Expert comparison guides for container procurement decisions. Buying vs leasing, SOC vs COC, new vs used, and container size comparisons from MG-Atlantic.
Container Comparison Guides
Structured decision frameworks to help you choose the right container format, ownership model, and procurement strategy.
- Worldwide sourcing
- Leasing & sales options
- Tailored recommendations
- Swiss-based execution
- Buying vs Leasing a Container, Full cost-of-ownership analysis and a decision framework to guide your procurement strategy.
- 20DC vs 40HC: Which Format to Choose?, Dimensions, payload capacity, and cost-per-CBM comparison to select the right container format.
- SOC vs COC Leasing Explained, Understand the core difference between Shipper-Owned and Carrier-Owned container programs.
- New vs Used Containers, Grade-by-grade analysis, price differentials, and practical fit criteria for equipment condition.
- CW vs WWT Containers, Cargo Worthy vs Wind & Watertight, inspection criteria, transport eligibility, US pricing, and how to pick the right grade.
- One Trip vs Cargo Worthy, New (One Trip) vs used Cargo Worthy containers, lifespan, corrosion, ROI and use cases for US buyers.
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- What comparison guides are available?
- Six pillar comparison guides cover the core purchase and leasing decisions in the container market: 20DC vs 40HC (size decision by cargo density), buying vs leasing (break-even calc and CAPEX/OPEX trade-off), CW vs WWT containers (grade-fit-for-use), new vs used shipping containers (Brand New / One-Trip vs used-fleet economics), one-trip vs cargo worthy (premium vs standard grade), and SOC vs COC leasing (structural cost model for shipper-owned vs carrier-owned containers). Each guide is written for decision-makers who need concrete numbers, not marketing generalities.
- Which guide should I read first?
- Start with the decision closest to your immediate need. If you're procuring your first container: read 20dc-vs-40hc-container-size, then container-grades-explained (via resources), then buying-vs-leasing. If you're comparing leasing structures: SOC-vs-COC-leasing and one-way vs long-term leasing. If you're upgrading a fleet: new-vs-used-shipping-containers plus one-trip-vs-cargo-worthy. Read the size guide first, grade and use-case choices depend on which size envelope your cargo requires.
- How are guides different from resources?
- Guides are HEAD-TO-HEAD comparisons: they answer a binary or ternary decision question (20DC vs 40HC, CW vs WWT, buy vs lease). Resources are REFERENCE material: they define terms and standards without arguing for one option (container grades explained, size guide, buying guide, CSC plate explained, delivery guide, site preparation, container types explained, one-way leasing explained). Use guides when you're stuck between options; use resources when you need a definition or checklist. See the /resources hub for the reference material.
- Do the guides cover pricing?
- Yes, pricing is embedded in every guide as concrete USD ranges (per size, per grade, per delivery mode, per lease term), because container decisions cannot be evaluated without landed-cost comparison. Sticker price is only 60-75% of the landed cost; guides show the delta and how to compute the full picture. Prices are indicative and vary by port supply, the guides give the ratios and the reasoning, not a live quote.
- What if my situation isn't covered by the standard comparisons?
- The six comparison guides cover the 90% of buyer/lessee decisions. Edge cases, 45HC European road transport, refrigerated containers, tank containers, open-top, flat-rack, side-doors, half-height, are outside the current scope but can be quoted directly. If your project involves a specific route (e.g. Houston to Lagos SOC one-way (one-way) leasing) or a specific vertical (industrial storage, event production, container home construction), the comparison logic in the guides still applies, pick your size by cargo density and your grade by load path, then adjust for the niche constraint.