Hiring Vs Buying: What’s the Best Option for Your Storage Needs?

21 January 2026

Clients often ask us if it’s better to buy or hire a shipping container. In this article we explore the various points you should consider when deciding whether to hire or purchase a shipping container.

What Shipping Container Hire Actually Includes

When you hire a shipping container from us, everything is kept simple and flexible.

Your container is delivered to your site and offloaded into position. All hire containers come with:

Double doors at one end
A secure lock box (shrouded area for a padlock)
Marine-treated timber flooring
Built-in ventilation

We can also supply a padlock if required.

You can keep the container for as long as you need it. When you’ve finished with it, simply give us a call and we’ll arrange collection. If you know you will need the container long term, you can commit to one of our longer minimum hire periods at a cheaper rate.

You will not own the container, but if you do wish to purchase it during the hire, give us a call and this is usually possible at a favourable price.

What Buying a Shipping Container Actually Means

Buying a shipping container means you own the asset outright.

We deliver the container to your site, offload it into position, and from that point on it’s yours to use as you wish. Ownership gives you full flexibility, including the option to:

Fit shelving or electrics
Modify doors or access
Repaint the container to suit branding or surroundings

Repaints can also be arranged before delivery if preferred.

Shipping containers also hold a strong second-hand resale value. If your requirements change in the future, containers can often be sold on, and we regularly buy back units from customers who no longer need them.

Cost Comparison: Hire vs Purchase

If you require a container for a project, the duration may determine whether hire or purchase is the better option for you. We have listed a couple of examples below for container hire in Suffolk:

Example 1: 6-Month Hire vs Purchase (Ipswich)

Hire – New 20ft Container

Hire: £12.00 per week for 6 months = £312.00 + VAT
Delivery to Ipswich: £250.00 + VAT
Collection: £250.00 + VAT
Total project cost: £812.00 + VAT
(or £135.33 + VAT average per month)

Purchase – New 20ft Container

Container: £1,950.00 + VAT
Delivery: £250.00 + VAT
Total cost: £2,200.00 + VAT

Example 2: 12-Month Hire vs Purchase (Haverhill)

Hire – New 20ft Container

Hire: £9.00 per week for 12 months = £468.00 + VAT
Delivery to Haverhill: £285.00 + VAT
Collection: £285.00 + VAT
Total project cost: £1,038.00 + VAT
(or £86.50 + VAT average per month)

Purchase – New 20ft Container

Container: £1,950.00 + VAT
Delivery: £285.00 + VAT
Total cost: £2,235.00 + VAT

When purchasing, it’s important to remember that the container remains your asset at the end of the project and can be reused or resold.

When Hiring a Shipping Container is the Better Solution

Shipping container hire is often preferable in certain scenarios, for example: short term projects, seasonal overflow, construction projects. These types of projects tend to have a limited timeframe and at the end of the project you may no longer need to have a container on hire.

Hiring a shipping container can also spread the cost of storage for you. If you don’t have the cash or want to spend a larger amount up front, paying monthly for your container hire may be more suitable.

When Purchasing a Shipping Container is the Better Solution

If your need for storage is long term, or permanent, purchase may be the better option for you. You have the advantage of owning the asset – you can consider this an investment given that they retain a strong second hand value.

We have a full range of shipping containers for sale in various sizes and conditions, with particularly large stocks in Suffolk. As standard we stock new and second hand containers from 8ft long to 40ft long. Our Felixstowe depot is open for viewings by prior appointment if you wish to view the stock.