Most container suppliers quote the container price only — delivery is always a separate line item, and it's one of the most common budget surprises. A 20ft container that looks like a great deal at $2,200 can end up costing $3,800 delivered if you're 200 miles from the nearest depot. Here's the full cost picture before you get a quote.
Shipping container delivery cost — at a glance
Local delivery (under 50 miles)
$200 – $600
Regional delivery (50–250 miles)
$500 – $1,500
Long-distance (250+ miles)
$1,500 – $5,000+
Crane placement (if needed)
$800 – $2,500 extra
In this guide
How container delivery works
Standard container delivery uses a tilt-bed (roll-off) truck. The truck backs up to your site, tilts the bed, and slides the container off onto the ground. This is the cheapest method — no crane, no special equipment — but it has site requirements: you need enough clear space behind the truck for the container length, roughly level ground, and surface firm enough that the truck won't sink or the container won't shift.
When standard tilt-bed delivery isn't possible due to site constraints, trees, slopes, or precision placement requirements, a crane or side-lifter truck is used instead. This adds significant cost but allows placement in spots a tilt-bed can't reach — over fences, onto elevated foundations, or in tight clearances.
A few things to know before your supplier quotes delivery:
- Delivery is quoted from the supplier's nearest depot, not their main office — ask which depot your container ships from
- Most suppliers charge by the mile above a base delivery radius (commonly 50 miles free or flat-fee)
- Rural delivery often requires a relay — one driver drops at a transfer point, another handles the last mile
- Wait time ("demurrage") is charged if the driver has to wait at your site; have the placement spot ready before they arrive
Cost by distance
Distance from the supplier's depot is the primary cost driver. Most suppliers use a tiered structure with a flat fee up to 50 miles, then a per-mile rate beyond that — typically $2–$5 per mile for a 20ft container, $3–$7 per mile for a 40ft.
Always get a delivered price — not just the container price
A supplier 30 miles away quoting $2,800 delivered may be cheaper overall than one at $2,200 that's 200 miles from your site with a $900 delivery fee. Never compare container prices without including delivery in the total. Ask every supplier: "What's the total delivered price to [your zip code]?"
Extra costs to budget for
Beyond the base delivery charge, several additional costs catch buyers off guard. Not every delivery involves these, but you should ask about each one before finalizing a quote.
Crane or side-lifter placement
$800 – $2,500
Required when tilt-bed access is blocked by trees, tight spaces, slopes, or fences — or when you need the container placed on a foundation or elevated pad. Crane pricing varies by rental duration; most placements take 2–4 hours. Get this confirmed before scheduling if your site has any access complexity.
Site inspection or failed delivery
$150 – $400
If the driver arrives and can't complete delivery — due to insufficient clearance, soft ground, unexpected obstacles, or a gate that doesn't open — you'll typically be charged a failed delivery fee plus rescheduling. Measure your access route and confirm truck clearance requirements before the delivery day.
Driver wait time (demurrage)
$50 – $150 per hour
Drivers have tight schedules. If they're waiting for you to arrive, for a gate to be unlocked, or for ground prep to be finished, that time gets billed. Have your placement spot ready — cleared, marked, and accessible — before the scheduled window.
Gravel pad or foundation prep
$200 – $2,000+
Not a delivery fee, but a prerequisite that affects it. If your ground is soft or uneven, the container won't sit level and the tilt-bed can get stuck. A gravel pad or concrete piers is the standard solution. This work needs to be done before delivery — not after.
Permit fees
$0 – $500+
Oversized load permits may be required for container transport, particularly on state highways. Most suppliers handle this and fold the cost into the delivery fee — but confirm this is included, especially for cross-state deliveries.
Fuel surcharges
5 – 20% of delivery fee
Many carriers add a fuel surcharge that fluctuates with diesel prices. This is usually disclosed in the quote but sometimes added at invoicing. Ask if the quoted delivery price is all-in or subject to fuel surcharge adjustment.
What Carriers Actually Require — A Real Example
Published clearance figures vary widely across the industry, which makes it hard to know what you're actually planning against. The most useful reference point is a carrier's own published policy. Shipped.com publishes theirs, and the numbers are worth knowing because they're operational requirements rather than estimates.
| Requirement | Shipped.com's published standard | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Straight-line clearance — 20ft container | 60 ft minimum | The truck must unload and drive forward unobstructed |
| Straight-line clearance — 40ft & 45ft | 100 ft minimum | Turning during unloading shifts the container and can damage the trailer |
| Tractor-trailer maneuvering room | Space for a 75 ft rig | Heavy trucks need a wider turning radius than normal vehicles |
| Height & width to move a container | 14 ft minimum, both | Gates, branches, and structures along the whole route |
| Height to unload | Up to 20 ft | The tilt bed raises to slide the container off — this is the figure people miss |
| Minimum road standard | A maintained 2-lane county road | Below that, the truck may not be able to reach the site at all |
| Time allotted on site | 30 minutes | Overage billed at $95/hr (40ft & 45ft) or $75/hr (20ft) |
Source: Shipped.com Shipping Container Delivery Guidelines and Policies. Requirements vary by carrier and equipment — always confirm with your own supplier before scheduling.
⚠️ The 20-foot overhead figure is the one that catches people
Most buyers plan around the height of the truck. The number that matters is the height of the tilt bed raised, which can reach 20 feet. Tree limbs, power lines, phone cables, carport roofs and gate arches that clear a moving truck fine will stop an unloading one. This is basic physics rather than one company's policy, so treat it as a general planning figure regardless of who delivers.
The ground condition problem — delivery trucks are not 4x4
This single fact explains most failed deliveries. Container delivery trucks are heavy road vehicles built for dry, compacted surfaces. Off sealed roads they lose traction and get stuck.
| Generally acceptable | Unsuitable |
|---|---|
| Asphalt · Concrete · Compacted dirt (dry) · Gravel (dry) | Loose dirt · Wet or muddy ground · Sand · Grass over soft soil · Ice and snow · Steep inclines or declines · Sloping surfaces · Drains, ditches and trenches |
The drop site and the route to it also need to be clear of rocks, stumps, debris and tree limbs that could damage equipment. If bad weather is forecast for your delivery date, or the ground is still wet from earlier rain, reschedule — a stuck truck becomes your problem, not the carrier's.
What happens if the driver refuses the site
Drivers walk the drop site on arrival and assess it. If they judge it unsafe or inaccessible, they won't proceed. The consequences are worth knowing before delivery day rather than during it:
| Scenario | Typical consequence |
|---|---|
| Driver deems site unsuitable, you have a backup spot | Container is placed at the next closest suitable location. Best outcome — have a plan B identified in advance. |
| You insist the driver attempts an unsafe site | You'll be asked to sign a waiver accepting responsibility for container damage, additional time charges, and vehicle recovery costs if the truck gets stuck. |
| Delivery can't be completed, no alternative agreed | Container returns to the depot and the delivery fee is not refunded. |
| You refuse delivery outright | Refund of the container purchase price less a 10% restocking fee, plus any shipping, trucking, rail, surveying, forklift, depot, port and payment processing fees already incurred. |
| Driver exceeds the allotted time on site | Hourly charges apply — in Shipped.com's case $95/hr for 40ft and 45ft, $75/hr for 20ft. |
Three things that make delivery day go smoothly
Identify a backup drop site in advance. If the driver rejects your first choice, having a second option turns a failed delivery into a minor adjustment. Have two people on site as spotters if there are overhead wires or low branches anywhere near the route. Be reachable by phone and make sure the path is clear of parked vehicles — including your neighbors', so tell them it's coming.
Site requirements that affect delivery cost
Most delivery problems — and extra costs — come from site access issues the buyer didn't flag in advance. Walk through this checklist before scheduling your delivery.
A tilt-bed truck needs a clear straight-line run to unload and drive forward — commonly around 60ft for a 20ft container and 100ft for a 40ft, though this varies by carrier and equipment. Measure your driveway, gate width (14ft is a common minimum), and any overhead obstacles — branches, power lines, awnings — along the entire delivery route.
Tilt-bed trucks are heavy. Soft, muddy, or sandy ground can cause the truck to sink or the container to shift during placement. A compacted gravel base (6–8" of ¾" crushed stone) is the most common fix. Dry, firm soil usually handles delivery fine.
The container needs to be placed on relatively level ground — within 1–2% grade. Significant slope causes doors to bind and can stress the container frame over time. If your site is sloped, gravel pads, concrete piers, or steel stands are used to level the final resting position.
Residential streets often have weight limits that flatbed trucks exceed. Rural roads can have similar restrictions. If your driveway has a steep or narrow curb cut, confirm the truck's turning radius and height clearance. Flag any issues to the supplier before scheduling.
Tilt-bed trucks can raise to around 20ft during unloading — significantly higher than the truck's travel height. Power or phone lines lower than that — which is common in residential areas — require the utility company to briefly raise the lines, or a crane-only delivery. Call 811 (US) to flag underground utilities before any grading too.
Delivery cost by container size
Larger containers cost more to transport — they require longer trucks, are heavier, and are harder to maneuver on tight sites. The difference is meaningful but not dramatic for local delivery; it gets more significant over longer distances.
| Container size | Local (<50 mi) | Regional (50–150 mi) | Long haul (300+ mi) | Crane add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10ft container | $150–$350 | $350–$700 | $1,200–$2,500 | $600–$1,500 |
| 20ft container | $200–$600 | $500–$1,000 | $1,500–$3,500 | $800–$2,000 |
| 40ft container | $300–$800 | $700–$1,400 | $2,000–$5,000 | $1,000–$2,500 |
| 40ft high cube | $300–$800 | $700–$1,400 | $2,000–$5,000 | $1,000–$2,500 |
Regional cost differences
Where you are in the US significantly affects delivery cost — not because of distance alone, but because of port proximity, depot density, and how many drivers service your area.
West Coast (CA, OR, WA)
Local delivery: $200–$500
High depot density near major ports (LA, Long Beach, Seattle, Oakland). Among the most competitive delivery pricing in the US for buyers near these hubs. Gets expensive quickly once you move inland toward Nevada, Idaho, or eastern Oregon.
Northeast (NY, NJ, MA, CT)
Local delivery: $250–$600
Good depot access near Port Newark and Boston. Urban delivery can be harder to schedule due to traffic restrictions and tight access — expect premiums for deliveries in dense metro areas or those requiring specific time windows.
Southeast (FL, GA, SC, TX Gulf)
Local delivery: $200–$550
Strong supply near Savannah, Charleston, Houston, and Miami ports. Florida and the Texas Gulf Coast tend to be well-served. Inland Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi see higher rates due to fewer local depots.
Midwest (IL, OH, MI, MN)
Local delivery: $350–$750
Farther from port cities means higher baseline delivery costs. Chicago is a notable exception with good rail intermodal access. Rural Midwest — especially anything off major interstates — can run $800–$1,500 for what looks like a regional delivery.
Mountain West (CO, UT, MT, WY, ID)
Local delivery: $500–$1,200
Among the highest delivery costs in the US. Limited depot density, long distances between population centers, and difficult terrain all drive costs up. Remote mountain properties can hit $2,000–$4,000 just for delivery on a 20ft container.
Rural / remote (any region)
Add 40–100% to regional rates
Gravel roads, unpaved access, narrow lanes, and significant distance from paved highways all add cost — sometimes dramatically. If the driver can't get a standard tilt-bed truck to your property, you're looking at crane-only delivery or building a temporary access pad.
Total delivered cost examples
To make this concrete, here are realistic all-in delivered costs combining container price and delivery for common buyer scenarios.
| Scenario | Container price | Delivery | Extras | Total delivered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Used 20ft near port city, flat suburban lot | $2,000–$2,800 | $250–$450 | — | $2,250–$3,250 |
| Used 40ft, 100 miles from depot, rural property | $2,800–$3,800 | $700–$1,100 | Gravel pad: $400 | $3,900–$5,300 |
| New 20ft, 50 miles out, crane placement needed | $4,500–$6,000 | $400–$600 | Crane: $1,200 | $6,100–$7,800 |
| Used 40ft, Mountain West, 200 miles from depot | $2,800–$4,000 | $1,200–$2,000 | Permits: $200 | $4,200–$6,200 |
| New 40ft HC, cross-country, crane on difficult site | $6,000–$8,000 | $3,000–$5,000 | Crane: $2,000 | $11,000–$15,000 |
How to reduce delivery costs
A supplier may have locations in multiple states — always ask which depot your container would ship from. Buying from a company with a nearby depot beats buying from one whose closest stock is 300 miles away, even if the container price looks lower.
At distances over 150 miles, it's worth contacting independent container transport companies (search "container transport [your state]") for a separate delivery quote. Suppliers often mark up third-party transport by 20–30%.
Failed deliveries and driver wait time are among the most avoidable extra costs. Have your site cleared, graded, and accessible — and give the supplier an accurate description of your access route (gate width, overhead clearances, surface type) before scheduling.
Suppliers often discount delivery if you accept a flexible window (e.g., any day within a two-week period). This lets them combine your delivery with others in your area, reducing their cost — and yours.
If you're buying two or more containers, you may be able to negotiate a single delivery trip. Suppliers can sometimes load two 20ft containers on one truck, cutting your combined delivery cost significantly versus two separate trips.
How to get an accurate delivery quote
When you call for a delivery quote, have this information ready — suppliers need all of it to give you a firm number:
- Your delivery address and zip code (full address, not just city)
- Container size and quantity — 20ft, 40ft, high cube, etc.
- Site surface type — paved driveway, gravel, grass, dirt
- Driveway or access width — minimum needed is 10–12ft
- Driveway length and any turns — can a 60ft truck navigate your entrance?
- Overhead clearances — low-hanging trees, power lines, awnings
- Whether a crane will be needed — confirm this upfront; it changes the quote entirely
- Desired delivery window — flexible vs specific date
Compare container prices before locking in a supplier
Shipped.com shows new and used container prices from local suppliers with depot locations — useful for identifying which supplier is actually closest to you before you factor in delivery. Compare a few quotes with delivery included before deciding.