10ft Shipping Container For Sale
The 10ft container is the most compact steel box you can buy — small enough to slip into a tight backyard, gated lot, or job site, yet just as lockable and weatherproof as its bigger siblings. Compare verified suppliers near you and get free quotes on new, used, and cargo‑worthy 10ft conex boxes.
Size & dimensions
How big is a 10ft container, really?
A standard 10ft (or “10 foot”) container gives you roughly 70 square feet of lockable, weatherproof space — about the footprint of a single parking spot. These are the numbers that actually matter when you’re planning where it goes and what it holds.
| Measurement | Standard | High Cube |
|---|---|---|
| External length | 10 ft | 10 ft |
| External width | 8 ft | 8 ft |
| External height | 8 ft 6 in | 9 ft 6 in |
| Internal length | ~9 ft 4 in | ~9 ft 4 in |
| Internal width | ~7 ft 8 in | ~7 ft 8 in |
| Internal height | ~7 ft 10 in | ~8 ft 10 in |
| Door opening (W×H) | ~7 ft 8 in × 7 ft 5 in | ~7 ft 8 in × 8 ft 5 in |
| Floor area | ~70 sq ft | ~70 sq ft |
| Internal volume | ~560 cu ft | ~630 cu ft |
| Empty (tare) weight | ~2,600–2,900 lb | ~2,800–3,100 lb |
Figures are industry-typical and can vary an inch or two by manufacturer and build year. Always confirm exact dimensions with your supplier before measuring for access or building a foundation.
Right size?
When a 10ft container is the smart choice
The 10ft shines whenever space, access, or budget is tight. It’s the size people pick when a 20ft simply won’t fit — or isn’t needed.
Small-footprint storage
Fits a tight backyard, side yard, or gated lot where a 20ft can’t turn or won’t clear the gate.
Job-site tool security
A favorite with contractors and trades: lockable steel storage for tools and gear that moves easily between sites.
Home & garden
Stash mowers, bikes, seasonal gear, or pool equipment without a permanent shed or a permit-heavy build.
Tight or urban access
Easier to crane, roll, or place on narrow city lots and driveways than a full-length box.
Small conversions
A popular base for a backyard office, ticket booth, concession stand, pump house, or bar — small enough to keep the build affordable.
Easy to relocate
Light enough to move with a single tilt-bed truck if your plans — or your site — change.
The 10ft “size tax” most buyers don’t expect
Here’s something listings rarely mention: a 10ft can cost almost as much as a 20ft. They aren’t mass-produced like 20ft and 40ft ISO boxes — many on the market are custom-fabricated by cutting down a 20ft, which adds labor, and supply is thinner. If you have the space and truck access, it’s worth pricing a 20ft too; you may get double the room for only a little more. But if your constraint is space, a gate, or local rules, the 10ft is genuinely unbeatable.
Condition
New, used, or cargo-worthy — which 10ft to buy
“Used” can mean nearly new or well-weathered, so the grade matters as much as the size. Match the condition to the job.
New / One-Trip
Best looking$$$$
Built recently and shipped just once, so it’s near-spotless with crisp paint and tight doors. The pick for conversions, customer-facing builds, or anyone who wants a clean slate.
- Minimal wear, factory paint
- Doors seal tight
- Ideal for offices & builds
Cargo-Worthy (CW)
Ship-ready$$$
Certified structurally sound and wind- and watertight, with a valid CSC plate — the grade you need if the box will ever travel by sea or road freight.
- CSC-certified for transport
- Wind & watertight
- Some cosmetic wear
Wind & Water Tight
Best value$$
Keeps weather out and locks up tight, with honest cosmetic dents and surface rust. Not certified for shipping, but perfect — and affordable — for on-site storage.
- Dry & secure inside
- Cosmetic dents/rust OK
- Great storage value
Used / As-Is
Lowest cost$
The cheapest way in. Sold in whatever condition it’s in, so inspect carefully (see below) — you may find a bargain or a project.
- Lowest price
- Condition varies widely
- Inspect before you commit
Shipping it internationally? Make sure it’s cargo-worthy with a current CSC plate — more on dry boxes on our standard containers page.
Budget
What does a 10ft container cost?
Price depends on condition, your region, how far it’s delivered, and current supply. Use these typical ranges to plan, then get real numbers from local suppliers.
Delivery is usually quoted separately and is driven mostly by distance from the supplier’s depot. These are general planning estimates, not a quote — your exact price comes from suppliers in your area.
Smart buying
7 things to check before you buy
A quick once-over — in person or via clear photos and video — saves you from costly surprises. Walk through these before you pay.
The floor
Marine-ply floors hide rot. Press for soft spots and look for holes, water stains, or patched sections — a bad floor is expensive to fix.
Doors & seals
Open and close both doors fully. They should swing freely and the locking bars seat smoothly. Stiff doors often mean the box is racked (twisted).
Rust
Surface rust is cosmetic; flaking, bubbling, or rust you can push a screwdriver through is structural. Check the door frame and the underside.
The roof
Shine a phone light up from inside in the dark to spot pinholes, and look for dents that pond water — a common cause of future leaks.
Wind & watertight
Close the doors and stand inside. Daylight or a draft around the seals means it won’t stay dry.
CSC plate
Only matters if you’ll ship it. A valid, in-date CSC plate confirms the box is certified cargo-worthy for transport.
Smell & residue
A strong chemical smell can mean it carried something you don’t want near your goods. Trust your nose.
Delivery day
Getting your 10ft delivered — and placed right
A 10ft usually arrives on a tilt-bed (roll-off) truck that slides it off the back onto the ground. A few minutes of prep makes drop-off smooth.
- Clear the pathAllow around 60 ft of straight, clear space for the truck to back in and tilt (more for longer trucks), plus overhead room — no low wires or branches.
- Firm, level groundGravel or concrete is ideal. On soft dirt or grass, trucks can sink and the box won’t sit level.
- Set it on supportsPlace the container on railroad ties, concrete blocks, or piers at the four corners. This keeps it level, lets air move underneath, and protects the floor from ground moisture.
- Pick your door directionDecide which way the doors should face before delivery — rotating a placed container means paying for another truck.
- Plan for condensationSealed steel can “sweat.” If you’ll store anything moisture-sensitive, ask about passive vents or insulation.
Standard or High Cube
Do you need the extra foot?
10ft containers come in two heights. High Cube adds a full foot of headroom for the same footprint.
- Standard (8 ft 6 in) — the common, lower-cost choice for general storage.
- High Cube (9 ft 6 in) — worth it for tall equipment, shelving, or any conversion where headroom matters; an office or workshop feels far less cramped.
High Cube can be harder to find in a 10ft and costs a bit more — confirm availability when you request quotes.
Buy with confidence
Verified suppliers, scored before you choose
ContainerMondo is a connector platform — we don’t sell or own containers. Instead, we list verified suppliers across all 50 states and give each an independent ContainerMondo Score, built from web reputation, verified business details, and track record, so you can compare on more than price.
- Reputation from across the web
- Verified business details & inventory
- Track record & complaint history
Compare
See how the sizes stack up
Not sure 10ft is the one? Compare it against the other popular sizes.
FAQs
10ft container questions, answered
Yes. “One-trip” units are effectively new — manufactured recently and shipped just once. They cost more than used but arrive near-spotless, which is ideal for conversions or customer-facing builds.
Because 10ft boxes aren’t mass-produced, and many are fabricated by cutting down a 20ft, which adds labor. Supply is also thinner. If you have the space and access, it’s worth comparing 20ft prices too.
Plan for about 60 ft of straight, level clearance for a tilt-bed truck, with no low wires or branches overhead. Firm ground — gravel or concrete — keeps the truck from sinking.
A wind- and watertight box stays dry inside. Surface rust is cosmetic; the things to watch are roof dents that pond water and worn door seals. Our inspection checklist above covers what to look for.
You don’t need a poured foundation, but you should set the box on blocks or ties at the corners so it sits level and the floor stays dry. Permit rules vary by city and HOA — check locally before you buy.
Standard (8 ft 6 in) suits most storage. Choose High Cube (9 ft 6 in) if you need extra headroom for tall items or a conversion. High Cube is rarer in a 10ft, so confirm availability when you request quotes.
Yes. A 10ft is light enough to relocate with a single tilt-bed truck, which is part of why it’s so popular for temporary sites and changing plans.
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