Shipping containers for sale: choose the type and prepare your purchase
Choose a shipping container from what you need to store or ship: a Dry for general goods, a High Cube for extra height, a reefer for cold storage, an Open Top, Flat Rack or Tank for special loads. Note the dimensions and weight of your goods and how you will load them, then compare size, condition and delivered price.
Three questions before choosing a container
What will it hold? Dry goods point towards a Dry container; controlled temperature calls for a reefer and a suitable power supply. An item loaded from above, an oversized load or a liquid requires consideration of specialist equipment.
How will the goods go in? External dimensions help plan placement. For loading, check internal dimensions, door opening and handling space. An item can fit inside without passing through the door. Also confirm permitted masses and the limits of transport and lifting equipment.
What will it be used for? On-site storage and international transport require different checks. “New”, “one-trip” and a used condition grade describe a commercial offer; they replace neither inspection of the actual unit nor the documents required by the carrier.
Which type suits your load?
Start with your goods and how they will be handled, then open the relevant product page to check dimensions, equipment and budget.
20ft Dry: dry goods, compact size
Consider this if available space or storage volume is limited. Check door clearance, internal layout and delivery access.
Indicative price: £904 – £3,544
40ft Dry: more length
For dry goods requiring more space. Compare a larger unit with several units according to access, separation of goods and delivered cost.
Indicative price: £1,255 – £4,331
High Cube: extra height
For tall goods or height you need to retain after conversion. Check the door and planned interior layers; a 45ft container also adds length.
Indicative price: £1,406 – £4,883
Reefer: temperature control
Specify products, arrival temperature and set point. Confirm the refrigeration unit, power supply, operating checks and airflow needed around the load.
Indicative price: £2,259 – £11,025
Open Top: loading from above
For crane handling when the door is unsuitable. Confirm the top opening, load protection and transport constraints.
Indicative price: £1,607 – £5,355
Flat Rack: oversized load
For bulky items on a platform. Have dimensions, mass, support points, securing and lifting equipment assessed.
Indicative price: Quote according to configuration
Tank: liquid transport
Describe the product and its requirements. Confirm tank compatibility, equipment, cleaning, cargo history and required documents.
Indicative price: Quote according to configuration
Indicative prices: compare equivalent offers
Compare the same type, size, condition and equipment. Add the delivery allowance £263 – £945 and, if needed, conversion allowance £1,575 – £15,750, to confirm for your project. The quote should separate container, work, transport, unloading and taxes.
| Type | New / One-trip | Grade A used | Grade B/C used |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 feet dry | £1,607 – £3,544 | £1,104 – £2,205 | £703 – £1,575 |
| 40 ft dry | £2,109 – £4,331 | £1,456 – £2,993 | £954 – £2,126 |
| 40 ft high cube | £2,259 – £4,883 | £1,607 – £3,308 | £1,054 – £2,284 |
| Reefer 20' | £4,267 – £11,025 | £2,761 – £5,906 | £2,259 – £4,331 |
These ranges are indicative and exclude delivery, unloading, taxes and options. Ask the seller what “new / one-trip” and grades A/B/C mean in their offer. Have them confirm which container they are offering, its availability and the total price.
Details to include in your request
Specify goods, packaged dimensions, mass and loading method, then type, size, required condition and use. Add the address, target date, access photos and proposed unloading method. For a reefer, also specify cooling needs and the available power supply.
The stated condition should describe the actual unit
Request identification, recent photos and written criteria. Compare history, physical condition, equipment and warranties separately.
- New: clarify whether this means unused from the factory or a category including one-trip units, along with finish, options and applicable warranties.
- One-trip: confirm the known history and transport marks. This label proves neither clean cargo nor a fixed saving.
- Used grade A: ask for the seller’s definition and the checks carried out. A letter guarantees neither watertightness, transport documents nor remaining service life.
- Used grade B: have dents, corrosion, repairs, floor, doors and seals described. Compare the delivered condition with your intended use.
- Used grade C: request an inspection and the cost of repairs before choosing a low price. Identify accepted defects and included work.
For what uses?
The suitable type depends on the specific use and site. Dedicated pages help you define the project before requesting an offer.
- Professional and personal storage — define goods, duration, access frequency and expected protection. Compare buying and renting including delivery, return and equipment.
- Construction site accommodation / site bungalow — specify occupants, sanitary facilities and utility connections. See site cabins and construction-site facilities.
- Habitable or commercial fit-out — have structure, openings, insulation and equipment assessed for the intended use. See converted containers.
- Import / export — ask the carrier to confirm the unit’s suitability, CSC safety plate and examinations or examination programme applicable to the journey.
- Refrigerated storage (reefer) — describe products and temperature, then have the necessary power supply, refrigeration unit, loading and monitoring checked. An insulated box alone does not define cooling performance.
- Short or long-term rental — compare duration, equipment, delivery, return and contractual charges. See container rental.
Regulation: what to check before buying
In the United Kingdom, planning and building-control systems differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Ask the relevant local authority about the actual container project.
- Temporary use: Explain the use, duration and removal arrangements. Temporary siting is not automatically exempt: whether it is development and whether permitted-development rights apply depends on the nation, site and circumstances. There is no UK-wide three-month exemption.
- Storage and planning permission: A container used for storage can require planning permission for operational development or a material change of land use. Check the permitted-development conditions and restrictions;20 m² and the absence of foundations do not create a general exemption.
- Office or accommodation conversion: Planning permission and building-regulations approval or Scottish building standards are separate. Check structural/fire safety, access and energy requirements with building control. Ask which qualified professionals and approvals the proposed work requires.
- Application fees and development charges: Ask for the relevant application fees and any site-specific infrastructure levy or other charges and reliefs. CIL applies only under the relevant territorial scheme; request the calculation for the actual proposal and local scheme.
- Appearance and protected sites: Review local planning policy, siting, amenity, conservation-area and listed-building restrictions. Paint or cladding does not automatically resolve a planning requirement.
Provide the local planning authority and building-control service with the site plan, dimensions, use and duration before ordering. Where appropriate, ask whether a lawful-development certificate can establish the planning position.
Shipping containers: frequently asked questions
How much does a shipping container cost?+
For a 20ft Dry: £1,104 – £2,205 used Grade A and £1,607 – £3,544 new or one-trip. For a 40ft High Cube: £1,054 – £2,284 used Grade B/C and £2,259 – £4,883 new or one-trip. Prices exclude VAT, delivery, unloading and options; allow around £263 – £945 for delivery, to be confirmed depending on depot and access.
New, one-trip or used: what is the difference?+
Ask the seller what each term means in their offer. “One-trip” describes the journey they say the container has made; A/B/C is a grade based on their own criteria. Check the photos and the container’s condition, then compare included work and written warranties. These labels do not prove that the container is fit for transport.
How do I choose between 20ft, 40ft and High Cube?+
Measure packaged goods, plan their layout and check the doors. Then compare site space and delivery access. A 40ft container adds length; a High Cube adds height. Neither the stated volume nor an external dimension guarantees your load will pass through.
What permission should I check before installing a container?+
Ask the local planning authority whether the siting or land-use change is development, whether permitted-development rights apply, and whether permission is needed. Building control is a separate check for conversions. Requirements vary between the four nations; the relevant national and local rules determine the container project’s requirements.
How can I assess a container's remaining service life?+
Check corrosion, the roof, floor, doors and repairs. Ask about the container’s known history and recommended maintenance too. How long it lasts depends on its condition and what it is exposed to. Its sales grade or manufacturing date does not guarantee how many years of use remain.
What details should I provide for delivery?+
Send the address and photos, access dimensions, obstacles, ground condition and placement location. Confirm the vehicle, lifting method and door clearance. Allowances of £263 to £945 do not replace a quote for the actual route and unloading.
Is a used condition grade enough for sea transport?+
No. Ask the carrier to confirm the CSC safety plate, applicable periodic examination or continuous programme, and the documents and unit suitability for the journey. A grade A/B/C or a watertightness claim is neither transport approval nor permission to install a container on land.
Explore by region
Use the regional pages to prepare your request. Have the seller’s offer confirm depot, stock, route and lead time.
Explore by use
Your container project according to the exact need: storage, office, workshop, accommodation, pool, construction site base cabin…
Full container catalogue
Every product page at a glance: by type, condition, colour, for hire or fitted. For containers by city and detailed combinations, open the full catalogue.
Types of shipping containers
Conditions: new, one-trip, used
All variants by condition
Available RAL colours
Container rental
Converted : housing, tiny house, office, commercial
Site accommodation units & site bungalows / portable cabins
Request a quote for the right container
Specify load, type, condition and delivery. Up to 5 quotes, subject to seller availability.