This 40ft open side container is a 9 ft 6 in high cube with bi-fold doors along almost the entire length of one side, plus standard double cargo doors at the end. Open the side and you have more than 11.5 m of clear access to the interior, so pallets, machinery and long materials can be loaded with a forklift straight from the side. Prime Cargo Box sells this unit in one trip condition: it has made a single voyage from the factory and arrives near new, wind and watertight and CSC plated.
It is the largest side access container in common use and a serious piece of equipment, so here is the specification, how the doors work and what your site needs before delivery.
Why Choose a 40ft Open Side Container?
In a standard 40ft container, getting to goods at the far end means unloading everything in front of them. A 40ft open side container solves that completely. With the side open, every pallet position along the length is directly reachable, and you can pick, restock or rearrange without moving anything else.
That makes it ideal for businesses that handle stock every day, for storing long items like timber, pipe and steel, and for turning a container into a workshop, bar, shop or event space with a fully open front. Because it is a high cube, you also get about 2.47 m of internal height, enough for tall racking and machinery.
40ft Open Side Container Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Container type | 40ft high cube open side (full side access) container |
| Condition | One trip, near new |
| External length | 40 ft (12.19 m) |
| External width | 8 ft (2.44 m) |
| External height | 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) |
| Internal length | Approx. 39 ft 5 in (12.03 m) |
| Internal width | Approx. 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) |
| Internal height | Approx. 8 ft 1 in (2.47 m) |
| Side door opening | Approx. 37 ft 11 in wide x 7 ft 7 in high (11.56 x 2.31 m) |
| End door opening | Approx. 7 ft 3 in wide x 7 ft 10 in high (2.23 x 2.39 m) |
| Cubic capacity | Approx. 2,400 cu ft (68 m³), calculated from internal dimensions |
| Tare weight | Approx. 13,000 to 14,550 lbs (5,900 to 6,600 kg) |
| Maximum gross weight | 67,200 lbs (30,480 kg) or 71,650 lbs (32,500 kg), depending on build |
| Payload | Approx. 23,900 to 26,600 kg, depending on tare and gross rating |
| Construction | Corten steel with heavy side rails and reinforced posts |
| Floor | Marine-grade plywood, approx. 28 mm, forklift rated |
| Door configuration | Full-length bi-fold side doors (usually eight leaves) plus double end doors |
| Certification | CSC safety approval plate |
Side opening 40ft containers differ more between factories than standard boxes. We confirm the exact dimensions, tare and gross rating of the unit we supply on your quote, and the ratings are printed on its CSC plate. The outside dimensions follow ISO 668, so it fits standard trailers and lifting gear.
How the Side Doors Work
The long side is made of several door leaves, typically eight, hinged in pairs. Each pair has its own locking bars, so you can open a single section to reach one bay or open the full length for bulk loading. When closed, the doors lock into the top and bottom side rails and seal on rubber gaskets.
Without a solid side wall, the frame has to carry more load through its rails and posts, so it is built with a much heavier bottom rail, a reinforced top rail and steel posts between door pairs. That is why a 40ft open side container weighs around 2 tonnes more than a standard high cube and has a slightly lower internal height.
Why One Trip?
On a side opening container, condition is mostly about the doors. Dozens of hinges, cams and gaskets have to stay aligned for the side to lock and seal. On a one trip unit, they are close to new and the frame is straight, so the doors work as they should. A used 40ft open side container costs less but can need more adjustment and maintenance. If price matters most, see the used 40ft open side container.
Who Uses a 40ft Open Side Container?
- Builders’ merchants and timber yards storing long and bulky materials
- Event, staging and hire companies loading equipment every day
- Workshops, garages and repair businesses that want a fully open front
- Bars, cafes, shops and exhibition stands built from containers
- Farms storing machinery and feed with easy forklift access
- Exporters loading machinery or long items that won’t fit through end doors
Our container modification team can add counters, shutters, lighting, power and racking to a 40ft open side container before delivery.
Site Requirements for a 40ft Open Side Container
This container needs more planning than most. The truck needs a long, straight approach and firm ground for a 12.2 m high cube. On site, you need a level base about 12.5 m by 2.5 m, plus clear ground of at least 4 to 5 m along the full opening side for the doors to fold back and a forklift to work. Leave room at the end doors too.
Level is critical. Over 12 m, even a small dip will twist the frame enough to stop the side doors lining up. We strongly recommend a concrete pad or well-compacted, level gravel with solid blocks under each corner and at mid-length points, checked with a level before loading. Our shipping and delivery policy explains how delivery is planned.
Layout Tips
Run racking along the solid back wall facing the side doors so every bay can be reached from outside. Keep a strip of floor clear for a pallet truck. Group stock by how often you need it, with the busiest items behind the door section you open most. For retail or hospitality, a common layout is a counter along part of the side with storage behind the remaining doors.
Looking After the Side Doors
With eight door leaves and a long run of gaskets, the side of a 40ft open side container needs a little routine care. Grease the hinges and locking bar cams every few months, or monthly if the doors are opened every day. Keep the bottom rail clear of gravel and debris so the doors close fully. Wipe grit off the gaskets, and replace any torn section promptly so water can’t get in.
If a door starts to bind or a locking bar won’t seat, check the base before anything else. Ground settles over time, especially after heavy rain, and re-levelling one support point usually brings the doors back into line. Avoid driving a forklift onto the bottom rail itself; approach square to the opening and lift over it.
Using It for Shipping
A one trip 40ft open side container carries a CSC plate under the International Convention for Safe Containers, so it can be loaded and shipped. Because the tare is higher than a standard box, check that your cargo plus the container stays within the gross rating on the plate.
Compare Other Options
For a smaller footprint, see the new 20ft open side container. If you need a 40ft with access from both ends rather than the side, the one trip 40ft double door container costs much less. For a standard 40ft high cube, see the one trip 40ft high cube container. All side access units are in our open side containers category.
How to Order Your 40ft Open Side Container
- Send your requirements. Quantity, address, which side you want the doors on and intended use.
- Get your quote. Price, delivery and confirmed dimensions and weights.
- Plan the site. We review truck access, base and door clearance with you.
- Pay and receive. See our billing and payment policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How wide is the side opening on a 40ft open side container?
About 11.5 m, nearly the full internal length, by roughly 2.3 m high. That is wide enough to load pallets side by side along the whole container with a forklift.
Is it a high cube?
Yes. It is 9 ft 6 in tall outside, with about 2.47 m of internal height. That is lower than a standard high cube because the reinforced top rail takes up some space, but it is still taller than a standard 8 ft 6 in container, so tall racking and machinery fit comfortably.
Can I open just part of the side on a 40ft open side container?
Yes. The doors open in pairs, each with its own locks.
Is a 40ft open side container secure?
Yes. Every door pair has its own locking bars and padlock points.
Do you deliver worldwide?
Yes. Contact Prime Cargo Box for a delivered price on a 40ft open side container.
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