Container Condition Grades: A Texas Buyer's Guide

Why Condition Grade Matters

The condition grade determines how long a container lasts. It also determines whether you can convert the unit, whether valuable equipment can be stored inside, and whether the visible cosmetics matter for your application.

The grade hierarchy below runs from most worn to most pristine. Container One supplies every container and arranges its delivery.

Economy

The lowest grade we sell. A used container that has been retired from active shipping but has not been certified to a specific standard. Expect:

• Surface rust on most external panels.
• Paint chipping, faded original branding, evidence of multiple repaints.
• Dents and dings on side walls and roof. None should be deep enough to compromise structural integrity.
• Floor wear: original plywood with industrial residue, possible burn marks, possible patches.
• Door hardware functional but stiff.

Best for: Rough storage on a working ranch or jobsite, where appearance is not a factor and the unit will be locked and forgotten. Not recommended for storage of valuable, rust-sensitive, or moisture-sensitive contents without ventilation upgrades.

Appearance: Visible rust streaks, chipped paint, repaired patches. Doors close and seal but show wear. The unit is unmistakably second-hand.

Wind and Water Tight (WWT)

WWT is a condition grade for used containers. It means the container is structurally sound and guaranteed not to leak. Specifically: Container One provides the warranty. Written warranty terms.

• Door seals checked and confirmed weatherproof.
• Roof inspected for holes, dents, and rust through-spots.
• Floor inspected and confirmed structurally sound. May show wear but no rot, no holes, no soft spots.
• Walls inspected and confirmed solid. Surface rust and cosmetic dings are acceptable.
• Door hardware functional.

WWT is not the same as Cargo Worthy. WWT confirms the container will keep your contents dry. Cargo Worthy means the container can pass a marine survey to be re-certified for shipping by sea or rail.

Best for: General storage, contractor jobsite tools, ranch and farm equipment, household goods during a renovation, on-site materials during construction.

Appearance: External panels show some surface rust and cosmetic wear, but doors close cleanly, seals look intact, and the interior is dry. The unit looks used but functional.

Cargo Worthy (CW)

Cargo Worthy is a structural grade, not just a cosmetic one. That means:

• All structural members (corner castings, side and end frames, undercarriage) inspected and confirmed sound.
• Walls, roof, and floor confirmed weatherproof and load-rated.
• Door hardware tested.

For storage, CW works much like WWT. Pricing sits between WWT and One-Trip.

Best for: Buyers who plan to ship the container by sea or rail after a marine survey, and buyers who want better cosmetics than WWT without paying for One-Trip.

Appearance: Cleaner overall appearance than WWT, with visible age but a more uniform exterior.

New / One-Trip

New and One-Trip are the same grade. A One-Trip container has made a single ocean voyage, typically loaded from a manufacturing facility in Asia to a North American port. After unloading, the unit goes into the resale market essentially brand new. Specifically:

• Original factory paint, with minor scuffs from the single shipping journey.
• Floor in excellent condition, no industrial wear.
• Doors and seals tight.
• Interior clean and dry, no residue.
• Minor cosmetic marks consistent with one ocean trip and one truck transfer.

The premium over WWT is meaningful but not enormous. For any conversion project, any food-adjacent storage, any high-visibility placement, or any clean-finish workshop or office build, One-Trip is the practical starting point.

Best for: Conversion projects (offices, workshops, tap rooms, tiny homes), food-adjacent or sensitive storage, customer-facing placement, anyone who wants the cleanest container.

Appearance: Factory paint, sharp graphics, clean interior. Looks like a new container with light handling marks.

Warranty by Grade

Container One's warranty depends on the grade: Container One provides the warranty. Written warranty terms.

Grade	Warranty
New / One-Trip	10 year structural and 10 year no-leak
Cargo Worthy	5 year structural and 5 year no-leak
Wind and Water Tight	5 year structural and 5 year no-leak
Economy	1 year roof leak

Working refrigerated containers carry a 1-year leak-free guarantee. Ask a Container One sales representative about coverage for the refrigeration unit itself before buying. Container One provides the warranty. Written warranty terms.

How to Choose for Your Use Case

The match between use case and grade in Texas:

Use Case	Recommended Grade
Construction jobsite tools and materials	WWT
Ranch or farm equipment storage	Economy or WWT
Household goods during renovation	WWT
Office, workshop, tap-room conversion	New / One-Trip
Tiny home or container home build	New / One-Trip
Long-term acreage storage	WWT
Shipping by sea or rail after a marine survey	Cargo Worthy
Customer-facing placement (retail, hospitality)	New / One-Trip

Inspecting on Delivery

Whatever grade you select, the visual checklist is the same:

1. Floor. Walk it. Listen for soft spots. Look for water staining or rot. The floor is the most expensive component to repair after delivery.
2. Door seals. Look for daylight around the closed doors from inside while a second person stays outside with the doors unlatched. No daylight means the seals are tight.
3. Roof. If you can climb up safely, check for dents that pool water, rust through-spots, and obvious patches.
4. Corner castings. The eight corner blocks should be intact and free of major damage. They carry the entire load when the unit is lifted or stacked.
5. Side walls. Look for bulges, deep dents, and heavy rust patches. Surface rust is normal; structural rust is not.

Delivery and Grade in Texas

Container One's Delivery/Dispatch department contacts you to schedule the date and time.

• Greater Houston (Inside Beltway 8, Katy, Cypress, Sugar Land, Pearland)
• The Woodlands, Conroe, Montgomery County
• Pasadena, Baytown, Deer Park, Ship Channel area

Frequently Asked Questions About Container Grades