Under the environmental conditions (t.=21.4oC and RH 77.86%) of the Seed Analysis Laboratory of Escola Superior de Agricultura de Lavras, Minas Gerais State, an experiment was conducted to determine the influence of different containers on bean seed quality. Seed of two cultivars, 'Carioca 1030' and 'Paraná' were stored in nine different types of containers, as follows: cemen-tasbesto box, concrete box, tin container, wood box, cotton bag, multileave paper bag, black polyethylene bag and transparent polyethylene bag. During 24 months (june/77 to june/79) at 60 days intervals seed quality was evaluated by means of moisture content, germination, speed of emergence and seedling fresh weight Seed health was assessed after 16 months. For both cultivars, concrete box was the worst container to preserve seed quality. It also favored microorganism development. The foam box, tin container, black and transparent polyethylene bag preserved seed quality in good conditions. The seeds of ?Carioca 1030' cultivar were stored at 12,6% of moisture content and they had a better initial quality. At the end of the experiment this variety presented germination of 62 to 73%. The foam box was the best container to keep the germinating quality of 'Paraná' cultivar, which had an initial quality inferior when compared to 'Carioca 1030' and moisture content aqual to 13.9%. The tin container presented the least microorganism control for both cultivars.