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Used Shipping Containers for Sale

Great Price, Great Box, Great Service

Not every used shipping container on the market is worth your money. Some have been sitting in a yard for a decade, rusting quietly, waiting for someone who doesn’t know better. Others have years of solid use left in them and cost a fraction of what you’d pay new. Knowing the difference is the whole game, and it’s exactly what we do at Spinnaker Leasing & Equipment. 

We’ve spent years buying, grading, refurbishing, and selling containers across North America, and we’ve learned that the “used” label scares off buyers who don’t need to be scared. A properly inspected container, sold by someone who actually stands behind the grade they give it, is one of the smartest purchases a business can make. 

Want pricing fast? Call our team or drop your details into the quote form below or contact us and we’ll get back to you the same business day. 

Why Buy a Used Shipping Container Instead of New 

New containers are great when a client needs a spotless, made-to-order container straight off the ship. However, many businesses just need something sturdy, weatherproof, and priced sensibly, which is where a used shipping container earns its keep. 

Lower Cost

Used units run well below the price of new, and for storage, staging, or short-term jobsite use, the savings are hard to argue with. You’re not paying a premium for pristine paint you’ll scratch up within a month anyway. 

More Eco-Friendly 

Every container we resell is one less unit sitting idle or getting scrapped. Steel boxes built for ocean freight are engineered to last decades, meaning reusing one instead of manufacturing a new one is an easy win if sustainability matters to your business. 

Variety of Inventory

Because these units come from different fleets, ages, and shipping lines, our used inventory covers a wider range of conditions and price points than a new-container catalog ever could. Whatever budget or use case you’re working with, there’s usually a fit somewhere in that range. 

How We Grade Every Unit 

This is the part most container sellers gloss over, and it’s the part that matters most. 

Every container that comes through our depots gets walked, photographed, and scored by staff who’ve done this thousands of times. We don’t just glance at the outside and slap a sticker on it. Roofs get checked for pinholes. Floors get walked and tested for soft spots. Door seals, corner castings, and rail integrity all get looked at before anything goes up for sale. That inspection is what lets us hand you a grade you can actually trust. 

  • Grade A: Near-new condition, minimal dents or rust, structurally sound and cosmetically clean. These are cargo-worthy and often just a few years off active service. 
  • Grade B: Wind- and watertight, with visible wear but no functional issues. A dependable option for storage or general use. 
  • Grade C: Older stock with noticeable weathering and past repairs. Still functional and secure, at the lowest price point we offer. 

We won’t sell you a container we wouldn’t put on our own jobsite. If a unit doesn’t meet our internal standard, it gets pulled, repaired, or removed from inventory entirely.  

Sizes, Types, and What They’re Good For 

Most buyers land on a 20-foot or 40-foot standard dry unit, but we carry a broader range than that: 10-foot units for tight sites, high cubes for extra headroom, and refrigerated containers for anyone storing goods that can’t handle temperature swings. 

used shipping container works for a lot more than sitting in a yard holding boxes. Some of the more common ways our clients put them to work: 

  • Construction sites: As a lockable tool crib, a temporary office, or a break room that can be moved from site to site as jobs wrap up. 
  • Retail and pop-ups: Cut a window into the side, add power, and you’ve got a coffee stand, boutique, or food stall with real street presence. 
  • Emergency and disaster response: Fast to deploy, tough enough to hold up in rough conditions, and easy to outfit as a shelter, clinic, or command post. 
  • Cold storage: Our refrigerated units keep perishables, produce, or medical supplies at a stable temperature without building out a permanent cold room. 
  • Events and exhibitions: The raw, industrial look works well for trade show booths, pop-up galleries, and branded activations. 

If you’re not sure which size or type fits your project, that’s a conversation worth having before you buy, not after. Our team will walk through your use case and point you toward the option that actually fits, rather than whatever’s easiest to move off the lot. 

Not sure which container fits your project? Fill out our quote form or contact us directly and we’ll help you figure it out, no pressure. 

What Happens After You Order 

Once you’ve chosen a grade and size, we handle logistics from our depot to your delivery site. Costs depend on distance and site access, and we’ll give you that number upfront, with no surprise line items after the fact. Every container ships with the paperwork you’d expect: condition notes, CSC plate details, and warranty terms specific to that unit. 

Why Businesses Keep Coming Back to Spinnaker 

We’re not a broker reselling containers we’ve never laid eyes on. Spinnaker operates depots across the U.S., Canada, and worldwide, and our team physically inspects stock at each location before it’s listed. That hands-on process is slower than just posting photos and a price, but it’s the reason customers trust our grading system instead of double-checking it themselves. 

Our staff has handled thousands of container sales across construction, retail, agriculture, logistics, and disaster relief, which means when you call with an odd use case, chances are we’ve already solved something close to it. We’ll tell you honestly if a used shipping container isn’t the right fit for your project, even if that means a smaller sale for us. 

Pricing is transparent, quotes are free, and our team is reachable by phone, email, or the form on this page. If something goes wrong after purchase, our limited warranty and support team are there to sort it out.

We also keep depots spread across the country on purpose. A buyer in the Midwest shouldn’t have to pay cross-country freight just to get a decent unit, so we’ve built out locations from the West Coast to the Northeast, plus sites across Canada. That footprint means shorter delivery times, lower freight costs, and someone local who actually knows the inventory sitting in that yard. When you call, you’re talking to a person who can walk outside and look at the exact unit you’re asking about, not someone reading specs off a screen three states away. 

Our sales team isn’t paid to push whatever’s gathering dust in the yard the longest. They’re paid to match you with a unit that fits the job, the budget, and the timeline you’ve laid out. That’s a small distinction on paper, but it shows up in how often our clients come back for a second or third purchase instead of shopping around every time.

Get Your Container Sorted Today 

You’ve read the grading system, seen the use cases, and know what to expect from a Spinnaker container. 

Contact us now or submit our online quote form, and we’ll have pricing on a shipping container back to you fast. 

Used Shipping Containers for Sale in California

Frequently Asked Questions

Standard dry containers, high cubes, refrigerated units, and specialty options like open-top or flat-rack containers, depending on depot location and current stock.

Every unit is inspected and graded A through C before sale. We disclose the grade upfront so you know exactly what you’re buying.

Think about what you’re storing or building, not just the container’s footprint. Our team can walk through your project and recommend a size based on real numbers, not guesswork.

It depends on size, grade, and location. Request a quote and we’ll give you a straight number based on current inventory.

Yes, delivery is available from all our depots, priced by distance and site access. We’ll include that cost in your quote so there’s nothing sprung on you later.

Every used container comes with a limited warranty. Details vary by unit, and our team will walk you through exactly what’s covered before you buy.

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