Shipping Container Prices in New Zealand: 2026 Guide
A new 20ft shipping container had a median asking price of $4,830 incl. GST in October 2026, and a used B grade 20ft $3,680 incl. GST. This guide explains what moves those numbers, what delivery adds and how to compare quotes on the same basis.
Backed by the team behind Shipping-Containers.com.au
Current prices at a glance
The table below summarises the Shipping-Containers.co.nz NZ price index, October 2026, which is built from 137 published asking prices collected on 12 October 2026 from Trade Me listings and supplier price lists. Prices are ex yard, which means the container is sitting at the seller’s depot and delivery is extra. Where a bucket has fewer than five data points we show a range rather than a median.
| Container | Typical price incl. GST | Typical price excl. GST | Data points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10ft new or one-trip | Median $4,995 | Median $4,343 | 7 |
| 20ft new or one-trip | Median $4,830 (middle half $4,590 to $5,290) | Median $4,200 | 51 |
| 20ft used, wind and watertight or B grade | Median $3,680 (middle half $2,990 to $4,000) | Median $3,200 | 15 |
| 20ft used as-is (C or D grade) | $1,495 to $3,220 | $1,300 to $2,800 | 3 |
| 20ft high cube new | Median $5,395 | Median $4,691 | 13 |
| 40ft standard used, B grade | $3,500 to $5,060 | $3,043 to $4,400 | 4 |
| 40ft high cube new | $6,999 to $10,595 | $6,086 to $9,213 | 4 |
| 40ft high cube used, B grade | $3,000 to $6,595 | $2,609 to $5,735 | 3 |
| 20ft side-opening | Median $11,122 | Median $9,672 | 12 |
Price drivers
What drives a shipping container price in NZ
Size
Size: 20ft is the price anchor
The 20ft is the most traded size, so it has the most competitive pricing. Smaller is not cheaper: most 8ft and 10ft units are cut down from a 20ft, and the median new 10ft ($4,995 incl. GST) sits slightly above the median new 20ft. A 40ft gives twice the floor area for a smaller step up in price, but needs more room on the truck and on site. Our 20ft vs 40ft comparison works through the trade-off.
Condition
Condition: new, used or as-is
New or one-trip containers have made a single voyage from the factory and look close to new. Used containers have years of service behind them; in October 2026 the median used B grade 20ft was about $1,150 below the median new one. As-is units are cheapest but may need repairs. For storage of farm gear a sound used box is often enough; for a sleepout or a visible site a new or one-trip container saves repair and paint work later.
Grade and height
Grade labels and high cube height
Sellers use labels such as A grade, B grade, wind and watertight, cargo worthy and ex-lease, and these labels are not standardised across New Zealand. Ask what the grade means in that seller’s terms and for photos of the actual unit. Height also costs money: a new 20ft high cube, about 30 cm taller, had a median of $5,395 incl. GST, about $565 more than a standard 20ft. See shipping container grades explained.
Location
Location: where the container sits
Containers arrive through the ports and are trucked to depots, so prices vary by region. The North Island median for a new 20ft was $4,830 incl. GST and the South Island median $4,795, but individual asking prices ran from $4,230 in Waikato, Wellington and Hawke’s Bay to $5,850 in Wanaka. Buying from a depot near you usually also cuts the delivery bill.
GST: check which price you are looking at
GST in New Zealand is 15%. Trade Me trade sellers show GST-inclusive prices, while many supplier websites and quotes show prices plus GST. A container advertised at $4,200 + GST costs $4,830 incl. GST, so the two can look very different for the same box. Private sellers on Trade Me are not GST-registered and their asking price is the final price.
If you are GST-registered and buying for your business, compare excl. GST figures, because you can usually claim the GST back. Households should compare incl. GST figures. Either way, put every quote on the same basis before you compare them, and make sure delivery is shown on the same basis too.
Delivery
Delivery is quoted per address
None of the prices in our index include delivery. NZ suppliers and transport operators quote each address because the cost depends on distance, truck type and access. Published examples include $300 within Auckland and $950 to Tauranga for one seller using its own trailer, and from $360 + GST for hire deliveries in parts of Auckland. Our guide to shipping container transport costs lists every example we found.
Modifications
Modifications add more than you might expect
Comparing plain and modified units from the same sellers on Trade Me shows what extras cost: a roller door added $3,310 to a one-trip 20ft, a side door and window added $3,800, and a window with a ranch slider added $6,900, all incl. GST. A replacement pair of container doors was advertised at $559 + GST. See container modifications before you budget for a fit-out.
Exchange rate and freight
The NZ dollar and freight move new prices
New containers are built in China and priced in US dollars, so a weaker NZD makes them dearer. The NZD was at US$0.5601 on 12 October 2026, down about 2.3% over the year, and freight from China to NZ reached an 18-month high in August 2026. Factory prices for standard boxes eased in the first half of 2026. The price index market drivers section has the detail.
Total cost examples from published figures
The examples below combine the median prices from our index with published delivery and modification figures. They are arithmetic, not quotes. Two delivery figures did not state a GST basis, so we show the total both ways. Your own price will depend on the unit, the seller’s depot and your site.
| Example | Container (median, incl. GST) | Delivery (published example) | Extras | Total incl. GST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New 20ft delivered within Auckland | $4,830 | $300 | None | $5,130 (or $5,175 if the $300 is excl. GST) |
| Used B grade 20ft delivered to Tauranga | $3,680 | $950 | None | $4,630 (or $4,773 if excl. GST) |
| New 20ft with roller door delivered to Hamilton | $4,830 | $500 | Roller door difference $3,310 | $8,640 (or $8,715 if excl. GST) |
| New 20ft high cube delivered to Kerikeri | $5,395 | $1,100 | None | $6,495 (or $6,660 if excl. GST) |
How to compare container quotes
Two quotes for “a 20ft container” can describe very different things. Before you compare totals, check that each quote covers the same product and the same work.
- Size and height: 20ft standard, 20ft high cube, 40ft standard or 40ft high cube. Ask for internal dimensions if fit matters.
- Condition and grade in the seller’s own words, with photos of the unit you will receive, not a stock image.
- Container price, with GST shown as incl. or excl.
- Delivery as a separate line, the truck type (HIAB, swinglift or tilt tray) and what access the price assumes.
- Placement: which way the doors will face and whether the driver will set the container on your pad or sleepers.
- Extras: locks, vents, shelving or any modification, each priced separately.
- Payment terms, deposit and when the container is available.
If you are buying a used container, our used container buying checklist covers doors, seals, floors and rust. For a short project, hiring can cost less than buying; the break-even maths is in our hire vs buy guide. When you are ready, request quotes for your address and we pass the request to suppliers who service your area.
Australian readers or importers comparing markets can look at what containers cost in Australia, which uses a similar cost breakdown.
Saving money
Ways to keep the total down
Match the grade to the job
A wind and watertight used container is enough for most farm, garden and tool storage. Pay for new or one-trip condition when appearance matters or when you plan to cut openings and fit out the inside, since repairs and repainting add cost later.
Buy from a nearby depot
Delivery is quoted by distance and time. A container that is slightly dearer at a depot near you can cost less delivered than a cheaper unit several hours away. Ask each supplier which depot the unit will come from.
Make access easy
A clear, firm and level approach lets the supplier use the simplest truck. Tight sites, soft ground and overhead lines can mean a HIAB or extra time on site. Read our delivery and site access guide before you book.
Hire for short projects
Published 20ft hire rates had a median of $145 a month in October 2026, with GST excluded or not stated. For a renovation lasting a few months, hiring usually costs less than buying once delivery and pick-up are included.
Compare delivered prices for your site
Tell us the size, condition and delivery address. We send the request to container suppliers who service your area, and they quote you directly.
Get a free quoteFAQ
Shipping container price questions
In October 2026 the median asking price for a new or one-trip 20ft was $4,830 incl. GST, and for a used wind and watertight or B grade 20ft $3,680 incl. GST. New 40ft high cubes were listed from $6,999 incl. GST. These are ex yard prices from our quarterly price index; delivery is extra and depends on your address and site access.
Used 20ft containers in wind and watertight or B grade ranged from $2,200 to $5,578 incl. GST, with half of them between $2,990 and $4,000. As-is units in C or D grade started at $1,495 incl. GST. Used 40ft standard containers were listed at $3,500 to $5,060 incl. GST. Ask for photos of the actual unit before you pay.
Usually not. All prices in our index are ex yard. Suppliers quote delivery per address because the cost depends on distance, truck type and access. Published examples range from $300 within Auckland to $1,100 to Kerikeri for one seller. Ask for delivery as a separate line in every quote, with the GST basis stated.
Many suppliers quote business customers excl. GST. Add 15% to compare with a GST-inclusive price: $4,200 + GST is $4,830 incl. GST. Trade Me trade sellers show GST-inclusive prices, and private sellers do not charge GST at all. GST-registered businesses can usually claim the GST back, so they compare excl. GST figures.
In 2026 two forces pushed in opposite directions. Factory prices for standard boxes eased in the first half of the year, while freight from China to NZ rose and the NZD fell to about US$0.56 by October. Both of those raise the landed cost of new containers. Our price index is updated quarterly, with the next edition due in January 2027.