When Is The Best Time to Buy Shipping Containers?

If you're in the market for shipping containers, you've probably noticed the prices can vary quite a bit. It might seem tricky to figure out when to get the best deal, but a bit of planning can make a huge difference. 

Whether you're looking to start a small business, expand your current operations, build a container home, or just need some extra storage space, knowing when to buy can save you a lot of money.

In this article, we'll explore three key strategies to help you get the best price on shipping containers: Holiday Sales, Volume Discounts, and Price Matching. 

These shipping container sale tips will guide you through finding great deals during special sales events, making the most of bulk buying, and ensuring you’re getting the best price available. 

With this information, you'll be well-equipped to make a smart purchase and get the most bang for your buck.

First, it’s important to understand that it is nearly impossible for a nationwide shipping container business to offer a consistent price across over 200 depot locations nationwide because there are too many variables involved in pricing. We cover all these variables in detail in a previous article and video about the cost of shipping containers.

The primary issue is supply and demand of containers near your location. Since delivery is such a large part of the container’s cost, the best prices come from local depots. And every depot has different prices based on supply and demand. 

Because of these and other variables like shipping container sizes, age and condition, there is no way to have standard container pricing nationwide unless prices were set absurdly high. 

Conversely, it’s easy to find cheap container prices on the Internet. There are scams and unethical companies with super low priced containers that are very low grade that they promote as a higher grade in the listing. Or they don’t include taxes or the delivery price in the quote, giving you a false sense of the container’s total cost. These bait and switch games would be avoided at all costs. 

Instead, at Container One, we inventory in over 200 locations nationwide and proprietary technology that searches shipping containers for sale in your area to ensure the lowest price possible for the correct size and condition that you desire.. 

Try it below. Get an instant quote by entering your zip code below:

The best time to get a shipping container is when you need one because you never know what will be available if you wait. However, the best deals are usually from November to February. 

After Thanksgiving and Christmas are over, international shipping slows way down. Therefore, there is usually congestion of empty containers at depots. Often they will offer deeper discounts around this time. 

A caution to buying a shipping container in the winter, however, is that deliveries can be more challenging – usually due to mud, not snow. 

One of the best times to score a great deal on shipping containers is during holiday sales. Just like with other big-ticket items, holidays often bring special discounts and promotions. 

Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas, and New Year’s are prime times to keep an eye out for sales.

During these periods, shipping container suppliers are looking to boost their sales and clear out inventory, so they’re more likely to offer significant discounts. 

You can find deals that are much better than at other times of the year. It’s not uncommon to see price cuts, special bundles, or added perks like free delivery.

Setting a budget and knowing what you need in advance will help you jump on deals as soon as they appear. Sometimes, the best deals are limited in quantity, so being quick can make a big difference.

To make sure you don’t miss holiday sales, sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media to get alerts about upcoming sales.

If you’re thinking about buying multiple shipping containers, you might be in for some serious savings through volume discounts. This is when suppliers offer a lower price or free delivery per container if you buy in bulk. 

Again, these discounts vary from depot to depot. So there are no standard volume discounts or wholesale shipping container prices available nationwide. 

If you’re buying containers in larger quantities to build shipping container homes or for your business, some suppliers are often willing to negotiate. 

If you are buying more than one container, sometimes just asking for a volume discount can get you a better deal. 

Another tip is to team up with others who need containers. Pooling your orders can help you reach the volume needed for discounts without having to buy more than you need. Just make sure you have enough space to store them and that it makes sense for your future plans.

By considering volume discounts, you may significantly reduce your costs and make your shipping container purchase much more affordable.

Price matching is the ultimate way to ensure you're getting the best deal on shipping containers. Price matching = everyday lowest pricing.

Container One offers price matching because we are confident that we offer the best pricing. If not, we’ll match a competitor's lower price if you find one. 

When looking around, be sure to check the fine print on price quotes. You may see a lower price for the same sized container but it may be in worse condition, or the price doesn’t include delivery costs.

So it’s important to make sure the containers’ listed size and condition are the same and to get a full quote with taxes and delivery in order to make a fair comparison. 

For example, if you’re buying a new 1-trip 40 ft high cube container, make sure the quotes are for that exact container.

Also, keep an eye out for added benefits that might come with price matching, such as free delivery or extended warranties. These can add even more value to your purchase.

By using price matching, you can confidently shop around knowing that you’ll get the best possible price. It’s a simple but effective strategy to save money and get the best deal on your shipping containers.

Purchasing shipping containers for the lowest price possible is EASY. Simply type your zip code into the quote widget below and Container One will locate the exact container you need at the lowest price – including delivery to your property! 

 If you find the same container elsewhere for a cheaper price (including delivery), we will match their price! We also offer financing to buy a shipping container with low monthly payments!

Enter your zip code to see exact prices in your area!

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.