How Much Does a Shipping Container Cost?
Shipping Container Prices
A used 20 ft shipping container from us starts at $2,350, and a used 40 ft starts at $2,650. Those are starting-at prices, so call for today’s price: prices vary by yard, and our team confirms the price for your ZIP code before you decide.
Below are our starting prices, what moves the number up or down, and how to pay monthly if that suits you better.
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Shipping container prices: where they start
| Container | Starting at |
|---|---|
| Used 20 ft standard | $2,350 |
| New (one-trip) 20 ft standard | $3,050 |
| Used 40 ft standard | $2,650 |
| Used 40 ft high cube | $2,750 |
| New (one-trip) 40 ft high cube | $4,050 |
These figures are where each container starts. Prices vary by yard, so call or text us for today’s price and we will confirm it for your ZIP code. Your quote covers the container and delivery to your site as one number.
Looking up storage container prices? Same table. Storage container, conex and shipping container are names for the same steel box.
What changes the cost of a shipping container
Size: 20 ft or 40 ft
A 20 ft gives you about 19 ft 4 in of floor inside and fits on smaller lots. A 40 ft gives you about 39 ft 5 in, roughly twice the floor, yet a used 40 ft standard starts only a few hundred dollars above a used 20 ft. If you are torn, ask us to price both. Our shipping container sizes page has the full measurements.
Height: standard or high cube
A standard container is 8 ft 6 in tall outside. A high cube is 9 ft 6 in, about a foot more headroom inside. On a used 40 ft, the high cube starts at $2,750 against $2,650 for a standard. That extra foot matters for tall equipment or stacked storage.
Condition: used or new (one-trip)
Within a size, condition makes the biggest difference. On a 20 ft, new (one-trip) starts at $3,050 and used at $2,350. Used is a working container: it keeps the weather out, but expect dents, surface rust and old markings. New (one-trip) has made one cargo trip from the factory and looks close to new. Our one-trip vs used containers page helps you pick.
Doors: side door and double door
Side door and double door containers (doors at both ends) are stocked in 20 ft and 40 ft, sometimes in several colors. Their prices move with availability, so call for current pricing.
Delivery distance and site access
Delivery is included within 75 miles of the nearest of our four yards. Farther out, the distance is part of the number. The truck also needs a straight shot in and firm, fairly level ground. If the way in is tight, send us photos first so we can plan the delivery. Our container delivery page explains how it works.
Modifications
We also modify containers, and that work adds to the price. Tell us up front what you have in mind so your quote covers it. For a finished office, see our office containers.
Paying monthly instead: rent to own
If paying it all at once is a stretch, rent to own lets you put the container to work now and pay month by month. It is just $99 down on standard containers (not side door or modified units), and payments start from about $125 a month for a used 20 ft, depending on delivery location and local taxes. Terms run 12, 24, 36 or 48 months, and you own the container when the term is complete. Deliveries far from our yards may need a larger down payment; we check that from your ZIP.
To be straight with you: paying the full schedule costs more than paying cash, and cash is the lowest total cost. Details and the application are on our rent-to-own page.
What you get for the money
- An inspected container. Every unit is inspected before it goes out.
- Local yards you can visit. See a container before you buy at Steele, MO, our main yard right off I-55, or at Jonesboro, AR, West Memphis, AR or Columbia, MO, where there are usually about 10 containers on the ground.
- One quote for the container and delivery. One number for the container and getting it to your site, not a box price with the rest added later.
- A family business. Tri-State is family owned and operated by Matt and Jonathan Spence.
See everything we stock on our buy page.
Common Questions
Is a used shipping container worth it?
For dry, secure storage where looks do not matter much, yes: it is the lower-cost choice, it keeps the weather out when the doors and seals are closed, and we inspect every unit. If it will sit near the house or you plan to modify it, new (one-trip) can be worth the extra.
Why do shipping container prices differ between sellers?
Quotes often cover different things: another size or condition, a yard farther away, or the container alone without getting it to your site. When you compare, check the size, the condition and whether delivery to your address is in the number.
Can I see a container before I buy?
Yes. Visit any of our four yards, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM Central, or on a weekend by appointment. Call or text first so we can tell you what that yard has on the ground.
Do shipping container prices change?
They can. The figures here are where prices start, they vary by yard, and side door and double door prices move with availability. Call or text us for today’s price.
Get your price
Send us your ZIP code, the size and condition you want, and where it is going. We will come back with one number for the container and delivery. Call or text us, or use the quote form at the top of this page.