Here's the honest version, including when we'd tell you not to spend the extra money.
Almost no containers are sold factory-fresh in Australia — they're built overseas and carry one cargo load on the voyage here. The industry calls these single-trip containers, and they're what everyone means by "new". Expect near-perfect paint, tight door seals, clean timber floors and a 25–30+ year lifespan with basic care.
A quality used container is cargo-worthy grade: it's done 10–15 years of shipping service, it's been inspected, and it's guaranteed wind and watertight. It will have dents, scratched paint and patches of surface rust — none of which affect the job it does. Below cargo-worthy sit B-grade and "as-is" units, where genuine problems (holed floors, sagging doors, structural rust) start appearing. Cheap for a reason.
Used cargo-worthy containers typically cost 30–40% less than single-trip. On a 20ft that's roughly $1,500–$2,500 staying in your pocket. See current ranges in our price guide.
Pure storage — farm gear, household overflow, tools, stock. The container sits in a paddock or yard doing its job, and nobody cares about dents. This is most buyers, and used is the right call for most buyers.
Conversions and habitable spaces. Studios, site offices, cafes — you want clean steel, a flat floor and doors that seal perfectly before you spend thousands on the fit-out. Front-of-house or branded use. If customers see it, new looks the part. Maximum lifespan. Buying at 30 to keep until you're 60? New wins the long game.
Stand inside with the doors shut — any daylight through the walls or roof means holes. Check the floor for soft spots and delamination. Swing both doors; they should open with one hand and seal evenly. Look at the door gaskets for cracking. Check the underside cross-members if you can — structural rust lives there. Or skip all that and buy from a supplier who inspects and guarantees every unit — that's the deal on all of our used containers.
Still on the fence? Call 1300 235 972 and describe what the container's for — we'll give you a straight recommendation, even when it's the cheaper one.
Real-world price ranges for new and used containers, what moves the market, and how to make sure you're comparing quotes properly.
Access widths, ground prep and truck types — everything to sort before delivery day so your container lands exactly where you want it.
Hire runs $25–45/week; buying a used 20ft is ~$3,000. The crossover maths, plus the factors that shift it either way.
Tell us what you need and we'll come back with a straight price — container plus delivery to your site, no surprises.
*During business hours. After hours, first thing next morning.