How to buy a shipping container

Start with the job, not the container

Almost every buying mistake comes from picking a size first. Work out what has to fit inside, how often you will open the doors, and where the unit will stand for the next five years. A 20ft box that sits on level hardstanding with room to swing a truck is a better purchase than a 40ft unit wedged into a corner you cannot reach.

• What goes inside: pallets, machinery, stock, furniture, or people?
• How tall is the tallest item? Anything over 7ft 6in needs a high cube.
• Do you need to walk in and out daily, or lock it and leave it?
• Will a 40ft truck reach the spot, turn and leave?
• Does the unit need power, insulation, shelving or a personnel door?

Then choose the size

Our four most common sizes cover most requirements. Full internal and external measurements are on the sizes and dimensions guide.

Then choose the condition

Condition is what really moves the price. A one-trip container looks close to new; a wind-and-water-tight used unit does the same storage job for less money and shows its working history in surface marks and patch repairs. Read the condition grades guide before you compare prices, because two listings at very different prices are usually two different grades rather than two different deals.

Check what the price includes

The single most common surprise in this industry is haulage added after the sale. Our prices are delivered prices: Free to all 50 states, included in every price. The only figure added at checkout is state sales tax, calculated from your delivery address, and you can enter an exemption certificate if you hold one.

When you compare us with anyone else, ask them these five questions:

• Is delivery included, and to my exact ZIP code?
• What grade is the unit, in writing?
• Are the photographs of stock or of the actual unit type I will receive?
• What is the return window if the unit is not as described?
• Who is the legal entity taking my money?

For the record, ours are: yes to every ZIP code in the 50 states; the grade is stated on every listing; photographs are representative of the grade; 14 days from delivery on stock units; and Shipping Container Titan Distribution LLC, registered in Delaware under DE-772109.

Prepare the site before you order

A container is delivered by truck and offloaded either by tilting it off the bed or by crane. Both need firm, level ground and clear space. Sorting this before you order avoids a wasted delivery slot — the delivery and site preparation guide lists the exact clearances.

Buying from us

Stock units are bought straight from the product page at the listed delivered price. Payment is credit or debit card (visa, mastercard, american express) and ach/bank wire. Dispatch is 3-10 business days after payment clears. Anything modified or built to a drawing goes through the quote form, where you pick the container you want as the starting point and tell us what to change.