FAQ

Containers arrive on a tilt-bed truck, which slides the container off the back. That means the truck needs a straight, level run at the drop point:

• 20ft container: 110 feet of straight clearance from the drop point
• 40ft container: 130 feet of straight clearance from the drop point

The truck needs at least 15 ft of height to drive, at least 22 ft of height along the entire unloading path, and at least 10 ft of width. Low utility lines, tree limbs and roof overhangs can stop a delivery. If you are unsure, describe the approach when you ask for a quote so it can be reviewed before anything is scheduled.

Watch a delivery: container delivery video.

Price depends on the size, grade and condition you choose, on what is in stock, and on the distance and access to your address, so there is no single statewide number. The starting prices on this site name the grade and the city they apply to. For your address, the quote form or a phone call gets you a written quote with delivery details.

Warranty runs by grade: one-trip units carry a 10 year structural and 10 year no-leak warranty, cargo worthy and wind and water tight units carry a 5 year structural and 5 year no-leak warranty, and economy units carry a 1 year roof leak warranty. The warranty travels with the grade you buy, so if warranty length matters to you it is worth comparing grades before you compare prices.

We sell containers. We do not rent them. Rent-to-own runs through a third-party partner, My Container Rental, and spreads the payments until you own the container. Our rent vs buy guide walks through when each path makes sense.

As of September 30, 2026, pricing starts at $1,860 for a 20ft Wind and Water Tight container delivered in Milwaukee and at $2,258 for a 40ft Wind and Water Tight container delivered in Milwaukee. Your final quote depends on size, grade, availability, ZIP and access.

There is no single answer for every parcel. Start with the Uniform Dwelling Code resources from the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, then confirm local zoning, placement and permit requirements with the city, village, town or county that governs the address.

Container One requires 110 feet of straight unobstructed space for a 20ft container and 130 feet for a 40ft container, plus at least 15 feet of height to drive, 22 feet of height along the unloading path and 10 feet of width. The delivery team reviews the actual site.

Yes. Container One's Delivery/Dispatch department schedules a date and time after payment is received and the site is reviewed. There is no fixed delivery window, and timing depends on location, payment, weather and other factors.

It may be possible, but the parcel still needs a local land-use and access review. Confirm the town, village or county rules, road condition, culverts, overhead lines and the set-down surface.

Wind and Water Tight is a practical starting point for dry storage, while Cargo Worthy and One-Trip may make more sense when condition, appearance or future conversion matters. The written quote identifies the grade.

Madison has a street occupancy process for moving and storage containers. Its official guidance says street placement is limited to five consecutive calendar days and cannot use a terrace, traffic lane, bike lane or other restricted area.

We do not promise a fixed window. The actual timing depends on location, when payment is received, weather and other factors.

A conditioned or occupied use can trigger building, zoning, energy, electrical and plumbing review. Describe the planned use to the local building department and a qualified design professional before ordering a modified unit.

Rent-to-own is available through a third-party partner. Ask for the written terms, including the size, grade, delivery details and payment conditions.

• One-trip: made one loaded ocean crossing. Clean floors, intact paint, close to new.
• Cargo worthy: certified fit to carry cargo at sea. Structurally sound, cosmetically used.
• Wind and water tight (WWT): inspected to confirm the doors seal, there are no holes, and the interior stays dry. Surface rust, paint wear and minor dents are normal.
• Economy: the lowest grade we sell. Weathered, and priced accordingly.

For a grade-by-grade walkthrough, see the container condition guide.

It depends on what the container is for. If it is going to be seen, lived in, or converted, the clean interior and intact paint save real work later and the 10 year structural and 10 year no-leak warranty is the longest available. If it is going behind a shed to hold equipment, a wind and water tight unit does the same job for less.

We offer 20ft standard, 40ft standard and 40ft high cube containers, plus modified containers and refrigerated units in 20ft and 40ft.

Personnel doors, roll-up doors, windows, vents, skylights, electrical wiring and a panel, LED lighting, insulation, spray foam, HVAC, shelving, workbenches and exterior paint. Insulation and HVAC choices depend on the climate the box will sit in: Wisconsin is heating dominated, with cold winters, snow and large seasonal swings. The Northwoods have longer and colder winters than the southern cities. A conditioned container needs a deliberate roof, floor and air-sealing plan. A storage box that is not conditioned still needs ventilation, level support and drainage.

A reefer has a refrigeration unit built into one end. It runs on a 460V 3-phase supply, or a compatible generator where 3-phase power is not available, and holds anywhere from -25 degrees F to +70 degrees F. The walls are insulated as part of the original build, not retrofitted.

Wisconsin ground ranges from glacial clay and sand to alluvial soil, gravel and wet organic material. The same spot can be firm in late summer and soft after the spring thaw, so drainage and a firm landing surface under each corner matter as much as the container itself.

For temporary placement: Set a storage container on firm, level bearing under all four corner castings. Compacted gravel, concrete or sound treated timbers can work when the ground drains and the support stays even. Keep the doors square and the floor out of standing water.

For permanent placement or a conversion: Have the local code official and a qualified design professional determine the foundation, anchoring, drainage and any structural changes. Do not assume a farm field, driveway or existing slab carries the same point loads as a container corner.

Frost depth: Confirm the required frost protection depth with the local building department and design professional under the adopted Wisconsin code. The depth is not a substitute for soil, drainage and anchoring design.

Southern Wisconsin combines urban fill, heavy soils and farm ground. Western coulees add grade, while northern sites add frost, snow and long unpaved approaches. The common answer is a level, drained bearing surface designed for the actual site.

At a minimum, make the placement area level and firm, and clear debris, rocks and brush out of the way. Confirm the straight run the truck needs, and look up for lines and limbs. Soft ground can delay a delivery: a loaded truck can sink, so the driver may wait for the ground to dry. Describe the site in your quote request so it can be reviewed before delivery is scheduled.

The box itself is corrugated Corten steel. The lock is the weak point, so use a hidden shackle lock, sometimes called a puck lock, inside a lockbox welded over the handle. Ask whether the selected unit has a lockbox fitted.

The recurring signs are a price far under the market, a seller who will not let the container be seen or photographed, payment demanded by wire transfer or crypto, no verifiable business identity or contact route, and pressure to decide today. A real dealer will give you a phone number, answer questions before payment, and put the quote in writing.