Used · United Kingdom
Used shipping container prices in the UK
Estimated range
£1,470 – £36,750
Used is the entry point: boxes retired from cargo service, sold wind and watertight, marked by the years. Here is what they go for, type by type.
| All container types | Used | One trip | New (factory) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft shipping container | £1,470 – £2,940 | £3,360 – £4,095 | £3,780 – £4,725 |
| 40ft shipping container | £1,995 – £3,990 | £4,095 – £5,670 | £4,410 – £6,510 |
| Refrigerated container | £5,775 – £13,650 | £9,975 – £18,900 | £8,925 – £26,250 |
| High cube container | £2,205 – £4,410 | £4,410 – £5,670 | £4,725 – £6,510 |
| Open top container | £2,310 – £5,040 | £3,990 – £7,140 | |
| Flat rack container | £3,360 – £8,400 | £6,825 – £13,125 | |
| Tank container | £9,450 – £36,750 |
Used
A used container has spent years on cargo routes before retirement. Reputable sellers sell it wind and watertight; dents, surface rust and shipping-line stickers come with it — function is warranted, looks are not. It is the cheapest condition, right for storage without an image at stake.
- The floor: no soft spots, no punctures — the costliest repair.
- Doors and seals: open without forcing, close tight — a dead seal shows against daylight with the doors shut.
- Corrosion: surface rust is normal; perforating rust on the rails is not.
Advertised prices we recorded4
Read these figures the way the trade writes them: unless the supplier states otherwise, a British price is + VAT, ex-depot, and excludes delivery to you. A weekly hire rate is not the cost of hiring — the haulage in and out routinely outweighs months of rate, and the low headline exists because of it. Each figure also attaches to one particular unit in one particular condition, so it tells you the level of the market, not the size of your invoice.
| Supplier | Product | All container types | Price | Recorded on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Containers | Conteneur 20 pieds occasion, qualité inférieure | 20ft shipping container | £895HT | |
| Universal Containers | Conteneur 40 pieds occasion (à partir de) | 40ft shipping container | £1,450HT | |
| Universal Containers | Conteneur 20 pieds occasion, qualité supérieure | 20ft shipping container | £1,595HT | |
| S Jones Containers | Conteneur 20 pieds à la vente (à partir de) | 20ft shipping container | £1,750inconnu |
Frequently asked questions
Is a used container still watertight?
From a reputable seller, yes: the market standard is selling used units wind and watertight. Check on delivery with the doors closed and note any reservation on the delivery slip.
Why do used prices vary so much?
Because actual condition varies box to box, and haulage from the depot weighs on the final price. The table below lists dated, checkable advertised prices per seller.