Shipping Container Cost: 20FT vs 40FT Container Prices

How much does a shipping container cost in 2024? The quick answer: The average price for a new 20 ft or 40 ft container is around $3000-$6000 including delivery. 

The real answer is it depends. Prices can range between $2000-$8000 depending on multiple factors like size, age and condition.

When you see conex box prices advertised after doing a Google search, you are seeing a loose estimate of the actual cost.

Oftentimes there are hidden costs like taxes and delivery that make prices higher than the advertised price. Furthermore, containers with super low price quotes are usually in very poor condition.

Container One uses proprietary technology to find the lowest accurate prices including delivery. We use your zip code to provide instant quotes on containers closest to your location.

Try it by entering your zip code below:

These variables are why it is challenging to find accurate shipping container quotes online:

You may think that smaller sized containers would be the least expensive, but that isn’t always the case. 

In fact, the largest of the common shipping container sizes, a 40 ft high cube container, is often the cheapest because there are usually more of them for sale.

Likewise, there are rare shipping container sizes like 10 ft and 53 ft which are exceedingly expensive because there are so few of them for sale. 

That said, the smaller 20 foot containers are typically less expensive than standard 40 footers. 

Let’s take a closer look at shipping container pricing for common sizes. For this example, we are using NEW 1 TRIP containers which have only made one trip across the sea and are now available to purchase. 

Keep in mind that these are not exact quotes, just rough estimates that can change over time or for your area.

A new-one trip, 20 foot standard dry shipping container costs around $2500-$4500. That price estimate includes delivery to your property. 

See exact price quotes for new 20 ft containers in your area here.

A new-one trip 40 foot standard dry shipping container costs around $4000-$6000. That price estimate includes delivery to your property.

Get an exact quote for a new 40 ft container in your area here.

The most abundant shipping container model on the secondary market is the 40 foot High Cube container. Therefore, do not be surprised to see them priced below 40 foot standard containers or even 20 footers.

A new-one trip 40 foot high cube shipping container costs around $3500-$5500. That price estimate includes delivery to your property.

Get an exact quote for a new one trip 40 ft high cube container in your area here.

There are 3 different grades (conditions) of shipping containers for sale. As you might imagine, the newest containers cost the most. While the oldest used containers cost the least.

The 3 different grades of containers are:

One-trip containers are brand new before making one trip across the sea carrying goods to the United States. Those containers are then sold as “new” on the secondary market.

New one trip containers are in the best condition of all of the container grades. Under normal outdoor conditions, they should last decades without needing repairs.

As such, they are also the costliest of the grades of containers. As seen in the section above, new containers can cost between $2500-$6000.

Cargo Worthy containers are used with minor imperfections like rust or dents. However they are guaranteed to pass certification for international shipping. This means they will protect the contents from the elements but may need repairs and maintenance sooner than new containers.

Cargo Worthy is the second highest condition of all of the container grades. 

They come with a 5-year structural and 1-year leak-free warranty when you buy them from Container One.

Cargo Worthy container prices are usually about 60% of the cost of new containers. Get an exact quote for 20 ft Cargo Worthy containers here and 40 ft Cargo Worthy containers here.

Wind & Watertight containers are used with dents, rust, and previous repairs. They are no longer certified to ship cargo on trains and ships, but they are nearly indistinguishable from Cargo Worthy containers. 

Thus, Wind & Watertight containers are useful for storing and protecting personal items from the elements. And they can be used for building things like shipping container garages or homes. They come with a 5-year structural and 1-year leak-free warranty when you buy from Container One.

Wind & Watertight container prices are usually about 50-60% of the cost of new containers. See exact price quotes for 20 ft Wind & Watertight containers here and 40 ft Wind & Watertight containers here.

Shipping containers with extra doors tend to cost more than standard containers. The two most common versions are containers with 2 end doors or a container with additional doors on the sides. 

Shipping containers with double cargo doors on both ends are rarer than standard containers with only one cargo door. Therefore they will usually cost a bit more. 

You can expect these containers to cost about 10-20% more than standard containers. 

Get exact price quotes for 20 ft double door containers here and 40 ft double door containers here.

Shipping containers with side cargo doors are rarer than standard containers and containers with double end doors. So they cost more than standard containers and those with double end doors.

However, containers with side doors are very useful for many applications, especially for storing vehicles because they allow you to exit the car once parked inside. 

You can expect these containers to cost about 40-60% more than standard containers. 

Get exact price quotes for 20 ft side door containers here and 40 ft containers with side doors here.

Your location affects shipping container prices in two ways: 

As mentioned previously, there is often a larger supply of 40 ft high cube containers available than other sizes. This glut in the supply causes prices to be cheaper than other sizes that may be in short supply. Similarly, rarer container sizes may be more expensive in your area than other locations. 

Let’s take a closer look at container delivery costs.

Container delivery cost varies depending on your location and the delivery method.  

In short, shipping container delivery costs can range from $300 to over $1000 if you live in a very remote location far away from the closest depot.

As mentioned in the beginning of this article, finding accurate shipping container prices is a challenge due to all the variables involved.

Container One’s proprietary technology to instantly search prices at depots closest to your location ensures the lowest price. The delivery cost is included in your quote. There are no hidden fees. The quote you get is the price you pay.

Getting an accurate shipping container quote is easy on Container One. Simply enter your zip code and then select “CONTAINER”. This will show you the exact prices for every size and grade of container available for sale. 

We are so confident in our quotes that we offer price matching if you find a lower price for an equivalent container elsewhere.

Try it by entering your zip code below:

Glenn Taylor is the founder and CEO of Container One. With over 35 years in the shipping industry, Taylor pioneered online container sales. Today Container One is a leading provider of shipping containers for sale in the USA.