Shipping container shed: how it stacks up against a wood or resin shed
If you are shopping for a shed, a shipping container is worth pricing too. A container is a shed that arrives finished: no kit, no weekend of framing, no roof to shingle. It costs more than a small resin shed, less per square foot than most built-on-site wood sheds, and it is far harder to break into. It also looks like a shipping container, which is either fine or a deal-breaker depending on where it sits.
The table below puts the options side by side, with numbers. A 20ft container typically runs $2,600 to $6,000 delivered; a 40ft $3,000 to $7,500.
Who this is for
- Homeowners who need more than a 10 x 12 shed holds and do not want to build.
- Anyone storing a mower, a UTV, bikes and tools that keep walking off from a flimsy shed.
- Rural and acreage owners who want storage set well away from the house.
- People in wet, windy or snowy climates where kit sheds rot, leak or blow apart.
If it will sit in full view in a tidy subdivision, read the HOA section before you fall for the price.
Container vs wood shed vs resin shed, head to head
| 20ft shipping container | Wood shed, built on site | Resin or metal kit shed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floor area | About 150 sq ft | Whatever you pay for; 120 to 200 sq ft is common | Usually 50 to 120 sq ft |
| Delivered price | $2,600 to $6,000, assembled | Usually more once you add the slab or base and labor | Lowest up front, but for far less space |
| Cost per sq ft | Roughly $17 to $40 | Usually higher than a container of the same floor area | Looks cheap until you divide by the small floor |
| Time to usable | Same day it lands | Days to weeks, plus permits and a pad | A weekend of assembly |
| Security | Corrugated steel walls, lock bars, add a welded lock box | Wood door, padlock hasp | Thin panels, a screwdriver gets in |
| Weather | Sealed against wind and rain when inspected; shrugs off hail and snow | Depends on build quality and upkeep | Blows over, cracks in cold, leaks at seams |
| Rodents | Steel walls and floor frame; nothing to chew through | Mice get in | Mice get in |
| Moving it | Goes on a truck to your next property | Stays put | Disassemble or leave it |
| Resale | Holds value; used containers sell | Little to none | None |
| Looks | Industrial; paint and screening fix a lot | Can match the house | Plastic |
| Maintenance | Touch up scratches, keep it level | Paint or stain every few years | Replace when it cracks |
The container's cost per square foot is the delivered range divided by 150 sq ft. The 40ft comes out lower still: $3,000 to $7,500 over 300 sq ft is roughly $10 to $25 per sq ft, delivered and ready. To compare a built shed fairly, add the base, the permit and the labor to the shed quote before dividing by its floor area. The pricing page explains what moves the number.
Where a wood shed still wins
A wood shed can be any size and shape; a container is 8 ft wide, full stop. A wood shed can be built to look like a small version of your house. And if you need under 100 sq ft, a kit is cheaper. For everything else, the container usually wins on money, time and security.
Which size and grade
Most backyard buyers choose a 20ft standard. It fits a driveway or side yard, gives about 150 sq ft and 1,170 cu ft, and holds the contents of a one-car garage with a walkway down the middle. A 40ft is the pick for acreage, or for storage plus a workshop. A 10ft container is closest to a conventional shed footprint, but 10s are not a standard shipping size, so we check what is near you before quoting.
On grade, the rule from the new vs used guide applies: new if people will see it, used if they will not.
| Size | Grade | Delivered estimate |
|---|---|---|
| 20ft | Wind and watertight (used) | $2,600 to $4,200 |
| 20ft | Cargo-worthy (used) | $2,900 to $4,500 |
| 20ft | New one-trip | $3,900 to $6,000 |
| 40ft | Wind and watertight (used) | $3,000 to $5,000 |
| 40ft | New one-trip | $5,200 to $7,500 |
A wind and watertight box behind a fence does everything a shed does for the least money. A new one-trip is the one to put beside the house. Want a standard box at a set price? The buy page lists one national price per size and grade.
Making it look like it belongs
A container does not have to look like a port.
- Paint. Containers take exterior metal paint well. Match the house trim or go dark so it recedes. Clean, treat rust spots, prime bare steel, two coats.
- Screening. A lattice or slatted fence panel along the visible side, 2 to 3 ft off the wall for airflow, with a vine or shrubs in front.
- A lean-to roof. A simple pitched roof framed on top turns it into a building and sheds snow.
- Siding. Cedar or board-and-batten on furring strips hides the corrugation entirely.
- Placement. Behind the garage, along a fence line, doors facing away from the street.
Permits, HOA and the pad
Many towns treat a container like any other accessory structure, with size and setback limits. Some residential zones restrict them, and HOAs often have a view. Ask first. For the base, the site prep guide covers it: compacted gravel, treated timbers or concrete blocks under the four corners, level, on ground that drains. The truck needs a straight, clear approach of about 60 to 100 ft for a 20ft, no low wires or branches, and firm ground. How delivery works has the details.
A worked example
A family on a half-acre lot in Ohio outgrew a 10 x 12 wood shed and got a quote for a 12 x 20 built replacement that came with a slab, a permit and a four-week lead time. They bought a 20ft one-trip container instead, delivered estimate $3,900 to $6,000, set it on a gravel pad behind the garage and painted it the same gray as the house trim. It was full by that evening.
How it works in three steps
- Tell us what you are storing. ZIP code, size, grade and where it will sit, on the quote form.
- We check stock near you. The yards nearest you, with photos of the actual unit where available.
- You get one delivered price. A person sends the exact number and a delivery window. You decide.
One price, one contact
Your container ships from the nearest yard to you on a local tilt-bed truck, and everyone who handles it is vetted, insured and bonded. We quote one all-in delivered price in writing and say exactly what it covers. Anything that could change it is raised before you agree, and nobody takes a card number to get a quote. You deal with one person from first question to drop-off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a shipping container cheaper than a shed?
Per square foot, usually yes. A 20ft container at $2,600 to $6,000 delivered works out to about $17 to $40 per sq ft, assembled. Small resin kits cost less in total but hold a fraction as much and do not last.
Can I use a shipping container as a shed in a residential neighborhood?
Often, with limits. Many cities treat it as an accessory structure with size and setback rules, some restrict containers in residential zones, and HOAs frequently have their own rules. Check with your planning office and HOA before you order.
What size shipping container is best for a backyard shed?
A 20ft for most homes: about 150 sq ft, fits beside a garage, and the truck needs only about 60 to 100 ft of straight approach. A 10ft is smaller but harder to find.
Do shipping containers get damp inside?
Steel condenses moisture when temperatures swing. Two vents, a moisture absorber and keeping the box off the ground handle most climates.
How do I make a container shed look nicer?
Paint it to match the house, screen the visible side with lattice or plants, or add a lean-to roof or siding. Placing it with the doors away from the street helps more than people expect.
Can I move it later?
Yes. That is one of the main advantages over a wood shed. A tilt-bed truck picks it up and sets it down at the next property.
Get one delivered price for your container
Tell us your ZIP and what the shed needs to hold, and we'll send one delivered price.