Used Container Prices

Why used container prices vary by city

Used shipping containers are not priced the same everywhere in North America. The same 40HC can cost noticeably different amounts in two cities in the same week.

Main reasons

  • Supply follows import flows. Port gateway cities (for example Los Angeles/Long Beach, Savannah, Houston, New York/New Jersey, Vancouver) receive many containers that leave service, so supply is often larger.
  • Inland depots depend on rail and truck repositioning, which adds cost.
  • Local demand: storage, construction and agriculture demand differs by region and season.
  • Grade and age: cargo-worthy, wind-and-watertight and new/one-trip units are priced differently. Compare like with like.

How to compare across cities

  1. Ask for the same type and grade in each city.
  2. Add your own trucking cost from each depot to your site — a cheaper unit farther away may cost more delivered.
  3. Check whether the price is for depot collection or delivered.
  4. Confirm the quote validity date; depot stock changes quickly.

Public market trackers that publish city-level ranges: Shipping Container Price Index (https://shipping-containers.com/shipping-container-price-index/), Eveon Market Monitor (https://www.eveoncontainers.com/en-US/market-monitor).

Multi-city quotes from OceanBox

OceanBox lists units at depots across U.S. and Canadian cities: https://inventory.oceanbox.cn/ and /container-availability. Trade buyers can request one quote covering several cities and types: /container-trade-buyers. Quotes are in USD for depot collection. OceanBox does not modify containers.

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