Illustrative image New 20ft Shipping Container (One-Trip)
A new 20ft shipping container is a one-trip container: a standard 20 × 8 ft steel box, 8′6″ (2.59 m) tall, that crossed the ocean once with cargo before being sold. Expect clean paint, a sound floor and door seals that close tight, maybe with a few handling marks. You can have one from $2,750 this week, plus delivery and sales tax.
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One free request goes to up to 5 sellers serving your address, each checked for licensing and insurance, and you compare their quotes or accept none. How it works
A new 20ft is much the same box from any seller, so compare the delivered total and the date rather than the container price alone.
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What is a one-trip cargo container?
- Why it’s sold after one trip: rather than ship a new container out empty from the factory, mostly in Asia, it’s loaded with export cargo for its first voyage, which cuts the cost of getting it here; it’s then sold where it lands.
- Condition: with no years of ocean service behind it, the walls are straight and the floor is clean; a scuff or ding from the cranes and trucks on that one trip is normal.
- On paper: “one-trip” has no legal definition, so check that your quote or invoice says it.
The guide to one-trip containers goes into more detail.
New or used 20ft?
| New (one-trip) | Used, wind & watertight | |
|---|---|---|
| From | $2,750 | $1,400 (cargo worthy $1,550) |
| Condition | Like new, with a few handling marks at most | Dings, patches of rust and old carrier logos, but it keeps wind and rain out |
| Choose it for | Storage in plain view, or an office or studio conversion | Plain storage where looks don’t matter |
The $1,350 difference buys a box that has made one voyage and looks new, which counts if you’ll see it every day or build it out. If it only has to keep things dry, a used 20ft shipping container does that job for less.
Good for: a backyard storage building or studio, a small shop or office conversion, or storage where looks matter.
Specs in feet and metric
| Measurement | Feet, inches, pounds | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Outside (L × W × H) | 19′10½″ × 8′ × 8′6″ | 6.06 × 2.44 × 2.59 m |
| Inside (L × W × H) | about 19′4″ × 7′8½″ × 7′10″ | about 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 m |
| Door opening (W × H) | about 7′8″ × 7′6″ | about 2.34 × 2.28 m |
| Inside volume | about 1,170 cu ft | about 33.1 m³ |
| Floor area (inside) | about 150 sq ft | about 13.9 m² |
| Pallets on the floor, one layer | 9 standard US pallets (48 × 40 in) | |
| Empty weight (tare) | about 4,700–5,200 lb | about 2,140–2,350 kg |
| Max. payload | about 62,000 lb | about 28,100 kg |
| Max. gross weight | 67,200 lb | 30,480 kg |
| Tilt-bed truck access | 60–80 ft (18–24 m) of straight approach, 10–14 ft (3–4.3 m) wide; 14–16 ft (4.3–4.9 m) of overhead clearance, about 20 ft (6 m) where the container tilts off; ground that’s firm, dry and level (5° slope at most) | |
Sources: ISO 668 for the outside size of a 1CC (standard 20ft); inside size, door and weights as published by an ocean carrier and container leasing companies. Your container’s exact weights are marked on its doors.
Delivery
Away from the seller’s depot, delivery is usually priced by distance, about $4–$6 per mile.
Delivery cost and site checklist · container foundation options
Options & accessories
Add-ons you can order with this container (see all):
- Shipping container lock box ($94)
- Heavy-duty container door lock (from $200)
- Shipping container leveling kit ($195)
- Shipping container vents (from $104)
- Shipping container roll-up door kit (from $617)
- Shipping container office kit (from $8,301)
Man door, shelving or an installed roll-up door? Ask for a quote. To keep heat and damp out: insulated containers.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a new 20 foot container?
With delivery near the seller’s depot, a new 20ft comes to about $3,050–$3,350 before sales tax; the container alone starts at $2,750 this week. Across the 71 listings we recorded, prices ran from $1,980 to $4,399 depending on the depot, and about 6 in 10 were priced above ours. A taller 20ft high cube starts at $4,620, and double door and open side models also cost more than a standard one.
What are the dimensions of a new 20ft shipping container?
The same as any standard 20ft: 19′10½″ × 8′ × 8′6″ (6.06 × 2.44 × 2.59 m) outside and about 19′4″ × 7′8½″ × 7′10″ (5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 m) inside, and the door opens about 7′8″ × 7′6″ (2.34 × 2.28 m). It’s rated to carry about 62,000 lb (28,100 kg) of cargo, roughly 28 metric tons. 20ft container dimensions.
How long does a one-trip container last?
At sea, carriers and leasing companies usually retire containers after about 12–15 years of service, and a one-trip unit has used up just one voyage of that. On land there’s no reliable figure: it depends on keeping it off wet ground and dealing with rust and worn seals early. How long a one-trip container lasts.
Do you need a concrete slab for a shipping container?
No. It needs firm, level ground: concrete or asphalt works, and so do compacted, dry gravel or earth. Setting it on railroad ties, blocks or a gravel bed keeps the floor off damp soil, and keeping it level stops the doors from binding. Foundation options.
Do I need a permit for a shipping container?
That’s decided locally, by your city or county, so ask the building or zoning office before the container arrives. Shipping container permits.
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