Rentals — Houston, TX
Quick answer: renting a 20ft container typically runs $95–$200 a month and a 40ft $130–$300 a month, plus delivery and pickup. Below: the rates, the rent-vs-buy math, and the Houston dealers to call.
Typical U.S. monthly rates and median published rates from national rental companies, October 2026 research. Month-to-month usually runs 15–25% above 12-month contract rates; delivery and pickup are extra (often $150–$400 each way).
Under ~6 months: rent. A season of jobsite storage or a renovation costs a few hundred dollars in rent, with no resale hassle at the end.
Past ~12 months: buy. A year of 20ft rent ($1,140–$2,400, plus delivery and pickup) roughly equals the delivered price of a used wind & watertight 20ft ($1,400–$3,200) — and with a purchase, you keep the box.
Houston is a true port market — supply flows directly from Port Houston's Bayport and Barbours Cut container terminals, so empty containers collect locally instead of arriving by a long rail haul. That keeps Houston delivered prices at the low end of the national range: an October 2026 national price index put Houston's used 20ft depot price at $1,274, among the cheapest in the country. Local yards cluster east and north of the city — near the Ship Channel, Baytown and Cypress — close to where the boxes come off the ships.
Rental Dealers — Houston
These dealers' own listings mention rentals. Confirm the monthly rate, minimum term, and delivery/pickup fees in writing.
📍 7015 FM 1942 Rd Suite A, Baytown, TX 77521
Based in Baytown, east of Houston — sales and rentals of 20ft, 40ft and 45ft containers, new and used, plus refrigerated units and customization such as shelving, ventilation, electrical and roll-up doors.
📍 Serves Houston from its Houston, TX depot
Online seller of used Wind & Watertight containers with transparent pricing by ZIP code and delivery in 3 to 5 business days; its Houston supply is tied to Port Houston's Bayport and Barbours Cut terminals.
Delivery in Houston
Most Houston deliveries are tilt-bed drops that need about 80 to 100 ft of straight run for a 20ft and about 120 ft for a 40ft, plus 12 to 14 ft of width and 14 to 16 ft of overhead clearance. Set the box on level, firm ground — concrete, compacted gravel, or solid blocking under the corners — and pick a spot that does not hold standing water: Houston's heavy Gulf rain and flat ground find a low site fast, and standing water rusts floors and binds doors. Decide the exact spot and door direction before delivery day, because moving a set container takes another truck.
Buying after all? See what containers actually cost in Houston before you sign a long rental.
See Houston pricesReady When You Are
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