What cargo-worthy means here
A used container has spent years moving cargo around the world. When it comes out of shipping service, it is graded. Cargo-worthy is the grade we sell as our standard used container: the structure is sound, it has been inspected, the doors open and close properly on their seals, and it is sold wind and watertight. It will carry the marks of its working life — dents, scratches, patched paint and surface rust — and none of that changes what it does as storage.
Below cargo-worthy sit as-is (or B-grade) units. They are cheaper because something is wrong: a soft or holed floor, doors that bind, rust that has gone through. We sell them occasionally, always named as as-is, and they are not sold watertight.
What to expect when it arrives
Expect it to look used. The paint will not match all the way round, there may be shipping-line markings and old labels, and the floor will show wear from forklifts and cargo. What you should not see: daylight through the roof or walls with the doors shut, a floor that flexes underfoot, or doors that will not close evenly. If you want to see the actual unit first, ask for photos with the serial number visible and we will send them before delivery.
Who used is right for
Farms storing chemicals, feed, tools and spares. Tradies wanting a lockup that can take a knock. Households clearing the garage or storing furniture through a renovation. Businesses needing overflow space on a yard. In every case the container's job is to keep things dry and locked, and a used cargo-worthy unit does that for a lot less than new — typically 30–40% less. If you are converting the box into a room, or it will sit front-of-house, look at new instead.
If you only need it for a few months, compare buying with hiring. Used containers hold their value well, so buying and reselling can beat a long hire; our hire vs buy guide does the maths.
Making a used container last
Sit it level on blocks or sleepers, off the ground, so water drains away and the floor stays dry underneath. Wire-brush and paint rust spots once a year, especially the roof, where water can sit. Keep the door seals clean. Fit a vent or two if you are storing anything that minds humidity. Looked after like that, a used cargo-worthy container will give many more years of storage.
