Shipping Container Buyer's Quick Start Guide

The Five Grades

Container grades describe structural condition and warranty eligibility. They are not cosmetic ratings. A container with heavy surface rust can be structurally sound, and a clean-looking container can be a poor buy.

What the grades actually mean

Wind and Watertight (WWT)

A condition designation, not a certification. No third party inspects and stamps a container WWT. The dealer represents that it keeps weather out, usually based on a depot inspection. Doors operate but may not seal to shipping tolerances, and surface rust is expected. Most WWT containers do not leak.

Cargo Worthy (CW)

Meets the structural standard required for international shipping. It must have no holes or leaks, marine-grade plywood flooring in good condition, functioning doors and seals, and dents within acceptable limits. Most dealers offer a structural warranty on CW units.

Premium / Multi-Trip

A market grade, not a certification. It describes younger, cleaner containers selected from the top of Cargo Worthy inventory. Some dealers call this tier IICL. Ask whether that label reflects a documented inspection standard or is simply the dealer’s name for premium used stock.

One-Trip

Has made a single journey from the factory, typically in China, to its first destination and arrives essentially new. Expect to pay $1,500 to $3,000 more than for a comparable CW unit.

As-Is

Is permanent. A repaired As-Is container does not become Cargo Worthy. Reinspection and recertification for shipping use is rare and generally not economical.

The practical difference between WWT and CW is smaller than the price gap suggests. Many WWT containers would pass a CW inspection. CW adds a higher inspection standard, more recent documentation, and warranty coverage. That warranty line is where the distinction has real financial consequence.

Three things buyers commonly get wrong

• An expired CSC plate does not matter for storage. It only means the container is no longer certified for international shipping. It says nothing about whether the container is sound.
• Used does not mean poor condition. Shipping lines actively maintain containers during their service life. Most WWT and CW containers are in better condition than buyers expect.
• Surface rust is not structural rust. Containers are built from Corten weathering steel, which forms a stable protective patina. Probe suspicious rust with a screwdriver. Surface rust is hard underneath; structural rust flexes or punctures.

See the complete container grade comparison, with photos of actual delivered units.

Dimensions and Weights

These figures cover the four sizes that make up the large majority of the U.S. market. Dimensions are in feet and inches, volume in cubic feet, and weight in pounds.

Exterior dimensions

Interior dimensions and capacity

The door opening is smaller than the interior. A structural header beam above the doors takes roughly 4 to 5 inches off the interior ceiling height. Measure the door opening—not the interior height—when checking whether equipment, a vehicle, or racking will fit through. Older used units sometimes have door openings closer to 7 ft 6 in even on high cubes.

Weights

Tare weight, maximum gross weight, and payload capacity are stamped on the container door. Read them there rather than relying on general figures. Ratings vary by manufacturer and build year, and some 40 ft units are rated to a higher maximum gross of 71,650 lb.

A note on 20 ft High Cubes. They are rare. Most 20 ft cargo reaches weight limits before it runs out of vertical space, so shipping lines ordered very few. In the U.S. market they are generally available only as new one-trip units, not as used CW or WWT inventory. Expect a premium and confirm availability before planning around one.

Reading the ISO code on the door

Every container displays a four-character size-type code on the door panel.

• First character: 2 = 20 ft, 4 = 40 ft, L = 45 ft
• Second character: 2 = standard (8 ft 6 in), 5 = high cube (9 ft 6 in)

A container marked 45G1 is a 40 ft high cube. A container marked 22G1 is a 20 ft standard. This tells you what you actually have, regardless of what the invoice says.

The 40 ft Standard versus High Cube pricing reality

Most buyers assume a 40 ft Standard costs less than a 40 ft High Cube because it is smaller. In the used market that is broadly true, but the gap is usually only $100 to $300.

In One-Trip and new inventory, the assumption frequently inverts. Shipping lines have been migrating to High Cube as their default build for over a decade, so 40 ft Standard units are increasingly scarce. A One-Trip 40 ft High Cube is often priced the same as or below a One-Trip 40 ft Standard because there is more of it.

Ask your dealer what is actually in depot inventory near your delivery address. If Standard is scarce locally, the dealer may source from a more distant depot, adding delivery cost.

Full specifications for every container size are on the sizes and dimensions page.

Questions to Ask Any Dealer

Ask these before you pay. A dealer who cannot answer them clearly is selling a price category, not a quality guarantee.

On the dealer, ask these first

• Do you own this inventory, or are you sourcing it from a depot?
• Can I see the container before purchase, or am I buying a grade specification?

These two questions determine what the dealer can realistically tell you about everything else. Local dealers with physical yards let you walk the lot and pick a specific unit, usually at a premium. National dealers fulfill from depots, which lowers cost but means you are buying a grade specification. Your specific unit is assigned from depot inventory after payment.

On the container itself

• What grade is this, and what inspection was performed to assign that grade?
• How old is the container, and can you confirm the manufacture date?
• Will I receive photos of the specific unit assigned to my order before it ships?
• Is a valid CSC plate included, or is certification available as an add-on?
• What is the ISO size-type code on the unit I am buying?

A note on the age and photo questions. A national dealer generally cannot answer these before you pay, and that is not evasion. The specific container is assigned after payment when the release is issued, and only then does a unit number exist to attach photos or a manufacture date to. Some national dealers require the driver to photograph the unit at pickup and send the images to the customer; others do not. Ask which policy applies before you buy.

On warranty

• What exactly does the warranty cover, and for how long?
• Does the warranty cover leaks, structural defects, or both?
• Does the warranty differ between grades?
• What is the claims process if the container leaks after delivery?
• Does the warranty transfer if I sell the container?

On price

• Is this the delivered price to my ZIP code, or the depot price?
• What is the delivery fee?
• Are there any fees not included in this quote?
• Are there volume discounts if I buy more than one?

On delivery

• What kind of truck will deliver, and what access does it need?
• What happens if the driver decides my site is not accessible?
• Are there repositioning or return fees, and what triggers them?
• If the container does not match the grade I ordered, what is your process, and who pays the return freight?

That last question is the one buyers skip and later regret. Ask it before you pay, and get the answer in writing.

How dealers source inventory, and how to tell brokers from yard owners, is covered on the lifecycle and dealer selection page.

Site Preparation Checklist

Complete this before you schedule delivery. An unprepared site can result in delays, repositioning fees, or a container placed somewhere you did not want it.

Access route

• Access path is at least 12 feet wide for the full route.
• Overhead clearance is at least 14 to 15 feet for the full route.
• No low power lines, phone lines, or cable lines cross the route.
• No overhanging tree branches are below 15 feet.
• No low bridges, carports, or structures are on the approach.
• Gate openings and pinch points are measured, not estimated.
• Turning radius is available: 20 to 30 feet for a 20 ft container and 80 to 100 feet for a 40 ft container.
• Straight-line clearance for tilt-bed delivery is approximately 60 feet for a 20 ft container and 100 to 130 feet for a 40 ft container.

Always verify delivery requirements with your dealer. These figures are industry norms, but requirements differ by dealer, truck type, and driver. Confirm the exact clearances before preparing the site.

Placement surface

• Ground is firm enough to support the truck as well as the container.
• Surface is reasonably level with no significant slope.
• Ground is not soft, muddy, or recently disturbed.
• Surface is compacted gravel, concrete, asphalt, or packed earth.
• Blocking material is on site if elevating: concrete blocks, railroad ties, or treated timbers.
• Blocking is positioned to support the four corner castings, the engineered load points.

Placement planning

• Door end faces the direction you want.
• At least 4 feet of clear space remains behind the doors for full 270-degree swing.
• The container is not against a fence, building, or property line that blocks door operation.
• Drainage prevents water from pooling underneath.
• Placement complies with property setback requirements.

Before the truck arrives

• Vehicles, equipment, and obstacles are cleared from the route and site.
• Someone is available on site to direct placement.
• Your phone is charged and reachable for the driver.
• Payment is arranged in advance if required before delivery.

On ground contact. Placing a container directly on soil accelerates floor rot and structural corrosion. Elevate it at least a few inches on blocks, ties, or a gravel pad to allow airflow underneath. Soft ground also shifts seasonally, racks the container out of level, and binds the doors.

Complete access requirements, truck types, and ground preparation options are on the delivery and site prep page.

Delivery Day Inspection

Run this before you sign anything. Most national dealers treat all sales as final once the delivery paperwork is signed, so the inspection window is short and closes when you sign.

If something is wrong, call the dealer before you accept or refuse. Do not simply turn the driver away. Stop, photograph the problem, call the dealer while the driver is still on site, and follow the dealer’s direction. This protects your claim without exposing you to a round-trip freight charge.

Exterior

• ISO code on the door matches the size ordered.
• Unit number is recorded for your records.
• CSC plate is present and photographed, if applicable to your use.
• No holes, punctures, or rust-through appear anywhere on the panels.
• No significant dents compromise structure or door alignment.
• Roof is inspected for standing damage, dents, or holes.
• Corner castings are intact and undamaged.

Doors

• Both doors open fully to 270 degrees.
• Both doors close and seal without forcing.
• Locking rods operate smoothly.
• Hinges are intact, not cracked or bent.
• Door gaskets are present, pliable, and not torn or missing.
• Doors line up correctly when closed, indicating the container is not racked.

Interior

• Close the doors and stand inside. Look for daylight. Any visible light is a hole.
• Walls are free of holes, punctures, and significant rust-through.
• Ceiling is free of holes and sagging.
• Floor is intact with no soft spots, missing sections, or holes.
• No standing water or evidence of recent water intrusion is present.
• No strong chemical odor suggests prior cargo contamination.
• Water staining on walls or floor is noted and photographed.

Placement

• Container is where you wanted it, in the orientation you wanted.
• Container is level and the doors operate correctly after placement.
• Blocking is under all four corner castings if elevated.
• Photographs are taken of the container in final position before the driver leaves.

The daylight test is the most valuable thirty seconds of the inspection. Close both doors, stand inside, let your eyes adjust, and look at the walls, ceiling, and door seals. Holes invisible from outside become obvious inside a dark container.

Dealer-by-dealer warranty terms, including what happens after delivery, are on the warranty page.

How to Verify a Shipping Container Seller

Most container fraud and most bad purchases share the same warning signs. These are the checks to run before money moves, and the signs to watch for on delivery day.

Any one of these is a reason to slow down. Two or more is a reason to walk.

Before purchase

• The dealer cannot explain what inspection was performed to assign the grade.
• The dealer will not put warranty terms in writing.
• The quote is a depot price rather than a delivered price to your ZIP code.
• The dealer will not confirm whether a CSC plate is included.
• Pricing is dramatically below other quotes for the same grade and distance.
• The dealer requires full payment with no written terms, invoice, or company address.
• The dealer will not explain whether photos are provided at pickup, or gives inconsistent answers.
• Payment is requested in a form with no recourse, such as gift cards, cryptocurrency, or peer-to-peer transfer to a personal account.

On photos, one clarification. A national dealer being unable to provide photos before payment is normal because the specific unit has not yet been assigned. The red flag is not the absence of advance photos; it is a dealer who will not clearly explain which photo policy they follow.

At delivery

• The ISO code does not match the size ordered.
• The container shows damage inconsistent with the grade purchased.
• The driver pressures you to sign before inspection.
• The driver will not wait for a reasonable inspection.
• Daylight is visible from inside with the doors closed.
• Doors do not close or seal without force.
• Floor sections are soft or missing.
• The container arrived with standing water inside.

If the container does not match the grade ordered, call the dealer before accepting or refusing it. Do not turn the driver away on your own judgment. Refusing delivery may leave you responsible for freight both to and from the depot, while signing clean paperwork may be treated as confirmation that the container met the grade.

The correct sequence, in order

1. Do not sign anything yet.
2. Photograph the problem clearly, including the unit number and ISO code.
3. Call the dealer while the driver is still on site.
4. Follow the dealer’s direction and get it in writing if possible.
5. If the driver cannot wait, note the specific defect on the paperwork before signing rather than signing clean.

That sequence keeps your claim alive without handing you a round-trip freight bill.

Published warranty terms compared across dealers are on the warranty page.

Quick Reference Numbers

Delivery

• Access width required: 12 feet minimum
• Overhead clearance required: 14 to 15 feet minimum
• Turn radius, 20 ft container: 20 to 30 feet
• Turn radius, 40 ft container: 80 to 100 feet
• Door swing clearance: 4 feet behind the door end
• Typical delivery cost: $200 to $800 or more
• Typical per-mile transport: $1.00 to $4.00
• Local move under 200 miles: $500 to $1,000
• Typical delivery timeline: 1 to 3 business days local; 1 to 3 weeks or more long distance

Pricing

• One-Trip premium over Cargo Worthy: $1,500 to $3,000
• 40 ft High Cube premium over 40 ft Standard, used: often only $100 to $300
• Volume discount, multiple units: typically $100 to $150 per container
• CSC recertification through an inspection service: approximately $150
• Lower-price season: October through February

Rent versus buy

• Break-even point: roughly 6 to 18 months, depending entirely on the terms offered.
• Short-term needs generally favor renting because of lower upfront cost and no long-term commitment.
• Longer-term needs generally favor buying because total cost is lower and the container retains resale value.
• Rent-to-own typically requires no credit check or large upfront payment, but total cost over the term exceeds an outright purchase.

Do the rent-to-own math yourself. Container rental companies are not financial institutions, so rent-to-own agreements do not carry a stated APR like a loan. Calculate the effective cost before signing:

(Monthly payment × number of payments) + upfront and delivery costs = total cost of ownership

Compare that total against the outright delivered purchase price of the same container. The difference is what the payment plan costs. That number is often larger than buyers expect. This does not make rent-to-own a bad choice, but it should be a decision made with the figure in front of you.

Current market conditions and pricing detail are on the pricing page. The full rent-to-own cost breakdown is on the rent-to-own page.

What to Do After Delivery

In the first week

• Photograph the container from all four sides and the interior for your records.
• Confirm the container is level and the doors still operate correctly after settling.
• Check that blocking is fully seated under all four corner castings.

In the first month

• Consider power washing and painting. Paint seals the exterior, covers surface rust, and meaningfully extends service life. Because a unit assigned from depot inventory generally cannot be color-selected, painting may be worthwhile regardless.
• Add ventilation if storing anything moisture-sensitive. Containers are weather resistant but not sealed enclosures, and temperature swings cause interior condensation on the steel.

Ongoing

• Treat surface rust promptly before it becomes structural.
• Keep door gaskets clean and pliable.
• Keep the area underneath clear so air can move and water can drain.
• Reseat blocking if the ground shifts seasonally and the doors begin to bind.

Elevation and drainage are the two highest-return maintenance decisions you will make. Containers stored in standing water and in coastal environments corrode significantly faster.

Long-term care, rust treatment, and what extends container lifespan are covered on the maintenance and longevity page.