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Container Condition Guide

Shipping containers are graded by condition, and the grade drives the price far more than the size does. This page explains the four grades we sell against, what each one honestly looks like, and which jobs each is suited to. If you are still deciding, our Buyer’s Guide covers sizing and access, and the quote form will get you a delivered price.

One thing to understand first: apart from New/One-Trip units, every container we sell has spent years at sea. Marks, dents, patch repairs, mismatched paint and previous owners’ markings are normal and are not defects. What matters is whether the box is structurally sound and does the job you need it to do.

New / One-Trip

What it is

A container manufactured within roughly the last 12 to 24 months that has made a single loaded voyage from the factory in the Far East to Europe. Technically used, practically new. True “never used” containers are rarely available in the UK and command a substantial premium.

What to expect

  • Original factory paint, usually in a single colour, with the manufacturer’s and shipping line’s markings.
  • Clean, dry marine ply floor with no staining.
  • Doors that open and close smoothly, with sound gaskets and working locking bars.
  • Minor transit scuffs, small dents from lashing or handling, and some scratching around the corner castings. These are cosmetic.
  • A valid CSC safety approval plate.

Best for

Anything customer-facing or long-term: conversions, offices, retail and hospitality units, high-value storage, sites where appearance matters, and buyers who want the longest realistic service life.

Points to note

New units often arrive with a factory-applied lock box and, in some cases, protective coatings or vent covers still fitted. Paint on a one-trip box will still weather — expect the first surface marks within a couple of British winters.

Cargo-Worthy (CW)

What it is

A used container that has been surveyed and certified as structurally fit to carry cargo internationally. In practice it is the highest used grade and the one to choose if the container might ever be shipped, or if you simply want the strongest used box available.

What to expect

  • Sound structure: no holes, no significant corrosion through the steel, no distortion of the frame.
  • Wind and watertight, with serviceable door gaskets and functioning locking gear.
  • A valid CSC plate, or eligibility for re-certification. Ask us to confirm before you buy if the container is intended for shipping.
  • Cosmetically: surface rust, dents, scrapes, patched repairs, previous line liveries, and paint in more than one shade. Typically 8 to 15 years old.
  • A used marine ply floor that will show wear, gouges and staining but is intact and load-bearing.

Best for

Shipping and export, long-term outdoor storage, plant and machinery, farm and construction use, and anyone who wants maximum structural life without paying one-trip prices.

Wind and Water Tight (WWT)

What it is

A used container that is dry inside and functional, but has not been certified for international shipping. This is the mainstream grade for static UK storage and represents the best balance of price and practicality for most buyers.

What to expect

  • No daylight visible from inside with the doors shut, and no leaks into the box.
  • Doors that open, close and lock, though they may need a shoulder and a little grease.
  • Noticeable surface rust, dents, repairs and multi-coloured paintwork. It will look like a working container, because it is one.
  • No CSC certification, and no guarantee that it can be re-certified for shipping.
  • Floor intact but well used; some patch repairs are normal.

Best for

Garden and household storage, farm storage, site stores, tool and equipment storage, self-storage operators, and any application where function matters more than appearance.

Points to note

A WWT container is watertight against rain from above; it is not sealed against condensation. Ventilation and a raised, level base matter more on this grade than any other. See the condensation section of our Buyer’s Guide.

As-Is

What it is

A container sold exactly as it stands, with its known faults declared, at the lowest price we offer. It is not a bargain version of a WWT box — it is a container with something wrong with it, priced accordingly.

What to expect

  • One or more declared faults: perforations or holes in the roof or walls, heavy corrosion, a damaged or delaminated floor, a bent frame, seized or damaged doors, or a leak.
  • No guarantee that it is watertight or that the doors will operate.
  • Significant cosmetic wear and, often, considerable age.

Best for

Buyers who intend to repair the unit, cut it up for a modification project, use it for scrap or non-critical open storage, or need a temporary screen or barrier. Not suitable for storing anything that must stay dry.

Points to note

We describe the known faults in the listing or quotation, but As-Is units are sold without any warranty as to condition, and we strongly recommend inspecting before purchase. Where you are a consumer, your statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 still apply, but a fault that was specifically drawn to your attention before you bought is not a breach of those rights. See our Warranty Policy.

Grade comparison at a glance

Grade Typical age Watertight CSC certified Appearance Typical use
New / One-Trip Under 2 years Yes Yes Excellent, uniform paint Conversions, offices, retail, premium storage
Cargo-Worthy 8–15 years Yes Yes or re-certifiable Used, repaired, mixed paint Shipping, export, heavy-duty storage
Wind & Water Tight 10–20 years Yes No Well used, visible rust and dents Static storage, sites, farms, domestic
As-Is Variable Not guaranteed No Faults declared Repair projects, scrap, non-critical use

Terms you will see in listings

  • CSC plate — the Container Safety Convention approval plate. Required for international shipping; irrelevant for static storage.
  • Corten steel — the weathering steel containers are built from. It forms a stable surface oxide layer, which is why light surface rust is normal rather than alarming.
  • Corner castings — the eight cast steel corners the container is lifted and supported by. These carry the load; never support a container along its middle.
  • Lock box — a welded steel housing that encloses a padlock. Standard on new units, retrofittable on used ones.
  • Repair patch — a welded steel plate over a previously damaged area. Structurally sound and entirely normal on used units.

What we guarantee

Every container we sell is described honestly against the grade stated in your quotation or product listing. If a container arrives materially different from its stated grade, tell us within the period set out in our Returns Policy and we will put it right. All prices are quoted in pounds sterling as the total payable, with no VAT added at checkout.

Where each grade turns up in the catalogue

Grading matters most on the categories where we list the same size in several conditions. Our shipping containers and storage containers run the full range from one-trip through to as-is, and the high cube containers are listed in one-trip, used and refurbished. Reefer containers carry an extra distinction that has nothing to do with the steel: working, refurbished or non-operating refrigeration machinery — a non-operating reefer is really an insulated container, and is priced as one. Grading does not apply in the same way to flat pack containers, site cabins or container swimming pools, which are supplied new unless a listing says otherwise.

Next steps

Our guide to new versus used shipping containers covers where used stock comes from, what the grades do not tell you, and which grade suits which use.

See what is in stock, request a delivered quotation, or read the Delivery Information before you order. Questions about a specific unit? Contact us.