Buy the Right Clad Shipping Container – The First Time

A clear, simple guide to sizes, conditions, delivery options, pricing, and what to avoid so you don’t waste money.

Why This Guide Matters

Buying a shipping container should be simple, but the industry can be confusing. Prices vary. Conditions aren’t always clear. Delivery can be tricky. And many dealers hide important details that affect your investment.

This Buyer’s Guide gives you everything you need to make a smart, confident purchase, including:

  • What container size fits your needs

  • Whether you should buy new, used, or refurbished

  • How to inspect a container properly

  • How delivery works and what you need on your property

  • Current price ranges and what affects cost

  • Mistakes to avoid that most buyers never consider

By the end, you’ll know exactly which container to buy — and why.

Three CLAD Containers team members, including drivers and a yard foreman wearing safety gear, standing proudly in front of a branded tilt-bed truck and stacked shipping containers at a depot.

New vs. Used vs. Refurbished Clad Containers

How to Inspect a Container (Checklist)

Exterior

  • Look for rust spots, especially around the bottom rails

  • Inspect corner posts for strength

  • Open and close the doors — check smoothness

  • Ensure door seals are intact

Interior

    • Check for daylight leaks (roof pinholes)

    • Look for odors, mold, or spills

    • Verify floor integrity and dryness

Underneath

  • Inspect cross-members for damage
  • Ensure no major rusting or twisting

    What Affects Container Pricing?

    Container Size

    • 20ft < 40ft < High Cube

    Condition

    • New (most expensive)
    • Refurbished
    • Used (cheapest)

    Availability & Market Demand

    • Fuel prices,
    • freight cycles, and
    • depot inventory affect cost.

    Customizations

    • Windows,
    • doors,
    • insulation,
    • paint,
    • electrical, shelving.

    Delivery Distance

    • Closer = cheaper
    • Remote/rural = additional cost

    Average Price Ranges (2025)

    20ft Used: $1,500–$2,500
    20ft One-Trip: $3,200–$4,200
    40ft Used: $2,000–$3,000
    40ft One-Trip: $4,000–$5,500
    40ft High Cube One-Trip: $4,300–$5,800

     

    Ask for a quote – your final price depends on delivery distance and availability in your region.

    CLAD Containers Tilt-Bed Delivery of 40ft and 20ft Shipping Containers

    Delivery Options of Clad Containers + What You Need

    Types of Delivery Trucks

    • Rollback Truck (Tilt Bed)
      Best for 20ft containers.

    • 40ft Tilt Bed Trailer
      Best for 40ft containers.

    • Crane Delivery (Optional)
      For tight spaces or exact placement.

    Types of Delivery Trucks

      • Minimum 60 feet straight clearance for 20ft

      • Minimum 100 feet straight clearance for 40ft

      • Stable, level ground: gravel, dirt, concrete, or grass

      • No low-hanging branches or power lines

      • Drop zone must be accessible by truck

    If you’re unsure, send us photos — we’ll confirm delivery requirements.

    Clad Container Uses

    A blue 20ft CLAD Containers shipping container in a backyard, with open doors revealing an organized home workshop with tools, shelving, and a person working at a bench.

    Residential Uses

    • Storage for tools, equipment, furniture

    • Workshops & hobby rooms

    • Tiny home foundations

    • Storm shelters (reinforced)

    A blue 40ft CLAD Containers shipping container on an active construction site, with open doors showing organized shelves of tools and materials being accessed by a worker.

    Business Uses

    • Construction equipment storage
    • Retail inventory overflow
    • Office containers
    • Secured job-site storage
      20ft CLAD Shipping Container for Farm and Agricultural Storage

      Agricultural Uses

      • Hay & feed storage

      • Tractor & equipment housing

      • Temperature-controlled storage (reefers)

      Common Buyer Mistakes to Avoid

      ❌ Choosing the wrong size
      ❌ Buying sight-unseen without condition photos
      ❌ Not confirming delivery access
      ❌ Ignoring the ground slope on your property
      ❌ Buying from brokers who don’t own inventory
      ❌ Paying for modifications you don’t need

      A CLAD Containers delivery driver shaking hands with a satisfied customer site foreman at a construction site, with a newly delivered 40ft container and the delivery truck in the background.

      Why Buy From Us – Clad Containers

      A line-up of three heavy-duty CLAD Containers tilt-bed delivery trucks at a container depot at dawn, with drivers performing pre-trip inspections.

      We Own Our Inventory

      No middlemen, no surprises.

      Transparent Condition Photos

      What you see is what you get.

      A view from inside a dark, new shipping container looking out through wide-open double doors onto a sunlit desert highway, with a CLAD Containers truck driving into the distance.

      Fast Nationwide Delivery

      Trusted carriers and insured transport.

      A CLAD Containers delivery driver shaking hands with a satisfied customer site foreman at a construction site, with a newly delivered 40ft container and the delivery truck in the background.

      Honest, Upfront Pricing

      No hidden fees.

      A CLAD Containers representative measures a backyard site with a customer, in front of a finished container garden studio.

      Container Experts

      We guide you to the exact container you need nothing more, nothing less.

      Frequently Asked Questions – Clad Shipping Containers

      How long does delivery take?

      1–7 days depending on your location.

      Do you offer financing?

      Yes — flexible options for homeowners and businesses.

      Can you modify the container?

      Yes — windows, doors, vents, electrical, insulation, paint, and more.

      Do containers need permits?

      Most areas don’t. We’ll help you check your local guidelines.

      Ready to Get Your Container Delivered?