A jackleg cabin is a portable building with four adjustable steel legs bolted to the corners of the chassis. The legs wind up and down with a bar, so the unit can be levelled on rough, sloping or soft ground without laying a concrete base first. That is why jacklegs are so common on site buildings, and why a jackleg unit is the quickest building to get working on a new site.
The legs also lift the floor clear of standing water and let a HIAB get its forks or slings underneath, so the same unit can be moved again and again. You will also see them called jack leg cabins, jack-leg units or simply site cabins — all the same thing.
Our used jackleg stock covers offices, welfare units, canteens, drying rooms, toilet blocks and secure stores, from around 12ft up to 32ft long. Most are refurbished at our Manchester workshop — repaired, electrically certified, re-floored where needed and repainted — and a few are sold as they stand, which the listing says.
How they are used
Levels on rough ground
Wind the legs up or down to sit level on slopes, hardcore or soft ground — no base needed.
Moves again and again
The raised chassis lets a HIAB lift the unit cleanly, so it relocates between sites.
Any layout
Jackleg offices, welfare units, canteens, drying rooms, toilets and stores.
Suitable Cabins in Stock
FAQs
What does jackleg mean on a cabin?
It refers to the four adjustable steel legs at the corners. Each leg screws up and down with a bar so the building can be levelled on uneven ground. A unit without them has to sit on a prepared, level base.
Do jackleg cabins need a concrete base?
No, and that is the point of them. Firm, reasonably flat ground is enough — hardcore, compacted stone or a yard surface. The legs take out the slope.
How much is a used jackleg cabin?
Second hand jackleg units start from around £2,500 plus VAT for a small store or short office. Length, layout and condition set the price, so larger welfare and office units cost more; delivery is quoted separately by postcode.
Can a jackleg cabin be stacked?
Yes. Jackleg units stack two or three high with the right corner castings and a staircase, and we can link them side by side to make a larger space. Our HIAB team does the lifting and fitting.
Need the right unit, fast?
Tell us what you need and we'll match a refurbished unit — or build one to your spec — and quote HIAB delivery across the UK.