Illustrative image Used 40ft Shipping Container
A used 40ft shipping container is a second-hand 40-foot steel box, 8′6″ (2.59 m) tall, that has finished its years in ocean shipping and is resold with about 305 sq ft (28.3 m²) of floor for storage on land. Wind & watertight units start at $1,900 this week and cargo worthy ones at $2,060, before 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 40ft needs about 100–120 ft (30–37 m) of straight approach to come off the truck, so describe your access in the request and compare delivered totals, not box prices.
$450Average gap between the highest
and lowest quote on the same request
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Which used 40ft grade fits your plans?
| Grade | From | Condition | Pick it if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind & watertight (WWT) | $1,900 | Weather-tight, with doors and seals that work, but no certificate for sea travel | It stays on your land as storage |
| Cargo worthy (CW) | $2,060 | Structurally sound enough to pass a CSC exam and carry cargo by sea again | You may ship goods in it or sell it on |
The cargo worthy grade adds $160 this week. On either grade, patched dents, surface rust, old carrier logos and a floor worn by forklifts are normal; holes and leaks are not, so check what each quote lets you refuse at delivery if the box lets water in (what to check; guarantees on used containers). Sending one back to sea usually takes a fresh CSC exam after the sale.
For $80 more this week, a used 40ft high cube ($1,980, wind & watertight) adds a foot of height. If 40 ft is more than you need, a used 20ft starts at $1,400, and near a depot the delivery fee is usually no higher for the 40ft.
Good for: bulk storage for a business, a farm or a job site, with about 305 sq ft (28.3 m²) of floor and room for 20 standard US pallets (48 × 40 in) in one layer.
Only need it for a few months? Rent one instead.
Specs in feet and metric
| Measurement | Feet, inches, pounds | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Outside (L × W × H) | 40′ × 8′ × 8′6″ | 12.19 × 2.44 × 2.59 m |
| Inside (L × W × H) | about 39′5½″ × 7′8½″ × 7′10″ | about 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m |
| Door opening (W × H) | about 7′8″ × 7′6″ | about 2.34 × 2.28 m |
| Inside volume | about 2,380 cu ft | about 67.4 m³ |
| Floor area (inside) | about 305 sq ft | about 28.3 m² |
| Pallets on the floor, one layer | 20 standard US pallets (48 × 40 in) | |
| Empty weight (tare) | about 8,000–8,300 lb | about 3,640–3,750 kg |
| Max. payload | about 63,500 lb | about 28,800 kg |
| Max. gross weight | up to 71,650 lb | up to 32,500 kg |
| Tilt-bed truck access | 100–120 ft (30–37 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 (1AA); inside size, door and weights from ocean carrier and lessor fleet data, which vary slightly between builders. 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 to buy a used 40ft container?
Across the 204 wind & watertight listings we saw this week, prices ran from $1,399 to $3,850; our $1,900 starting price undercuts about 6 in 10 of them, and cargo worthy starts at $2,060. If you’re near the seller’s depot, the delivered total is about $2,200–$2,500 before sales tax.
Can you buy a used 40ft container for under $1,000?
Not a watertight one from the large national sellers we track: none listed a 40ft under $1,000 this week, and the cheapest wind & watertight 40ft was $1,399. Below that price you’ll mostly find “storage-class” or as-is containers that aren’t sold as watertight, so ask what the grade promises. Warning signs on cheap container ads.
How do you transport a 40 foot container?
On a tilt-bed truck that tips it off at your spot, which needs 100–120 ft (30–37 m) of straight, open approach. Where the site is too tight for that, a flatbed can bring it instead, and a crane lifts it off. Truck access.
How long does a used 40ft container last?
Carriers and leasing companies usually take containers out of ocean service after about 12–15 years. On land there’s no reliable figure: it depends on keeping it off wet ground and treating rust and worn seals early. How long a used container lasts.
from $1,900 Best price
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Illustrative image See all 40ft containers or used containers by grade.