A used 20ft shipping container costs between £950 and £1,500 delivered in the UK. A new one-trip 20ft costs £1,550–£2,200. For 40ft: used from £1,200, new from £1,800. Prices depend on condition, size, and your delivery distance from our Kent yard.
| Size | Condition | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| 20ft | Grade C (weathered) | £750–£950 |
| 20ft | Grade B | £950–£1,200 |
| 20ft | Grade A | £1,150–£1,500 |
| 20ft | New (one-trip) | £1,550–£2,200 |
| 40ft | Grade B | £1,200–£1,700 |
| 40ft | Grade A | £1,450–£2,000 |
| 40ft | New (one-trip) | £1,800–£2,600 |
| 40ft HC | New (one-trip) | £2,200–£3,000 |
All prices include HIAB delivery to your site from our Kent yard. A delivery surcharge may apply outside South East England.
Condition grade. The biggest variable is whether the container is Grade C, B, A, or new one-trip. A Grade C container costs several hundred pounds less than a Grade A — the container is wind and watertight and functional, but it has more cosmetic wear. Phil grades every container honestly before he quotes, so you know exactly what you're buying.
Size. A 20ft container is roughly half the price of a 40ft. High cube variants (which add approximately 31cm of internal height) cost slightly more again — but that extra headroom matters for office or classroom conversions.
Delivery distance. All quoted prices include delivery by HIAB crane lorry from our Kent yard. South East England (London, Kent, Essex, Surrey) carries the lowest delivery cost. Deliveries to Scotland, Wales, or the North West will carry an additional surcharge — Phil will confirm the exact figure before you commit.
Market fluctuations. Global shipping demand directly affects the price of one-trip (new) containers. Post-Covid, those prices spiked sharply and have since stabilised. Used container prices are less volatile. Phil sources direct from port contacts, so he can often pass on savings that middlemen can't.
If you need a container for 12 months or longer, buying almost always works out cheaper. A used 20ft container from £950 is yours permanently — no ongoing monthly cost, no return logistics, no worrying about damage. You also build an asset you can sell on later.
Short-term hire — from around £25 per week — makes sense for site storage, events, or seasonal needs where you don't want to commit capital. Phil offers both. See the container hire page for rates.
Phil quotes directly — no sales team, no call centres, no scripts. When you call or fill in the contact form, he'll ask you what size you need, what you're using it for, and where you're siting it. From that, he'll give you a delivered price and confirm what stock he has available.
Delivery is confirmed at the quote stage — no surprises when the lorry turns up. Phil has been doing this for 30 years and sources direct, so the prices he quotes are competitive. Call 020 8226 0007 for a same-day quote or browse the containers for sale first.