In the shipping industry, containers are not always owned by companies but also rented for a short period of time. For instance, you can rent a unit before sending it over, but you might as well buy it and keep it for further uses if your business uses them regularly.
Now, how much is a shipping container? To buy a container, you may have to pay between $1,000 and $7,500, with plenty of exceptions. To ship one, get ready to pay the same price, primarily if you ship it internationally.
How much is a shipping container?
So, how much is a shipping container? There are plenty of quotes you will get, and the actual condition of the container is probably the most significant consideration. A new one will cost between $3,000 and $7,500. A used one is cheaper and ranges between $1,000 and $4,500.
Now, before digging deeper, you need to know that the size is just as important when it comes to the price. A the 20-foot container is the most common size. However, it is not the only one. The second most popular size is the 40-foot one.
You can also find high cube shapes and the 10-foot size – not the best value for money.
In terms of colors, you will notice that yellow and gray containers are the cheapest.
Now, how much is a shipping container when you live near a port? Obviously cheaper than if you lived in the middle of nowhere. You get the point – your location is significant, and delivering this container will be more or less expensive based on this aspect.
Based on what you need the container for, costs may add up. If you need it to ship stuff around the world, costs will be acceptable. If you want to build a container home, insulation, electricity, and other aspects will make it more expensive.
How are container shipping costs calculated?
How much is a shipping container when you want to use it for business purposes? Again, there are more things to take into consideration. The weight or volume of goods is one of the most important ones. Sea freight puts an accent on the volume, while air freight is more about the weight.
The more stuff you want to send – whether you sell something or you want to move, the more it will cost you, even if the weight is low. Most people and businesses would instead choose sea transportation over air transportation – it might be slower, but it is significantly cheaper, too.
The journey distance is not to be overlooked either. How much is a shipping container if you send it from the USA to Canada or the UK? Obviously, cheaper than if you sent it to Hong Kong or Vietnam. It is self-explanatory.
The distance will also affect the cost, whether port to port or door to door. When it comes to containers, most experts recommend door-to-door services because they are smoother – no more hassle dealing with logistical issues.
How about the destination port? Different countries have different rules. Usually, the destination will determine what taxes, fees, and customs should be considered. You need to take this aspect into consideration upfront.
Last but not least, you may want to wait a few more months before sending the shipment if it is not urgent. The time of the year makes a massive difference. Like all other industries, this one is also busier at times – generally during the summertime, as well as January and February. Prices are higher over these periods.
Which size shipping container do I need?
There are more than a dozen types of container sizes and shapes, but most freight companies will only deal with a couple of them – 20 and 40 feet. Other types are used mainly by specific industries and are suitable for industrial moves only.
The 20-foot container is the more popular choice. It is large enough to take the contents of a three-bedroom house – beds, furniture, electronics, TVs, refrigerators, and many storage boxes. Forget about the volume given by companies because the usable space usually is lower than that.
A 20-foot container can store 100 washing machines or perhaps 200 king-size mattresses. It can take over 50 refrigerators or ten classic pallets – you get the idea. If you organize everything well, it might be more than enough.
According to ImportDoor, some companies also share containers between more people or businesses. Practically, if you do not need all that space, you can share a container with someone else and pay less for transportation.
ImportDoor allows browsing all the shipments entering the USA, regardless of the date. You can search by product, importer, exporter, product details, bill of lading, and container weight. Plus, the data can be exported in more formats for offline browsing.
FCL versus LCL
FCL – Full Container Load – is a better value if you need it. It is also quite fast because you do not share it with anyone else, so you do not depend on others. Your goods are safe too – no one goes in since the whole thing is yours.
Furthermore, a full container load is excellent for large volume items – you can even ship a car.
On the other hand, an LCL – Less than Container Load – is great if you ship a small volume. It is a cost-efficient option for businesses too. How much is a shipping container if you do not need the whole thing? All the factors mentioned above will make the difference, as well as how much of it you need.
Conclusion
Bottom line, how much is a shipping container? Prices vary. If you want to buy an actual container, you may pay as little as $1,000 or as much as over $7,000. There are too many variables to consider, and each of them can make the price jump or drop.
At the same time, shipping goods in a container will also give you all sorts of different prices – the more quotes you get, the more variety you will find. It depends on what you send, how much it is, and where it goes, among others.
