and the double office use Hörmann doors. Vinyl flooring is standard on the modular units; the PRESTIA cabin has parquetry.

Electrical fit-out is included where listed on the product page. It covers lighting, power points and a distribution board, ready for a licensed electrician to connect to site power. The connection itself is not included and must be done by a licensed electrician in your state.

Modular office vs container office

The Corten steel 20ft office is the one container-based unit in the range. Choose it when the office will live on rough sites, be moved often, or needs to match a row of containers. Choose a modular office when comfort and light matter more, because the panel walls insulate better and the windows are larger.

If you want a container converted to your own layout, start with a new 20ft high cube and read container modification planning.

Placement and approval

A portable office needs a firm, level base. Bearers, blocks or piers under the frame keep it off the ground and let air move beneath. Level the base before delivery, because the driver places the unit once. Plan the power connection and, for the PRESTIA cabin, water and drainage.

Council approval may be needed for placement, and the rules differ between a temporary site office and a home studio. Check with your local council before ordering.

Delivery, price and warranty

Prices are in AUD and include 10% GST. Delivery is AUD 745 per unit within the standard service area and is shown at checkout. Wider units and remote sites are quoted. Orders are processed in 1 to 3 business days and delivered typically 4 to 7 business days after that. Payment is by bank transfer or card. All units are new and carry an 18-month warranty, with an 18-day change-of-mind period on eligible products.

Browse portable offices and portable cabins, and read preparing your site before delivery day.