Used Shipping Containers for Sale, or New (One-Trip): Which Should You Buy?
New or Used?
If the container is for storage and looks do not matter, buy used: it keeps the weather out and costs less. If it will sit where people see it every day, or you plan to turn it into an office, a new (one-trip) container is worth the extra money. We sell both, and we inspect every unit before it goes out.
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New (one-trip) and used, in plain words
New (one-trip). A new container has made one cargo trip from the factory. It is much cleaner than used and looks close to new, though it can still have small handling marks. When you see new shipping containers for sale on our site, that means one-trip.
Used. A used container has already been in shipping service. It keeps the weather out when the doors and seals are closed, but expect dents, surface rust, patches and old markings. It is a working grade, not a cosmetic one.
The industry terms you will see elsewhere
Other sellers use grade names. In our words:
- One trip (sometimes “used once”): the same thing as our new. One cargo trip from the factory.
- Wind and water tight: our used grade. It keeps wind and rain out when closed and says nothing about looks.
- Cargo worthy: a stronger structural grade. If you need a cargo worthy unit, ask us and the team confirms certification for that specific container before you buy.
Side by side
| New (one-trip) | Used | |
|---|---|---|
| Looks | Much cleaner, looks close to new | Weathered, a working box |
| Typical marks | Small handling marks | Dents, surface rust, patches, old markings |
| 20 ft, starting at | $3,050 | $2,350 |
| 40 ft, starting at | $4,050 (high cube) | $2,650 (standard), $2,750 (high cube) |
| Best for | Driveways, storefronts, offices and builds | Farm, job site and budget storage |
Starting-at prices vary by yard: call for today’s price and the team confirms it for your ZIP. See what a shipping container costs, and shipping container sizes for measurements.
Which one fits your job
Farm and equipment storage
Used. Feed, tools, mowers and spare parts need a dry, secure box, not a pretty one. If you want to buy used shipping containers for the farm, a 40 ft high cube gives taller equipment more headroom.
Job sites
Used, most of the time. A job site container gets dirty and bumped anyway, so a sound box at a fair price beats fresh paint. If you only need it for one job, ask about a monthly rental.
A home driveway or a storefront
New (one-trip). When neighbors or customers see it every day, the cleaner finish is worth paying for.
A build or an office conversion
New (one-trip) is the usual start. When you cut in doors and windows and finish the inside, you want a clean shell with fewer dents and less rust to work around. See our office containers, built to order.
Budget storage
Used. It is the lowest-cost way to get dry, covered storage on your own ground.
Colors
One-trip containers are most often beige or grey. Other colors come and go. If color matters, say so when you ask for a quote.
How to choose in three questions
- Who will see it? Behind a barn or on a job site, used is fine. In a driveway or in front of a business, look at new (one-trip).
- Will you cut into it? If you plan an office or another build, start with one-trip.
- What is your budget? Used costs less up front. If a monthly payment suits you better, look at rent to own. Paying cash is still the lowest total cost.
See both side by side at a yard
Stand next to a new and a used container and the choice gets easy. Visit any of our four yards:
- Steele, MO, our main yard and office, right off I-55
- Jonesboro, AR
- West Memphis, AR, across the river from Memphis
- Columbia, MO, usually about 10 containers on the ground
We are open Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM Central, and weekends by appointment. Stock moves, so call or text before you drive over and we will tell you which used and one trip shipping containers for sale are on the ground that day.
Common Questions
Are used shipping containers worth buying?
Yes, for storage where looks do not matter. A used container keeps the weather out when the doors and seals are closed, costs less than one-trip, and we inspect every unit before it goes out.
What is a one trip shipping container?
A container that made one cargo trip from the factory. We call it new (one-trip). It is much cleaner than used and looks close to new, but it can have small handling marks.
How much does a used shipping container cost?
A used 20 ft starts at $2,350, a used 40 ft standard at $2,650 and a used 40 ft high cube at $2,750. Prices vary by yard, so call for today’s price and the team confirms it for your ZIP.
Can I get a container on rent to own?
Yes. Rent to own starts with just $99 down on standard containers (deliveries far from our yards may need a larger down payment), and a used 20 ft runs from about $125 a month, depending on delivery location and local taxes. Apply on our rent-to-own page.
Get a price on new or used
Tell us the size, new or used, and your ZIP code. We quote the container and the delivery together, and delivery is included within 75 miles of the nearest yard. You can also see everything we sell. Call or text us, or use the quote form at the top of this page.