Storage Unit Auctions
There are 377 live storage auctions on BidProwl right now across 36 states: shipping containers, steel storage buildings, job-site boxes, sheds, and industrial cabinets from government surplus. Looking for abandoned-locker contents instead? Those are private facility sales, not government auctions; the first FAQ below explains the difference.
What sells in the storage lane
Shipping containers. 20 ft and 40 ft conex boxes from school districts, DOT yards, and military bases. The workhorse lot of this category, and the one with the clearest resale market.
Steel storage buildings and sheds. Prefab garage and warehouse kits, many unused, sold in volume through Ritchie Bros and Purple Wave consignments, plus municipal sheds sold one at a time.
Cabinets, shelving, and job boxes. Fireproof cabinets, pallet racking, and site boxes from office and warehouse closures. Cheap, plentiful, and mostly bought by whoever is closest to the pickup dock.
Storage auctions by state
Are these abandoned storage locker auctions?
No, and it is worth being clear about the difference. Abandoned-locker sales (the Storage Wars kind) are run by private self-storage facilities under state lien laws, mostly on sites like StorageTreasures. BidProwl tracks government auctions, where the storage inventory is the hardware itself: shipping containers, prefab steel buildings, job-site boxes, sheds, and industrial cabinets that agencies no longer need.
What do surplus shipping containers cost?
Condition drives everything. Used 20 ft and 40 ft conex containers at government auction commonly close between a few hundred dollars and $3,000, against $2,500 to $5,000 retail for a delivered one-trip container. Rusted or door-damaged units go cheap; wind-and-water-tight units with clean floors draw real bidding. The photos usually tell you which one you are looking at.
Who is selling storage containers and buildings?
School districts, DOTs, and city yards sell their used containers and job boxes on GovDeals, PublicSurplus, and Municibid. Auctioneers like Ritchie Bros and Purple Wave also move new-surplus steel storage buildings and container lots from commercial consignors. BidProwl pulls all of it into one search with the pickup location on every card.
How does pickup work for a container?
Sold where it sits, moved by you, within the removal window on the listing (usually about 10 business days). An empty 20 ft container weighs around 5,000 lbs, so you need a tilt-bed truck, a roll-off, or a crane service; local moves typically run $200 to $600. Check the listing for loading help, because some yards will set it on your trailer and some explicitly will not.
