Containers (Skyrim)



Containers are objects capable of storing other objects. Containers are found throughout Skyrim and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The storage capacity of a container is not dependent upon its size or shape and it can store nearly an unlimited number of items. However, the items initially found inside most containers are determined by the type of container.

Most containers in the game are subject to reset, that is, they clear out all the contents after a certain period of time and are reset to their initial state. Most containers reset after about a week of game time, however, examining the contents of the container causes the countdown to start over. A container could be made to never reset simply by opening it once every 5-6 days or so. Any items left in a container that has reset is forever lost with no ways of getting it back.

Note: Containers marked with a * can only have items placed on or in them with a Physics Carry.

Apothecary's Satchel
These are small leather pouches that can be found near alchemy labs or on shelves. They typically contain alchemy ingredients.

Barrel
Barrels can be found almost everywhere. They typically contain 1-5 food items or alchemy ingredients. A variant of the standard barrel are ones that contain alcoholic beverages, such as the Black-Briar Mead. Fish barrels, another unique variant, can be found in the Riften Fishery. Some barrels are called Thief Caches, used by the Thieves Guild to hide weapons, lockpicks and other things their fellow thieves would need. Mead Barrels can be found in Cragslane Cavern and on Solstheim in the add-on. They have the same texture as a normal barrel and can be interacted with the same way. The only difference is that they have a bottle of Nord mead inside them.

Birds' Nest
Birds' Nests can be found in many different locations all across Skyrim. They are usually found between large rocks and trees, and aren't usually seen out in the open. Some may be found in cities behind corners of buildings or on the edge of the town wall. One town that has at least one Birds' Nest in it is the town of Whiterun. Occasionally, nests can be found indoors—for example, there are two inside Dustman's Cairn. One can be found on top of your homestead in the Hearthfire expansion.

Birds' Nests can contain:
 * Chicken's Egg
 * Pine Thrush Egg
 * Rock Warbler Egg
 * Hawk's Egg

Chest
Usually the largest storage containers found and they normally contain items of higher value than other containers. Chests can vary in appearance depending on their location. As chests are the "best" containers available, the term "chest" is often used for any storage container found within a dungeon.

All chests have a generally rectangular box shape. For example, the Falmer chests is constructed out of chaurus chitin and has a distinct appearance but is still recognizable as a chest.

Chests can be made in the homestead with the DLC. Each requires 1 Sawn Log, 1 Nails, 1 Iron Fittings, 2 Hinge, and 1 Lock.

Coffin
Usually found in The Hall of the Dead or tombs; they often contain clothing, armor, gold, jewelry, and other miscellaneous items. Skulls are quite common too.

Cupboard
These are found in almost all houses. They typically contain clothing items and sometimes gold.

Draugr and Skeleton
Some dead bodies (mostly encountered in crypts and catacombs) only act as containers. However, if you see a resting Draugr carrying a weapon, expect a fight with it.

Display Case
Not a full container per se, but can hold weapons. Items are placed into them (See below) and the glass case can be closed. They are typically found in some purchasable properties or Jarls' residences. Objects placed inside display cases by the player can sometimes spawn outside of them, if the area is re-loaded afterwards. This is similar to how items placed by the player on tables, seats or in bowls can be found on the floor as though leaping out of their containers upon re-entering a house.

Display case on low tables can be made in the homestead with the DLC. Requires 2 Sawn Log, 4 Nails, 1 Hinge, and 1 Glass.

To place an item in a display case:
 * 1) Open the display case.
 * 2) Drop the item.
 * 3) Look at the item, and hold down the select/activate button. The item will now float in front of your camera. (You can release the activate button)
 * 4) Move the item to the display case you want to store it in. Position it to your liking.
 * 5) Press the activate button again.

Drawers
Usually contains various clothing and armor, as well as septims and general clutter.

Dresser
These are found in almost all houses. They typically contain clothing items and general clutter.

Egg Sac
Egg Sacs are usually found in caves, tombs and ruins. These are the egg sacs of Frostbite Spiders and typically contain a random number of Spider Eggs.

End Table *
These are found in almost all houses. They typically contain items of clothing, or sometimes food or gold.

Knapsack
These containers are fairly rare, but can be found in almost any environment. They typically contain a range of items such as books, ingredients, jewelry, potions and gold.

Pot
These are found in some houses and shops, and occasionally at bandit camps. They typically contain alchemy ingredients.

Sack
These are found in almost all houses and shops. They typically contain 1-5 food items or ingredients.

Safe
Quite rare, but can typically be found in upper-class housing, such as Proudspire Manor. Safes can be created in a homestead with the add-on.

Satchel
Small leather pouches identical to Apothecary's Satchels, with the difference of containing, lockpicks and/or keys, instead of alchemy ingredients.

Strongbox
Strongboxes are used primarily for Thieves Guild missions. With the various add-ons they can also serve as:
 * Dawnguard caches in
 * Furniture items in homesteads in.
 * East Empire Company Strongboxes in.

Wardrobe
These are found in almost all houses and will typically contain clothing items. Such clothing items will pertain to either fine clothes in fine wardrobes or regular clothes in rough wardrobes.

Urn
These various sized containers can be found in tombs, ruins, and other places where the dead reside. Typically contain a small amount of gold and on occasion jewelry or potions.

List of non-resetting containers
The following containers never reset, thus they are safe to store items.
 * All "wardrobes" and "bookcases" within the Volkihar Keep are safe for storage. Unless otherwise noted, other containers respawn after ten days with the rest of the keep.
 * All chests and containers inside purchasable houses.
 * All containers in the Abandoned House in Markarth.
 * The chest in the secret room inside the Sleeping Giant Inn.
 * The end table and wardrobe inside the ruined Helgen Inn.
 * The wardrobe in Riverside Shack.
 * The end table located in the Alchemist's Shack.
 * The Apothecary's Satchel located in the cellar of Anise's Cabin.
 * The Arch-Mage's Quarters after completing the College of Winterhold questline.
 * The chest at the entrance of Sky Haven Temple.
 * The metal chest at the top of Valtheim Towers.
 * The ice runner chest in Broken Oar Grotto after the quest.
 * The chest inside Idgrod the Younger's room, in Highmoon Hall, Morthal.
 * All East Empire Company Strongboxes.
 * The Chest in Weylin's Room after purchasing it.

Merchant chests
All merchants in Skyrim have a corresponding chest that contains their wares. This chest is a physical item much like a regular chest, however it is typically hidden (often under the floor) and inaccessible in the game world. This is to prevent players from abusing the bartering game mechanic.

Items within the chest can only be viewed or obtained via the barter menus and the chest will refresh its items every two days.

Accessible merchant chests
In Dawnstar, to the north of Iron-Breaker Mine there is an accessible merchant chest underneath a small rock overhang. This chest belongs to Ahkari. Like all merchant chests, this chest should not be accessible, but its position is bugged. The items in this chest can be freely taken without incident.

Similar to Ahkari's chest, Ma'dran's merchant chest is available for searching. It is located outside of Markarth behind the first stone wall on the right when traveling on foot towards Kolskeggr Mine. The items within can be taken freely with no repercussions, as well.

In Whiterun, underneath the Skyforge, Eorlund Gray-Mane's merchant chest is accessible.

In the Blue Palace, the court mage's chest is accessible by using items such as plates, bowls or platters to go through the wall in the basement hallway. However, almost all items taken from this chest will be marked as stolen, thus can only be sold to Fences or Tonilia. The only way around this is to complete The Man Who Cried Wolf quest to clear the stolen tag.

Similar to the Blue Palace, there is also one accessible by items (as above) in the Ragged Flagon.

As well, using items mentioned above, Moth gro-Bagol's chest in Understone Keep is accessible. Taking items from this chest may sometimes cause the guards to arrest the player unless done while in stealth mode with high Sneak.

All chests in the Hall of Countenance and Hall of Attainment can be looted using a plate, platter, or bowl. The chests in the Hall of Countenance can be glitched to by going through the wall between the room with the dining table and the main area on the first floor. And the chests in the Hall of Attainment can be glitched to from under the stairwell or from the far wall of Tolfdir's room. However, all items will have the stolen tag. But, it is an easy way to learn the available spells, as the spell tomes are destroyed after reading.

Do Not Delete
The "Do Not Delete" chest is a scripted placeholder left in-game by developers to represent the total gold-value merchants can hold. This is the box that essentially "allows" an NPC to be a merchant. It does not contain anything, the only reason it exists is to allow the merchants to sell their items.

It isn't known why it is a chest, rather than a line of code within the game's programming. These are only deletable on PC. If deleted, most merchants will cease to function altogether, although it may sometimes "break" their shop menu, meaning it can be opened, but it does not work.

Do Not Delete chests function in a manner that is to the paintbrushes of Oblivion.