Should I buy or rent a container?
The question that comes up in 80% of our exchanges with first-time clients. We provide the full calculation, the 18-month rule, and the two or three exceptions that change everything.
The calculation over three horizons
Let's take a used 20 ft dry container class A: purchase £2,310 – £2,940 + delivery £263 – £945 = £2,573 – £3,885. Resale in X years at 60 % = approximately £1,365 – £1,785. Equivalent rental cost: £84 – £147/month + £263 – £945 delivery round trip = £263 – £945 + (£84 – £147 × months).
| Duration | Net purchase cost (resale included) | Cumulative rental cost | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 months | 1 400 € | 1 000 € | Rentals |
| 12 months | 1 400 € | 1 600 € | Light Purchase |
| 18 months | 1 400 € | 2 200 € | Clear Purchase |
| 24 months | 1 400 € | 2 800 € | Very Clear Purchase |
| 5 years (60 months) | 1 900 € | 6 400 € | Purchase (+240 %) |
| 10 years | 2 000 € | 12 400 € | Purchase (+520 %) |
Estimated calculation for a used Grade A 20-foot dry container. Resale hypothesis at 60% after 2 years, 55% after 5 years, and 50% after 10 years. Maintenance costs included in the purchase calculation (£45/year).
The 3 special cases that break the 18-month rule
The general rule assumes a standard dry container for storage use. Three very common situations in practice completely change the decision-making process — examine them before any calculations.
1. Reefer: the rule changes to 30-36 months
The refrigeration unit requires annual maintenance costing £680-£1,300, expensive parts (compressor £3-7 k), and a certified technician for refrigerant fluids (ART 600). The reefer also loses its value twice as fast as a dry container. Result: up to 30 months the rental of a reefer is almost always more profitable, even for what seems like a 'long-term' need.
Habitable conversion = purchase mandatory
As soon as your project requires structural modifications — housing, tiny house, pool, commercial space, office — the rental companies systematically refuse (irreversible changes, liability, impossible to terminate contract). You must be a property owner. The purchase/rental decision simply does not apply here — approximately 30% of projects received on ContainerEU fall into this category.
3. Pro Fleet ≥ 5 units
For businesses operating with five or more containers (logistics, construction industry, recurring events), the purchase becomes viable sooner than the standard 18 months: access to negotiated supplier prices (-15 to -25%), amortisation across multiple projects, and possible group resale. Practical rule: buy after 12 cumulative months for a fleet of five or more units.
Taxation: how does it fit into your accounts?
For a company (SARL, SAS, SME), the choice between purchase and rental has different accounting implications. Summary table to be validated with your accountant for your specific case.
| Criterion | Lease (rental) | Purchase (capitalisation) |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting treatment | Operating expense | Fixed asset (balance sheet) |
| Tax deduction | 100 % in the year of rental | Linear depreciation over 10-15 years |
| TVA | Recoverable on each rental payment | Recoverable in one lump sum at purchase |
| Cash flow impact | Smoothed, predictable | Concentrated at the start |
| Book value | None (no asset) | Resaleable asset at 50-70 % after 10 years |
| CVAE / local taxes | Neutral | Possible depending on location and use |
For a small business with tight cash flow, leasing is often preferred even beyond 18 months for budget predictability. For a company looking to strengthen its balance sheet (bank loan, valuation), purchasing improves the debt-to-asset ratio.
Other factors to keep in mind
- Can you manage resale? — Selling a container takes 1 to 3 months, requires an advertisement, viewings, and transport. For those who do not have the time, leasing remains a real convenience.
- Evolution of need — if you think you will change size in 18 months (larger or smaller), leasing offers flexibility.
- Space available long term — if you are short on space, leasing allows you to return the container whenever you want. Purchasing locks you into an asset that needs to be sold off.
- Insurance and liability — when leasing, the lessor is responsible for the equipment. When purchasing, it’s your professional liability insurance (supplement £50-150 per year).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the simple rule to decide?+
The 18-month rule. If your need is less than 18 cumulative months, leasing is economically more attractive — you avoid financial immobilisation, resale, and maintenance. Beyond 18 months, buying becomes more profitable as you retain an asset that can be resold for 50-70% of its initial value after 10 years. Between 12 and 24 months, it's a grey area — other criteria matter (need for modification, certain resale, etc.).
How does the calculation change for a reefer?+
The rule changes from 18 to 30-36 months for refrigerated containers. Reason: maintenance costs of a refrigeration unit (£800 to £1,500 per year), expensive spare parts (compressor £4-7k), and the need for refrigerant technicians make owning a reefer more costly than a dry container. For less than 30 months, leasing a reefer is almost always the better option.
And for heavily modified containers?+
Mandatory purchase. Leasing companies prohibit structural modifications (cutting, drilling, custom painting, permanent interior fit-outs). If your project requires transformation (habitat, pool, commerce), you must be a buyer — leasing is not possible. In this case, the buy/lease decision does not apply.
If I buy and resell after two years, how much do I recover?+
Approximately 70-80% of the purchase price for a Grade A used container. Example: purchase £2,310 – £2,940 + delivery £263 – £945 = £2,573 – £3,885. Resale two years later: £1,900 to £2,200 (relatively stable UK market). Net cost over two years: £700 to £1,000, or £30 to £42 per month — significantly cheaper than leasing at £80-£140 per month, provided you can wait for resale and manage it.
Is a lease with an option to buy (LOA) interesting?+
Some suppliers offer leasing contracts (LOA). Example: 24 months at £150 per month = £3,600, plus purchase option £800 = total of £4,400. Equivalent to buying a new Grade A used container (£2,310 – £2,940 + £263 – £945) and immobilisation cost £1,500. Advantage: budget flexibility, 100% deductible expense. Disadvantage: more expensive overall. To be studied on a case-by-case basis according to your tax situation.
Compare purchase and lease on a quote
Five suppliers offer both options, you decide with full knowledge.