Portable buildings are buildings that can be carried or moved about. Portable buildings are made for both commercial and domestic applications. Commonly built portable buildings are offices, classrooms, toilets, warehouses, storage buildings, shops, sheds, greenhouses, workshops, playhouses, mess-rooms, summerhouses, garages, pavilions, and carports.

Portable buildings are instant, able to be relocated, and are modular structures that are normally made with steel, aluminum, timber, and other materials. Normally, the exterior of these buildings is sided with steel. Many buildings usually come with thirty-inch centers.

The advantages of portable buildings are that they are safe and strong and require little or no maintenance. Some of these come with pressure-treated skids that protect against rot and termites for thirty to forty years. They are normally usable anywhere. Since most businesses that offer portable buildings take custom orders, most often these can be tailored to serve any building requirement. Customers have the option of buying, renting, or leasing portable buildings.

Companies that are in the business of selling portable buildings also offer many accompanying services like delivery, installation, anchoring, and providing ramps and steps. Custom-built portable buildings require greater interaction between the builder and the client. The builder gets involved at the design stage and then manufactures the required building(s) for final delivery and installation. In some cases, the structure is built on site to allow for any last minute changes and to avoid any yard damage.

Installation of portable buildings requires a permit from the competent authorities. Most suppliers of portable buildings who are licensed contactors normally take care of this for their clients. Many suppliers also offer various financing options. Also, in addition to the warranties offered by the manufacturers of the building materials, many of the portable building suppliers themselves offer workmanship warranties.

Portable buildings have been around for a long time. The ease with which they can be moved makes them a viable alternative in some instances to permanent buildings.