Both are steel boxes that keep water out. The differences are looks, lifespan and price — here's how we'd explain it over the counter.
| Used (cargo-worthy) | New (single-trip) | |
|---|---|---|
| 20ft price | from $2,200 | from $3,300 |
| Condition | Honest dents, faded paint — cargo-worthy, so watertight | One ocean voyage old — near showroom |
| Life left | 10–20+ years kept off wet ground | 25–30 years |
| Best for | Storage where looks don't matter | Conversions, customer-facing sites, forever purchases |
| Resale | Excellent — often near what you paid | Good, but you wear the new-price premium |
Most storage jobs should buy used and pocket the difference — a checked cargo-worthy unit, guaranteed watertight, does the same job as a new one for a grand less. Go new when the container will be seen, lived in, worked in, or kept for decades. And if a seller won't show you photos of the actual unit? Walk away. We'll always send them if you ask.
Quote me both waysDescribe the job and we'll tell you which grade we'd buy — even when it's the cheaper one.
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