How to Choose a Shipping Container

Sizes: 20ft, 40ft or High Cube

Three sizes cover 90% of needs. External dimensions are standard (ISO); internal ones vary slightly by manufacturer.

Type	External (L×W×H)	Internal	Volume	Euro pallets
20ft Dry Van	6.06 × 2.44 × 2.59 m	5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 m	33 m³	11
40ft Dry Van	12.19 × 2.44 × 2.59 m	12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m	67 m³	25
40ft High Cube	12.19 × 2.44 × 2.90 m	12.03 × 2.35 × 2.69 m	76 m³	25
45ft HC Pallet Wide	13.72 × 2.50 × 2.90 m	13.56 × 2.44 × 2.69 m	89 m³	33

Rule of thumb: for a warehouse or site with limited space — 20ft; for maximum volume per euro — 40ft High Cube (costs almost the same as a 40ft but gives 9 m³ more and 2.69 m headroom for conversions).

New (one-way) or used (cargo-worthy)

New / one-way — a container that has made a single trip from the factory with cargo. No dents, fresh paint, CSC valid for 5 years. Choose it if the unit will be visible, converted or used for export.
Used cargo-worthy (CW) — 8–15 years old, inspected, dry, with a valid CSC plate. Visible wear but fully functional. Best price for storage and construction sites.
Used WWT (wind & watertight) — sealed against weather but without a valid CSC. Static storage only, not for shipping.

In Latvia we offer CW and new units; in Lithuania — newer, higher-grade used containers.

Which container for what

Storage at a company or construction site → 20ft or 40HC used CW. A level base is enough.
Export / transport → new one-way or CW with a valid CSC (mandatory).
Conversion to office, workshop, shop → 40HC (2.69 m headroom for ceiling and insulation), preferably new.
Food, pharma, flowers → reefer, −25…+25 °C, 380 V connection.
Seasonal or short-term need → rental from €80/month — cheaper than buying for periods up to ~12 months.

What to check before buying

CSC plate — on the doors; the date must not have expired if the unit will be shipped.
Doors — open with one hand, seals elastic, locking bars not bent.
Floor — no holes or soft spots (28 mm plywood), no chemical smell.
Roof and walls — dents are acceptable, holes and rust through the metal are not. Check from inside with doors closed: no daylight should be visible.
Paperwork — invoice with the container number (prefix + 6 digits + check digit); for new units, the manufacturer's certificate.

We send photos of the specific container before payment — you buy exactly what you see.

Delivery and placement

Time — 1–3 working days from our Riga depot across Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
Transport — truck with hydraulic crane: the container is set straight into place, no separate crane needed. 20ft needs a 3.5 m wide access; 40ft needs ~20 m of straight approach.
Base — level and load-bearing: concrete blocks, paving or gravel at the four corners. Bare ground works short-term.
Permits — a temporary container on private land usually needs none; in cities and for long-term placement check municipal rules.

Prices

Indicative prices in Latvia, Riga depot, excl. VAT: 20ft used from €975, 20ft new from €2,550, 40ft used from €1,250, 40ft High Cube used from €1,250 / new from €2,950, 45ft HC Pallet Wide from €1,800, 20ft reefer from €4,500, 40ft HC reefer from €5,500. Delivery is quoted separately by distance.

Lithuania: newer used 20ft from €1,250, 40HC from €1,350. Estonia — on request. A firm quote with delivery within 1 working day.

Get a quote

Frequently asked questions

How long does a used shipping container last?

Properly placed (on a base, with drainage) a CW container lasts another 10–15 years. Corten steel rusts only on the surface where paint is damaged — periodic repainting is enough.

Can a 20ft container be moved after installation?

Yes — with the same crane truck. Relocation within a city usually takes 2–3 hours.

Is a container airtight and dry?

CW and new containers are wind- and watertight. Condensation can form during sharp temperature drops — vents or insulation help when storing moisture-sensitive goods.

What is the difference between 40ft and 40ft High Cube?

Only height: HC is 30 cm taller (2.90 m outside, 2.69 m inside) — 76 m³ vs 67 m³. Used prices are almost identical, so we usually recommend the HC.

Containers with prices

20ft Dry Van from €975 40ft High Cube from €1,250 Reefer from €4,500 Rental from €80/month