How to Buy a Shipping Container in Australia

New (one-trip) vs used containers

The first decision is new or used. A new container is usually described as one-trip, meaning it was built overseas, loaded once for the voyage to Australia, then sold. It is not literally untouched, but it is close to factory condition with clean paint, tight door seals and no significant dents or repairs. One-trip units cost more and are the usual pick when appearance matters, the container will be modified, or it needs to look presentable on a residential or commercial site.

A used container has already spent years in shipping service, so expect surface rust, dents, patched repairs and faded paint. Used stock is cheaper and perfectly sound for general storage, but condition varies between units, which is why the grading terms below exist.

Grades: what cargo-worthy and wind-and-water-tight mean

Cargo-worthy (CW) means the container still meets the standard to carry freight and pass survey for international shipping. Structurally it is sound, with the doors, floor and corner castings all in serviceable order. If you might ship goods in it or want the safest used grade, cargo-worthy is the benchmark to ask for.

Wind-and-water-tight (WWT) is a step down. The unit keeps weather out and stays dry inside, but it may not pass a shipping survey, and it can show more cosmetic wear and heavier repairs. For static storage on a farm, yard or worksite, WWT is often all you need. Grades are industry descriptions rather than a single legislated standard, so treat them as a guide and always confirm the actual condition of the specific container you are buying, ideally with photos of that unit.

Sizes: 10ft, 20ft, 40ft and high cube

Containers are still measured in feet by convention. A 20ft is roughly 6 metres long, a 40ft roughly 12 metres, and both are about 2.44 metres wide. Standard height is about 2.59 metres externally, giving a bit under 2.4 metres of internal headroom. A 10ft is a half-length unit that suits tight blocks and small storage jobs, though it is less common and can cost more per metre than a 20ft.

A high cube adds roughly 300 millimetres of height, sitting near 2.9 metres externally, which is handy for tall pallets, machinery, bikes on racks or any conversion where headroom counts. When you are weighing space against price, a 20ft standard is the everyday workhorse, a 40ft high cube gives the most volume for the money, and a 10ft trades economy for convenience.

Inspecting condition before you commit

If you can inspect in person, start with the roof and look along the walls in raking light for dents, previous patches and rust bubbling under the paint. Open and close both doors fully, the hinges and locking bars should move without a fight, and the rubber seals should sit unbroken all the way around. Step inside, pull the doors to and look for daylight or water staining, which is the quickest read on whether a unit is genuinely watertight.

Check the timber floor for soft spots and past repairs, and glance at the corner castings and forklift pockets for cracks or heavy corrosion. Buying remotely is normal in Australia given the distances involved, so ask for photos of the exact unit, its grade and build year, and confirm what is guaranteed in writing before you pay.

Delivery and site access

Most containers arrive on a tilt-tray or side-loader truck that slides the unit onto the ground, so the driver needs a clear, reasonably level run of hardstand and room to manoeuvre. As a rule of thumb, a tilt-tray needs open space at least as long again as the container to angle it off the tray, plus height clearance free of low branches, awnings and power lines. Soft ground, tight gateways, steep driveways and sharp corners are the usual causes of a failed or crane-assisted delivery.

Before delivery day, decide exactly where the container will sit and which way the doors should face, because repositioning a placed unit is awkward. Resting it on timber sleepers or concrete pads keeps it level and lets air move underneath. Long-term or habitable placements can attract council planning or building rules that vary by state and local government area, so check local requirements if the container is more than temporary storage.

How ordering and flat delivery work with Swinton Equipment Depot

Swinton Equipment Depot is based at Port Botany in NSW and sells across Australia, so you can order online and arrange delivery to most locations without visiting a yard. Delivery is a flat 650 dollars to mainland Australia, which keeps freight simple to budget whether you are in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or a regional address, rather than paying a distance-based rate that balloons the further out you are.

When you enquire, tell us the size and grade you are after, your delivery postcode, and a short description of site access, including surface, slope and any tight approaches. That lets us confirm the right container and truck for the job, and flag anything about your site before the day. If you are unsure between grades or sizes, describe how you plan to use the container and we can point you to the sensible option.

Frequently asked questions