Used Steel.
Built to Last.
Every container we sell is Wind & Water Tight: used steel that's structurally sound and seals out rain, wind, and snow, at 40-60% less than new. Here's exactly what that means in practice.
What "Wind & Water Tight" Means
Shipping containers are graded by their remaining useful life. Every container we sell is Wind & Water Tight (used), the grade that does everything most buyers need at the best value.
Structurally sound, sealed against the weather, and storage-ready, at a fraction of the cost of new.
Wind & Water Tight (WWT)
A used container, retired from years of cargo service, that still keeps rain, wind, snow, and pests out and stays structurally sound on the ground. Expect visible wear from that working life (surface rust, scratches, dents, and marked or previously patched areas, with floors that may show staining or wear) over weathering (Cor-Ten) steel built to last decades. It's honest, working-grade steel: not cosmetically perfect, but sealed and sound for storage.
What to Know
Our containers are sold as-is for storage and on-site use: weather-tight and built to last, but not certified for ocean shipping. For storage, workshop, and conversion projects, that certification simply isn't needed.
One-Trip ("New") vs Wind & Water Tight
When people shop for new shipping containers, what the market actually sells is a one-trip unit: a container built overseas, loaded once for its single ocean crossing, and sold on arrival. It is the closest thing to new steel you can buy. Expect uniform paint, clean floors, minimal wear, and a premium price to match. For image-sensitive placements, a branded lot or a customer-facing site, one-trip can be worth it.
We do not sell one-trip containers today. Everything we sell is used Wind & Water Tight: working steel retired from cargo service that still seals out rain, wind, snow, and pests and stays structurally sound on the ground. For storage, that seal is the entire job, and a WWT unit does it at a fraction of the cost of one-trip. The wear you accept is cosmetic (surface rust, scratches, dents), not structural, and our Lifetime Leak Warranty stands behind the seal. If pristine steel matters to your project, buy one-trip from a dealer who carries it. If keeping things dry, secure, and owned is the goal, WWT is the value pick.
Why used shipping containers hold up
Built from weathering steel
Shipping containers are made from Cor-Ten (weathering) steel, which forms a stable, non-porous patina as it ages. That's why the surface rust you see on a used box is usually cosmetic, not structural: the steel is protecting itself.
Decades of service life
A container spends roughly 10-12 years in active maritime service, then can last 25+ years in static land use with basic maintenance. A Wind & Water Tight unit is retired from the sea, not worn out.
Why used units are abundant
North America imports far more containerized freight than it exports, and repositioning empty boxes back overseas costs more than building new ones. So shipping lines sell them off here, which is why a sound used container is widely available and a smart-value buy.
Want the technical detail? See how to read a container’s markings and full ISO dimensions in our Container Reference.
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Wind & Water Tight (used) steel. See what's available in your area.