Yes — that's what they're built for. Standard shipping containers stack 9 high on cargo ships. For land use, 2-3 high is typical, with twist-lock connectors at the corner castings to lock them together.
The corner castings on a shipping container are ISO-standard mating points designed for stacking. Twist-lock connectors (also ISO standard) snap into the castings of the lower unit and twist to lock — the same hardware used on container ships. A 2-high stack is routine; 3-high requires careful lifting equipment but is structurally fine.
What stops most people from stacking isn't the containers — it's local zoning. A 2-high stack of high-cubes is 19 feet tall, which exceeds most residential height limits. Commercial properties usually have more headroom. Always confirm zoning before planning a stack.
Practical stacking advice: stack only with proper lifting equipment (you can't lift a loaded container with a forklift safely). Use twist-locks at all four corners. Don't stack on a sloped surface. Don't stack a One-Trip on top of an AS-IS — the bottom unit's structural rating matters. And consider access: getting to the doors of an upper container requires ladders or a fork-mounted platform.
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