Storage containers may come in really handy whenever you need secure, temporary storage space.
Also referred to as ISO containers, these units may be used to store machinery, equipment, supplies, documents, and even inventory items temporarily.
The appeal of such units is probably that they are readily available whenever you need them. You do not need to buy one; a considerable number of providers allow you to lease or rent one at favorable rates.
With regards to design, storage containers feature 12 to 14-gauge corrugated steel walls. The frames on these containers are made of 6 to 8-gauge steel parts with a treated wooden floor.
Most mobile storage units are equipped with secure and airtight cargo doors. As you can see, these units have many benefits to offer, but how much do they cost?
Storage Container Rental Cost: Comparing Rental Rates
As you may be aware, storage container prices vary significantly based on the size, features, and type of the container. On average, you should expect to pay between $50 and $500 on the container itself per month.
Again, you will also need to factor in other associated costs like transport and insurance costs into the overall figure.
In this regard, you should expect to pay between $100 and $500 to transport a storage unit, depending on its size and distance to be covered. To begin with, you first need to ascertain what you will be using the container for.
Consumer (Home) Applications
Storage containers for home applications come in several size options, with the most common one being the 12-feet tall unit. This size option is ideal for homeowners looking for a storage suction for up to two rooms.
If you happen to have more furniture, say for up to three rooms, the 16’ tall storage container with being better suited. The various container sizes are available at different price points.
Depending on the size of the container you settle for, you should expect to pay between $200 and $300 a month for a residential storage unit. You also need to bear in mind that this rate is not inclusive of pickup and delivery charges.
If you want a mobile storage unit transporting your belongings while moving, you will also need to factor transportation cost into the total. For transportation of a storage container across town with a semi truck, shipping companies may charge you between $200 to $500.
The transportation cost is essentially influenced by the size of the container and the distance it will be moved.
Business Storage Container Rental Cost
The dry type of storage containers is commonly used in most business applications. However, other applications may demand the use of a specialized container, such as insulated and refrigerated containers.
The dry storage containers are the simplest of all storage units, hence the most affordable of all container types.
Ranging from 20’ to 40’ in height, the industry-standard rental cost of dry containers is between $50 and $300 a month. Modified containers, on the other hand, are more expensive. With most providers, you can get a specialized container for between $125 and $500 per month.
Regardless of the type, you are interested in, delivery fees will be charged based on your proximity to the provider. If you are looking forward o using the container for more than two years, it may be more affordable to lease it rather than renting.
In this case, you should just commit to an extended lease.
Daily Rates
As opposed to storage containers for home applications, some of the leading providers may even offer you a daily rental plan for business containers.
This will come in handy if you desire to use the storage unit for just a couple of days. In such a case, you will be charged between $3 and $10 per day for every container you rent.
While this is the case, the provider will still charge you delivery and pickup fees based on the size of the container and your proximity.
Transport and Installation Costs
Almost all storage container rental companies will charge you an additional fee to transport and talk the container at your location. This fee varies dramatically from one delivery to another and is mainly influenced by the distance and weight if the container.
For local storage container deliveries, you should expect to pay between $100 and $500. You also need to check the terms and conditions as some providers are known to impose a minimum delivery fee. Also, be on the look for maximum delivery distance.
It is also advisable to ask your preferred provider whether they charge for the pickup as well.
Key Factors Affecting Storage Container Rental Costs
If you are looking forward to hiring or leasing a storage container, you must be wondering how much it costs to rent or lease one. Well, there is no direct answer to this question as container prices vary greatly in different cases.
The much you will end up paying will be determined by your provider based on several factors, including:
Age of the Container
Just as is the case with shipping containers, storage containers come in a myriad of conditions. The rentals cost for each container is partially determined by its condition.
For the purpose of this guide, we are going to classify storage units into two broad categories based on their condition:
New Containers (one-trip)
Are you looking for a unit that exhibits minimal wear and tear? You should consider getter the newer, commonly referred to as one-trip containers. These are the units that have only been used a couple of times. Basically, the newer the shipping container, the higher the price.
You may also expect longer lifespans from one-trippers because they have experienced less wear and tear than used containers with a longer life at sea. Such units are associated with minimal risk of unknown chemical contamination.
For the newer storage containers, you should expect to pay about $3,000 for a 20-foot container and about $4,500 for a 40-foot standard shipping container. The 40-foot high cube containers, on the other hand, are priced at about $5,000.
Used Storage Containers
As a container age, it will show more signs of wear and tear and depreciate in value. This being the case, renting a used container will be more affordable than renting a new one.
Insurance Cover
If you wish to be transporting or storing valuable items in the storage container, you should consider a damage waiver or the right insurance cover. As such additional fees may apply to your monthly bill. These fees are a great way to extend the partner's insurance benefits to the customer.
Insurance fees are often designed such that you do not have to worry about typically nonsingular damage to your container rental while you have it, such as graffiti and the like. If you see or hear your alliance partner mention insurance fees do not be alarmed.
Such a fee will save you the hassle of making sure your home or business owner's insurance is covering the rental container.
Container Size
The size of the container you intend to rent will also impact on its rental as well as delivery and pickup costs.
With various storage containers, you will have a range of container size options to choose from based on your space requirements. For instance, you can choose between standard and high-cube containers.
Basically, the standard containers are often are 8 feet wide by 8 feet, 6 inches high. With storage containers, you will have a choice of two standard lengths: 20-footers and 40-footers.
In either case, it is advisable to go for units that have been approved by the International Standards Organization (ISO) to ensure consistent, quality, and safety across the board.
The high cube containers, on the other hand, measure 9 feet, 6 inches tall. Some suppliers offer extra-wide containers that are usually 10 feet in width. You may have to pay an extra 20-30% of the overall rental cost for custom-sized shipping containers.
Special Size Container Costs
Conventional storage containers are either 20' or 40' long, as this was the standard in the shipping industry. However, some vendors offer non-traditional sizes, such as 10' and 48' containers.
Such units are specially constructed using 20' and 40' models. The larger models are either cut into smaller units or welded together to make a larger container.
Basically, the cost to create these containers is higher, but if you have a very specific need, you may decide it's worth the extra cost. Another popular special-sized container is the high cube container. This type of container is commonly used in the construction industry.
These will also cost a bit more than their standard-sized counterparts, especially if you also want to customize the length.
Container Modifications
The simple dry containers are suited for most domestic storage and transportation applications as well as some business applications. However, there are some tasks that demand the use of a modified container.
In addition to insulated and refrigerated containers mentioned above, there are several other modifications that may be carried out on a storage container.
The level of customization that you would like to have will affect the shipping container price. Some of the common customization options include the conversion of your shipping container into a pop-up shop, restaurant, concert stage and the like.
The cost of a customized storage unit will depend on the level of customization as well as the modified features added to the container.
In this regard, most of the leading providers will offer you such modifications options as a choice of doors, awnings, shelving and enhanced security for the locks.
Rental Duration
Most storage container rental companies only offer monthly rental plans on their units. However, there are some that offer daily plans for some of their commercial storage containers. Cumulatively, you will find daily container rentals to be more expensive than monthly payments.
Again, some providers may offer you a discount on the rental cost if you rent a unit for several months. If you would like to use the unit for a long period, a lease agreement will help you save on the monthly payments.
As you can see, an increase in the rental period tends to reduce the cost of renting a storage container.
Delivery and Pickup
The cost of delivering the container at your location and picking it up at the end if he learned or rental period will also be included in your quote. The delivery and pickup fees for storage containers are determined by several factors.
For instance, there are instances when you have to pay for special permits as well. These costs impact how much you pay out of pocket to put your container to use. The fees will also be partly influenced by the distance the container will be moved.
This is why it is advisable to get yours for the nearest provider so as to save on delivery fees. In most cases, the providers set a flat delivery fee for a certain mile radius.
They may charge additional fees for any distance covered beyond the maximum limit. Most providers will bill for the additional distance on a per-mile basis.
On-site Constraints
If the provider has a hard time moving the container to the chosen location, often as a result of site constraints, you may be charged more for the delivery.
The provider may charge you more if the delivery team has to go up long dirt roads or even squeeze into sketchy delivery locations.
If the team gets to the site before you and have to wait for you, you may also invite additional charges. In this case, you may end up compensating the provider about $75/hour for the wasted time.
Ready to Rent a Storage Container for Your Next Project?
With storage container costs soaring at around $5,000 for new units and about $3,000 for a used one, renting or lesson one can save you money. This is particularly the case if you desire to use the container for a fairly short period.
Even after getting a quote from your preferred provider, you will still want to know what you are paying for.
In addition to the daily or monthly rental charges, you should also consider the delivery and insurance costs. With this guide, you will have an easy time estimating the cost of storage container rentals.
