A wholesale container purchase runs from spec to release in four steps.
Set the spec, find the units in depot stock, get a firm quote on named container numbers, and release them once paid. Depot stock sells from one unit up; custom specs come from factory production.
To buy shipping containers wholesale, set the spec first: size and type, condition grade, color and quantity. Then find units in depot stock near your delivery point, ask for a firm quote that names the container numbers and the depot, and pay to release them to your trucker or have them delivered. Depot stock sells from one unit up; a specific color, custom doors or vents, or branding comes from factory production, with a lead time in weeks.
The four steps
| Step | What happens | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · Spec | Size and type, grade, color and quantity | The ISO type code for each size, such as 22G1 or 45G1 |
| 2 · Stock | Find units on the ground, by depot | The depot nearest your drop site |
| 3 · Quote | A firm price on named units | Container numbers, grade and pickup terms |
| 4 · Release | Payment, then pickup or delivery | The release reaches the depot and your trucker |
1. What do you need to decide before asking for a quote?
Four things: size and type, condition grade, color and quantity. Quotes from different suppliers compare like for like only when all four are fixed.
| Decision | Options | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Size and type | 14 ISO types from 10ʹ to 45ʹ: standard and high cube, open-top, double-door and more | Container dimensions |
| Condition grade | NEW (one-trip), 3-Trip, IICL, Cargo Worthy, Wind & Water Tight, As-Is | Container condition |
| Color | What is in the depot, or any RAL color from the factory | RAL color chart |
| Quantity | One unit up from depot stock; a minimum order per spec from the factory | Factory production |
A grade sets a minimum standard, not a match between units. If a fleet needs units that match in paint, floor condition or door wear, say so on the request: units specified to match are a different order from units bought to grade.
2. Where do the containers come from?
Most wholesale purchases come from depot stock: units already on the ground, sold by depot, type, grade and color. Haulage from the depot to your drop site is part of the delivered cost of every container, so start with the depot nearest the site.
Factory production covers what depot stock cannot: a specific RAL color, custom doors or vents, branding or a large matched run, with a lead time in weeks. The supplier guide compares the two routes side by side.
3. How do you get a firm quote?
Choose the units, from a live stock list or by describing the spec, and ask for a price on those units. A firm quote prices specific containers, so it names their container numbers and the depot each one releases from.
Container prices are quoted rather than published because they move with the freight market and differ by depot: coastal depot stock trades below inland markets.
4. What happens after you pay?
Title transfers on payment. Once the wire confirms, the release goes to the depot and your trucker collects the units, or the supplier arranges delivery to your yard. Container numbers, the ISO 6346 plate, the CSC plate and the release documents travel with each unit.
Before paying for used units, ask whether each one is inspected against the contracted grade at the depot before release, and whether an expired CSC plate is flagged on the release.
How One Way Lease sells containers
- Stock you can see. Live inventory by city, type, grade and RAL color, refreshed three times a day.
- A quote within one business day on the units you choose, with container numbers and pickup terms.
- Inspection before release. Every used unit is inspected against the contracted grade at the depot.
- Pickup or delivery. Title transfers on payment. Pull the units on your own truck, or we arrange delivery to your yard.
- Factory production. Built to spec when depot stock will not do, with the lead time in writing before deposit. Wholesale since 1994; NPSA Associate member since 2005.
Buying containers FAQ
Can I buy one container, or only in bulk?
Either. Depot stock sells from one unit up, so a single container is quoted the same way as a fleet order. Factory production carries a minimum order per spec.
Can containers be delivered, or do I have to pick them up?
Both work. Once payment confirms, your trucker collects the units from the depot against the release, or One Way Lease arranges delivery to your yard.
How quickly can I get containers?
From depot stock, as soon as payment confirms and the release reaches the depot; One Way Lease quotes specific units within one business day. Factory production takes weeks, and the lead time is confirmed in writing before any deposit.
Why are container prices not listed online?
Container prices move with the freight market and differ by depot, so a published price would not hold. Ask for a firm quote on the specific units you need.
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