A used container can give you 15–20 years of reliable service — or it can be a rust-bucket that leaks the first time it rains. The difference is usually knowable before you buy, if you know what to check. Phil Cambridge has been grading and buying containers for 30 years. Here's his checklist.
The 12-Point Inspection Checklist
- Walk the exterior — Look for dents, holes, or sections of heavy rust. Minor surface rust is normal on a used container; deep rust that penetrates the steel or has created visible holes is not. Run your hand across the corrugated panels — you can feel penetration that's hard to see.
- Check the floor — Open the doors and look down the length of the floor. It should be level, dry, and solid. Walk across it and bounce lightly — a spongy or springy floor indicates rot or moisture damage underneath. Look for forklift tine holes, which can compromise waterproofing.
- Inspect the door seals — The rubber gaskets around both end doors should be intact, pliable, and compressible. Press them with your thumb — they should spring back. Cracked, missing, or brittle rubber will let in water. This is the most common cause of leaks in used containers.
- Test the door lockbars — Open and close both doors. The lockbars should lift, rotate, and lock smoothly into the keep. Stiff or seized lockbars indicate rust in the hinge mechanism. Minor stiffness is fixable; a lockbar that won't engage properly is a security problem.
- Look at the roof — From outside (use a step if needed), check for dents deep enough to pool water. Standing water leads to rust, and eventually that rust will breach the steel. Minor dents of less than 20mm are normal. Anything that creates a bowl shape needs attention.
- Check for daylight — Close both doors fully and stand inside the container (only if it's safe to do so). Wait 30 seconds while your eyes adjust. Any visible daylight — around the door frames, at the roof edge, through the walls — means there's a gap. A gap means a potential leak. No daylight: good sign.
- Smell the interior — Take a breath when you open the doors. Unusual or chemical smells can indicate the container previously carried hazardous or perishable goods. New containers have no smell. A musty smell suggests previous moisture ingress. A sharp chemical smell needs investigation before use for storage.
- Inspect the corner castings — The four corner castings are used for lifting, stacking, and HIAB delivery. They should be undamaged, with no cracks or significant bends. Bent or cracked castings can affect structural integrity and may cause problems during lifting.
- Check the floor thickness — Standard hardwood floors (typically Malaysian hardwood) are 28mm thick. Thinner indicates either replacement (which is fine — check the condition of the new boards) or significant wear (check carefully for soft spots and rot at the edges).
- Look at the CSC plate — Every container has a CSC (Convention for Safe Containers) plate, usually near the left door. It shows the manufacturing date and last inspection date. Not legally required for static storage use, but it tells you the history and age of the unit.
- Ask about the grade — A reputable seller grades containers as Grade A (excellent), Grade B (good working order), or Grade C (wind and watertight with cosmetic wear). Phil uses these grades honestly — the container you're quoted is the container that turns up. If a seller won't grade their containers, ask why.
- Get delivery access confirmed — Before you commit to purchase, confirm HIAB access to your siting location. The lorry needs sufficient width (typically 3.5m), adequate overhead clearance for the crane arm, and firm enough ground to support a fully loaded HIAB. Phil confirms all of this at quote stage — there are no delivery day surprises.
What Phil Checks Before Buying Containers from Depot
Phil applies this checklist every time he sources containers from depot or port. He grades them before he quotes — so when he says Grade A, that's the grade he'd assign if he was buying it himself. After 30 years of sourcing, his depot relationships mean he can see stock in person before it moves, which gives him (and you) more real selection than a buyer working from photos and spec sheets.
Red Flags — When to Walk Away
- Holes in the roof or walls — not just dents, but actual penetrations through the steel
- Floor sections that feel spongy or give way underfoot
- Chemical smell inside — potential contaminated cargo history that's difficult to remediate
- Missing or severely damaged corner castings — affects structural integrity and lifting
- A seller who won't let you inspect before purchase, or won't give you a grade with any explanation
Buying used containers well is about knowing what you're looking at. If you want Phil to talk you through the current stock and grade it honestly, call him on 020 8226 0007. See the used containers for sale page for current grades and pricing, or read the comparison between new vs used containers to decide which is right for your project.