Used Shipping Containers For Sale

Doors on a Used 40-foot Shipping Container

USED Cargo-Worthy 40-foot shipping containers, both standard height and high cube (HC), come with double doors at only one end. USED – Wind and Watertight standard and high cube containers may have an open top covered by a removable tarp. Only very rarely are open-top containers with tarps available in NEW shipping containers.

Sizes and Dimensions of USED 40-foot Shipping Container

View the 40-foot shipping container sizes and dimensions for NEW and USED shipping containers:

• External and internal dimensions (width, height, and depth)
• Width and height of door openings
• Key weight measurements, such as tare, stacking, racking, and floor strength
  

Licensed surveyors assign USED shipping containers to one of three shipping container grades: 

• USED – Cargo-Worthy (also called CW) 
• USED – Wind and Watertight (also called WWT)
• USED – “As Is” (which we never sell)
  

“USED – Cargo-Worthy” (CW) shipping containers are the best quality USED shipping containers available. Some people refer to Cargo-Worthy containers as seaworthy containers or ocean shipping containers.

A “Cargo-worthy” designation signifies that a qualified shipping container surveyor has inspected the container and certified it as cargo-worthy. You can load a cargo-worthy container for domestic or export use. In other words, the USED – Cargo-Worthy shipping container meets all U.S. domestic and overseas shipping requirements. 

However, be aware that the shipping container grade does NOT assess the cosmetic appearance of the container. 

Instead, a licensed surveyor assesses the container for factors related to its structural integrity. (See the 7-Point Container Ocean Certification Checklist.) Therefore, a certified USED – Cargo-Worthy container is structurally sound. It also meets the manufacturer's original factory specifications.

If you want to ship materials or products overseas in a USED shipping container, it must be Cargo-Worthy. 

You can NOT ship products for export in a “USED – Wind and Watertight” container. You can only choose “NEW” or “USED – Cargo Worthy for shipping items overseas.”

Guaranteed When You Buy a USED Cargo-Worthy Shipping Container 

We guarantee your certified USED Cargo-Worthy shipping container to:

• Be wind and watertight
• Include a floor without holes (usually a laminated, marine-grade plywood with steel cross beams underneath)
• Feature fully functioning doors
  

Appearance of a USED – Cargo-Worthy Shipping Container

Again, the container grade is never relevant to its appearance. Cosmetically, USED – Cargo-Worthy containers will have the original factory paint. They may also have dents, repairs, and/or minimal surface rust. Their floor may show minor delamination. 

Appropriate Use of a USED – Cargo-Worthy Shipping Container

Your USED – Cargo-Worthy container will be suitable for storage or export, or you may repurpose it to meet your unique personal or business needs. 

After NEW and USED – Cargo-Worthy shipping containers, the next designation of containers we sell are those with the grade: “USED – Wind & Watertight.”

Guaranteed When You Buy a USED – Wind & Watertight (WWT) Shipping Container 

We guarantee that your USED – Wind and Watertight shipping container will be delivered:

• Wind and watertight 
• Include a floor without any holes (usually a laminated, marine-grade plywood with steel cross beams underneath)
• Feature fully functioning doors
  

Appearance of a USED – Wind and Watertight Shipping Container

Cosmetically, “USED – Wind and Watertight” shipping containers can be similar to “USED – Cargo-Worthy” containers. That’s because the shipping container grade is relevant to the container's seaworthiness and structural integrity, never its appearance.

USED – Wind and Watertight shipping containers will have their original factory paint. They may have dents, repairs, and/or minimal surface rust. Floors may reveal minor delamination. 

Appropriate Use of a USED – Wind and Watertight Shipping Container

Your USED – Wind and Watertight container will be suitable for all uses on land: as storage containers or repurposed for innovative uses.

At Container Management, Inc., we sell only NEW shipping containers and the top two grades of USED shipping containers:

• USED – Cargo-Worthy 
• USED – Wind and Watertight

We NEVER sell the third grade of USED shipping containers: “As Is.” 

That’s because we want our customers to appreciate our value and service. We won’t sell you “as is” shipping containers because we deem their inferior quality poor, unpredictable, and unacceptable. 

Cost of USED vs NEW Shipping Container Grades

First, you can expect to pay less for a USED shipping container than a NEW shipping container. Therefore, you may not require a “NEW” shipping container. USED – Cargo-Worthy or Wind and Watertight grades can sometimes work just as well, saving you money. 

Shipping Container Supply and Demand in a Given Locations

Some U.S. cities may have shipping container surpluses. In this case, container costs may dip slightly in these areas. By contrast, others may have shipping container shortages. In part, the economics of supply and demand dictate the costs.

Your Location From the Depot and Pick up or Delivery Costs 

We offer options for you to obtain your container. If you can pick up your container from the Depot and safely transport your USED shipping container, your price from Container Management, Inc. will be lower. 

Alternatively, we can include delivery within 150 to 200 miles. Usually, the closer you live to the Depot, the less you will pay for your shipping container transport costs. 

It is your overall cost—depot to delivery that matters—not simply the price of the container.

Learn more about shipping container delivery.

Size of Your USED Shipping Container

All other factors being equal, a USED 40-foot shipping container costs more than a USED 20-foot container. Similarly, a USED 40-foot high-cube (HC) shipping container will cost more than a USED 40-foot standard-height container. Occasionally, unique container sizes may cost more—even if they are smaller. 

Volume Discounts

We can sometimes offer a volume discount if you order many containers simultaneously. Just ask about our volume and loyalty discounts.

Our skilled team of experts is ready to answer any questions. We’ll help you find high-quality, USED shipping containers that meet your shipping, storage, or innovative needs—at an excellent cost.

To ask questions or buy now, request a quote.