Container ship at port

    Container Solutions

    20ft & 40ft Shipping Containers for Sale & Lease

    Global supplier of new & used 20ft, 40ft and 40ft High Cube containers. Available from major ports worldwide with fast quotation and transparent pricing.

    Trusted by operators in 87 countries • Direct depot access • SOC leasing available

    Shipping Container Types

    Standard, high cube and open top formats, available for sale or lease worldwide.

    20ft Standard Container (20DC)

    20ft Standard Container (20DC)

    Volume: 33.2 m³ • Payload: 28,280 kg

    The 20ft dry container is the most traded intermodal unit worldwide. Ideal for dense cargo, export shipments, and storage applications.

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    20ft High Cube Container (20HC)

    20ft High Cube Container (20HC)

    Volume: 37.4 m³ • Payload: 28,250 kg

    The 20ft High Cube adds one foot of internal height on the same 20ft footprint — about 12% more volume than a 20DC. A niche unit with patchy depot availability.

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    40ft High Cube Container (40HC)

    40ft High Cube Container (40HC)

    Volume: 76.3 m³ • Payload: 26,540 kg

    The 40ft High Cube offers extra headroom for voluminous cargo. It is the most popular container type for SOC one-way leasing worldwide.

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    40ft Standard Container (40DC)

    40ft Standard Container (40DC)

    Volume: 67.7 m³ • Payload: 26,700 kg

    The 40ft standard container doubles loading capacity, making it the preferred choice for full container loads on major trade lanes.

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    20ft Open Top Container (20OT)

    20ft Open Top Container (20OT)

    Volume: 32.5 m³ • Payload: 28,130 kg

    A 20OT loads from above, by crane or overhead gantry, which no closed container allows.

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    Buying in volume

    Containers by the lot

    For dealers, resellers and fleet buyers: one quote on the full quantity, grade confirmed in writing, units released together.

    Plan your load

    Will it fit in a 20DC or a 40HC?

    Estimate the volume, weight and floor space of your goods, and check them against a 20DC and a 40HC, door opening included.

    Container Size Comparison

    Compare key specifications of our most traded container formats.

    20ft Standard Container (20DC)

    Dimensions (L × W × H)
    6.058 × 2.438 × 2.591 m20' × 8' × 8'6"
    Volume
    33.2 m³1,172 ft³
    Max Payload
    28,280 kg62,347 lbs
    Best For
    Heavy cargo & compact shipments

    40ft High Cube Container (40HC)

    Dimensions (L × W × H)
    12.192 × 2.438 × 2.896 m40' × 8' × 9'6"
    Volume
    76.3 m³2,694 ft³
    Max Payload
    26,540 kg58,511 lbs
    Best For
    Maximum cubic capacity

    40ft Standard Container (40DC)

    Dimensions (L × W × H)
    12.192 × 2.438 × 2.591 m40' × 8' × 8'6"
    Volume
    67.7 m³2,390 ft³
    Max Payload
    26,700 kg58,863 lbs
    Best For
    Standard high-volume shipments

    Applications

    Common Container Applications

    Shipping containers serve a wide range of commercial and industrial needs beyond standard cargo transport.

    Export & Import Cargo

    The primary use case for sea-worthy containers. Suitable for FCL shipments across all major trade lanes.

    Best for: New, CW, IICL grades

    Depot & Port Storage

    Cost-efficient container storage at depots and terminals between operations.

    Best for: CW, As-Is grades

    Construction Site Storage

    Secure, weatherproof on-site storage for tools, equipment, and materials.

    Best for: CW, As-Is grades

    Industrial & Chemical Storage

    Controlled storage for industrial goods requiring structural integrity and weather protection.

    Best for: New, CW, IICL grades

    SOC One-Way Operations

    Shipper-owned containers used for one-way logistics programmes, reducing repositioning costs.

    Best for: New, CW grades

    Conversion & Modular Projects

    Container conversion into offices, shelters, pop-up structures, or modular builds.

    Best for: CW, As-Is grades

    Condition Grades

    Choose the Right Container Grade

    Grade determines price, export suitability, and intended use. Understanding the difference protects your investment.

    Cargo Worthy

    $$Most popular
    ✓ Sea-worthy

    Structurally sound and suitable for international sea transport. May have cosmetic wear such as surface rust, dents or patches.

    Recommended for

    Standard export shipments, one-way leasing, general cargo

    Key characteristics

    • Best value for money. Most popular grade for export
    • Approved for international sea voyage
    • Cosmetic wear acceptable, structural integrity intact
    • Valid CSC plate required

    Suitability assessment

    Sea transport
    Storage
    Conversion
    Budget level

    MG-Atlantic recommendation

    This grade is certified for international sea transport and intermodal operations.

    Full breakdown of all container grades

    Detailed comparison, photos, and use-case guidance

    Learn about container grades

    Worldwide Operations

    Global Container Stock Locations

    MG-Atlantic delivers 20ft and 40ft shipping containers to every major trade lane worldwide. Our established network of depots at international ports ensures real-time depot inventory and fast container positioning. Whether you require containers for one-way leasing, long-term fleet programmes, or outright purchase, our logistics partners provide reliable container repositioning across all continents. From port terminals in Asia and Europe to emerging corridors in Africa and Latin America, we maintain active stock and dedicated support for global operators.

    87

    Countries

    6

    Continents

    193

    Partners

    Active Regional Coverage

    Africa

    Extensive coverage across West, East, and Southern Africa. Regular container deliveries to Abidjan, Lagos, Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, Durban, and inland depots. Strong focus on emerging trade corridors.

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    Latin America

    Deep coverage across Central and South America. Reliable deliveries to Santos, Buenos Aires, Callao, Cartagena, and key Caribbean hubs. Growing network supporting intra-regional trade.

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    North America

    Access to major US and Canadian ports. Baltimore, New York, Houston, Dallas, or Toronto with extensive rail and trucking connections.

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    Asia

    Comprehensive access to all major manufacturing hubs. Shanghai, Qingdao, Ningbo, Ho Chi Minh City, and key Southeast Asian gateways.

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    Middle East

    Strategic positioning across Gulf and Levant ports. Jebel Ali, Jeddah, Sohar, and Dammam with growing inland capabilities.

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    Europe

    Full coverage across major European ports and inland terminals. Hamburg, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Genoa, and Piraeus with seamless intermodal connections.

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    Container Leasing & One-Way Solutions

    In addition to container sales, MG-Atlantic provides flexible leasing solutions including one-way SOC programmes and long-term fleet deployment.

    FAQ

    Frequently Asked Questions

    The container catalog focuses on the three standard dry types that carry over 85% of world container traffic: 20DC (20 ft dry, industry workhorse for dense heavy cargo, 33 m³ interior, MGW 24 t), 40DC (40 ft standard-height dry, 67 m³ interior, MGW 30-32 t), and 40HC (40 ft high-cube dry, with one extra foot of interior height, 76 m³ interior, MGW 30-32 t, now dominant in new-build production). All three follow the ISO 668 standard for interchangeable dimensions and lifting points. Niche and specialized types (10DC, 45HC, refrigerated, tank, flat-rack, open-top) exist but are quoted case-by-case rather than catalogued here, see the container-types-explained resource for the full taxonomy.
    Three metrics matter for most decisions. Footprint: 20DC is 6.06 m long, 40DC and 40HC are both 12.19 m long. Height: 20DC and 40DC share the same 2.59 m exterior height; 40HC adds a foot on top for 2.90 m exterior (2.70 m interior). Volume: 20DC = 33 m³, 40DC = 67 m³, 40HC = 76 m³. Road-legal payload: 20DC handles about 21-22 t, 40DC and 40HC both handle 26-27 t (same chassis limits, the extra volume of 40HC does not come with extra weight allowance). See the container-size-guide resource for the full dimensions matrix and the 20dc-vs-40hc-container-size guide for the size-vs-cost decision framework.
    Dense heavy cargo (machinery, tiles, canned goods, bottled liquids): 20DC, you'll hit the road-legal weight limit before filling the box, so paying for extra volume adds no value. Light voluminous cargo (textiles, furniture, packaged consumer goods): 40HC, the extra 30 cm of interior height and larger volume lower your cost per cubic meter shipped. Standard mixed freight, height-restricted routes: 40DC still fits some corridors (double-stack rail with 2.59 m clearance) where 40HC cannot pass. For modification projects (site cabin, workshop, container home), 40HC dominates because the interior height changes the ergonomics dramatically. Full decision framework in the 20dc-vs-40hc-container-size and buying-vs-leasing guides.
    The catalog focuses on standard dry types because they represent the bulk of demand and follow uniform pricing, availability and delivery patterns. Specialized types have distinct economics: refrigerated (reefer) containers require power and monitoring during transit and are quoted per route and cargo profile. Tank containers require type-specific inspection cycles depending on cargo class (food-grade, chemical, gas). Flat-rack, open-top, half-height and side-door units serve project cargo with unique lashing, coverage and access constraints. These are quoted case-by-case, the underlying decision logic (size vs density, grade vs load path) from the standard guides still applies as a starting point.
    The live inventory is browsable on the container-stock section by region and city, active depot units are surfaced there in real time with location and grade. For a formal quote, share your target city or port, the size and grade you need, and whether you want purchase or lease (one-way (SOC, one-way) or long-term). A depot-level response usually returns within 24 hours with landed cost including inland transport, taxes and any modification. If you don't yet know the right size and grade, work through the 20dc-vs-40hc-container-size guide first, then container-grades-explained, then container-buying-guide, the answers converge quickly on the right specification.

    Resources

    Guides & Resources

    Go deeper on container specifications, compliance, and commercial options.

    20ft Standard Container (20DC)

    Technical specs, grades, pricing factors, and global availability for the most traded container format worldwide.

    View 20DC

    20ft High Cube Container (20HC)

    Same 20ft footprint with 9'6" height and about 37 m³ — the niche high-cube format when ground space is fixed but you need extra volume.

    View 20HC

    40ft High Cube Container (40HC)

    Maximum cubic volume for light and bulky cargo. Full specs, use cases, and availability across MG-Atlantic's partner depot network.

    View 40HC

    Container Buying Guide

    A complete step-by-step guide covering grades, sizes, pricing, CSC compliance, and how to source containers efficiently.

    Read the guide

    Container Stock by Region

    Browse available stock by region, country, and depot location across MG-Atlantic's global network.

    View stock

    Request Your Container Quote

    Get fast quotations with access to our global depot network. Whether you need to buy, lease, or ship one-way, MG-Atlantic delivers.