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One-trip containers in 20ft, 40ft high cube and specialty sizes, with current starting prices at US depots. 20ft from $2,245, 40ft high cube from $3,145. One request brings delivered quotes from vetted local suppliers.
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One-trip and new build containers with current starting prices at US depots. Open a listing for specs and metro prices, or send one request and vetted local suppliers reply with delivered quotes for your ZIP code.
Depot prices updated October 2026Shipped once from the factory. As-new condition for homes, offices and branded projects.
As-new high cube with clean paint and floors. The first choice for container homes, offices and long term use.
One foot taller inside. The usual base for tiny homes, workshops and tall equipment.
Full length side doors for forklift loading, vehicles and pop-up shops.
Compact and easy to place in tight spaces. Ideal for tools, garden gear and small business storage.
The smallest standard size. Fits a parking space and suits tools, bikes and seasonal gear.
Starting prices at the depot, based on current inventory at major US container depots. Delivery, sales tax and local fees are extra and depend on your ZIP code. Your supplier confirms the final price in your quote.
See all containers and pricesAlmost every new container sold in the US is a one-trip container. It is built in a factory, mostly in China, loaded with cargo once for the voyage across the Pacific and sold at a US depot after it has been unloaded. It arrives with factory paint, a clean marine plywood floor, tight door seals and a data plate that shows the build date, usually less than two years before the sale.
Small scratches and scuffs from loading are normal. Apart from those, a one-trip container is in as-new condition. That is the main difference from used shipping containers, which come out of 10 to 15 years of shipping line service with dents, rust patches and old markings.
| Container | New one-trip from | Used cargo worthy from |
|---|---|---|
| 20ft standard | $2,245 | $1,045 |
| 40ft high cube | $3,145 | $1,495 |
A new container costs roughly twice as much as a cargo worthy one of the same size. For storage on a farm or job site, a used container does the same job for less. A new one pays off when the container will be seen every day, when you modify it, or when it should last as long as possible with little maintenance. Current prices by size and metro are in the shipping container price index.
Most shipping container homes, studios and site offices start with a one-trip 40ft or 20ft high cube. The extra foot of height leaves room for insulation and a ceiling, the floor has not carried decades of cargo, and the paint is a good base for a new finish. The same goes for container pools, where a sound, straight box matters, and for branded pop-up shops that need to look clean.
Buyers also choose new containers for storage when they plan to keep the container for many years, when it sits in a front yard or next to a storefront, or when a homeowners association or permit asks for a container in good condition. Our guide on how to build a shipping container home covers the next steps for a build.
New container prices follow factory prices in China, which move with steel costs, and the number of new units arriving at US ports. When shipping lines order fewer containers, fewer one-trip units reach the depots and prices rise. Inland depots such as Denver, Salt Lake City or El Paso are usually more expensive than port cities because the containers have to travel further after the voyage.
Options add to the base price: a non-standard color, lock boxes, extra vents, roll-up or side doors, and windows. Delivery is quoted separately and depends on the distance from the depot and access to your site, see shipping container transport cost.
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FAQs
A new one-trip 20ft container starts at about $2,245 at US depots and most metros sit between $2,495 and $2,595. A new 40ft high cube starts at about $3,145, with most metros between $3,595 and $3,945. Delivery is extra and depends on the distance from the depot to your site.
Almost. A one-trip container was loaded once for the voyage from the factory to the US, so it can have small scuffs from handling. The structure, paint and floor are in as-new condition. A container that never carried cargo is rare in the US market and costs more.
With basic upkeep, such as touching up scratches and keeping water off the roof, a new container commonly lasts 25 years or more as storage. Containers used as homes or offices are usually painted and insulated, which protects the steel further.
Many suppliers stock new containers in a few standard colors. Other colors can be ordered but usually cost extra and take longer. Ask about color when you request your quote.
Use your phone camera to place the container on your property at its real size. You see how much room it takes and how it sits before you buy.
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External size 20ft: 20 ft × 8 ft × 8 ft 6 in (6.06 × 2.44 × 2.59 m), length × width × height
