Container leasing is booming in the shipping industry right now. With the fast growth the container leasing market has seen over the years, it’s a good time to expand your business into shipping container leasing. Read this blog to get detailed information on container leasing, its benefits, and how you can connect with top companies to lease units at competitive rates.
About half of the global container fleet belongs to leasing companies. The container leasing business is on the rise and the leasing market is projected to reach US $7,522 million by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 4.3% during the forecast period 2023-2028.
But this also means, inflated rates and difficulty in sourcing containers from reliable suppliers, especially at short notice. But don’t worry, we’ve got a solution for you.
If you want to take advantage of this exponentially growing business and lease containers, xChange can help you with an inventory of 100,000+ containers in over 2,500 locations worldwide. The best part is, there are no added commissions or hidden fees to worry about. You can connect with pre-vetted members and start your leasing journey right away!
Check out leasing offers on our platform and secure the containers you need.
What is container leasing?
Container leasing is the process of acquiring containers from leasing companies on rent for a specific time frame in exchange for a predetermined payment. The payment is based on the leasing agreement you signed.
This agreement between you and the leasing company includes information on free days, per diem charges, the duration of the lease, and other important details.
On the xChange platform, to make the leasing process easier we have the BIMCO contract in place, which all members sign when going through the process of leasing containers. This helps both parties to remain informed and on the same page.
It also eliminates the hassle of networking with multiple companies about contracts and terms. Simplify your leasing agreement process with BIMCO and choose among 100,000+ boxes from 1,700+ vetted companies at top rates only on xChange.
Benefits of shipping container leasing
In recent times, one of the reasons the container leasing industry is seeing popularity and growth is due to one significant advantage of leasing – flexibility.
The flexibility of leasing containers for however long you need them can make it easier for you to do your job. You can increase your container fleet instantly by leasing extra containers (whenever needed) for a short period. All without showing up with a big lump of cash in hand.
Want to know how much it’ll cost you to lease a container? Our online leasing platform at Container xChange gives you a full overview of which locations you’ll have to pay the least and the most – and where you’ll get paid to move the container. Sign up for free and check out the platform in action while our team of experts answers all your queries!
Top container leasing companies in the world
Here’s the list of the top ten container leasing companies we’ve put together in order of their TEU fleet capacity below:
| Rank | Container Leasing Companies | TEU Capacity |
| 1 | TRITON International | 7.1 million |
| 2 | Textainer Group | 4.4 million |
| 3 | Florens | 3.9 million |
| 4 | Seaco Global | 2.4 million |
| 5 | Beacon Intermodal | 1.8 million |
| 6 | CAI International | 1.5 million |
| 7 | Seacube Containers | 1.2 million |
| 8 | Touax Container Solutions | 393,064 |
| 9 | Blue Sky Intermodal | 300,000 |
| 10 | CARU Containers | – |
Become a member of Container xChange and interact with top leasing companies directly! Negotiate deals to pay exactly what you want to and not a cent more for your box today. Click on the banner below to see the marketplace in action.
Container leasing vs buying
If you’re still confused about whether to lease or buy containers, we’ve listed a few situations you might want to consider. This will help you determine your needs better and choose between leasing or buying.
| Lease containers | Buy containers |
| If you need containers but don’t have enough capital at hand | Your need for containers is for an indefinite period, you use them often and perhaps don’t need too many of them |
| When your requirements change, and you experience a temporary surge in demand for containers | You’re looking for containers for both storage and cargo transportation purposes |
| When you don’t know for sure, how your long-term demand will develop | When you need a few shipping containers for storage You require a container so you can modify or convert them into something else |
Whether you want to lease or buy a container, you can do either on our platform because we have both leasing and trading marketplaces. Explore our platform for free, today.
Different types of shipping container lease agreements
If you choose to lease a box, it’s essential to understand the different types of leasing agreements. This will help you pick the best fit for your business needs and also save money.
The four different container lease agreements are:
- Master lease
- Long-term lease
- Short-term lease
- One-way lease
| Master lease | Long-term lease | Short-term lease | One-way lease |
| Duration can vary | 5–8 years | Longer than 6 months | Duration can vary |
| Maintenance is done by the leasing company | Maintenance is done by the lessee | Maintenance is done by the lessee | Maintenance is done by the lessee |
| Drop off location is restricted | Drop off location very restricted | Drop off location very restricted | Drop off location at shipper’s desire |
One-way container leasing: Benefits and rates
The one-way leasing agreement is popular. It provides container users with a lot of logistics and operational freedom. Plus, helps them save money by avoiding container repositioning hassles. One-way leasing works by moving around or repositioning empty containers.
Simply speaking, a container user picks up the containers at the partner’s depot, moves them to another location, and finally, returns them to a depot in a pre-agreed location. If you’re looking to save on your leasing expenses, one-way container leasing is a good option.
Now the shipping container leasing rates depend on the stretch you’re looking to lease, the type of container you’re leasing, the number of boxes you need, and the demand-supply trend in that region. These leasing rates include the free days and per diem costs for the containers.
For example, on the China-North America stretch, a standard 20ft container will charge you a pick-up rate of US $114. The rate increases to US $873 on the China-Russia stretch.
For a 45 HC, the pickup charges for China to North America is US $262; for the China to Western Europe stretch it’s US $501. You can see how these rates differ extensively based on the factors mentioned in the paragraph above.
But, with one-way container leasing, you can add a lot of operational flexibility by avoiding the repositioning of your containers. And save a lot of cash!
The good news is that on Container xChange, you can find containers for one-way moves easily. Additionally, we also help you manage your lease agreement and other important documents digitally in one place, so we’ve got you covered there!
Storage container rental: Popular types, sizes and dimensions
Storage containers come in many shapes and sizes. It all depends on what you’re looking for and what you’re using it for. The 20ft and 40ft boxes are the most popular with the 40ft HC container not far behind. All of which are great storage options. Let’s look at what they have to offer:
20ft storage container
The 20ft container is ideal for cargo storage because they’re lightweight, compact, and easy to transport. They are also wind and water-tight, so your goods are stored safely.
40ft storage container
A 40ft container can fit double the load of a 20ft container, which means you get all the same benefits, but with extra storage space. So if you’re working with larger tools and equipment, this box might be the one for you.
40ft HC storage container
40ft High Cube (HC) containers are replicas of their 40ft siblings, but these boxes have an extra height of 344 cubic feet. They’re ideal for storing over-height goods such as machinery, but can also be used to store lighter goods like furniture and clothing.
5 benefits of shipping container leasing
Buying a storage container might seem like a better option than leasing one. However, buying one may just cause you to face the risk of solving a temporary issue with a more permanent solution. There are many ways in which renting a container is beneficial. Let’s explore them below:
- Best for short-term storage – It’s better to lease if you’re looking for temporary storage space that’s convenient without full commitment.
- Efficient – There are options to rent a storage space off-site, but by leasing a container for storage, you’ll have access to your goods easily and efficiently. You’ll also save money on warehouse rent.
- Flexibility – Leasing gives you more leeway to change your mind because it’s short-term depending on the lease agreement.
- Tax benefits – Some renting options may offer tax benefits on leasing deals. In some cases, you’ll be able to deduct lease payments as operational expenses. However, it’s good to chat with your tax professional to understand this better.
- Low maintenance – If you choose to buy a storage container, it’s your responsibility to maintain the box, but with leasing, you can put those worries on the back burner. Your container rental company is responsible for the upkeep of your box.
So ultimately, storage container rental is ideally better for you if you’re seeking quick, temporary storage space. You can also look at portable storage container rental if your work involves constant shifting in locations:
Container leasing made easy with Container xChange
Ready for full market transparency and competitive negotiable rates with zero hidden fees? Our leasing marketplace is for you!
Say no to lengthy and time-consuming contract discussions and endless back-and-forth email threads. All transactions are done under one secure platform with one consolidated invoice on the xChange wallet.
So, you can skip the worry of multiple invoices and company regulations. Our experts are constantly up-to-date with the most recent market trends, so you can rest assured to find the best deals on our platform.
And after you lease your box, you can also monitor your containers in near real-time. And receive container status updates and tracking alerts – such as ETAsWhat is estimated time of arrival? Estimated time of arrival, commonly known as ETA, is a frequently used term globally to denote the time of coming. In the shipping & logistics industry, it is ... More, delays, container rollovers, and misuse warnings. We’ve got your back when it comes to container leasing.
When you join the Container xChange community, you’ll have a wider range of benefits that include:
- Container tracking and regular updates
- Safe and secure business transactions
- Manage all your container operations in one place
- Reduce manual workload
- Digitized invoicing and payment handling
- One-way leasing options
Join the revolutionary digital space and transform your logistics operations today. Click on the banner below to make your container leasing journey smooth and hassle-free — just how it’s supposed to be.
Container leasing FAQs
What is container leasing?
Container leasing is the process of acquiring containers from leasing companies on rent for a certain time frame in exchange for a predetermined payment. The payment is based on the leasing agreement you sign.
What are the different types of container leases?
The different types of container leases are master lease, long-term lease, short-term lease, and one-way lease.
Who is the world’s largest leasing company?
Currently, Triton International is the world’s largest leasing company with a TEU capacity of 7.1 million.
