Shipping Container Rental
Rent a used 20ft, 40ft or 40ft high cube shipping container (also called a storage container, conex or freight container) from $95 a month on a 12-month term, wind and watertight and delivered to your site by the seller whose quote you accept. A 40ft starts at $125 a month on the same term, before delivery, pickup and sales tax. Shorter terms cost more per month. Your quote shows the exact rate, delivery and pickup costs before you pay anything.
Monthly rental rates by size and term
| Container | 3+ months | 6+ months | 12+ months |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft standard | $135/mo | $125/mo | $95/mo |
| 40ft standard | $175/mo | $150/mo | $125/mo |
| 40ft high cube | $195/mo | $175/mo | $150/mo |
Rates are per container, per month. Need it for less than 3 months, or several containers? Ask for a quote. Sellers that rent containers aren’t in every area: their quotes state availability near your ZIP.
Which size to rent
- 20ft: about 150 sq ft (13.9 m²) of floor, enough for 9 standard US pallets (48 × 40 in), from $95/mo on a 12-month term. 20ft container rental: rates, specs and delivery.
- 40ft, standard or high cube: about 305 sq ft (28.3 m²) of floor, enough for 20 standard US pallets (48 × 40 in), from $125/mo on a 12-month term ($150/mo for a high cube, a foot taller). 40ft container rental: standard and high cube.
How renting a container works
- Send a rental request with the size, how long you need it, your start date and your ZIP. Sending it costs nothing.
- Get your quotes. We send your request to up to 5 sellers near you that rent that size; each sends the monthly rate, delivery, pickup at the end, and its rental agreement with the deposit and insurance terms.
- Delivery. On the date confirmed in your quote, a tilt-bed truck slides the container onto the ground at your spot.
- When you’re done, let us know, and the depot will schedule the pickup.
Rental terms
- Term: rates are set for 3+, 6+ and 12+ months; the longer the term, the lower the monthly rate.
- Delivery and pickup: each is quoted with your rental, from the depot to your site, and depends on the distance.
- Deposit and insurance: set out in the rental agreement that comes with your quote, before you pay anything.
- The seller’s rental terms. Each rental quote comes with that seller’s agreement: the deposit, the insurance, what happens if the container stops being wind and watertight during the rental, and the pickup. Compare them before you accept; our service is free, and you don’t have to accept any quote. What to check in a quote.
- Sales tax: added to your quote where it applies.
What a container rental really costs
Add up four things: the monthly rate times the number of months, delivery, pickup at the end, and sales tax where it applies.
Example this week: a 20ft for 6 months is 6 × $125 = $750 in rent, plus delivery, the pickup fee and any sales tax, all quoted with your rental.
Rent or buy?
| Container | 3 mo | 6 mo | 12 mo | Buy from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft standard | $405 | $750 | $1,140 | $1,400 |
| 40ft standard | $525 | $900 | $1,500 | $1,900 |
| 40ft high cube | $585 | $1,050 | $1,800 | $1,980 |
At the 12-month rate, rent adds up to the purchase price after about 13 to 15 months. Renting also takes two truck trips, delivery and pickup, compared with one when you buy, and a container you own can be sold later. Rent for a job, a renovation or a season; if you’ll need it for more than about a year, buying usually costs less. Used containers for sale.
Before delivery: ground, access and placement
- Ground: firm, dry and level (5° slope at most). Concrete, asphalt, or compacted gravel or dirt all work; soft or wet soil, mud and sand don’t.
- Level: a container set unevenly can jam its doors. If the spot isn’t flat, plan timbers or blocks under the corners.
- Access: about 60–80 ft (18–24 m) of straight approach for a 20ft and 100–120 ft (30–37 m) for a 40ft, 10–14 ft (3–4.3 m) of width and 14–16 ft (4.3–4.9 m) of overhead clearance.
- Placement: on a job site, tell us in your request which way the doors should face, so they open on the side you work from.
Delivery cost and site checklist · Container foundation options
Rent-to-own
Want to keep the container? Rent-to-own spreads the price over 12 to 48 months of payments: how rent-to-own works.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a container to rent per month?
This week, on a 12-month term, a used 20ft rents from $95 a month and a 40ft from $125 ($150 for a high cube). On a 3-month term, a 20ft starts at $135 and a 40ft at $175 ($195 for a high cube). Delivery, pickup and sales tax are extra. Rates by size: 20ft container rental · 40ft container rental.
How much does it cost to rent a small shipping container?
The smallest size listed for rent is the 20ft, from $95 a month on a 12-month term. Need a 10ft? It’s listed to buy rather than rent, new or used: 10ft shipping container.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy a shipping container?
For a few months, yes. Past about 13 to 15 months, buying a used container usually costs less: see the rent-or-buy table.
Do I need a concrete slab for a rental container?
No. Firm, dry and level ground is enough: concrete, asphalt, or compacted gravel or dirt. Setting the container on timbers, blocks or a gravel bed rather than bare soil keeps it level and off the wet ground. Container foundation options.
What’s the difference between a conex and a shipping container?
None: “conex” is a common US name for a steel shipping container, so a conex box rental is a shipping container rental. What a conex box is.
Can you rent to own a shipping container?
Yes. With rent-to-own, you pay a deposit and delivery upfront, then monthly payments over 12, 24, 36 or 48 months, and the container is yours once all payments are made. Your quote sets out the payments and terms. Ask for a rent-to-own quote.
Is leasing a shipping container the same as renting one?
For storage on your site, yes: “lease” and “rent” both mean a monthly rate for as long as you keep the container. Shipping lines also lease whole fleets of containers to move cargo by sea; that’s a different business, and we don’t offer it.
Prefer to buy? Used containers for sale · All shipping containers · This week’s container prices