Hawaii Shipping Container Sales, Rentals & Custom Modifications

The cost of a shipping container varies widely based on supply and demand. The global shipping container shortage experienced after COVID19 has caused the shipping container prices to significantly increase. This increase is expected to last into 2022. Please call, text or email us for updated pricing. 

New or “One trip” shipping container 

A new, or “one trip” shipping container is a container that was manufactured overseas (typically in China) and sent overseas filled with goods. Once the goods are unloaded, the shipping container is sold, hence the name “one trip” shipping container. These “one trip” shipping containers are as new as you can buy. They will be in excellent condition with the possibility of some dings and scratches from it being shipped on a barge along side other containers and handled at the ports with forklifts, etc. 

Used shipping container 

Generally, used shipping containers are several thousand dollars cheaper than new or "one trip" shipping containers. The difference is that a used storage container has rust and dents due to being in circulation with shipping companies such as Matson, etc. The used shipping containers we sell don’t have holes in them; they are wind and water tight. But if you want the best condition shipping container, then you’ll want to buy a “one trip”  shipping container.

The cost of a 40' high cube shipping container is relatively the same as the cost of a 40' standard height shipping container, whereas the cost of a 20' high cube shipping container is at least a thousand dollars more expensive than the cost of a 20' standard height shipping container. 

Call, text, or email us for current shipping container pricing.

Shipping Container Width 

Shipping container width is always 8' wide. 

If you feel 8’ wide is not wide enough for you, we do fabricate portable shipping container buildings that join together multiple shipping containers to make structures that are 16 feet, 24 feet, 32 feet, 40 feet wide, etc. 

 Shipping Container Length

Common shipping container length’s are 45' long, 40' long, 20' long, or 10' long by 8' wide. 

Shipping Container Height

Shipping container height is either 9'6" tall (known as a “high cube” or “high boy”) or 8'6" tall (known as standard height or “low cube”). 

A “high cube” container is 9'6" on the exterior and 9' on the interior. 

A “low cube” or standard height container is 8'6" on the exterior and 8' on the interior. 

Our customers find that the extra one foot height makes a big difference when using the shipping container for an office or a home. 

Weight depends on the shipping container size. An empty 20 foot shipping container weighs between 4000 and 4,850 lbs. An empty 40 foot shipping container weighs between 8,340 and 9,260 lbs.

Shipping Container Sizes & Weights

10 ft Shipping Container (Standard Height)

2,800 lbs (1,270 kg or 1.27 metric tons)

20 ft Shipping container (Standard Height)

4,400 lbs (1995 kg or 2 metric tons)

20 ft High Cube Shipping Container

5,000 lbs (2268 kg or 2.3 metric tons)

40 ft Shipping Container (Standard Height)

8,000 lbs (3629 kg or 3.6 metric tons)

40 ft High Cube Shipping Container

8,775 lbs (3980 kg or 4 metric tons)

A new or “one trip” shipping can last up to 50 years, but this can obviously depend based on many factors such as what the shipping container is used for, how it is maintained, and many other factors. 

A used shipping container won’t last as long as a new shipping container because it has probably spent 10-12 years of its life in transport, but they can still last you a very long time, especially if you maintain them. 

We have detailed instructions on how to maintain a shipping container [here].

Yes, we deliver a shipping container or mobile office to your property. On Oahu and Maui we deliver the shipping container on a tilt bed truck. The shipping container is loaded onto the bed of the truck at our yard, then we will back in to the space were you want the shipping container. The driver will then tilt the truck bed and set the back of the shipping container into position then drive forward so the container slides off. Ideally, the tilt bed truck needs around 14 feet of overhead clearance and around 60 feet of straight ground clearance to deliver a 20’ shipping container and 100 feet of straight ground clearance to deliver a 40’ shipping container.  At least 12 feet of width clearance is ideal.

On Oahu and the Big Island we can also do “hammer lift” deliveries. A hammer lift truck is a side loader which pulls up parallel to where you want the container delivered and uses two side-lifting cranes or “scissor arms” to lift the container off the truck bed and lift it up and over to the side of the truck where it will place the container onto the ground or foundation. 

If the shipping container needs to be placed in an area that a large truck cannot access, it’s possible to schedule a forklift delivery. A forklift can “walk” the shipping container into more tight spaces. It is more expensive as, in addition to hiring a truck to deliver the shipping container, a separate truck also has to deliver the forklift. Plus there is an hourly rate for the forklift operation.   

The ground where you want the shipping container or mobile office to be placed needs to be solid and dry. If the ground is wet due to rain, please let us know prior to delivery as we will likely need to reschedule. 

Consider the road leading to the delivery site. If there are excessively sharp turns or extremely windy roads, the delivery truck may not be able to pass. This is especially the case when delivering a 40’ shipping container, which requires more space for clearance than a 20’ shipping container. If there’s a doubt as to whether the truck can access your property, it’s best to schedule a time for the driver to pre-check the delivery location to assess whether the shipping container can be delivered where you want it. 

The delivery surface needs to be level. If the surface is uneven this can create an imbalance making the container doors, or any installed doors, difficult to open and close.  If you don’t have access to an even surface, you can create an even surface by doing things like pouring a concrete slab foundation or building a pad with compacted course base gravel. You can also use concrete foundation blocks and shims to create a level foundation.