Sold by defined condition grade, with photographs and the container number before you commit. Cargo worthy for export loads, wind and water tight for storage, as-is for conversion work.
Two containers built in the same year can be worth very different amounts. What separates them is not age but the state of the panels, floor, doors, roof and corner castings — which is why every unit is graded before it is offered.
What we will not do: describe a container as "almost new", "excellent condition" or "like new". Those words cannot be checked, so they are not used anywhere on this site or in our offers.
Structurally sound, wind and water tight, fit to carry cargo. Dents, surface rust and previous repairs are acceptable where they do not affect strength or weather integrity.
Keeps weather out. Panels or doors may be beyond cargo standard. Not offered for export loading.
Sold on the basis of inspection at the depot, with no condition claim. The cheapest route when the container will be cut, welded or rebuilt.
Available if a used unit will not do. See the new container range for specification and lead time.
This is the checklist used when a unit is assessed. It is also the checklist to use if you inspect the container yourself — the same seven points decide whether the unit does the job you are buying it for.
| Point | What is checked | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Roof | Dents, perforation, seam condition | First place water gets in, and the hardest to see from the ground |
| 2. Floor | Rot, delamination, broken boards, cargo damage | Determines whether cargo can be loaded and whether forklifts can work inside |
| 3. Doors & gaskets | Alignment, locking bars, seals, gasket condition | A tired gasket is the most common cause of water ingress |
| 4. Side & front panels | Dents, corrosion, patched repairs | Cosmetic unless severe, but relevant for conversion and client-facing use |
| 5. Corner castings | Cracks, deformation, weld integrity | Load-bearing and lifting points — the one area where damage is disqualifying |
| 6. CSC plate | Present, legible, within validity | Required for international transport; an expired plate restricts use |
| 7. Markings | Owner code, number, capacity markings legible | Needed for documentation and for identifying the unit you approved |
Inspection is welcome at the depot. If you cannot attend, we can arrange it and send photographs with the container number before you confirm.
Used containers move between depots and are sold from under you if nobody reserves them. That is why we confirm per enquiry rather than publishing a stock list that is wrong by the time you read it.
What the container is for, and where it has to be delivered or collected.
What is available at the nearest depot, at which grade, with photographs and numbers.
You approve the specific unit, then it is reserved. Until then, nothing is held.
We quote per enquiry rather than publishing a price list, because the same container type can vary widely depending on five things:
Cargo worthy, wind and water tight and as-is are three different products at three different prices.
Supply and demand differ by region, and the depot location sets the inland leg.
A single unit and a batch are sourced differently and priced differently.
Ex-depot, delivered inland, or moving as cargo under FOB or CIF.
If the container also carries your cargo: it can be shipped as a shipper-owned container (SOC). Two conditions are checked before booking — the carrier must accept the unit as SOC, and the container must meet the condition required for that trade.
Cargo worthy is the grade intended for carrying cargo: structurally sound, watertight and fit for a loaded movement. It is not a cosmetic grade, so expect dents and surface rust that do not affect strength or weather integrity. The carrier's own acceptance rules still apply, and for a SOC booking we check those before the container is committed.
Because good condition means different things to a buyer storing equipment and a buyer loading export cargo. A grade with a stated definition is something you can hold us to; an adjective is not. Every used unit is therefore offered at one of four defined grades, with the definition written down.
Cosmetic refurbishment, repainting, replacement of parts not required for the stated grade, and any structural warranty beyond the grade definition. If you need a container repainted or fitted out, that is quoted separately and done before delivery, not assumed.
You can inspect and accept a specific unit, and we supply photographs with the container number so the unit you approve is the unit you receive. Stock moves, so a specific number is reserved for you only once the order is confirmed.
Tell us what the container is for and where it has to go. We will come back with the grades available at the nearest depot, photographs, container numbers and a price for your date.