Used 20ft Shipping Containers for Sale

These two Chicago listings cover standard-height WWT containers before delivery and applicable taxes. Compare a current quote for the same grade, height and delivery address.

A lower unit price helps only when the delivered container meets your needs. Compare the purchase, transport and unloading scope, applicable taxes, identified repairs, desired painting and any required survey. Then compare that total with a one-trip quote for the same destination.

• Separate repairs needed for your use from paintwork wanted for appearance.
• Get promised repairs and acceptance criteria in writing before paying.
• Confirm whether transport includes placement; a missing delivery or repair price is unknown, not zero.

Compare the used delivered price plus required repairs, chosen finish and options with a one-trip quote for the same destination and use. Include labor, materials and any transport to a workshop. Count seller-included repairs once and retain their written scope.

A sound used unit needing no cosmetic work may retain a clear price advantage. If necessary repairs and the finish you want narrow that gap, one-trip deserves another look. Use quoted work and completion dates; neither a lower price nor fresh paint establishes a number of years of service.

For stationary storage, a documented WWT unit may meet your needs without buying a transport survey you will not use. For freight movement, decide with your carrier and the actual container’s paperwork. Fresh paint does not establish either structural condition or shipping suitability.

Pictures show visible wear; they do not establish the extent of hidden corrosion or a damaged floor. Use an inspection for doubtful structure or flooring and obtain a repair description tied to the affected area. Repainting can improve appearance and protect prepared steel, but it does not replace patching a hole, replacing a seal or repairing damaged timber.

The receiving checklist below keeps dispatch and delivery evidence together. Use it to distinguish accepted used wear from an unresolved defect or damage that occurred in transit.

A representative standard 20ft dry container has about 149 sq ft of bare interior floor and 1,172 cu ft (33.2 m³) of empty volume. An aisle, shelving, entry space and any lining reduce the space available for goods. Daily access usually needs a different arrangement from dense storage unloaded only occasionally.

Used condition does not change the nominal size, but repairs and previous modifications can change the clear space you receive. Measure the actual interior for your final layout; the 20ft comparison page provides the complete dimension reference.

Scroll sideways to see the full layout.

For seasonal storage, grouped stacks can use more floor space, but the rear group may be inaccessible until the front is removed. Group by retrieval date and label the outward-facing sides rather than losing time opening every box.

These are chosen planning layouts, not clearance standards or fitted shelving included in the sale. Account for the actual shelf frames and load ratings, repaired floor areas, door movement and the space you need to carry items.

• Two 24in-deep rows leave a theoretical 44.6in center aisle before frames, overhangs or lining. A chosen 4ft clear entry leaves about 15.4ft of shelf run per side, or 30.7 linear ft combined at each level before bay gaps.
• Put consumables and small tool cases on labeled shelves near the entrance. Keep heavier cases lower down, longer-stay supplies at the rear and the central route clear.
• For bulkier equipment, a single 24in-deep row leaves about 68.6in across the remainder before uprights and lining. Use that alternative footprint to plan the equipment’s parking position and retrieval route.

A weather-tight shell can still develop condensation when moisture inside meets colder steel. Bring in dry goods and packaging, keep wet garden or jobsite equipment separate from moisture-sensitive contents, and leave the planned air route open.

The small vents on a standard dry container mainly equalize pressure. Passive ventilation follows outside conditions and does not set a humidity or temperature level. Specify moisture-control work separately from repairs that stop rain entering through the roof or seals.

Ask whether the sale identifies a particular unit or uses the next suitable container from a stack. If color or appearance matters, confirm selection options and any extra charge before placing the order.

Provide your delivery ZIP and site photos. Confirm the unloading method, responsibility for lifting equipment, access and overhead clearance, firm placement area and door orientation with the transporter. Keep the agreed condition report available when receiving the unit.

Write down whether the transport price includes unloading and final placement. Tilt-bed delivery and flatbed delivery have different working-space and equipment needs. Leave usable ground outside the cargo doors for their swing and for carrying stock in and out after the truck has left.

If a door binds only after placement, have the support and level checked alongside the door alignment. Uneven ground can put the box out of square. A failed seal or damaged hinge calls for a different remedy, so describe the symptom and location rather than accepting all door trouble as ordinary used wear.

• Before dispatch: retain the selected unit’s number or the written allocation criteria, current views of all sides and the roof, close-ups of repairs, interior and floor pictures, and a video of the doors closing and latching.
• For promised repairs: retain the defect location, the work included and completion photos or a report. For a shipping purchase, keep the actual unit’s required approval and examination or survey records with the carrier’s acceptance.
• On arrival: photograph the number and overall condition before unloading where practical. After placement, compare known dents and patches, look for fresh damage and operate both doors and the lock hardware.
• Before loading your goods: document any wet area, floor damage or difference from the agreed grade. Record it on the delivery paperwork where available, keep copies and follow the seller’s stated reporting process promptly.