Chicago has loads of container traffic in, around, and through the city; and if you want to buy  used cargo container you can find some cheap deals, provided you know the best places to look for them!.  There are a few steps to buying a container that you'll need to think through before you get too far into the process.  Following these steps will make things a lot easier for you in the long run: 1) What do you plan on doing with the container? (we're assuming it's a longer term use >12 months) 2) Where is the best place to find a used container? 3) How do you get it from the depot to your location?

What do you plan on doing with the cargo container?

Before you purchase a container, (for reference, they can also be called a sea can, connex box, cargo container, shipping container) you’ll need to think about what you intent to use it for, as the use will dictate the size, condition, and mechanical features of the container that you need.

Some popular uses for shipping containers in/around Chicago include:

• Storage units on farms, ranches, or similar industrial uses,
• Portable storage units, both residential and commercial,
• Hunting cabins - they can be converted quickly and easily,
• Modular housing components,
• Job site offices and workshops on construction sites or oil fields,
• Bug out shelters,

Shipping containers most commonly are manufactured in 20′ and 40′ lengths, and are 8' wide and 8.5' tall.  However, you can also find “high cube” containers that are the same length and width, but they are 9.5' tall.  It's not common to find used 20' high cubes, but used 40' high cubes are available in many markets.

Where is the best place to find a used container in Chicago?

Shipping containers in Chicago are a hot item, and available inventory and price really depends on the time of year.  Lots of shipping and logistical hubs are located in Chicago because it's situated at a cross roads from the East to the West.  With this in mind, you can bet that you’ll find the cheapest containers if you look in the right places.  If you're moving the containre to other parts of Illinois, or the surrounding states you’ll need to pay for transportation costs, so just because you find a cheap shipping container there may be a little more in the total cost. 

There are many companies that sell containers to residential and commercial users, and they can be found in Google and in the Yellow pages.  There are also two popular online portals for buying and selling shipping containers, and they’re eBay.com and ContainerAuction.com. ContainerAuction.com specializes in shipping containers and has focused searches on many cities, including Chicago.  Check here for a quick look at available shipping containers in Chicago.

How Do You Get a Cargo Container?

Before delivery you will want to prepare your location for the container.  Some people put a  stone foundation in place, others go for something more permanent and put down concrete footings.  Regardless of what you choose, the ultimate goal is to keep the container dry and away from constant water.

Shipping container delivery usually takes place on two types of trucks: a flatbed truck, or a tilt bed truck.  Container delivery on a flatbed truck is a little less expensive, but you will need a fork lift or crane on site that can take the container off the chassis.  A tilt bed truck needs no fork lift and simply drops the container right on your site.

Once you get your shipping container on the ground you’ll want to give it a quick walk around once or twice a year to monitor for any paint flaking or chipping, corrosion, or other signs of aging.

That’s it! Shipping containers make great storage units for homes or farms, and throughout Chicago you can easily find a cheap container for sale.