Did you know that the shipping container industry was valued at $8.70 billion in 2019? According to official statistics, the shipping container industry transported 275 million metric tons of goods shipped around the world in 2020.
The shipping container industry is one of the most versatile industries globally. Whether you’re using a shipping container for the transport of goods, storage, or construction, you’re unlikely to find a more durable piece of kit.
If you’re in need of a shipping container, you might be asking yourself questions about renting vs. buying. In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about renting and/or buying a shipping container, so you can make the best decision for your needs.
Overview of Renting vs. Buying
Many factors go into the decision to rent vs. buy a shipping container. The most important factor you’ll need to consider is time. How long will you be using your shipping container?
Price is a second factor but can vary significantly. Depending on what you’re using your shipping container for, you should be considering the overall condition of the container.
Finally, what are you using your container for? Shipping containers aren’t just for sending goods around the country and world. Many companies use a shipping box as a temporary office.
Some people even turn a shipping container into a tiny house! Get as much detail as possible about your shipping container needs before choosing to rent or buy.
Renting Benefits and Things to Consider
If you’re working on a short-term construction project, then renting a shipping container might be the best bang for your buck. If you don’t want the hassle of storing your storage container after you complete your project, then renting is definitely the best option for you.
Short-Term or Temporary Needs
Does your office need more space on an interim basis? Are you moving across the country and need to ship all of your goods in one go? Do you need to store something for less than six months?
Along with short-term construction project needs, if the answer to any of the above is “yes” then renting is the best option for you. Storage containers are secure and weatherproof. To find available options, try searching for “steel storage containers near me.”
Pricing
Renting a shipping container can add up financially and fast. The US government has introduced new legislation to help curb the cost of shipping containers. The legislation focuses on the delivery of products around the US.
If you’re looking to extend your office space, it can be significantly cheaper to rent a shipping container office than to sign a lease in an existing building. So long as you have the space to keep the container, this is a very viable option.
Buying Benefits and What to Keep in Mind
Along with being a great shipping solution, shipping boxes are great materials for permanent structures. One town in California is considering building an entire food court out of shipping containers!
Buying and converting shipping containers into permanent structures is often more cost-effective than traditional building methods. For example, the price of lumber and timber has more than tripled in the last year. So, what are the benefits of buying a shipping container?
When considering the acquisition of a container, it’s essential to weigh the advantages of new versus used options. New containers offer the promise of pristine condition and longevity, while used containers provide a more cost-effective solution without significantly compromising on quality or durability. This decision can be pivotal for businesses looking to make a sustainable investment or for individuals embarking on innovative construction projects. Ensuring you choose the right supplier can make all the difference in securing a container that best suits your needs.
Business Investment
Are you working on a long-term construction project? While you might think that buying a set of steel shipping containers for a project is a big cost, remember that you can always sell the shipping box after you’re done using it!
Steel storage containers are fantastic for organization, storage, and shipping. Obviously, if your business focuses on shipping, you should have your own fleet of containers. These are your best asset!
Buying a new shipping container is one option at your disposal. The other is to buy used containers. The used options are usually cheaper. For construction projects, where dings and dents and aesthetics aren’t so important, buying is your best bet.
The best thing about owning a shipping container is that you can customize them how you please. Shipping containers can be a very affordable means of marketing. Painting your company logo on the side will show off your business to anyone who passes by.
Consider Maintenance
Owning a shipping container means you’re in charge of upkeep. While steel containers are highly durable, if you’re not converting the container into a permanent structure, you should keep up on any instances of rust.
Maintaining your container ensures your goods inside stay safe. Repairs to these hulking steel structures can be costly.
If you’re using your container for transit, regular maintenance means you’re more likely to extend the duration of certification. Regular checks of the container are necessary but don’t take long.
Start with the roof and work your way down. The roof is arguable the most important part of the container. Leaks at the top can destroy the entirety of your container.
Regular treatment of your container should keep things tip-top. Containers are designed to survive monstrous storms out in the open ocean. They’re not flimsy or weak by any means!
Cost Differential
Again, renting a shipping container can often be cheaper than buying one outright. This is especially true if you only need a shipping container for short-term use.
Buying a shipping container might add a few zeroes to the initial cost. However, you’ll almost certainly save in the long term.
Whether you’re buying or renting, take delivery fees into account. Usually, these fees are one-time payments.
Finding the Right Containers
While the benefits of renting a shipping container typically revolve around ease and duration of use, really think about the pros and cons of renting vs. buying before making a decision. You can always rent to own!
If you want to know more about shipping containers and more, check out more of the articles on our website.
Wear and Tear
Shipping containers often take a beating, traveling around the world, being exposed to freezing conditions, and rust due to seawater or when the frost has melted.
During the cold season, and in freezing parts of the world, our shipping container tool can benefit the opening of frozen shipping container doors in freezing conditions and hard to open or rusted containers once the winter has ended.
Injuries often occur as a result of personnel trying to open and close difficult container doors, often the result of inappropriate techniques being used to open them.
Shipping container doors are not typical doors and there are 4-5 hinges per door. The hinge pins must be lined up correctly for the doors to be free to fully open and close.
Here are some likely reasons a frozen shipping container door will not open or close. Our tool helps to address these issues.
- The container frame is racked so that the door gear will not operate correctly. This may be caused by cargo shifting during transit. Look at the container to make sure that the doors are aligned and level, both top and bottom.
- The hinge pins and blade are seized due to corrosion.
- The door gasket has been damaged and is preventing opening. Door gaskets are designed to present two or more fins against the structure or adjacent door. These are generally flexible but when the gasket is damaged, they may become hard or blocked thus jamming the door closed, or preventing it being closed.
- Water has become trapped between the doors and frozen, particularly relevant to refrigerated cargoes, or containers with moisture releasing cargoes in cold weather.
Please be sure to read OPNBar Extended Instructions & Precautions
This leverage tool uses the principles of leverage to do the difficult work. By providing an extended area on which to grasp, with both hands, a more stable platform to manipulate the latch handle is achieved.
Designed to fit and extend the door latch handles on side by side doors found on the following units with the safety of the truck driver, operator, and worker foremost in mind:
- Dismountable Shipping Cargo Containers
- Refrigerated Shipping Cargo Containers
- Semitrailer Dry Freight Cargo Vans
- Semitrailer Refrigerated Freight Cargo Vans
This intermodal container (also known as ISO Container or Conex Box) cargo inspection tool and leverage safety bar is to aid in opening and closing side-by-side doors found within Dismountable Shipping Cargo Container Transportation Industries (Railroad, Harbor, and Trucking Industries).
Eliminates the Need for a crescent wrench, screwdriver, hammer, and crowbar which are commonly needed/used to open stuck frozen shipping container doors.
Related: Injuries from Opening/Closing Hard to Open/Close Shipping Container Doors