Container grade

Cargo-worthy used shipping containers

Used, but structurally sound enough to be judged fit to carry cargo when it was inspected.

A used blue cargo-worthy container with faded paint, small rust spots and minor dents

What "cargo-worthy (used)" means

Cargo-worthy (CW) means the container was inspected and judged structurally sound to carry cargo: frame, corner posts, floor and doors in good working order, plus wind and watertight.

Cargo-worthy is the middle ground: a used container with real wear that is still structurally good enough for ocean freight when it was assessed.

For most storage uses you will not see a functional difference from a wind-and-watertight box, but you get a little more confidence in the structure for a modest extra cost.

What to expect

Faded or patchy paint
Surface rust spots and dents
Patches and repairs are normal
A solid floor and working doors

What it isn't

It is not cosmetically pretty
It does not automatically come with shipping paperwork: if you need a survey certificate to ship it, ask before you buy

Best for: Storage that needs to be solid and secure, and anyone who might ship or move it later.

A gloved hand shining a flashlight into the corner of an empty container to check for leaks — On delivery day, step inside, close the doors and look for daylight. That's the simplest wind-and-watertight check there is.

Typical delivered prices for this grade

20ft standard: $2,900 to $4,500 (estimate)
40ft standard: $3,400 to $5,400 (estimate)
40ft high cube: $3,600 to $5,800 (estimate)

Your exact price depends on your ZIP code, distance from the depot and stock. What affects the price.

Other grades

New / one-trip: Built new, shipped loaded once, then retired. As close to new as containers get.
Wind and watertight (used): The budget grade. Retired from shipping, cosmetically worn, but keeps wind and water out.

Sizes available in this grade

Shipping container sizes compared: outside and inside dimensions, door opening, floor area, volume and weight
Spec	20ft standard	40ft standard	40ft high cube	10ft (ask us)
Outside (L x W x H)	20' L x 8' W x 8'6" H	40' L x 8' W x 8'6" H	40' L x 8' W x 9'6" H	10' L x 8' W x 8'6" H
Inside (L x W x H)	about 19'4" x 7'8" x 7'10"	about 39'5" x 7'8" x 7'10"	about 39'5" x 7'8" x 8'10"	about 9'3" x 7'8" x 7'10"
Door opening	about 7'8" W x 7'5" H	about 7'8" W x 7'5" H	about 7'8" W x 8'5" H	about 7'8" W x 7'5" H
Floor area	about 150 sq ft	about 300 sq ft	about 300 sq ft	about 70 sq ft
Volume	about 1,170 cu ft	about 2,390 cu ft	about 2,690 cu ft	about 560 cu ft
Empty weight	about 4,800 to 5,100 lb	about 8,000 to 8,400 lb	about 8,600 to 8,900 lb	about 2,500 to 3,000 lb

Typical figures. Exact dimensions and weights vary a little by manufacturer and age. 10ft containers are not a standard shipping size, so their specs vary more.

Questions people ask

What does cargo-worthy (used) mean?

Cargo-worthy (CW) means the container was inspected and judged structurally sound to carry cargo: frame, corner posts, floor and doors in good working order, plus wind and watertight.

What should I expect from a cargo-worthy (used) container?

Faded or patchy paint. Surface rust spots and dents. Patches and repairs are normal. A solid floor and working doors. It is not cosmetically pretty. It does not automatically come with shipping paperwork: if you need a survey certificate to ship it, ask before you buy.

Can I see the actual container first?

Sometimes. Many depots can send photos of the actual unit; some sell by grade only. We tell you which applies and ask for photos whenever they are available.

Get one delivered price for your container

Start with your ZIP code. A real person checks depots near you and sends the exact price for the container delivered to your site, usually within one business day.