A 40 ft shipping container delivers the lowest cost per square foot of storage you can buy, twice the floor of a 20 ft unit for well under twice the price. Standard-height and high cube versions are both stocked in one-trip and used grades, with visible pricing, online checkout, and free delivery and placement across the contiguous US.
Confirm site access first, then pick height and grade. A 40 ft box arrives on a full-length truck that needs a long, straight approach and roughly 100-120 ft of clearance to set the container down, if your site cannot take that, two 20 ft units placed separately often solve the same storage problem. Between heights, the high cube (9 ft 6 in) has become the default for a reason: the extra foot transforms racking capacity and makes conversions far more livable, usually for a small premium over standard. On grade, one-trip suits visible or long-horizon placements; used cargo-worthy or wind-and-watertight units maximize sheer dry cubic feet per dollar.
| 40 ft container | 20 ft container | |
|---|---|---|
| Floor space | About 300 sq ft | About 150 sq ft |
| Capacity | Roughly 2,350-2,700 cu ft | Roughly 1,170 cu ft |
| Delivery access needed | ~100-120 ft straight clearance | ~60-75 ft straight clearance |
| Typical range (as of 2026) | Typically $2,400-$6,500 by grade | Typically $1,800-$4,500 by grade |
Exact internal, external, and door measurements for every variant are in the shipping container dimensions and sizes guide. If access is tight or you want flexibility to split storage between two locations later, price a pair of 20 ft shipping containers instead.
High cube, in most cases. The additional interior height costs relatively little, never gets in the way, and pays off the moment you install shelving, store tall equipment, or convert the unit. Choose standard height only where an overhead constraint (carport, low wires at the placement spot) forces it.
The container itself needs a 40 ft by 8 ft firm, level footprint; the delivery is what needs room. If you are unsure, call (509) 575-1198 with your address and we will verify truck access through the regional depot handling your area before you commit.