20ft Shipping Containers for Sale: What to Know Before You Buy

A 20ft shipping container is the most common starting point for first-time buyers — compact enough for residential properties, strong enough for heavy commercial use, and priced lower than a 40ft unit without sacrificing much in real-world storage capacity for most applications. This guide covers everything you need to make a confident purchase decision: grades, dimensions, what actually fits inside, pricing by condition, and what the delivery process looks like.

Who Should Buy a 20ft Container vs. a 40ft

The decision between a 20ft and 40ft usually comes down to three factors: available space on your property, what you're storing, and budget. A 20ft container isn't a compromise — for many use cases it's the right tool, not the smaller option.

20ft Container Dimensions

Knowing the actual interior dimensions matters more than the nominal "20ft" label when planning what you'll store.

The interior width of just under 8 feet is wide enough for standard pallets (48" × 40") placed two across. The door opening clears most furniture, equipment, and machinery that fits inside the container body.

What Fits in a 20ft Shipping Container

A 20ft container holds roughly the equivalent of a one-bedroom apartment's worth of contents, or the tool and equipment load of a small-to-mid-size contractor operation.

• Approximately 10–11 standard pallets (floor-loaded, single layer)
• Furniture and household contents of a 1–2 bedroom home
• A full set of landscaping or construction hand tools plus power equipment
• A compact vehicle (many buyers store a motorcycle, ATV, or small car — see our sizing guide for vehicle storage specifics)
• Job site materials for a single-crew residential build phase

Container Grades: Used, One-Trip, and Specialty Types

The grade you choose affects price, cosmetic condition, and suitability for your use case. All grades from YES Containers meet WWT (Wind and Water Tight) standards — the difference is primarily condition and history.

Colors are not guaranteed on used units — containers are loaded first-off-the-stack. If you need a specific color (white, beige, tan, gray), that can be requested at time of order subject to depot availability.

20ft Container Pricing: What Affects the Cost

The price you pay for a 20ft container depends on four variables: grade, your location relative to the nearest depot, current inventory levels at that depot, and whether a price drop is active.

• Grade — Used WWT is the most affordable; one-trip units carry a premium of $1,000–$2,000 over comparable used stock
• Depot proximity — Delivery is approximately $500 for the first 100 miles from the nearest depot, then ~$5/mile beyond. A property 200 miles from the depot adds roughly $1,000 to the total delivered cost
• Inventory levels — When a depot has surplus stock, prices drop. These windows are temporary and sell out — acting when a drop is active is the best way to buy at the low end of the range
• Container type — Double door and open-side variants carry a modest premium over standard door configurations

To get current pricing at the depot nearest you: request a quote by ZIP code or call (800) 223-4755.

New 20ft Container Variants Available by City

Beyond standard used units, YES Containers stocks new one-trip 20ft containers in open-side and side-door configurations across multiple depot locations. Browse available units by city:

• New 20ft Open Side — Austin, TX
• New 20ft Open Side — El Paso, TX
• New 20ft Open Side — Columbus, OH
• New 20ft Open Side — Jacksonville, FL
• New 20ft Open Side — Charleston, SC
• New 20ft Side Door — Baltimore, MD
• New 20ft Open Side — Las Vegas, NV
• New 20ft Open Side — Tacoma, WA

Conex Box, Sea Can, Dry Box: What's the Difference?

Nothing — these are all names for the same ISO shipping container. The terminology varies by industry and region:

• Conex box — military and government origin, widely used in construction and industrial sectors
• Sea can — common in Canada and among maritime industry buyers
• Dry box — logistics industry term distinguishing standard containers from refrigerated (reefer) units
• Shipping container / cargo container — generic terms used interchangeably

All refer to the same ISO-standard steel box. See also: Conex Box vs. Shipping Container: Is There a Difference?

How Delivery Works

Containers are delivered via gooseneck tilt-bed trailer and rolled off at your property — no crane required for standard ground-level placement. Before scheduling delivery:

1. Confirm your driveway or access road can accommodate a truck and trailer (roughly 60–70 feet of clear space needed to position and tilt)
2. Identify where the container will sit and which direction the doors need to face — repositioning after placement requires equipment
3. Prepare the ground — level, stable surface; railroad ties or a gravel base recommended for long-term placements

• Full delivery information
• Container pick-up and relocation

Purchase Options

• Buy outright — Best for long-term use or modification projects. Locks in current pricing.
• Rent-to-Own (Pay on Delivery) — Lower upfront commitment, finalize payment on arrival. Learn more about Pay on Delivery.

Related Reading

• Conex Storage Containers for Sale: What to Know Before You Buy
• Military Conex Boxes: Why They're Built to Last
• Mobile Job Site Offices Using 20ft and 40ft Containers
• How to Build a 20ft Container Cabin
• 40ft Standard Shipping Containers: Buyer's Guide

Key Takeaways

• A 20ft container holds approximately 1,169 cubic feet — enough for a 1–2 bedroom home's contents or a full contractor tool setup
• Used WWT is the most cost-effective grade for storage; one-trip is the right call for conversions or visible placements
• Total delivered cost depends on container price plus delivery — factor ~$500 for the first 100 miles from your nearest depot
• Conex box, sea can, and dry box all refer to the same container type
• Delivery requires 60–70 feet of clear access and a level surface — plan door orientation before the truck arrives