Used

Used 20ft Shipping Containers

The deepest second-hand market of any container size — cargo worthy, wind and watertight, refurbished and as-is, from depots across Germany and North Europe.

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Used 20ft containers are the most liquid product in the trade. Units come off-hire continuously across the northern European market, which means grade, price and availability are all more predictable here than for any other size.

The buying decision is almost entirely about grade. The same 6.06 m box is sold as cargo worthy, wind and watertight, refurbished or as-is, and the price range across those grades is wide. Match the grade to what the container will actually do.

Which grade for which job

Shipping it as freight — cargo worthy with a valid CSC plate. Nothing else will pass a terminal gate.
Standing on a yard as a store — wind and watertight. Sound and dry, no sea-carriage claim, best value.
Client-facing or fleet use — refurbished, so the finish is uniform and specified.
Scrap, cut-up or a project that will cut the shell — as-is, sold on a description of faults.

What actually matters on inspection

Buyers look at dents. Surveyors look at the floor, the door frames, the corner castings and whether the box is square. That is the right order of priority: a panel dent is cosmetic, a soft floor bearer or a racked frame is expensive.

Check that the doors close and lock without being forced — a container that has been racked will show it there first. Check the underside for standing rust where it has sat on wet ground. Check the plywood for delamination at the door end where water gets in.

Floor: no soft spots, no delamination, no daylight at the joints
Doors: swing, seal and lock without force; gaskets intact
Frame: square, so the doors align; check for repair welds at the corners
Underside: cross-members and bearers free of heavy corrosion
CSC plate: present and current, if you intend to ship the unit

Buying more than one used unit

Used units vary. A lot of five cargo-worthy 20ft boxes will not look like each other unless you have asked for that and paid for it. If uniform appearance matters, specify refurbished to a single RAL colour; if it does not, buying a mixed-appearance lot is where the value is.

Technical specifications

MetricImperial

Technical specifications
Property	20ft Standard22G1
External dimensions
Length	6 058 mm19 ft 10.5 in
Width	2 438 mm8 ft
Height	2 591 mm8 ft 6.0 in
Internal dimensions
Length	5 898 mm19 ft 4.2 in
Width	2 352 mm7 ft 8.6 in
Height	2 393 mm7 ft 10.2 in
Door opening
Width	2 340 mm7 ft 8.1 in
Height	2 280 mm7 ft 5.8 in
Weights
Tare weight	2 250 kg4 960 lb
Maximum gross mass	30 480 kg67 200 lb
Payload	28 230 kg62 240 lb
Capacity
Cubic capacity	33.2 m³1 170 cu ft

Nominal figures for current production. The CSC safety approval plate on the individual unit is the governing document.

Everything about the 20ft Shipping Container

Frequently asked questions

How old is a used 20ft container?

Most units in the European second-hand market are between eight and fifteen years old, because that is when leasing fleets turn over. Age matters less than maintenance history — a well-kept fifteen-year-old box beats a neglected eight-year-old one.

Can I inspect the container before buying?

Depot inspection can usually be arranged for units held in Germany and North Europe. Say so on the RFQ; it is easier to organise before the unit is allocated than after.

Do used containers come with a CSC plate?

Cargo worthy units do. Wind-and-watertight and as-is units may have a plate that is expired or absent. If the container will be shipped, this is the detail to confirm in writing.

What is the cheapest used 20ft container?

As-is, and often it is a false economy. As-is is sold on a description of faults with no grade behind it. Unless you can inspect the specific unit or the container is destined for scrap or heavy conversion, wind and watertight is the sensible floor.