Three inputs set the price of a delivered shipping container: size, grade and how far the truck drives from the nearest yard. Work out those three before you ask for a quote and you will know what the quote should be built from. What goes into a delivered price explains each factor.
How to work out your price
- Pick a size: 20ft, 40ft or 40ft high cube. (10ft containers are quoted only.)
- Pick a grade: wind and watertight, cargo-worthy or new one-trip.
- Place yourself in a distance band from the table below.
- Add anything a standard delivered price doesn't cover, such as door options, modifications or a tricky site.
- Compare it with our fixed national price, which doesn't change with distance.
Step one: size
A 20ft gives about 150 sq ft of floor, a 40ft about 300 sq ft, and a 40ft high cube the same 300 sq ft with an extra foot of height. A 40 usually costs much less than twice a 20, so it's cheaper per square foot if the longer truck can reach you.
Step two: grade
Within a size, grade moves the price more than anything except distance. Our fixed national prices add one flat delivery fee by size and method, and flatbed costs less than tilt-bed if you have a forklift or crane to unload it.
Step three: distance from the nearest yard
Delivery is usually the second-biggest part of the price, and size barely moves it: our flat fees differ only a little between a 20 and a 40. On the open market, distance from the nearest yard matters far more.
There's no per-mile rate that holds everywhere, because trucking companies price a run on time, fuel, tolls and the trip back, and those vary by region. As a rule of thumb:
| Distance to the nearest yard | What distance does to a per-mile delivery |
|---|---|
| Short run: roughly under 50 miles, same metro as a port, rail hub or big city | Delivery is a small part of the price |
| Medium: roughly 50 to 150 miles | Delivery is a noticeable part of the price |
| Long haul: roughly over 150 miles, rural or mountain | Delivery can come close to the price of the box |
Sellers cluster around ports, rail terminals and large metros. If the nearest city of any size is two hours away, assume the long band. The delivery cost guide goes deeper on trucking by distance.
Worked examples
A 20ft wind and watertight, 40 miles from the yard. A short run keeps distance-priced delivery low, so a local seller and our flat fee usually land close together, and either can be a fair deal. Compare the two delivered quotes.
A 40ft high cube one-trip, 120 miles out. At that distance a seller who prices delivery by the mile adds a lot to the box, while a flat delivery fee does not change. At 120 miles that works in your favor, so the fixed-price box is the better buy unless you need doors or modifications the fixed list doesn't carry.
Why your real quote can differ
The bands are a rule of thumb, and real quotes break them in both directions. When a grade is short near you, prices rise, and we tell you so instead of padding the number. Season and steel prices also move prices over months. A site that needs extra time or special equipment costs more, and we say so before you agree. Double doors, open sides and other modifications are priced separately. The full cost breakdown walks through each line.
Site prep such as a gravel pad or blocks, permits, HOA approvals, anchoring, painting, insulation and electrical work aren't in a typical quote or fixed price unless you ask us to price them.
From estimate to exact price
Use the size, grade and distance to sanity-check what anyone else sends you. A number far under everyone else's is a warning sign, and one far over is worth a question about where the container is coming from. For the real figure, a person checks our stock at the nearest yard to your ZIP and sends one delivered price in writing, held for 7 days while the container is available. The complete buying guide covers the rest.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 20ft shipping container cost delivered?
It depends on the grade and the distance from the nearest yard: used costs less than new one-trip, and a short run costs less to deliver than a long one. Enter your ZIP to see your delivered price.
How much does a 40ft shipping container cost delivered?
A standard 40 costs a little more than a 20 of the same grade, and a high cube a little more again. Grade and distance move it most. Enter your ZIP to see your delivered price.
Does delivery cost more for a 40ft than a 20ft?
A little. Our flat fee is slightly higher for a 40ft or high cube than for a 20ft, by tilt-bed or by flatbed. On the open market, distance from the yard moves the delivery line far more than size does.
Is the estimate from this page a quote?
No. It's a range built from typical delivered prices across the US. Your written quote gives the exact price for your address.
The size, grade and distance tell you what to expect, and your ZIP gives us the exact number. Start your quote and we usually reply within 1 to 2 business hours.
