This new 20ft open side container has a full-length set of bi-fold doors down one long side, plus the usual double cargo doors at the end. Open the side and the whole interior is in front of you, so you can load pallets with a forklift straight off the side instead of working back from the end doors. Prime Cargo Box sells it new, wind and watertight and CSC plated.
Side opening containers cost more than standard boxes, so it helps to know exactly how they differ. This page covers the specification, how the side doors work, what the extra access is good for and what your site needs to make the most of it.
Why Buy a 20ft Open Side Container?
In a normal container, anything stored at the far end is hard to reach. You either keep an aisle down the middle, which wastes space, or you unload half the container to get to one item. A 20ft open side container removes that problem. With the side doors open you have direct access to every pallet, shelf or machine along the full length.
That makes it popular for businesses that load and unload every day: builders’ merchants, event and hire companies, workshops, market traders and farms. It also suits long or awkward items, such as timber, pipe, steel sections and furniture, that are difficult to feed through a 2.3 m end door. You still keep the end doors, so the container works like a standard unit whenever you want it to.
20ft Open Side Container Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Container type | 20ft open side (full side access) dry container, standard height |
| Condition | New |
| External length | 20 ft (6.06 m) |
| External width | 8 ft (2.44 m) |
| External height | 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) |
| Internal length | Approx. 19 ft 2 in (5.85 m) |
| Internal width | Approx. 7 ft 4 in to 7 ft 6 in (2.25 to 2.29 m) |
| Internal height | Approx. 7 ft 6 in to 7 ft 10 in (2.30 to 2.39 m) |
| Side door opening | Approx. 18 ft 8 in to 19 ft 1 in wide (5.70 to 5.82 m) x approx. 7 ft 1 in high (2.15 to 2.19 m) |
| End door opening | Approx. 7 ft 6 in wide x 7 ft 5 in high (2.29 x 2.27 m) |
| Cubic capacity | Approx. 1,090 cu ft (31 m³) |
| Tare weight | Approx. 6,600 to 7,500 lbs (3,000 to 3,400 kg) |
| Maximum gross weight | Typically 67,200 lbs (30,480 kg) |
| Payload | Approx. 59,700 lbs (27,000 kg) |
| Construction | Corten steel frame and panels, reinforced side rails and posts |
| Floor | Marine-grade plywood on steel cross members |
| Door configuration | Full-length bi-fold doors on one side plus double cargo doors at one end |
| Certification | CSC safety approval plate |
Open side containers vary more between manufacturers than standard boxes, mainly in the internal width and the side opening height, because the side frame has to carry loads that a solid wall would normally take. We confirm the exact dimensions and weights of the unit we supply on your quote, and the ratings are printed on the CSC plate.
How the Side Doors Work
The side of a 20ft open side container is made up of several door leaves, usually four, that fold back in pairs. Each pair has its own locking bars, so you can open one section to grab something quickly or open the full side for loading. When the side is closed, the doors lock onto the floor and roof rails and seal against rubber gaskets just like the end doors.
Because the long wall is now a set of doors, the frame is strengthened with a heavier bottom side rail, a reinforced top rail and steel posts. That extra steel is why the tare weight is higher than a standard 20ft and the internal width can be slightly narrower.
Who Uses a 20ft Open Side Container
- Builders’ merchants and contractors who load bulky materials by forklift
- Event, staging and equipment hire firms that pick and return stock daily
- Workshops and mobile repair businesses that want an open working front
- Farms storing machinery, feed and fencing materials
- Pop-up shops, bars and food stands that use the side as a serving hatch
- Exporters shipping long items that are easier to load from the side
For pop-up and hospitality projects, our container modification team can add counters, lighting, power and shelving to a 20ft open side container before delivery.
Built From Corten Steel
The frame, roof and door panels are Corten, a weathering steel that resists corrosion far better than ordinary steel and is the standard material for shipping containers. The floor is marine plywood on steel cross members and is rated for forklift use, which matters on a container designed to be loaded from the side. Every new 20ft open side container is supplied with a CSC plate under the International Convention for Safe Containers, so it can carry cargo by sea as well as serve as fixed storage.
Site Requirements
The side doors need room to fold back, and a forklift needs room to approach. As a guide, plan for clear, firm ground of at least 4 to 5 m along the opening side, more if you use a large forklift. Leave space in front of the end doors too.
Level ground matters more for a 20ft open side container than for any other type. If the base is uneven, the frame can twist slightly and the side doors will not line up or lock properly. Put it on a concrete pad, compacted gravel or level blocks under each corner and check it with a level before loading.
Decide which side the doors should face before ordering. Most units open on the right-hand side when viewed from the end doors, but check with us if your layout needs the opposite.
Layout Tips for Side Access Storage
The best layouts make use of the side opening rather than fighting it. Run shelving or pallet racking along the solid back wall, facing the side doors, so every bay can be reached from outside. Keep the floor in front of the racking clear for a pallet truck. Heavy items go low and near the middle of the container, which keeps the load balanced if it ever needs to be lifted or moved.
If you use the container as a shop or workshop, think about which doors stay closed most of the time. Many owners fit a counter across one door section of a 20ft open side container and keep the rest for loading, so the unit works as a serving front and a stockroom at once.
New, One-Trip or Used Open Side?
This listing is the new 20ft open side container. We also stock a one trip 20ft open side container that has made a single voyage, and a used 20ft open side container for buyers on a tighter budget.
If you only need access from both ends, our 20ft double door shipping container is a cheaper option. Need more height or length? See the new 20ft high cube container or the 40ft high cube full open side container. You can compare every side access unit in our open side containers category.
Ordering Your 20ft Open Side Container
- Send your requirements. Quantity, delivery address, which side the doors should face and how you plan to use the container.
- Get your quote. We confirm price, delivery and the dimensions of the unit in stock.
- Check the site. We review access for the truck and space for the side doors.
- Delivery. The container arrives with its CSC plate, ready to use. See our shipping and delivery policy for details.
On delivery, open every side door section and both end doors, check each locking bar engages, and confirm the doors close evenly. If anything binds, the base is usually not level, and shimming one corner fixes it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I load a 20ft open side container with a forklift from the side?
Yes. That is what it is designed for. The floor is forklift rated and the side opening is close to the full internal length.
Is it as secure as a standard container?
Yes. Each pair of side doors has its own locking bars and padlock points, and the doors lock into the top and bottom rails. Security is comparable to standard end doors.
Is a 20ft open side container watertight?
Yes. New units are supplied wind and watertight. Keep the container level so the side door gaskets stay in full contact.
Can it be shipped with cargo?
Yes. It carries a CSC plate and standard ISO corner castings, so it can be shipped like any other container.
Do you deliver worldwide?
Yes. Contact Prime Cargo Box with your location and we will quote delivery of your 20ft open side container.
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