20ft Used Shipping Container

excl. VAT · incl. VAT: €1,309.00

Affordable six-meter storage security: 20ft used shipping container for sale

For commercial contractors, small business owners, and rural property managers needing dependable, lockable dry storage on a practical budget, a 20ft used shipping container for sale provides a robust, field-tested physical asset. Built to standard ISO dimensions measuring 6.058m in length, 2.438m in width, and 2.591m in height, this six-meter steel vault offers 33.16 m³ of secure interior volume that fits into ordinary parking spaces and narrow jobsite yards. Its compact footprint is the reason the 20ft box is the most popular storage size for premises where space is tight but security still matters.

With an empty tare weight of 2,300 kg and an authorized payload capacity of 28,180 kg, the container achieves a maximum gross operating mass of 30,480 kg. Every pre-owned unit in our depot undergoes strict multi-point surveyor inspection to ensure that the steel structure, door hardware, and flooring meet verified Cargo Worthy and wind-and-watertight (WWT) standards. Choosing a 20ft used shipping container for sale delivers the same certified, lockable, weathertight enclosure as a new box while conserving a large part of the budget, which makes it the default choice for contractors and businesses that need reliable storage rather than showroom finish.

The 20ft used container is the most versatile storage unit on the market. It is small enough to be craned onto a compact yard or delivered on a standard truck, yet it holds the contents of a generous garden shed, a full building site lock-up, or a season of stock, all behind steel doors that can be padlocked shut.

Maritime service history, Corten A weathering steel, and structural soundness

Having logged years of service on international shipping lines, a used 20ft container shows authentic working patina such as superficial exterior surface rust, minor corrugation dings, and localized paint fading. However, the high-strength Corten A steel hull remains structurally sound and impervious to structural failure. These cosmetic marks are exactly what makes a used unit such good value, because they lower the price without affecting the sealed, weathertight integrity that matters for storage.

Corten steel naturally reacts with moisture to generate a dense, adhering oxide patina that shields the steel core from deep corrosion. Four massive 6 mm cold-formed corner columns welded to cast steel ISO 1161 corner castings provide immense racking strength, ensuring the container remains plumb, stable, and capable of multi-tier stacking on firm ground. This is the same construction that survives being stacked high on a rolling ship, so as a single ground-level store the frame carries its loads with an enormous safety margin.

Our surveyors grade every hull against a documented checklist covering corner casting condition, sidewall straightness, roof drainage, undercarriage members, and weld continuity. Any unit that shows perforation, delaminated flooring, or a distorted door frame is rejected or repaired before it reaches the sales inventory, so the container you receive is genuinely watertight rather than merely presentable at a glance.

Cargo-worthy double end doors, galvanized locking gear, and tight EPDM seals

Easy cargo access is provided by full-width rear steel doors hung on four heavy-duty forged steel hinges. Technicians inspect the four vertical tubular galvanized locking rods, verifying that cast locking cams rotate cleanly into top and bottom frame keepers without sticking. A door that binds or drops is realigned on the frame so a single operator can open and close the unit safely without a second person steadying the leaves.

The continuous multi-lip EPDM rubber door gaskets are checked for elasticity, unbroken sealing edges, and compression fit. Any worn gasket sections are refurbished to ensure an airtight wind-and-watertight barrier that stops driving rain, snow, and airborne grit from reaching stored tools and materials. Because the doors are the most frequently used and most weather-critical part of any container, this inspection is central to the Cargo Worthy grade and to keeping the interior dry over years of static storage.

28 mm hardwood marine floor and concentrated wheel load support

The interior cargo deck is constructed from 28 mm multi-ply tropical hardwood marine plywood fastened across heavy steel transverse floor joists. Each floor section is inspected for solid load-bearing strength, freedom from delamination, and resistance to heavy rolling wheel loads from loaded hand pallet jacks and workshop dollys. A customer who intends to run a pallet truck or a small forklift onto the deck can rely on a floor that carries concentrated wheel loads without flexing.

Internal forged steel lashing D-rings rated at 1,000 kg each are welded along the lower side rails and upper corners, providing secure anchor points for strapping down palletized equipment, motorcycles, and building supplies with heavy ratchet straps. Where a customer plans a workshop or store conversion, the existing marine plywood also provides an excellent substrate for overlaying insulation, a vapour barrier, and a finished floor covering.

Lockbox security retrofits and jobsite theft prevention

To protect valuable contractor power tools and supplies against theft on unmonitored sites, we offer optional heavy-gauge Corten steel lockbox retrofits welded directly over the door meeting seam. On an exposed or remote site the lockbox is the single most effective deterrent against opportunistic theft, because it removes the exposed padlock shackle that thieves target first.

The steel shroud conceals an internal monoblock padlock from bolt cutters and pry bars. Existing handle eyelets also accommodate standard padlocks and tamper-evident wire security seals for immediate property protection. Contractors storing high-value tools frequently pair the lockbox with a closed-shackle padlock and a secondary anti-tamper seal so that any interference is immediately visible on a routine site walk-round.

Passive airflow ventilation and custom exterior painting

Multiple labyrinth ventilation louvers mounted in the upper sidewalls maintain continuous passive air exchange, minimizing internal moisture build-up and preventing cargo condensation during seasonal temperature shifts. This passive airflow keeps the interior dry by letting humid air escape before it can condense on the underside of the roof as temperatures fall overnight and drip onto stored goods.

For customers seeking enhanced visual appeal on retail or commercial premises, we offer complete exterior repainting in durable 2K polyurethane marine paint in any desired RAL corporate color after thorough pressure washing and surface prep. A freshly coated used container reads as a deliberate branded asset rather than a second-hand box, which matters when the unit stands in a customer-facing yard or a residential planning zone.

CSC safety certification and international shipping renewal

Many units in our used 20ft inventory carry active or renewable Convention for Safe Containers (CSC) safety approval plates. If required for overseas export shipping, our depot can perform a fresh CSC survey and attach an updated safety decal valid for multimodal freight forwarding. The CSC plate records the maximum gross weight and stacking rating that port operators and hauliers check before the box is lifted or loaded.

Integrated forklift pockets spaced at 2,050 mm centers and standard ISO corner castings permit rapid handling with standard yard forklifts, reach stackers, and mobile cranes. The forklift pockets are a particular advantage of the 20ft size, because a suitably rated yard forklift can lift and reposition an empty unit directly, without needing a crane, which keeps relocation quick and inexpensive.

Modular conversion suitability for sheds, workshops, and pump houses

A certified used 20ft container is an economical starting platform for practical workshop conversions. Contractors frequently install steel personnel doors, security barred windows, electrical lighting packages, and heavy-duty steel shelving to create low-cost field maintenance sheds. The compact six-metre length suits sites where a full 40ft box would not fit, while still giving a secure, dry, self-contained working space.

Our workshop team can complete these modifications prior to delivery, delivering a customized, cost-effective storage asset tailored to your operational requirements. Common conversions include garden and allotment stores, secure tool lock-ups, pump and plant housings, and small welfare units, all built on the solid, inspected shell of a used box at a fraction of the cost of a purpose-built structure.

Site preparation, level ground positioning, and hardware care

To ensure smooth door operation over years of static storage, place the container on four level concrete foundation slabs, paving stones, or treated timber sleepers under the corner castings. Leveling prevents frame twist over the six-meter span. A container that sits on uneven ground will rack slightly, which shows up at once as doors that no longer meet cleanly or seal along their full height.

Apply water-resistant grease to the door hinge nipples and locking bar guides semi-annually to keep the door mechanics operating effortlessly. A quick seasonal check of the roof for standing water, the gaskets for splits, and the paint for fresh scratches lets you address minor issues before they let moisture into the box, keeping the interior dry for decades.

Direct depot sourcing and crane truck delivery across Central Europe

We maintain large stocks of inspected 20ft used containers across major German depot locations for prompt dispatch. Every container is individually inspected and graded to ensure full transparency before purchase, and our team can talk you through the specific condition, grade, and paint options of the unit you are considering.

We arrange nationwide flatbed road transport and self-unloading crane truck delivery to position your used container precisely on your designated site coordinates. Our technical team is available to assist with specifications, site access assessment, and the practical logistics of placing a container on a compact yard, so the unit arrives ready to load on the day it is set down.

What does Cargo Worthy (CW) and Wind and Watertight (WWT) condition mean?

Cargo Worthy means the container is structurally sound, square, and certified for international shipping under CSC regulations. Wind and Watertight guarantees that the container has zero holes or light leaks, with intact door seals that keep out all rain, wind, snow, and pests.

What are the exact dimensions and storage capacity of the 20ft used container?

External dimensions are 605.79 cm length, 243.79 cm width, and 259.11 cm height. Internal dimensions are 589.79 cm length, 235.20 cm width, and 238.99 cm height, delivering 13.84 m² of floor space, 33.16 m³ volume, and a tare weight of 2,300 kg with 30,480 kg max gross. Our technical team is available to assist with specifications, site preparation, and rapid European dispatch for your facility.

Can a security lockbox be retrofitted onto a used container?

Yes, our technicians can weld a heavy-gauge Corten steel security lockbox directly onto the double doors prior to delivery. The lockbox encloses a high-security padlock on all sides to prevent bolt cutters and angle grinders from attacking the lock shackle.

Can forklifts drive onto the hardwood floor of a used container?

Yes, the 28 mm thick marine plywood floor is supported by dense steel floor crossmembers. Every inspected container has a structurally sound floor capable of supporting heavy forklift axle loads, pallet trucks, and concentrated machinery point loads. Our technical team is available to assist with specifications, site preparation, and rapid European dispatch for your facility.

Is the used 20ft container CSC certified for international shipping?

Yes, every inspected used container graded Cargo Worthy is supplied with an active CSC safety approval plate. It is fully certified under ISO standards for multimodal transport via road flatbeds, rail wagons, and container cargo vessels worldwide. Our technical team is available to assist with specifications, site preparation, and rapid European dispatch for your facility.