BUYERS GUIDE
How to buy a shipping container.
Nine steps, in the order that actually saves money. Work top to bottom and you will know the size you need, the condition grade to ask for, whether a truck can reach your site, and what a legitimate quote should tell you — before you talk to anyone about price.
THE NINE STEPS
Decide how the container will be used
Everything downstream depends on this. Dry storage on a job site, overflow during a remodel, a workshop, a finished office, a home build and a refrigerated unit all lead to different sizes, different condition grades and different modifications. Write the use down in one sentence before you shop.
Choose the size
A 20ft standard gives 160 square feet. A 40ft standard and a 40ft high cube both give 320. All three are 8 feet wide externally, so the real decision is length — and whether that length fits your property. Then check the door opening, because whatever goes inside has to pass through it first.
Compare the three: shipping container sizes and dimensions · 20ft shipping container · 40ft shipping container · 40ft high cube
Decide between new and used
A new one-trip container has been used once, from the factory to the United States. Used containers cost less and can show visible signs of prior service — normal for the grade, and not the same thing as a functional problem. If the container will be modified, finished inside or seen by customers, appearance is worth paying for. If it is a locked steel box behind a building, it is not.
Understand the condition grade
Grade describes what a container is built to do, not how it looks, and it drives price more than size does. New / 1-Trip is as new as it gets. Cargo Worthy can pass a marine survey for shipping. Wind & Water Tight is structurally sound and does not leak. Economy is the most affordable storage grade, focused on function rather than appearance. Two quotes are only comparable when they name the same grade.
Full detail: new vs used shipping containers and warranties
Measure your delivery access
This is the step buyers skip, and it is the one that reschedules deliveries. Measure from the exact spot the container will sit, straight forward: a 20ft needs 110 feet of straight, unobstructed space and a 40ft needs 130 feet. You also need 15 feet of driving height, 22 feet of unloading height along the whole path, and 10 feet of width. The driver cannot turn within that space.
Walk your site with the shipping container delivery requirements
Confirm the warranty in writing
Warranty terms travel with the grade. New / 1-Trip carries a 10-year structural warranty and a 10-year no-leak warranty. Cargo Worthy and Wind & Water Tight each carry a 5-year structural warranty and a 5-year no-leak warranty. Economy has no structural warranty specified and a 1-year roof no-leak warranty only. Get the grade and its warranty on the same document. Warranty terms shown apply to containers fulfilled by Container One.
Understand what a quote should tell you
Four things, plainly stated: the container grade, the delivery location, what is included in the quoted price, and whether any payment or delivery-related fees apply. Container pricing moves with size, condition, your ZIP code, depot availability, distance and any modifications — which is why a real number needs your address, not a national average.
Check who you are buying from
Container scams lean on prices that look unusually low, pressure to pay quickly, vague business information and promises that are hard to verify. Confirm the company and its contact details, get the grade, price, delivery terms and warranty in writing, and keep your invoices and correspondence. If a seller will not put it in writing, that is the answer.
Read first: how to avoid shipping container scams
Request current pricing and availability
With the size, grade and access settled, a specialist can quote accurately in one pass. Send your ZIP code, the size you are considering and where the container will sit. Bigfoot educates and guides; Container One handles availability, pricing for your location and delivery.
THE NUMBERS WORTH MEMORISING
If you remember nothing else from this guide, remember these.
160 / 320
Square feet. A 20ft standard against either 40ft option.
110 / 130 ft
Straight, unobstructed delivery space for a 20ft and a 40ft, measured from the placement point.
15 / 22 / 10 ft
Minimum driving height, unloading height along the whole path, and path width.
COMMON QUESTIONS
What size shipping container do I need?
Start with the space you have, not the space you want. A 20ft gives 160 square feet and needs 110 feet of straight delivery space; both 40ft options give 320 square feet and need 130 feet. If access is tight, the 20ft is usually the realistic choice regardless of how much you want to store.
Is a used shipping container worth buying?
For most storage uses, yes. Cargo Worthy and Wind & Water Tight containers are structurally sound and do not leak, and both carry a 5-year structural and 5-year no-leak warranty. They can show visible signs of prior service. If the container will be finished inside or seen by customers, a new one-trip unit is usually the better buy.
Do I need a foundation?
Not usually. Containers commonly sit on railroad ties, concrete blocks or compacted gravel at the corners. What matters is that the corners are level and the frame is kept off wet soil. Confirm the ground can carry the weight — 4,500 lb for a 20ft, 8,500 lb for a 40ft standard, 8,750 lb for a 40ft high cube.
Do I need a permit for a shipping container?
It depends entirely on your city, county, state, zoning district and intended use, and on whether the container is temporary, permanent or being modified into occupied space. Requirements vary widely, so confirm with your local zoning or building department before delivery. We cannot tell you what your jurisdiction requires.
How long does delivery take?
That depends on depot availability near your ZIP code and the grade you order, so a specialist confirms it with your quote. What you can do in advance is remove the common cause of delay: measure the delivery path and flag any gates, wires, slopes or soft ground when you request pricing.
Warranty terms shown apply to containers fulfilled by Container One.