Now, you’re looking to get yourself a 20ft container, and you are wondering how much it’s going to cost. Not a bad question, that one. The first thing anyone would wonder is, “Is it going to fit through my driveway?” Let’s clear this up and give you some hard figures, shall we?
The short version
A 20ft container in Australia usually comes in somewhere between $2,000 and $3,500, sometimes more, and that’s not even including delivery yet. Exactly where you fall on that scale depends on several things – new or used, condition, age, and yes, where you are. One who lives in regional WA is going to have a different experience than the one from the middle of Sydney, just because of the freight distance.
You choose a second-hand one – you’re in the lower price range. If you decide to go with new (or in this case, single trip, which means you’re in the higher price range, but hey – you got yourself something brand new.
Wait, is “new” really new?
It is quite interesting to note that there is no container that can be called new in any sense. All of them are manufactured in another country and transported to Australia carrying some cargo for the first time. An empty container would be simply too expensive to transport here by ship and then resell it to an Australian customer. Therefore, containers are called new, but they have already carried some load once. It does not really matter to anyone since the condition of the container is almost perfect – without any damage or defects.
Used containers have already made a number of journeys around the world. There may be some scratches, dents, or surface rust. However, it does not really matter when you intend to put some gardening tools or furniture into the container. If you want something presentable to keep outside your house, you should pay a little extra for that.
What actually changes the price
A few things push the number up or down:
- Condition – cosmetic damage, rust, and dodgy seals all knock the price down.
- Age – older boxes are cheaper but might need more TLC.
- Location – container yards aren’t spread evenly, so freight costs vary a lot.
- Type – a plain general-purpose box is your cheapest option. Reefers, high cubes, and anything modified will cost more.
- Delivery – this is often separate from the container price, and depends on how a truck can actually get to your site.
Buying vs hiring
Buying is an unnecessary option if you will be using it for several months only. Renting will probably be a more reasonable solution in terms of costs, while at the same time you won’t need to sell the item further once it becomes useless. But if you use the item long term, then it might be more reasonable to buy it than rent.
Getting the best deal
The prices of containers can fluctuate according to the state of shipping throughout the world, which means that today’s quotation may change in a few months’ time. The best solution in such cases is to request an official quotation with consideration of your postal code, timeline, and intended use. It will take a call and a visit to a warehouse where containers are kept, and you’ll be able to have an accurate estimation, much more precise than any other source you might obtain from the Internet.
In general, 20ft containers are the most efficient and durable items you can obtain in Australia.
