Find empty shipping container at best price from vetted sellers [2025]

If you’re looking for an empty shipping container, this blog will help you find the best deals from trusted suppliers and secure containers at competitive prices.

Empty shipping containers are important in the logistics, trade, and storage industries. However, fluctuating prices and supply chain challenges can make their procurement difficult. In this blog, we’ll guide you on how to find empty containers at the best prices while ensuring their quality. 

Want to jump straight to offers from vetted sellers? Use the public search below to find active offers in your location. 

How much does an empty shipping container cost? 

In the US, A 20ft cargo-worthy empty shipping container costs around $1,250, and an empty 40ft cargo-worthy container costs $1,460. 

If you need empty containers in China, you’ll pay $900 for a 20ft cargo-worthy container and $2,170 for a 40ft unit. 

Read our detailed blog on shipping container prices to get more insights. Or, head to our trading marketplace and browse active offers from sellers in your location.

How to find empty shipping containers for sale at best prices? 

You can easily find empty shipping containers for sale on the Container xChange marketplace. 

With 1,700+ verified sellers, you can browse listings, compare prices, and negotiate deals—all in one place. 

Here are some other benefits of using xChange over your traditional sourcing methods: 

• Browse verified listings from trusted suppliers.
• Compare container prices across multiple locations.
• Negotiate directly with sellers for the best rates.
• Ensure quality assurance with verified sellers and money-back guarantees.

Here are some popular empty container types that businesses buy through our platform. 

Find 20ft empty shipping container for sale 

The 20ft shipping container is ideal for shipping dry cargo as well as storage. They are also one of the most affordable containers. 

Check out offers for 20ft shipping containers for sale. 

Find 40ft empty shipping containers for sale

The 40ft container offers more storage volume, making it the preferred choice for large or bulky shipments. And they only cost 30% more than 20ft containers on average. 

Browse active offers for 40ft shipping containers for sale here.

Empty storage containers for sale 

If you’re looking for empty containers for storage, used containers are your best bet. 

They’re perfect for keeping elements out while providing an affordable storage space. Opt for a cargo-worthy or wind- and water-tight container for storage use, as brand-new containers are overqualified for this job. 

Plus, you can get these shipping containers under $1,000 on our marketplace. 

How much does an empty shipping container weigh? 

Here’s how much an empty shipping container weighs: 

• 20ft dry container: 2,300kg / 5,071.5 lbs
• 40ft dry container: 3,750kg / 8,268.8 lbs
• 40ft high cube dry container: 3,900kg / 8,598 lbs

What happens to empty shipping containers after delivery?

Once a container gets discharged at a port, it gets transported to the consignee’s distribution center or warehouse. At this point, the container is emptied. Usually, one of three things happen after this:

• Empty containers are loaded with a new batch of cargo and shipped to their next destination
• Containers are shipped to their next destination without cargo, as they need to be used in another location
• Empty units are piled up at ports and depots, awaiting use. This often results in port congestion

Ideally, all containers moving from one port to another should be carrying cargo. However, out of the 170 million units shipped every year, at least 60 million are empty. 

This is called empty shipping container repositioning—and not only is it wasteful, but also extremely expensive for shippers, container owners, and carriers.

Read our blog on empty container repositioning to learn how you can tackle this issue efficiently.

Buy empty shipping containers at wholesale prices on Container xChange 

Container xChange offers access to shipping containers in various conditions, sizes, and locations. We help you find the perfect container tailored to your specific requirements and budget.

Here are the three simple steps to secure containers at wholesale prices for your business.

• Select your criteria and browse through 100,000+ containers 

Fill in your container requirements on our trading marketplace to browse offers that match your criteria. You can also check out the reviews and ratings of any supplier before deciding who to buy from.

• Negotiate a deal directly with the seller

When you find a good offer, reach out to the supplier directly on the platform to negotiate the price and the terms and conditions of the sale. You read that right—on xChange there are no middlemen—just you and the partner finalizing the deal together.

• Make safe payments with a money-back guarantee 

When you’re ready to pay for your containers, you can do so directly on the platform through our payment-handling feature. Moreover, you get 7 days to check the quality of the containers, and if they don’t match the agreed criteria, you get your money back. 

You get all this on a single platform! Ready to find empty shipping containers at the best price for your budget? Fill in your details below to learn exactly how xChange can help you save cash and source quality containers for your business.

Empty shipping container: Common FAQs