Big Island New & Used Shipping Containers for Sale or Rent

Shipping containers that are referred to as "one trip" have only been used once for shipping goods from the Pacific Rim to the United States. On the other hand, used shipping containers have been in use by shipping lines for around 10-12 years.

Our used shipping containers may have minor dents and surface rust due to being exposed to the weather and ocean travel. Sometimes, they may have professionally repaired patches if they were accidentally punctured by a crane or forklift at the port. However, rest assured that all of our used shipping containers are wind and water-tight.

Shipping containers that have only been used for one trip are in a better condition compared to used ones. Although they may have some minor marks from being transported via barges and handled in ports during their first overseas journey, they don't have the same level of rust and dents as used containers. Furthermore, the doors of new containers open and close much more smoothly than those of used ones, which usually require more effort to operate.

We can offer new shipping containers at affordable bulk prices, which makes the price difference between new and used containers only about $1500. We think you'll get more for your money if you choose a new container. However, if you're trying to save money, a used container can keep your belongings dry just as well. It's also possible to renovate a used container. Our sister company, Affordable Portable Housing Hawaii, has a helpful article on how to treat rust on a shipping container.

A standard height shipping container is 8’6” tall on the exterior and 8’ tall on the interior.  A high cube shipping container is 9’6” tall on the exterior and 9’ tall on the interior. 

Most of our customers prefer buying 40' high cube shipping containers over standard ones since they come at the same price. The only time people opt for the standard 40' height is if the delivery location cannot accommodate a 9'6" tall container. 

However, for standard 20' containers, almost all our customers prefer the standard height since high cube versions are no longer manufactured due to COVID-19, and the ones available are prohibitively expensive.

From the time you place your order, it usually takes 1-2 weeks before your shipping container is delivered. However, if the trucking company is available, it could be delivered earlier. We assist you with coordinating the delivery to make purchasing a shipping container as hassle-free as possible.

Our method of delivering shipping containers to the Big Island involves a truck called a hammer lift or sidelifter. The truck is equipped with hydraulic-powered cranes at both ends of the bed that are used to load and unload shipping containers. To deliver the container to your desired location, the truck will pull up parallel, after which scissor-like arms will lift the container from the truck and place it on the ground or your foundation pad or blocks.

In order for the hammer lift to deliver a shipping container successfully, there should be an area that is 20 feet wide and 80 feet long. This will allow the hammer lift to move alongside where the container needs to be placed and unload it beside the truck. Additionally, there should be a minimum clearance of 16 feet in the area where the container will be dropped. As the truck transporting the container is quite long, it may face difficulty in making sharp turns. Any delivery concerns can be discussed and addressed beforehand by communicating with the trucking company.

In order to prevent rusting of the bottom of the shipping container, it is recommended that you place it on a dry and level surface. This surface can be made of concrete, asphalt, or a bed of gravel. Additionally, you can purchase concrete blocks from HPM or Home Depot to elevate the container and keep it off of wet ground.

For placing a shipping container on concrete blocks, put one or two blocks under each corner. Additionally, some people prefer to put another set of blocks in the center of long sides of a 40’ shipping container. To avoid sinking of blocks during heavy rain, it is advised to place compacted gravel pads under each block.

.To prevent difficulty in opening and closing the doors, it is crucial to have a level shipping container. Check the level of the blocks using a string or laser level. In case the blocks are not level, place compacted gravel pads beneath each block and adjust the amount for proper elevation. You can also add shims on top of the lower blocks to adjust their height.

You can use concrete pavers, metal plates, or hard plastic cutting board pieces as shims, but avoid using wood shims as they degrade with time. If you discover that your blocks are uneven after the container is delivered, you can utilize a bottle jack to lift the container for adjustments. Ensure that the jack you use can hold the weight of the container and any items inside it. A standard height 20 foot shipping container weighs around 4,400 lbs. A 40 foot high cube shipping container weighs around 8,775 lbs.

To ensure successful delivery of your shipping container, make sure to clear any obstacles in the delivery area, including low hanging branches. Note that the truck cannot drive on soft or wet ground, so if it has been raining, we may need to postpone the delivery until the ground is dry to avoid the truck getting stuck.

We offer discounts for bulk shipping container purchases. 

We invoice through Quickbooks which allows you to pay online via ACH, essentially an e-check from your bank.  You can also mail us a check, or deposit directly into our bank account.  We accept credit cards but need to charge a 2.9% processing fee (we don’t build this fee into our prices).

Anyone can own a shipping container. You don’t need to register it. Shipping containers don’t have titles like vehicles.