Looking for Portable Classrooms for Sale? Answers to Common School Portable Questions

Are you in the market for increasing your school or university’s space with portable school classrooms? Are you shopping for portable classrooms for sale near you? This post is designed to help you understand the unique advantages that portable classrooms offer to schools all across the country.

What is a Portable Classroom?

Most of us have seen and probably worked in a portable classroom before. Portable classrooms are trailers, double-wides, or complex structures that are prefabricated off campus, and delivered to schools. They’re often installed in an effort to increase space quickly and temporarily. 

Despite this temporary status, the many advantages offered by portable classrooms for sale often make them a permanent fixture on school grounds.

What Features Can I Add to Portable Classrooms?

One of the amazing aspects of portable classrooms is the seemingly endless number of features that you will find available to enhance the comfort levels of your students and staff.

Some of the most common portable classroom features include:

• Standard bathrooms and handicap-accessible bathrooms available
• Handicap accessible ramps for entrances
• School desks available for students or instructors
• Comfortable chairs and furniture for lounging and study spaces
• Wired for full data connectivity
• Outer canopies for protection against the weather
• Carpeted flooring or vinyl composition tile
• A/V equipment for lectures and presentations
• HVAC systems for full climate control capabilities

How Many Square Feet are Portable Classrooms?

The short answer is that portable classroom trailers are as many square feet as you need them to be. The more thorough answer is listed below. Portable classroom trailers come in a few standard size options.

In terms of square footage, trailers range from 700 square foot, single-wide school portables, and can be combined, connected like legos, and installed to be as large as almost 40,000 sq. ft.

Modular building code legislates that individuals or occupants require 20 square feet. Put into simpler terms, a 700 sq. ft. classroom can accommodate 35 occupants. That might look like 34 students and 1 educator.

Standard Sizing Options:

• 24′ X 36′ Portable Classroom – Standard Double-Wide Layout
• 24′ X 60′ Portable Classroom – Double Length Layout
• 36’ X 60’ Portable Classroom Complex – Multi Use Portable School Layout

More portable classroom size options:

Try a Completely Customized Experience

Portable classrooms are typically for sale by portable and modular building companies. This gives you a huge advantage when shopping for a modular classroom unit, because their inventory will be diverse and expertise for crafting customized modular buildings across various business sectors is greater than a common construction company.

Portable Classroom Exteriors:

Portable classroom exteriors can be fitted with siding and roofing materials that are high quality, and offer customization that blend with your other campus buildings. The uniformed exterior gives your school an aesthetically pleasing feel and presents your school as a polished educational institution.

This includes the ability to modify entrances with handicap accessibility features such as ramps and railings, stairways, and wide entries.

Portable Classroom Interiors:

Inside, portable classrooms can be customized to the type of class being taught, and ensure that your technology integrates seamlessly with classroom specs. 

If you need a multi-purpose classroom space, we can create a standard desk area, a casual learning, play, or reading area, and teacher workspace that optimizes the feel of smaller school portables.

But if you need a science lab classroom, the desk-type ventilation systems, sink and plumbing are all completely customizable. 

Will your portable classroom building be used as a computer lab or smart classroom? That’s also not a problem. Customized portable classrooms can be prefabricated and wired to the exact data and electrical specifications a technology filled room needs.

Are School Portables Safe?

One of the most common questions pertaining to portable classrooms is the safety of a temporary unit. Prefabricated school buildings are built to code and inspected to give you peace of mind in regards to the quality of the modular construction. Engineers and architects ensure that buildings materials and infrastructure are designed for your safety.

School Accessibility and Student Safety

Here are some of the precautions schools have taken to provide safety for portable classrooms from outside threats:

• Equip electronic card access features for portable classrooms
• Lockdown and weather safety drills practiced on a regular basis
• School portables connected to the school’s fire alarm system
• Equipped with fire extinguishers
• Video surveillance
• Equipped with first aid kits
• Phones and intercom systems

How Long Do Portable Classrooms Last?

Schools have reported that the average age of portables in the U.S. is about 5 to 6 years old. Education units that are well-maintained, and made from high quality materials can see lifetimes as long as 30-50 years. Schools should take time to have their buildings regularly inspected and cleaned to provide the longest life of their buildings.

How Much Do School Portables Cost?

Portable Classrooms for sale are often cited as affordable, temporary options for schools. They add classroom space on a budget that gives school administrators the ability to use limited government funds to ensure a high quality education is being provided in their school system.

Specific costs of portable classrooms are associated with a number of variables including:

• The number of classroom units you need
• The size of the modular classroom unit you need
• The location of your portable classroom (shipping, inventory availability)
• The customizations for special prefabricated classroom types or exterior modifications
• Whether or not you will be purchasing your school portable or renting the classroom

According to Cost Owl, the average cost of portable classrooms for sale in 2020 depends on whether you want to lease or buy your building. Average leasing prices in the U.S. are reported at $50 – $200/sq ft. The average cost to purchase a unit ranges from $15,000 – $45,000 on a standard classroom unit.

It should be noted that costs are typically higher in the first year to accommodate for transportation and installation, making investing worthwhile the longer a building is maintained. Schools that purchase their portable classrooms often see the best return on investment. Leasing is still a great option for schools that need temporary relief quickly and are certain that the relief they need is indeed only for a few years.

*Please note that the above costs are not associated with VESTA Modular but were gathered via a cost aggregating website. To get an exact price on a portable classroom located near you be sure to consult your modular building supplier directly.

Payment Options for Portable Classrooms:

Most modular construction companies that sell portable classrooms will offer multiple purchase options.

• Leasing or renting portable classrooms for sale
• Lease to own options for portable classrooms
• Financing and loan programs as well as Co-op leasing options are also available to assist schools in need of space with unique financial circumstances

We strongly recommend reaching out to your modular classroom provider for any questions about purchasing your next school portable that you might have.

Ready to start your modular classroom buying experience? Get a quote, today!