A used 20ft (Grade A) shipping container costs from £1,250 delivered in the UK. A new one-trip 20ft costs from £1,850. For 40ft: used from £1,450, new from £2,950. Prices depend on condition, size, and your delivery distance from the dispatching depot.
| Size | Condition | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| 20ft | Grade C (weathered) | Call Phil |
| 20ft | Grade B | Call Phil |
| 20ft | Grade A | From £1,250 |
| 20ft | New (one-trip) | From £1,850 |
| 40ft | Grade B | From £1,450 |
| 40ft | Grade A | £1,450–£2,000 |
| 40ft | New (one-trip) | From £2,950 |
| 40ft HC | New (one-trip) | £2,200–£3,000 |
All prices include HIAB delivery to your site from Phil's nearest UK depot. A delivery surcharge may apply outside South East England.
See full pricing and current stock on the 20ft shipping container for sale page or the 40ft shipping container for sale page.
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. Every container is depot-graded before Phil quotes, so you know exactly what you're buying. If you want one-trip stock specifically, see new one-trip containers.
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 Phil's nearest UK depot. 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 Grade A container from £1,250 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 £14/week for a 20ft storage container — 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.
