How Much Does a Container Ship Cost? New & Used Prices | CargoHolidaysCargo Ship Travel & Freighter Cruises

Last updated: 22 October 2026

Container ships are among the most expensive machines ever built. A brand-new giant can cost more than a fleet of jumbo jets, yet these ships carry goods so efficiently that shipping a pair of trainers across the world costs only a few pence. Here is what container ships cost to buy and to run.

New-build container ship prices

Prices depend on size, specification, the shipyard and the market. They also rise and fall with demand. As a broad guide:

Size	Capacity	Indicative new-build price
Feeder	1,000–3,000 TEU	Around US$25–50 million
Panamax / intermediate	4,000–8,000 TEU	Around US$60–100 million
Neo-Panamax	10,000–15,000 TEU	Around US$110–180 million
Ultra-large (ULCV)	18,000–24,000+ TEU	Around US$180–270 million

Ships designed to run on LNG or methanol cost more than conventional fuel oil designs. Most new container ships are built in China and South Korea, and some in Japan.

Ultra-large container ship at sea — The largest new container ships cost well over US$200 million.

Second-hand container ship prices

Used ships are valued on age, size, condition and the current charter market. A 20-year-old feeder may sell for a few million dollars, while a modern mid-sized ship can fetch tens of millions. When freight rates boom, second-hand prices can rise sharply.

Scrap value

At the end of their life, usually after 20–30 years, ships are sold for recycling. Their value depends on lightweight steel tonnage and scrap steel prices, typically in the low millions of dollars for a large ship.

What does it cost to run a container ship?

Cost	What it covers
Fuel (bunkers)	Often the biggest cost; a large ship can burn well over 100 tonnes a day at full speed
Crew	Wages, food, training and crew changes for about 20–30 seafarers
Port and canal fees	Pilotage, towage, berth fees, Suez or Panama transits
Maintenance and dry-docking	Regular surveys and repairs
Insurance	Hull, machinery, and protection and indemnity (P&I) cover
Financing	Loan repayments or charter hire

Many ships are chartered: owned by one company and hired by a shipping line. Charter rates range from thousands of dollars a day for small ships to well over US$100,000 a day for big ships in a strong market.

Read about the Panama Canal and Suez Canal transits, which are major costs on some routes.

Container ship berthed at a terminal — Every day in port and at sea costs the owner tens of thousands of dollars.

Why carrying passengers makes sense

Ships are built with spare cabins for supernumeraries. Some lines sell them to the public, earning a modest extra income from cabins that would otherwise be empty. That is why you can travel on a cargo ship for around US$90–150 a day.

Who buys container ships?

Shipping lines, which own part of their fleet
Tonnage providers (charter owners), which own ships and lease them to lines
Investment funds and banks, which finance or own ships
Small operators, which buy older feeders for regional routes

Frequently asked questions

How much does a container ship cost?

New ships range from about US$25 million for a small feeder to over US$200 million for the largest vessels.

How much does the biggest container ship cost?

Ultra-large 24,000 TEU ships typically cost roughly US$200–270 million, depending on specification and market conditions.

Can you buy a used cargo ship?

Yes. Second-hand ships are traded through brokers, and older small ships can cost a few million dollars.

How much fuel does a container ship use?

A large container ship can burn well over 100 tonnes of fuel a day at full speed. Slow steaming reduces this.

How long does a container ship last?

Usually 20–30 years before recycling.

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Steve Joury

Cargo trip advisor at Cargoholidays

Passionate about slow trip travel and sea. Steve know most shipping route and procedure to discover our beautiful world from sea on a container ship. He have been at most trips from 7 days on cargo travel to 140 days on board.