Quick answer (2026): a used 20ft shipping container sells for about $1,400–$3,200 delivered in most U.S. markets, a used 40ft for $2,000–$4,200, and a new one-trip 20ft for $3,000–$5,500. Prices in port cities such as Los Angeles run below the national average because containers do not have to be trucked inland. Your final number depends on three things: size, condition grade, and how far the truck has to drive.
Better price. Better container.
The market prices below include middlemen. We deliver on our own trucks across Los Angeles and Southern California, so your delivered price usually lands under the ranges on this page — and every unit is hand-selected and inspected before it leaves for your site, not “whatever’s next in line.” Found a lower written quote? We match it.
Shipping container prices by size and condition (2026 market ranges)
These are typical delivered prices reported across U.S. container marketplaces in 2026. Use them to judge whether a quote is fair — then get ours.
| Size | Used – wind & water tight (WWT) | Used – cargo worthy (CW) | New – one-trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft standard | $1,400–$3,200 | $2,000–$4,000 | $3,000–$5,500 |
| 40ft standard | $2,000–$4,200 | $2,800–$4,800 | $4,500–$7,500 |
| 40ft high cube | $2,200–$5,500 | $3,000–$5,500 | $5,000–$8,000 |
High-cube (9’6″) versions of any size typically add $300–$600 over the standard-height price. National averages in 2026: used 20ft about $1,800, used 40ft about $2,200, used 40ft high cube about $2,300. Port hubs — Los Angeles, Long Beach, Houston, Newark — typically price several hundred dollars under these averages; inland markets like Denver or Phoenix price above them.
What each condition grade actually means
- New / one-trip — built overseas, shipped once with cargo, then sold. Looks new, with minor transit marks. Best choice for offices, homes, or anything customers will see.
- Cargo worthy (CW) — inspected and certified fit for shipping cargo again. Structurally sound, weathered paint, dents allowed. The sweet spot for most storage buyers.
- Wind & water tight (WWT) — keeps rain and wind out but not certified for export. More rust and dents than CW. The cheapest container that will still protect what is inside.
- As-is — sold without guarantees; may leak or have floor damage. Only for buyers who plan to repair it. Usually $800–$1,500 below WWT.
Delivery cost: the number most price guides leave out
Delivery is where “cheap” quotes get expensive. Typical U.S. delivery runs $3–$6 per mile from the nearest depot, with a minimum of roughly $150–$400. A container advertised at $1,200 that sits 120 miles away can cost more delivered than a $1,600 container 20 miles away. Three questions to ask every seller:
- Is the price delivered to my ZIP code, or depot price plus a separate trucking fee?
- Who drives the truck — the seller, or a broker’s third-party hauler?
- What happens if my site cannot be accessed (tight gate, soft ground, low wires)? Is there a dry-run fee?
We quote delivered prices only and haul on our own trucks, so there is no second invoice for freight. A 20ft container needs about 60 feet of straight clearance for the truck; a 40ft needs about 100–120 feet.
Buying vs. renting: where the break-even is
Monthly rental for a 20ft storage container runs about $100–$250, a 40ft about $150–$300, plus delivery and pickup each way. Compared with buying a used unit, renting usually costs more after 12–18 months. Rent if you need the container for a single project or season; buy if it will sit on your property longer than a year — a used container also holds resale value.
Why the same container has three different prices
Most listings you see online are brokers. A broker buys from a depot, adds a margin, and subcontracts delivery — three parties, three markups. Prices also swing with global shipping demand: when import volumes into the Port of Los Angeles rise, more used containers hit the local market and prices soften; when volumes fall, one-trip units get scarce and prices climb. That is why quotes from two sellers on the same day can differ by $800 for an identical box.
How to compare written quotes
Line every quote up on the same five items: size and height, condition grade (ask for photos of the actual unit, not stock photos), delivered price to your ZIP, delivery window, and what is covered if the container arrives with damage. If one quote is missing any of these, it is not comparable yet.
Don’t pay list price.
Get a delivered quote for your ZIP and compare it to the ranges above. If anyone beats it in writing, we match — and you get the best-condition container we can source for your grade, checked before delivery, not after.
Shipping container cost questions
How much is a 20ft shipping container?
In 2026 a used 20ft container costs about $1,400–$3,200 delivered depending on condition, and a new one-trip 20ft about $3,000–$5,500. Los Angeles-area prices sit at the low end of those ranges.
How much is a 40ft shipping container?
A used 40ft standard container runs about $2,000–$4,200 delivered; a 40ft high cube about $2,200–$5,500; new one-trip 40ft units $4,500–$8,000.
Why are shipping containers cheaper in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles and Long Beach are the busiest container ports in the U.S., so used containers are plentiful and do not need long-haul trucking to reach buyers. Port-city prices typically land several hundred dollars below the national average.
What is the cheapest shipping container?
An as-is or wind-and-water-tight 20ft standard container is the cheapest usable option, usually $1,200–$2,000. Anything cheaper is likely depot price without delivery, or a unit with floor or door damage.
Does the price include delivery?
Often not — many online prices are depot prices. Always ask for the delivered price to your ZIP code. Our quotes are delivered prices on our own trucks, with nothing added later.
How do I get an exact price from Shipping Container Depot?
Enter your delivery ZIP in the pricing box on any of our container pages, or send it with a quote request. We reply with a delivered price for new one-trip and used units in your size, usually the same business day.
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