How Much Does a Shipping Container Cost in 2026?

The short answer

In New England right now, a used wind-and-water-tight 20' container runs about $2,300 and a used 40' about $2,900. A new one-trip 20' is around $3,400 and a new 40' high cube around $3,999. Delivery is extra and depends on distance from the yard.

Those are real numbers from our current inventory — not teaser prices. You can see today's exact price for every container on our containers page.

New vs used: what the price difference buys you

New containers are "one-trip" boxes: manufactured overseas, loaded with cargo once, then sold. They're tan, clean inside, and the doors open easily. They cost roughly $1,000–$1,100 more than a used box of the same length.

Used containers are graded wind and water tight — structurally sound and dry inside, but with surface rust, dents and mismatched paint. For most storage uses, a used box does the same job for less money. If appearance matters (a retail lot, a visible backyard), one-trip is worth the premium.

What delivery really costs

Delivery is where most sellers hide money. Our pricing is simple: $350 covers the first 20 miles from the yard, then $5 per additional mile, per container. Worcester deliveries are usually at or near the minimum; the far ends of New England run higher.

Type your ZIP into the price tool on our homepage and you'll see the full delivered total — container plus delivery — before you pay anything.

Fees to watch out for elsewhere

If you're comparing sellers, ask specifically about: delivery minimums that don't include the tilt-bed truck, "site inspection" fees, fuel surcharges added after the quote, and restocking fees if the driver can't place the box. A price that isn't the full delivered price isn't a real price.

Why prices move

Container prices track steel costs, shipping line inventory and how many boxes are coming off lease at the ports. They can move a few hundred dollars either way over a season, which is why we show live prices on the site instead of a PDF from two years ago.