Container condition grades explained

Built for a single loaded voyage from the factory, then sold. Paint is factory-applied and consistent, floors are clean, doors seal on original gaskets and the unit is shipping-certified. Expect minor transit scuffs and possibly one or two small dents — that is normal and does not affect performance.

• Best for: retail and office conversions, client-facing sites, long-term assets.
• Watertight: yes.
• Shippable internationally: yes, with a valid CSC plate.
• Holds resale value best of all grades.

A used unit that passes a structural survey against ISO criteria and may still carry international cargo. Surface rust, patch repairs and mismatched paint are expected; structural members, floors and door gear are sound.

• Best for: buyers who need certification but not new appearance, including export packing.
• Watertight: yes.
• Shippable internationally: yes, subject to a current survey and CSC plate.
• Typically 25–40% below a One-Trip unit of the same size.

Sound for storage — no light through the walls or roof, doors close and lock — but not surveyed for sea carriage. This is the workhorse grade for site stores, farm storage and workshop conversions.

• Best for: on-site storage, workshops, secure stores, conversions where you will paint anyway.
• Watertight: yes.
• Shippable internationally: no.
• Cosmetic condition varies more widely than CW; ask for photographs of the actual unit.

Sold with known defects, listed individually on the quotation and invoice — a soft floor section, a corroded panel, a door that needs gear work, or roof ponding. Priced for buyers who will repair, cut up or use the shell as material.

• Best for: fabrication feedstock, static shells, low-value storage where leaks are tolerable.
• Watertight: not guaranteed.
• Shippable internationally: no.
• Inspect before purchase — this is the one grade where photographs are not enough.

• Will anyone stand inside it or see it from a customer area? Choose One-Trip.
• Does it need to travel by sea or satisfy a shipping line? Choose Cargo Worthy with a current CSC plate.
• Is it a dry store on your own site? Wind & Water Tight is usually the best value.
• Are you cutting it up or repairing it yourself? As-Is is the cheapest steel per square metre.

• Stand inside with the doors shut and look for daylight at the seams and roof.
• Probe the plywood floor at the door threshold and the centre — soft spots are costly to replace.
• Open and close both doors fully; check hinges, cams and gaskets.
• Check the roof for ponding and previous patch welds.
• Confirm the serial (BIC code) matches the plate and the paperwork.

Ready to compare stock? Filter by grade on available inventory, or read the sizes and capacity guide next.