Shipping Container Hire in NZ
Hire a 10ft, 20ft or 40ft container for a renovation, a building site or seasonal storage. Published 20ft hire rates ran from $90 to $276 a month in October 2026, plus delivery and pick-up. Here is how hire works and what to check.
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Published rates, October 2026
What container hire costs
20ft on-site hire
$90 to $276 a month, median $145 a month, from six published rates by five suppliers. GST is excluded or not stated. Used containers hire for less than new ones: one supplier lists used 20ft units from $120 and new units from $175 a month plus GST.
40ft on-site hire
$129 to $260 a month excl. GST, from three published rates by two suppliers. One supplier lists used 40ft units from $170 and new units from $260 a month plus GST. Few hire companies publish 40ft rates, so expect to ask for a quote.
10ft on-site hire
Only one supplier published a 10ft rate: $3.73 a day excl. GST, about $113 a month, with a 12-month minimum term. Small units are scarce in hire fleets, so ask early if your section or driveway only takes a 10ft.
Storage at a supplier yard
If you do not have room on site, some yards rent a 20ft for you to fill on their premises. Published rates ran from $217 to $274 a month excl. GST ($249 to $315 incl. GST). No delivery is involved, but you travel to the yard to load and unload.
These figures come from the hire section of the Shipping-Containers.co.nz NZ price index, October 2026. Hire suppliers publish far fewer prices than sellers, and several of the largest hire fleets publish none at all and quote each enquiry. Treat the ranges as a guide to what is reasonable, then compare quotes for your address.
How it works
How container hire works in New Zealand
Step 1
Choose the size and grade
The 20ft is the size most hire suppliers publish rates for, and it suits household goods during a move or a builder’s tools and materials. A 40ft container suits bulk stock and machinery, while a 10ft container fits tight driveways. Hire fleets usually offer used units at the lower rate and newer units at a higher one.
Step 2
Delivery to your site
The supplier delivers the container on a HIAB, swinglift or tilt tray truck and sets it down where you agreed. Delivery is charged separately; one supplier takes it in the first payment. Check that the truck can reach the spot, and read our delivery and site access guide before the booking.
Step 3
Monthly or daily billing
Rates are quoted per day, per week or per month. Daily rates are usually billed monthly. Most suppliers set a minimum term, from one month to 12 months, and you pay for that period even if you finish early. Ask who insures the container and who insures the contents, and check your home or business policy.
Step 4
Pick-up at the end
When you finish, the supplier collects the container for a separate pick-up fee, so ask for that figure in writing at the start. Expect to return the container empty and swept, and keep the same truck access clear until it has gone. Check the hire terms for any cleaning or damage charges.
| Supplier type and area | Size | Published rate | Minimum term | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National hire and sales supplier | Not specified | As low as $3.00 a day; $90 a month standard grade 20ft | Two months for most hires | Extra |
| National hire company | 10ft / 20ft / 40ft | $3.73 / $3.04 / $4.24 a day excl. GST | 12 months | Not priced |
| Hire yards in Auckland and Waikato | 20ft used / new | From $120 / $175 a month + GST | Not stated | Extra, taken in the first payment |
| Hire yards in Auckland and Waikato | 40ft used / new | From $170 / $260 a month + GST | Not stated | Extra |
| West Auckland hire yard | 20ft, standard / premium grade | $170 / $190 a month + GST | Minimum charge of one month | From $360 + GST |
| Northland hire business | 20ft | $75 a week or $276 a month (GST not stated) | Not stated | Not included |
Minimum terms and what they mean
The minimum term is the shortest period you pay for. Published minimums ranged from a one-month minimum charge at an Auckland yard to two months at a national supplier and 12 months at another hire company. A low daily rate with a 12-month minimum can cost more for a three-month job than a higher rate with a short minimum. Work out the total for your expected hire period, including the minimum, before you compare rates.
Weekly rates are rarely published. The only supplier weekly figure we found was $75 a week for a 20ft. If you need a container for a few weeks, for example during a house move, ask for the total for that period including delivery and pick-up.
Delivery and pick-up fees
Hire is quoted as two moves: delivery at the start and pick-up at the end. One West Auckland hire yard publishes delivery from $360 + GST to West Auckland, the North Shore and the central city, and $160 + GST per hour from the yard for addresses further afield. On a short hire these two transport fees can cost more than the rent itself. Our guide to shipping container transport costs lists the other published examples.
If the container has to sit on the road or footpath, you will usually need a permit from the council or, in Auckland, Auckland Transport. Your hire supplier can tell you whether they arrange it.
Hire or buy?
At the median rate of $145 a month, the hire cost of a 20ft reaches the median price of a used B grade 20ft ($3,200 excl. GST) after about 22 months, before delivery is counted. Once delivery and pick-up are included, buying a used container usually wins after about 20 months. The full arithmetic, with new and used scenarios, is in our hire vs buy guide. Some suppliers also offer rent-to-own, where part of the hire payments counts toward buying the container. If you are unsure, ask for hire and purchase quotes side by side for the same address.
What to ask before you hire
- Is the rate per day, week or month, and is it incl. or excl. GST?
- What is the minimum hire term, and what happens if you finish early or need to extend?
- What do delivery and pick-up cost to your address, and which truck will be used?
- Is a bond required? One 2026 article on Christchurch hire quoted bonds of $200 to $500; we did not find bond figures on the supplier hire pages we reviewed.
- What grade is the container, and can you see photos of the actual unit?
- Is a lockbox fitted, and who supplies the padlock?
- Who insures the container and who insures the contents?
- Can the container be moved during the hire, and what does a relocation cost?
For long hires of household goods, ask about vents and moisture absorbers. Containers can sweat in a damp NZ winter, and our condensation guide explains how to keep the contents dry.
Building sites
Site storage and workshops
Builders hire containers for tool and material storage that can be locked overnight. See our page on site storage and workshop containers for sizes and layouts.
Offices
Site offices
Fitted containers with windows, power and lighting are used as site offices and lunch rooms. Read about container site offices and what the fit-out involves.
Your region
Hire near you
Hire suppliers deliver mainly from their own yards, so local supply matters. Find your city or region on our shipping containers near me page.
Request hire quotes for your address
Tell us the size, how long you need it and where it is going. We pass your request to hire suppliers who service your area, and they quote you directly.
Get a hire quoteFAQ
Container hire questions
Published on-site hire rates for a 20ft ran from $90 to $276 a month in October 2026, with a median of $145 a month, GST excluded or not stated. Published 40ft rates ran from $129 to $260 a month excl. GST. Delivery and pick-up are charged on top and often cost more than one month’s hire.
Few suppliers publish weekly rates. The only supplier weekly figure we found was $75 a week for a 20ft. Daily rates are more common, from $3.04 to $6.30 a day excl. GST for a 20ft, depending on grade and supplier. Most suppliers bill monthly and set a minimum term, so ask for the total for your full hire period.
Usually, yes. Published minimums range from a one-month minimum charge at an Auckland yard to two months at a national supplier and 12 months at another hire company. You pay for the minimum even if you return the container early. A low daily rate with a long minimum can cost more for a short job than a higher rate with a short minimum.
No published hire rate we found included transport. One West Auckland yard charges from $360 + GST for delivery to nearby suburbs and $160 + GST per hour for addresses further away. Expect a similar fee for pick-up at the end of the hire. Ask for both fees in writing with your hire quote.
Some NZ suppliers offer rent-to-own, where you pay monthly and own the container at the end of the agreed term. Ask for the total you will pay over the term, how much of each payment counts toward the purchase, who insures the container in the meantime and what happens if you stop paying early. Compare that total with buying outright.