A used 40ft double door container gives you 12 metres of storage with cargo doors at both ends, for a used-container price. These tunnel containers have finished their service life at sea and been sold off the fleet, so they look their age, but the steel shell, floor and both door sets still do the job. Prime Cargo Box sells every used 40ft double door container wind and watertight, with both ends checked to open, close and lock.
For farms, yards and businesses that need large, easy-access storage on a budget, this is a very practical buy. Below is the specification, what wear to expect and the checks that matter on a used tunnel container.
Why Buy a Used 40ft Double Door Container?
In a standard 40ft container, goods at the closed end are 12 metres from the only door. A used 40ft double door container halves that distance, because the far end has its own doors. You can split the container into two zones, load at one end and unload at the other, or reach any item without emptying the container first.
Buying used keeps the cost down. A tunnel container is more expensive to build than a standard one, so new units carry a premium. A used unit gives you the same layout for much less, which is ideal when the outside will be hidden, painted or simply doesn’t matter.
Used 40ft Double Door Container Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Container type | 40ft double door (tunnel) dry container, standard height |
| Condition | Used, wind and watertight, both ends checked |
| External length | 40 ft (12.19 m) |
| External width | 8 ft (2.44 m) |
| External height | 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) |
| Internal length | Approx. 39 ft 4 in (11.98 to 12.03 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. 2,370 cu ft (67 m³) |
| Tare weight | Approx. 8,070 to 8,800 lbs (3,660 to 4,000 kg) |
| Maximum gross weight | Shown on the data plate, typically 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 various builders and years, so figures vary slightly. We give you the data plate details for your unit on the quote.
What Wear Is Normal?
A used 40ft double door container will show dents, scrapes, faded paint, old logos and surface rust. The shell is Corten, a weathering steel that forms a protective oxide, so surface rust is expected on an older box. The floor will be stained and scuffed from years of loading.
What matters is that both ends work. Before sale we check each door set opens fully, closes square, locks with all four bars and seals without daylight. Units that fail at either end aren’t sold.
Grades: Storage or Cargo Worthy
Our standard used stock is wind and watertight, the right grade for storage. If you want 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 scarcer, so tell us early.
Who Buys a Used 40ft Double Door Container?
- Farms storing machinery at one end and feed or fencing at the other
- Builders and civil contractors with large sites
- Businesses splitting overflow storage between two departments
- Clubs and event organisers storing bulky equipment
- Workshops and garages that want a drive-through layout
Is a 40ft Tunnel the Right Choice?
A used 40ft double door container makes most sense when both ends can be reached and the space will be used actively. If it will sit with one end against a wall, a standard used 40ft gives the same room for less. If you need a lot of storage but struggle to fit a 12 m unit or a long delivery truck, two 20ft containers can be a better fit. Where there is room at both ends, the second door set pays for itself in saved time every week.
Think about where people and vehicles will approach. A used 40ft double door container placed between a yard and a working area, or alongside a track, lets you load from one side of the site and collect from the other.
Checking a Used 40ft Double Door Container
Do the standard checks at both ends. Open each door set fully and close it again, making sure all locking bars seat in their keepers. Step inside with both ends shut and look for daylight along the roof and around both door frames. Check the corner posts and bottom rails for heavy rust, and walk the floor near both doorways, where forklifts run most. Dents are cosmetic; holes, soft floors and doors that won’t lock are not.
Layout Ideas
Run shelving or racking down both walls with an aisle from end to end. Give each end its own purpose, such as tools at one end and materials at the other, or incoming stock at the back and picking at the front. If two groups share the container, a mesh partition in the middle keeps things separate. Keep heavy items low and spread along the floor.
Used, One Trip or New?
For near-new condition, see the one trip 40ft double door container; for unmarked paint, the new 40ft double door container. If one end will be blocked anyway, the used 40ft shipping container costs less. For a smaller site, there is the used 20ft double door container.
Browse all tunnel units in our double door containers category and other second-hand stock on our used shipping containers for sale page.
What Affects the Price?
Tunnel containers are a small share of the used market, so supply varies by region. Age, the condition of both door sets, rust and dent repairs, the floor and cargo worthiness all affect the price of a used 40ft double door container. Delivery is quoted separately.
Site and Delivery for a Used 40ft Double Door Container
You need a long, straight truck approach and firm ground for a 12 m container. On site, prepare a level base of about 12.5 m by 2.5 m, with roughly 2.5 m clear at each end for the doors. Level along the whole length is essential with 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 and Upgrades
Grease the hinges and cams at both ends once or twice a year, clear standing water off the roof, and wire brush and paint rust spots. Popular upgrades include a lockbox at each end, vents, LED lighting, racking and a repaint, all of which our container modification team can do before delivery.
Security at Both Ends
Each end has padlock lugs on its locking bars, and a welded lockbox at each end keeps bolt cutters away from the locks. If one end is rarely used, face it toward a fence or wall. Record the container number on your insurance and asset list, since it uniquely identifies the unit.
How to Buy a Used 40ft 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 40ft double door container watertight?
Yes. Our standard used units are wind and watertight at both ends, as long as the container sits level.
How old is a used 40ft double door container?
Usually 10 to 15 years. The manufacture date is on the data plate on the door, together with the container number and weight ratings. A well-kept older unit can be in better shape than a younger one, so judge the floor, roof and both door sets first.
Is a tunnel container the same thing?
Yes. Tunnel and double door both mean a container with cargo doors at each end. Some sellers also call it double-ended.
Can I ship goods in a used 40ft 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. Mention whether both ends will be reachable on site and we will quote the container and transport together.
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