A used 20ft double door container gives you cargo doors at both ends for a used-container price. These tunnel containers have spent years in service before being sold, so they show dents, faded paint and old markings, but the steel shell, floor and both door sets still keep goods dry and secure. Prime Cargo Box sells every used 20ft double door container wind and watertight, with both ends checked to open, close and lock properly.
If you want easy access from either end and don’t need a showroom finish, this is the most affordable way to get it. Here is the specification, the wear to expect and what to check.
Why Buy a Used 20ft Double Door Container?
The appeal of a tunnel container is simple: nothing gets trapped at the back. Goods stored at one end can be reached through the doors at that end, so you never have to empty half the container to get to one item. A used 20ft double door container gives you that convenience at a fraction of the price of a new unit, which makes it popular with farms, builders, landscapers, clubs and small businesses.
Because tunnel containers are less common than standard ones in the used market, a good unit at a fair price is worth reserving when you find it.
Used 20ft Double Door Container Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Container type | 20ft double door (tunnel) dry container, standard height |
| Condition | Used, wind and watertight |
| 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 (5.84 m) |
| Internal width | Approx. 7 ft 8 in (2.35 m) |
| Internal height | Approx. 7 ft 10 in (2.39 m) |
| Door openings (both ends) | Approx. 7 ft 8 in wide x 7 ft 5 in high (2.34 x 2.28 m) |
| Cubic capacity | Approx. 1,160 cu ft (32.8 m³) |
| Tare weight | Approx. 5,180 to 5,700 lbs (2,350 to 2,600 kg) |
| Maximum gross weight | Typically 67,200 lbs (30,480 kg) |
| Construction | Corten steel, corrugated walls and roof |
| Floor | Marine plywood or hardwood, sound with signs of use |
| Doors | Double cargo doors at each end, four locking bars per end |
Used containers come from different builders and years, so figures vary slightly. We confirm the data plate details of your unit on the quote.
What Wear to Expect
Outside you can expect dents, scrapes, faded paint, surface rust and old company logos. The floor will be stained and scuffed. These are normal on any used box and don’t affect how well it stores goods.
The thing that matters most on a used 20ft double door container is that both door sets still work. Each end has hinges, locking bars and gaskets that wear with use. Before sale we check that both ends open fully, close square, lock with all bars seated and seal without daylight showing. A unit that fails at either end doesn’t leave our yard.
Grades: Storage or Cargo Worthy
Our standard used stock is wind and watertight, which is all you need for storage on your own site. If you plan to ship goods in it, ask for a cargo worthy unit that can carry a valid plate under the International Convention for Safe Containers. Cargo worthy tunnel containers are less common, so mention it early.
Who Buys a Used 20ft Double Door Container?
- Farms with access from a yard on one side and a field on the other
- Builders keeping tools at one end and materials at the other
- Sports clubs and schools storing equipment that is used often
- Small shops and market traders rotating stock
- Workshops wanting a breeze through the container in warm weather
Checking a Used Tunnel Container
If you inspect one in person, do the usual checks twice, once at each end. Open each door set fully, close it again and make sure all four locking bars seat in their keepers. Step inside with both ends shut and look for daylight around both door frames and across the roof. Check the corner posts and bottom rails for heavy rust, and walk the floor near both doorways, where forklifts and pallet trucks run most.
Getting the Layout Right
A used 20ft double door container works best when you plan how things move through it. The simplest setup is shelving along both walls with a clear walkway from one door set to the other. If you use one end for deliveries and the other for collection, keep heavy and bulky items near the delivery end so they travel the shortest distance. Clubs and schools often split the space in two, with one group’s equipment at each end, so nobody has to move someone else’s gear.
Keep goods off the floor on pallets if you store anything that can absorb moisture. Older containers can let a little condensation form on the ceiling overnight, and vents at both ends help air move through.
Used, One Trip or New?
For near-new condition, the one trip 20ft double door container is the next step up, and the new 20ft double door container is the top grade. If access from one end is enough, the used 20ft shipping container costs less, and for full side access there is the used 20ft open side container.
Browse all tunnel units in our double door containers category or see other stock on our used shipping containers for sale page.
What Affects the Price?
Tunnel containers make up a small share of the used market, so availability varies by region. The age of the unit, condition of both door sets, rust and dent repairs, the floor and cargo worthiness all affect the price of a used 20ft double door container. Delivery is quoted separately.
Upgrades
Popular additions are a welded lockbox at each end, vents to reduce condensation, LED lighting and shelving down one or both walls. A repaint can tidy up the outside too. Our container modification team can do this before delivery.
Site and Delivery for a Used 20ft Double Door Container
Leave about 2.5 m clear in front of each end so all four doors can open. Prepare a firm, level base around 6.5 m by 2.5 m with concrete, compacted gravel or blocks under the corners. A level base is important on an older tunnel container, because both door frames need to stay square for the doors to close. Our shipping and delivery policy explains how delivery is quoted.
Care
Grease the hinges and cams at both ends once or twice a year, including the end you use less. Keep the roof clear of standing water, wire brush and paint rust spots when you see them, and keep the bottom rails free of soil. With that care, a used 20ft double door container will keep working for years.
Security at Both Ends
Two door sets mean two places to lock. Each end of a used 20ft double door container has padlock lugs on its locking bars, and a welded lockbox at each end keeps bolt cutters away. If one end will rarely be used, face it toward a wall, fence or another container so it is hard to reach. Record the container number on your insurance and asset list.
How to Buy a Used 20ft Double Door Container
- Request a quote. Quantity, location and whether you need storage or cargo worthy.
- See the condition. We send photos of both ends on request.
- Pay and schedule. See our billing and payment policy.
- Inspect on delivery. Open and lock both ends before the driver leaves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a used 20ft double door container watertight?
Yes. Our standard used units are wind and watertight at both ends. Keep it level so both frames stay square.
Is a tunnel container the same as a double door container?
Yes. Both terms mean a container with cargo doors at each end. You may also see it described as double-ended.
How old is a used 20ft double door container?
Usually 10 to 15 years. The manufacture date is on the data plate on the door, with the container number and weight ratings. Condition matters more than age, so judge the floor, roof and both door sets first.
Can I ship goods in a used 20ft double door container?
Only if it is cargo worthy with a valid CSC plate. Ask for that grade when you order.
Do you deliver worldwide?
Yes. Contact Prime Cargo Box with your location for a delivered price. Let us know about site access and whether both ends will be reachable, and we will quote the container and transport together.
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