We Make it Simple to Buy & Rent Steel Storage Containers Online
Rent a Storage Container
We're proud to offer steel storage container rentals throughout the United States and Canada. Our rental containers are refurbished used shipping containers with an added lockbox that have been painted a neutral color (like beige, blue, or grey). There are no contracts to rent a storage container beyond the three (3) month minimum rental period and we offer 10ft, 20ft, and 40ft steel storage container rentals, as well as containers with doors on each end.
Buy a Shipping Container
We offer used shipping containers for sale direct from cargo circulation throughout the US & Canada. Our company works directly with shipping lines and intermodal equipment companies based in Asia and Europe to help our customers buy cargo containers at wholesale prices. Click the button below and enter your zip code to get a price on a used shipping container that's guaranteed to be wind and water tight by our one year warranty.
Buy & Rent Used Shipping Containers Throughout the United States & Canada
We help our customers buy and rent shipping containers throughout the United States from our offices in Minneapolis & Bozeman. We also offer storage container sales and rentals in Canada through our Canadian sister company: Northern Container Sales. Please click the button below to find container prices in your area.
Buy & Rent Used Shipping Containers Throughout the United States & Canada
We help our customers buy and rent shipping containers throughout the United States from our offices in Minneapolis & Bozeman. We also offer storage container sales and rentals in Canada through our Canadian sister company: Northern Container Sales. Please click the button below to find container prices in your area.
How Shipping Demand Impacts Container Prices
During the COVID-19 pandemic, a shift from consumer spending on services to spending on goods brought record shipping container volumes to ports in the US & Canada. When people were socially distancing at home, the money they would have spent eating out at restaurants or on travel was now spent on things like new dishwashers and other physical goods, and those additional products needed to be shipped here in cargo containers. As the economy reopens there’s been a dramatic shift towards pre-pandemic shipping volume and that's impacting used shipping container prices.
10 Things to Know Before You Buy a Shipping Container
There's a lot of information out there about how to buy used shipping containers, but a lot of it is out of date or just flat out inaccurate. It's important to understand that shipping containers are a byproduct of the global logistics industry. Containers are rarely scrapped, and are usually loaded when sent back out of the US or Canada. Some containers are sent back empty, and a very small percentage are made available for sale to companies like ours. We post prices online so you can buy shipping containers on our website. Here are 10 things we think you should know before you buy a shipping container.
Notes on the Shipping Container Shortage
Due to the supply chain issues caused by the global pandemic, we've seen a shortage of end of life used shipping containers available for sale. The lack of containers has caused the price of shipping containers to more than double over the past year. The speed at which containers are moving through ports has slowed dramatically, and at the same time demand for containerized freight has increased. Those issues continue to compound over time to slow the speed of cargo delivery. Some people are calling it a shipping container shortage, but we think "logjam" is a better term for what's happening.
Just a few of the customers who have trusted us with their container needs:
We've been helping customers buy shipping containers and rent storage containers since 2015. We're fortunate to have worked with some impressive customers over that period of time and develop a reputation as a highly reputable provider of steel storage solutions throughout the US and Canada.
We run our business differently. Our employees never earn a direct commission on your order, and our goal is just to get you the right container for your project. We're proud that our strategy has helped our business to win awards and achieve a high customer satisfaction rate. We hope our straightforward approach and simple online purchase process can make the process of buying or renting a storage container simple.
What Makes Western Container Sales Different?
We're one of the largest buyers of used shipping containers in North America. By working directly with some of the largest intermodal shipping container companies in the world, we help our customers leverage our buying power and quality standards to buy quality shipping containers at a fair price. We also believe in providing up-front and transparent pricing. We're proud to have helped thousands of customers buy conex containers and rent storage containers throughout North America.
What Makes Western Container Sales Different?
We're one of the largest buyers of used shipping containers in North America. By working directly with some of the largest intermodal shipping container companies in the world, we help our customers leverage our buying power and quality standards to buy quality shipping containers at a fair price. We also believe in providing up-front and transparent pricing. We're proud to have helped thousands of customers buy conex containers and rent storage containers throughout North America.
How Does Buying a Shipping Container Work?
You Choose Container Specs
Using our shipping container calculator to select the size, condition, and door direction that meet your needs, then add your selections to the cart and checkout in our secure payment portal. Make sure to check out the sample photos before you buy. Your container is guaranteed not to leak, and comes with a 30-day money back guarantee (less trucking costs). Every container we sell is also backed by our one year warranty.
We Source Your Shipping Container
Then we source your shipping containers directly from intermodal cargo circulation. We work directly with the largest intermodal container suppliers, so you avoid paying unnecessary middle-men. After your order is placed, you'll receive a confirmation email. You then get the next container off the stack that meets your criteria. We guarantee the doors, floors and roof (but not the cosmetic condition). Color cannot be selected.
Pick-up: 2-3 Business Days
Delivery: 4-7 Business Days
After you order, we'll be in touch within one business day to confirm your order and coordinate the logistics. To ensure everyone's safety, only customers with the proper equipment should select intermodal depot pick-up (please allow 2-3 business days for release information). Delivery is optional and calculated at checkout by zip code. Contact us with any questions, we're always happy to help.
Every Container We Sell Comes with Our Guarantee
What to Expect From a Steel Storage Container Rental:
Quality Storage Containers
We work directly with some of the largest storage container rental providers in North America, as well as some of the best regional providers, to ensure the storage container you receive is a high quality steel storage container. We guarantee that the container will be leak free, with doors that seal, and floors strong enough for a small forklift to drive on without issue. The storage container will also be painted a neutral color (beige, grey, etc.) and have a lock-box, or upgraded locking system, for you to place your own lock.
Get Your Steel Storage Container Rental Delivered:
Once you place your order, we'll be in touch within one business day to confirm the delivery ETA. We only use professional hauling partners to make your storage container delivery, and the driver will give you a call when they're en route that day. Please make sure you're ready for the truck by visiting this page to learn more about delivery. Our standard delivery timeline for storage container rentals is 2-5 business days, but if there's a specific day you need it please feel free to contact us.
Choose Size & Quantity, Give Delivery Details
First we need to know things like door direction, site contact, and that you have enough space for the truck to safely deliver the container. Delivery is calculated at checkout, based on zip code. PLEASE NOTE: We don't move containers once they're loaded (if that's what you need, you might try PODS or similar companies). Containers are painted neutral colors like beige or grey.
Rental Container is Delivered in 2-5 Business Days
Then we'll source your container from a preferred partner and notify you within one business day when to expect your container (the driver will also call your site contact when they are headed your way with the container). When you're ready for pick-up, make sure the container is empty and unobstructed and then terminate your rental by logging into your account in our customer portal.
Your Credit Card Will Be Billed Monthly (3/mo. minimum)
Payments will be billed automatically until you request pick-up. You can manage your account in our customer portal and do things like terminate your rental (please allow up to 10 business days for pick-up) and change your payment method. There are no hidden charges or long-term contracts. Just fill out the form and keep the container as long as you need it. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.
How Do Steel Storage Containers Compare to PODS?
The largest nationwide portable storage company is PODS (Portable On Demand Storage). While both PODS and Western Container Sales offer nationwide portable storage rentals, there are some key differences.
Primarily that PODS' containers are smaller, lighter units that are made from a combination of steel, fiberglass, aluminum and plastic, and designed to be moved while loaded. In contrast, our rentals are re-purposed used shipping containers
(all steel construction, with wood floors over steel cross members).Overall, steel shipping containers are a larger and heavy duty alternative to the standard PODS storage containers. PODS now offers a an all-steel 16 ft container.
PODS Will Move Loaded Containers, We Won't...
While Western Container Sales offers steel storage containers in sizes up to 40' in length, PODS offers smaller, 8', 12' and 16' storage units with aluminum and plastic exteriors, in addition to a 16' all-steel container option. Steel shipping containers are difficult to load/unload without the heavy equipment found at ports and depots, but PODS units are small enough to be easily managed with light duty lifts. Western Container Sales does not move loaded units, so if you need your container moved after it's loaded PODS or similar companies might be a better option. However, if you need storage at your location we offer larger, all steel containers. Our cost per square foot is almost always lower, as well.
Get a 10% Discount With PODS
We've partnered with PODS to offer their services to our customers that need moving and storage. Use the link below to get a 10% discount with PODS.
What Happens When You Fill Out Those "Free Quote" Forms?
You Input Your Contact Information
Usually the websites that you see offering you "Free Shipping Container Quotes" or to "Instantly Compare Storage Container Quotes" from multiple vendors are just lead generators. You might notice that most of the time when you call, nobody answers (if they even have a phone number listed). That's because they don't actually sell containers... they just sell your information.
Your Info Is Sold as Sales Leads
The company that you gave your phone number and email to, sells the information as a lead to multiple companies. Sometimes it's a reputable company buying the lead, sometimes it's a less professional operation, sometimes it's a mix (depends on who is buying leads in your market). Western Container Sales doesn't buy 3rd party leads, nor do we sell our customers' information.
Commissioned Salespeople Call You
Whether it's a commissioned sales rep in a call center cubicle, or a sole proprietor, there's a strong chance the person leaving you voicemail messages has their compensation tied to whether or not you buy. Western Container Sales doesn't believe you can talk anyone into a 9,000-pound steel box... None of our reps earn direct commission on container sales or rentals.
We don't believe you can talk anyone into a container they don't need... And when you contact us the person on the other end will just be focused on helping you, not closing the deal.
Why Don't We Make You Call for a Shipping Container Quote?
We know what a hassle it can be to call for a shipping container quote, as well as how annoying it can be to fill out a form on what appears to be a conex container rental site and consequently be bombarded with salespeople from third party companies because your information was sold as a lead. Unlike the big guys, we offer shipping containers for sale online with prices posted on our website. Why do we do this when other companies won't? Simple, we know our prices are fair, and well below what you'd see with our large corporate competitors.
Western Container Sales will get you a fair price for a used shipping container sourced directly from global intermodal equipment providers, pulled from their inventories at your nearest intermodal depot. Because the containers were recently moving cargo, we know they won't leak and we guarantee it. Check out our current shipping container prices (please note they do change with inventory levels). We also make renting steel storage containers just as easy, with our online rental order form.