Both are steel boxes that keep water out. The differences are looks, lifespan and price — here's how we'd explain it over the counter.
| Used (cargo-worthy) | New (single-trip) | |
|---|---|---|
| 20ft price | from $2,200 | from $3,300 |
| Condition | Honest dents, faded paint — cargo-worthy, so watertight | One ocean voyage old — near showroom |
| Life left | 10–20+ years kept off wet ground | 25–30 years |
| Best for | Storage where looks don't matter | Conversions, customer-facing sites, forever purchases |
| Resale | Excellent — often near what you paid | Good, but you wear the new-price premium |
Most storage jobs should buy used and pocket the difference — a checked cargo-worthy unit, sold wind and watertight, does the same job as a new one for a grand less. (Our as-is grade is cheaper again, but it is sold as it stands and is not sold as watertight.) Go new when the container will be seen, lived in, worked in, or kept for decades. And if a seller won't show you photos of the actual unit? Walk away. We'll always send them if you ask.
Quote me both waysDescribe the job and we'll tell you which grade we'd buy — even when it's the cheaper one.
Rather talk? 0487 176 951 — Mon–Fri 7:30am–5pm · Sat 8am–12pm.