Details About What to Look for When Buying a Shipping Container

Branded Shipping Containers Stacked Together

Shipping containers and their use within residential, commercial and industrial environments. Has grown in demand and popularity over the past few years. Before making the decision to purchase, it’s important to understand a few details about your intended use, and the type of container that you may need to fulfill that use or purpose. Are you looking to purchase strictly for cargo transport, or are you looking to purchase to construct a home / office?

There are many types of containers that you can choose from to suit a particular need. Not only in size but in their form and functionality. The most common types you’ve probably heard of are, 20′ and 40′ containers. Along with high cube containers and refrigerated containers. These all have particular uses such as; carrying dry cargo, large cargo with extra height or temperature cooled cargo for moving certain goods.

Purchasing a new or used shipping container can be quite the process, especially for a first-time buyer. Whether you have some experience purchasing a container, or if it’s your first time getting involved with the process. This brief article will go over some of the important things to be aware of, when looking to purchase a shipping container for storage or for a pre-fabricated home / office environment.

Container Build Quality / Conditions

Understanding shipping container conditions is quite important, when trying to decide which container will work best for your needs / intended use. Below is a brief list of some of the more recognized industry standard container conditions that you will find. ⁽¹⁾

New (One Trip)
Cargo Worthy (CW)
Wind and Watertight (WWT)
Institute of International Container Lessors (IICL)
As-Is

The Container’s Condition

Somewhat related to what we mentioned above. You will want to do your best, to ensure the condition of the container you are seeing. Is the same condition of the container that you’ll be receiving. If you’re purchasing directly from a local supplier. If possible, it’s a good idea to plan a personal visit or have someone perform an inspection on your behalf.

If you’re unable to visit the supplier, or if you’re purchasing online. Requesting photos of the interior and exterior of your container is recommended. Keep in mind, due to supply and demand, along with security reasons. Most container suppliers are not able to take photos or allow visits. Their containers generally come directly from the intermodal depots / ports. They are also stacked together, with approximately 90% or more not available for sale.

If you are able to inspect. Do your best to conduct a full walk around of the exterior and interior. If you are receiving photos. Request a photo from as many angles as you can, inside and out. You want to do your best to recognize any issues with; paint, corrosion, rust, dents, cracks, corner casting, the floors, the doors, hinges, locking mechanisms and more.

In the event you decide to purchase Wind & Watertight, and you request photos from the interior with the doors closed. If you notice any light creeping in, you may not want to purchase that container. Let alone continue looking at that supplier’s inventory.

*Odd smells are definitely another issue you should look out for. If you’re unable to inspect the container yourself. Asking in advance is highly recommended.
*Due to security. Not all suppliers will be able to slot in a timeframe to allow visits or inspections. It’s best to communicate with your supplier, before making a purchase, to see if this is feasible.
*Not all suppliers will provide photos upfront. Asking before making a purchase is recommended. However, most if not all suppliers will not be able to provide. Many companies provide refunds or have guarantees for up to one year or more, depending on the condition of the container.

Your Intended Use

Overall, your intended use is quite important when trying to determine what condition or type of container you should purchase. For instance, if you’re looking to find an affordable option to transport your goods overseas. You may want to try going with a Cargo Worthy or an IICL container type. Unfortunately in this instance, a Wind & Watertight wouldn’t work as it is not suitable for transport of cargo. ⁽²⁾

Another example would be those looking for shipping containers to build a home, retail or office space. In these situations you are ideally looking for a container that hasn’t transported cargo for too long, or with too many hazardous substances inside. You also want to avoid too much exterior damage and rust. A New (One Trip) container would be the preferred type to go with in this situation. An As-Is container most likely would not.

Container Size / Weight / Capacity

Container Door Showing Weights & Capacity

In most cases, the container sizes you will encounter are usually 10′, 20′ or 40′ in length. In terms of width, they are all somewhere near 8′. When it comes to height, a standard shipping container is 8 ft 6″. While a High Cube (HC) container is 9 ft 6″ in height.

Another thing to keep note of is the container weight. On the outside of most containers you will notice three different sets of numbers which represent weight (another set represents volume m³ / ft³). Those weights on the door typically break down like this;

Tare Weight (TARE): The weight of the container without cargo or storage.
Payload (NET): The weight of cargo that your container can carry.
Maximum Gross Weight (M.G.W): The weight of the container along with the weight of the payload. NET + TARE = M.G.W
Cubic Capacity (CU. CAP.): How much volume the container can hold. ⁽³⁾

Preparing for Delivery

Before you can receive a container at your destination of choice. There are a few important factors to consider when receiving such a large shipment. Delivery of your container is not so much that complicated. It’s the process involved to ensure that you prepare as best as you can, for a seamless and timely receipt of your container.

A few details you will want to look into, before the delivery of your container arrives include;

Determining where to place your container (must be on a hard, flat & level surface.)
Land permits / Regulations / Building codes
Delivery fees
Delivery times
Required clearance space
Driver specific instructions
Site preparation

For more details on how shipping containers are delivered and what to generally expect throughout the process. Be sure to read our more in-depth article here.

Who Will Customize / Modify the Container?

Presuming your intended use is for more than storage or cargo transport. If you’re experienced enough to do customizations on your own, then don’t worry about this section. However, if you are in search of a contractor or a team. To help with customizing or re-modelling your container. You should have a general idea of who you will employ for that task, well before looking into purchasing or even accepting delivery.

If you’re in search of an experienced team of builders, to help customize a container (or set of containers) to your specific needs. Be sure to get in contact with us via email or give us a call.

Steel or Aluminum?

Most if not all shipping containers that are used to transport cargo overseas, are made of steel. In particular, what is generally used is called Corten steel, which is also known as a weathering steel. Some benefits of Corten steel include; ⁽⁴⁾

Strong and durable material that can withstand tremendous force.
Less likely to leak in comparison to aluminum containers and their design.

As mentioned above. Aluminum is another material you will notice, that is used to construct a container / conex box. If you’re in the market for a refrigerator container (also known as “reefer”). You may encounter an aluminum material instead of steel, upon delivery. When you compare the two. Aluminum containers typically don’t last as long of a lifespan as their steel counterparts. ⁽⁵⁾

*A transport cargo container can remain operational as well as durable, for approximately 10 years or more. At this point, around the end of a containers lifespan. Is when the unit can become classified or conditioned, “As-Is”. Due to the wear and tear it has received while being transported over the years. Many containers that have come to this point. Slowly become unusable and are unfortunately scrapped.

*Many people will tell you that repurposing a One Trip shipping container is considered green. However, when you understand the life cycle of a cargo shipping container. You may potentially start to think otherwise.

Closing Thoughts

As you can see, there are quite a few details to consider when you are preparing to buy a shipping container. Having an idea of what to expect in advance. Not only saves you time and money when it comes to your delivery. However, it also gives you a more secure feeling while going through the entire process.