AM Shipping Containers spells out how it grades and delivers containers

AM Shipping Containers laid out its 47-point inspection, container grading system and delivery process for buyers ordering online without seeing a unit first. The Austin company also published 2026 pricing guidance, including delivered-cost ranges, size comparisons and planning steps for projects from storage to container homes.

Why it matters: - Buyers are often choosing a shipping container sight unseen, so grading, photos and delivered pricing determine whether the unit fits the job and the budget. - The company’s guidance is aimed at residential, commercial and modification buyers who need to compare new, used and refurbished containers before committing. - Clear standards matter because the same container can be priced very differently once delivery, taxes, distance and condition are included.

What happened: - AM Shipping Containers, an Austin supplier of new and used shipping containers, published guidance on how it classifies, inspects, photographs and delivers its units. - The company says every container goes through a proprietary 47-point inspection before listing. - The company also published 2026 pricing guidance on July 17, 2026, and says its figures reflect national averages in the first quarter of 2026. - The company lists stock online and delivers across the United States, with service also available to Canada, Mexico and parts of the Caribbean.

The details: - The company lists five common sizes: 10ft, 20ft, 40ft, 40ft high cube and 45ft. - A 10ft container measures 10 by 8 feet and 8 feet 6 inches tall, with 80 square feet. - A 20ft container measures 20 by 8 feet and 8 feet 6 inches tall, with 160 square feet. - A 40ft container measures 40 by 8 feet and 8 feet 6 inches tall, with 320 square feet. - A 40ft high cube keeps the same footprint but rises to 9 feet 6 inches tall. - A 45ft container measures 45 by 8 feet and 9 feet 6 inches tall, with 360 square feet. - AM Shipping Containers defines a high cube as one foot taller than a standard container and otherwise identical. - The company says the extra foot helps with insulation and finished ceilings in offices, homes, workshops and garages. - The company says a 20ft unit fits on a standard delivery truck, while a 40ft unit gives twice the length for roughly 40% more money. - On its Texas page, the company describes its stock as the full range of ISO shipping container sizes. - The company’s guides sort containers into four main condition grades: new or one-trip, cargo worthy, wind and watertight, and as-is. - A new or one-trip container has typically been used once to move cargo from overseas and arrives with original paint and minimal wear. - A cargo worthy container is structurally sound, weather-tight and the company’s top used grade. - A wind and watertight container is sealed against weather but may not meet shipping certification. - An as-is container is sold in current condition and may have dents, rust or other cosmetic issues. - The company also lists refurbished units that have been repaired and repainted. - AM Shipping Containers says cargo worthy units meet a structural inspection standard and are fit for continued ocean service. - The company says cargo worthy units have verified structural integrity, functional door hardware, sound flooring and a passing pressure test for wind and water. - The company says wind and watertight units are guaranteed only against water intrusion and usually show more cosmetic and mechanical wear. - The company recommends new units for container homes, accessory dwelling units, offices, retail and other projects that permit officials will inspect. - The company recommends used units for storage, rural and agricultural sites, short-term needs and projects where savings will fund modifications. - The company says used 20ft cargo worthy containers average $1,600 to $2,400 in 2026. - The company says used 20ft wind and watertight containers average $1,400 to $2,100 in 2026. - The company says new 20ft one-trip containers average $3,400 to $4,600 in 2026. - The company says 40ft cargo worthy containers average $2,200 to $3,300. - The company says 40ft wind and watertight containers average $1,900 to $2,900. - The company says new 40ft one-trip containers average $4,700 to $6,200. - The company says a high cube adds about $400 to $600 to each 20ft figure and $300 to $500 to each 40ft figure. - The company says most residential and small-business projects land at $1,600 to $7,500 for the container itself, and $2,500 to $9,500 delivered within 100 miles of a major depot once taxes are added. - The company says its figures are national averages drawn from live inventory, verified competitor listings and depot pricing across the top 15 U.S. container markets in the first quarter of 2026. - The company says individual quotes vary by depot, distance, condition and market timing. - Specialty pricing in the guide includes used 20ft reefers at $6,500 to $9,500 and new 20ft reefers at $18,000 to $26,000. - The guide prices used 20ft open-side containers at $4,500 to $6,500. - Flat racks are available on special request. - The company says a 10-year ownership comparison for a 40ft storage unit gives a net cost of $3,789 for a used cargo worthy unit and $3,885 for a new one-trip unit. - On that calculation, the company concludes that a new unit is usually the better financial choice for owners who plan to keep a container 10 years or more and care about appearance. - The company says most buyers should compare delivered prices, not just unit prices. - The guide’s delivery estimate is $150 to $350 for a 20ft unit and $200 to $450 for a 40ft unit within 25 miles of the depot. - The company says most residential deliveries within 100 miles of a depot run $400 to $900. - The company routes every quote through the depot closest to the delivery address. - Single 20ft and 40ft units are delivered on a tilt-bed truck that lowers the container to ground level in one placement. - Multi-container deliveries, stacked builds, modified units and hard-to-reach sites use a flatbed truck with a crane. - The company asks buyers to decide the exact placement spot and door direction before delivery day. - The company’s site checklist calls for firm, level ground, at least 100 feet of straight approach, 14 feet of overhead clearance and an adult on site to accept delivery. - In Texas, the company says Houston and the Gulf Coast run 10% to 15% below national-average depot prices, while Dallas and Fort Worth sit near the national average. - The company says 20ft standard units are Texas’s most requested size, 40ft standard units are the default for construction and oilfield work, and 40ft high cubes are the choice for container homes and conversions. - The company says county and city rules control container permitting in Texas and advises checking with the local permit office before delivery. - The planning checklist calls for confirming use case, condition grade, size, height, delivery access, permitting, an itemized quote, lead time and a separate modification budget.

Between the lines: - The pricing data shows how much total project cost can shift once delivery and taxes are added to a container purchase. - The company’s emphasis on exact photos, inspection results and unit-specific listings reflects the risk of buying a used container online without an in-person check. - The guide’s ownership comparison suggests the cheapest upfront option is not always the lowest long-term cost.

What's next: - Buyers comparing quotes are likely to focus more on delivered cost, not depot price alone. - Projects that need permits, modifications or long-term use will likely lean toward new or one-trip units. - Buyers using containers for basic storage or short-term needs may continue to favor lower-cost used grades.

The bottom line: - AM Shipping Containers is positioning inspection, documentation and delivered pricing as the key factors in container buying, not just the sticker price on the box.