Want to know how to buy a shipping container step by step? In this blog, we’ll show you how to get containers hassle-free from reliable suppliers at prices that fit your budget.
For many organizations, buying a shipping container instead of leasing one makes good business sense. Whether you’re looking to purchase a shipping container for transporting goods or to provide cost-effective additional office or storage space, it’s essential that you ask the right questions. This will help you make the best choice to meet your short-and longer-term needs.
Here, we discuss how to buy a shipping container and the questions you should ask before making any decisions.
What will you be using your shipping container for?
Before you start to consider how to buy a shipping container, you need to establish your needs. Containers come in a range of sizes, from smaller 10 feet to 53 feet, with 40 ft and 20 ft shipping containers being the most popular. If you plan to use your container to ship dry goods, you’ll need a standard container. For transporting goods that require controlled temperatures, such as perishable items, chemicals, or medicine, a reefer is the best choice. If your cargo has an unusual shape (OOG, or Out of Gauge), a flat rack, open top, or hard top container may be the wisest choice.
You may not be considering buying a shipping container for transportation. Shipping containers are becoming increasingly popular as temporary accommodation, pop-up restaurants and bars, office space, or even urban farming. If you’re planning on using your shipping container on land, your requirements may be more about aesthetics and practicalities than seaworthiness.
Do you want to buy used or new container?
Shipping containers come in three broad categories: brand new (one-trip) containers, which have only been used for just one trip before being sold; cargo-worthy shipping containers (CW), which have been previously used but are seaworthy; and wind and watertight shipping containers (WWT), which are suitable for use on land (for example, storage, accommodation, hospitality) but which will need to be certified before being used for transporting cargo.
For most organizations, a used shipping container is a good choice. Shipping containers are built to withstand extreme conditions, and while used containers may have some dents and rust, the structural integrity is usually intact.
What is your budget?
If you are looking into buying shipping containers, it is likely that you have already recognized that the purchase will be cost-effective in the long term. However, it’s still important to consider the cost.
Containers usually cost somewhere between $1,500 and $8,000, with price impacted by a range of factors, including your location, the size, and the condition that you choose.
The table below shows you the average price of cargo-worthy shipping containers based on size and location to help you determine your required budget.
| Location | 20ft | 40ft |
| USA | $1,373 | $1,660 |
| China | $1,488 | $1,865 |
| India | $1,157 | $1,722 |
| Europe | $1,065 | $1,010 |
While 20 ft shipping containers cost less than 40 ft ones, the latter offers twice the capacity. Depending on your requirements, it may be more cost-effective to invest in the larger container.
How to buy a shipping container—and from whom?
Shipping containers are soaring in popularity thanks to their durability and diverse uses. While some companies have tried to capitalize on this surge in demand, the cost of shipping containers is impacted primarily by the volume of cargo transported and not demand. This is because containers are a byproduct of the broader industry, so the supply of used containers (and hence cost) depends more on incoming cargo than customer demand.
There are three ways to buy containers: from container suppliers in areas surrounding ports, container dealers, or online marketplaces. Suppliers near ports can be convenient, but that convenience can come at a price; for organizations that have a fixed budget, this may not be the best option. Local container dealers use regional networks to locate used containers at good value. While dealers charge a typical brokerage fee of $100-$500, the savings made by working with a dealer usually mean that this is more cost-effective than portside suppliers.
The safest and cheapest way to buy shipping containers is via an online marketplace like Container xChange. With the support of our experienced team, you’ll be guided through the shipping process so that you can find containers that meet your needs and your budget, without worrying about product quality or brokerage.
How to buy a shipping container at the best price?
Our online marketplace makes the purchase process as simple as possible, from browsing through 100,000 containers in 2,500+ locations to enabling safe payment options. By choosing to buy shipping containers through our marketplace, you’ll secure the best deals without the stress. Here are some of the main benefits you’ll enjoy:
- Find containers that suit your needs from vetted partners without brokerage or commission: Each business on the platform has a public profile with reviews and ratings from previous partners, making it easy for you to choose. Our marketplace offers access to containers at wholesale rates, with the added benefit of negotiating directly with sellers.
- Make safe payments: Pay online via our secure xChange Wallet; all transactions are completely encrypted and secure.
- Get a 7-day money-back guarantee: We hold your payment for 7 days so you can inspect the containers you’ve purchased and ensure they meet your expectations before the payment is released to the vendor. If you’re not satisfied, you can request a refund or swap the units.
- Prepare for delivery
Further information
With over a decade of experience in container trading and logistics, we have developed helpful resources covering all aspects of shipping containers.
- Cost of Shipping Containers: Factors influencing container pricing include size, condition, location, and type.
- Shipping Container Sizes and Dimensions: Detailed information on container sizes, cubic capacity, payload capacity, and tare weight.
- Types of Shipping Containers: Different containers, including dry, high cube, reefer, double door, open top, and flat rack, along with their uses.
- Shipping Container Grades: Container grading and quality standards.
Are you ready to buy a used container with minimal stress? Sign up to Container xChange to browse over 100,000 containers from vetted partners, with complete peace of mind.
