How to Inspect a Used Shipping Container Before You Buy: A 7-Point Checklist
A practical 7-point checklist for inspecting a used shipping container: CSC plate, exterior, doors and seals, the light test, floor, roof and smell — so you buy a sound box.
Quick answer
To inspect a used shipping container, check the container number and CSC plate, walk the exterior for holes and heavy rust, open and close both doors and check the seals, do a light test from inside with the doors shut, walk the floor for soft spots, and look at the roof for pinholes and leaks.
Key takeaways
- The light test is the fastest way to find holes: any daylight means a leak.
- Roof and bottom rails rust first — check them closely.
- Doors that won't close by hand are a costly fix; walk away or negotiate.
- Ask for recent photos of the actual unit if you can't inspect in person.
Grades like Cargo Worthy and Wind & Watertight tell you what a container should be. An inspection tells you what it is. This checklist takes about 15 minutes per unit, and it's the same one our team uses before we release a container.
The 7-point used container checklist
- 1Check the paperwork. Match the container number on the doors to the quote, and read the CSC safety plate for manufacture date, maximum gross weight and examination details.
- 2Walk the outside. Look for holes, deep dents, cracked welds and heavy rust — especially on the roof, the bottom side rails and around the corner castings.
- 3Test the doors. Both doors should open and close fully by hand, with locking bars that turn and engage. Check the rubber seals for tears or missing sections.
- 4Do the light test. Step inside, close the doors and wait for your eyes to adjust. Any daylight coming through means a hole that will let water in.
- 5Inspect the floor. Walk the whole floor. Marine plywood should feel solid, with no soft spots, delamination or chemical stains.
- 6Check the roof from inside. Look up for pinholes, dents that collect water, and rust streaks that signal a leak.
- 7Smell it. A strong chemical or damp smell suggests contamination or past water ingress — ask about the box's history.
What is a CSC plate and what should it show?
The CSC Safety Approval Plate is fixed to the door end under the IMO's International Convention for Safe Containers.aspx). It records the container's approval, date of manufacture, maximum gross weight and stacking and racking values, plus either a next-examination date or an approved continuous examination programme (ACEP) reference. For a container that will ship again, the plate details must be valid.
How much rust is acceptable on a used container?
Containers are built from weathering (Corten) steel, which forms a protective surface layer, so surface rust is normal on used units. What matters is structural rust: flaking, holes, or rust that has eaten into the roof panels, bottom side rails or corner posts. Surface rust can be treated and painted; structural rust means repairs or a different box.
| Finding | Severity | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Light surface rust, faded paint | Cosmetic | Normal for used grades; paint if appearance matters |
| Small dents in side panels | Cosmetic | Acceptable if no holes or cracked welds |
| Daylight in the light test | Serious | Reject, or require repair before delivery |
| Soft or delaminating floor | Serious | Floor repair or a different unit |
| Doors won't close by hand | Serious | Repair or reject |
| Roof dents holding water | Moderate | Future leak risk — negotiate or choose another |
Want photos of the exact unit before you buy? Ask us — we'll send them with your quote.
Request a quote with photos
