Should I buy or rent a container?
Compare the total cost over your intended use: purchase price and estimated resale value, rent, delivery and collection, maintenance, insurance and financing. There is no universal threshold in months: use quotes for your market and a cautious resale assumption.
Comparison over different periods
Illustrative example: a Grade A used 20ft dry costs £2,625, plus £420 for one-way delivery, totalling £3,045. Estimated resale is £1,575 under the 60% assumption. Rent is £105/month; rental transport includes two journeys charged £420 each (delivery then collection). The table adds purchase maintenance and adjusts the resale assumption for each period.
| Duration | Net purchase cost (resale included) | Cumulative rental cost | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 months | £1,497 | £1,470 | Rent |
| 12 months | £1,523 | £2,100 | Buy |
| 18 months | £1,550 | £2,730 | Buy |
| 24 months | £1,576 | £3,360 | Buy |
| 5 years (60 months) | £1,866 | £7,140 | Buy |
| 10 years | £2,262 | £13,440 | Buy |
Illustrative assumptions to replace with your quotes: resale at 60% of purchase price for 6–24 months, 55% at 5 years and 50% at 10 years; purchase maintenance of £53 per year. Resale is an estimate, not a guarantee. Financing, insurance, taxation and unexpected charges are excluded; this is not a universal break-even threshold.
Three situations affecting total cost
Compare the total cost over your intended use: purchase price and estimated resale value, rent, delivery and collection, maintenance, insurance and financing. There is no universal threshold in months: use quotes for your market and a cautious resale assumption.
Reefer: include maintenance and energy
Compare the total cost over your intended use: purchase price and estimated resale value, rent, delivery and collection, maintenance, insurance and financing. There is no universal threshold in months: use quotes for your market and a cautious resale assumption.
Conversion: obtain the owner’s permission
For a rented container, obtain the owner’s written permission before any structural or permanent modification. The contract may prohibit certain works or require restoration. Purchase may be better suited to a substantial conversion, depending on the project and available offers.
3. Pro Fleet ≥ 5 units
Compare the total cost over your intended use: purchase price and estimated resale value, rent, delivery and collection, maintenance, insurance and financing. There is no universal threshold in months: use quotes for your market and a cautious resale assumption.
Taxation: how does it fit into your accounts?
Separate accounting, tax deductions and VAT. Treatment depends on the contract, business regime, business use and asset classification. Have each of these three checks assessed separately.
| Criterion | Lease (rental) | Purchase (capitalisation) |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting treatment | Expense or right-of-use asset, depending on contract and accounting framework | Classify the asset: structure, building and equipment may differ |
| Tax deduction | Documented business share, subject to regime and period; no automatic full deduction | Applicable HMRC capital allowances or expense treatment; separate from accounting depreciation |
| VAT | Recoverable only where VAT is charged and deduction conditions are met | Recoverable only where VAT is charged and deduction conditions are met |
| Cash flow impact | Smoothed, predictable | Concentrated at the start |
| Book value | May include a right-of-use asset and liability under the applicable framework | Asset with an uncertain resale value |
| Site and use-related taxes and charges | Check locally: rental does not mean exemption from local charges | Check according to siting and asset classification |
Compare the total cost over your intended use: purchase price and estimated resale value, rent, delivery and collection, maintenance, insurance and financing. There is no universal threshold in months: use quotes for your market and a cautious resale assumption.
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 £53 – £158 per year).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the simple rule to decide?+
Compare the total cost over your intended use: purchase price and estimated resale value, rent, delivery and collection, maintenance, insurance and financing. There is no universal threshold in months: use quotes for your market and a cautious resale assumption.
How does the calculation change for a reefer?+
Compare the total cost over your intended use: purchase price and estimated resale value, rent, delivery and collection, maintenance, insurance and financing. There is no universal threshold in months: use quotes for your market and a cautious resale assumption.
And for heavily modified containers?+
For a rented container, obtain the owner’s written permission before any structural or permanent modification. The contract may prohibit certain works or require restoration. Purchase may be better suited to a substantial conversion, depending on the project and available offers.
If I buy and resell after two years, how much do I recover?+
Indicative ranges: purchase £1,473 – £2,940 + delivery £263 – £945 = £1,735 – £3,885. Resale depends on condition and the market. Example: purchase £1,593.75 + delivery £400 = £1,993.75. Reselling after 2 years for 60% of the purchase price brings in £956.25. Including £90 maintenance over 2 years, the net cost is £1,127.5, about £46.98/month. Compare this with rent of £51–£140/month plus delivery, allowing time to find a buyer.
Is a lease with an option to buy (LOA) interesting?+
Compare rent, fees, insurance, maintenance, delivery/collection and the purchase-option price. Compare against a detailed purchase quote (£1,473 – £2,940, delivery £263 – £945) and a cautious resale estimate. Tax and accounting treatment depend on the contract and your regime: a purchase option does not make every payment fully deductible.
Also worth seeing
Container price 2026
Complete buying and renting price list, all formats, all conditions.
Container rental
Pillar : short, medium and long term rentals, all uses.
SME Taxation
In the United Kingdom, check the use, location and required permissions with the local authority before ordering. Applicable framework: England / Wales / Scotland / Northern Ireland: planning permission; building regulations / building standards. Floor area alone does not determine whether a container may be installed.
Compare purchase and lease on a quote
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