A used 40ft open top container is a 40ft box with a removable roof made of steel bows and a heavy tarpaulin. Take the cover off and you have an opening more than 11 metres long for lowering long, tall or heavy cargo straight in by crane. These units have finished their service with shipping lines and been sold off the fleet. Prime Cargo Box sells every used 40ft open top container wind and watertight, with a full set of bows and a sound tarpaulin.
For pipe, timber, steel sections, machinery and anything else that’s awkward to load through end doors, it is a practical, lower-cost option. Here is the specification, how the roof works, the wear to expect and the checks that matter.
Why Buy a Used 40ft Open Top Container?
Long loads are where a 40ft open top shines. Lengths of pipe, steel beams, timber packs and long machinery parts can be lifted in from above and laid flat along the full 12 m floor, which is often impossible through a 2.3 m end door. A used 40ft open top container gives you that capability for far less than a new unit, which suits contractors, merchants and exporters who need top-loading but don’t need perfect paint.
Open tops are less common than standard containers, so good used units are worth securing when you find them.
Used 40ft Open Top Container Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Container type | 40ft open top container (40′ OT), standard height |
| Condition | Used, wind and watertight with tarpaulin fitted |
| 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 5 in (12.03 m) |
| Internal width | Approx. 7 ft 8 in (2.35 m) |
| Internal height | Approx. 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m) to the roof bows; about 2.42 m without bows |
| Roof opening | Approx. 37 ft 11 in long x 7 ft 3 in wide (11.55 x 2.23 m) |
| Door opening | Approx. 7 ft 8 in wide x 7 ft 5 in high (2.34 x 2.28 m) |
| Cubic capacity | Approx. 2,360 cu ft (66.8 m³) |
| Tare weight | Approx. 8,400 to 9,000 lbs (3,800 to 4,100 kg) |
| Maximum gross weight | Shown on the data plate, typically 30,480 to 32,500 kg |
| Roof | Removable steel roof bows and tarpaulin cover |
| Floor | Marine plywood or hardwood, sound with signs of use |
| Doors | Double cargo doors at one end |
Open top sizes vary a little between builders and years. Carriers publish comparable figures, such as this Hapag-Lloyd 40ft open top specification. We confirm the details of your unit on the quote.
How the Roof Works
Steel roof bows sit in sockets along the top side rails and support a heavy-duty tarpaulin. A cable or rope through eyelets around the edge ties the tarpaulin down. To load from above, release the cable, roll back the tarpaulin and lift out the bows. When the cargo is in and secured, refit the bows and pull the tarpaulin tight. Many open tops also have a swing-out header above the end doors, giving extra height when loading through the end.
What Wear to Expect
- Outside: dents, faded paint, surface rust and old markings
- Top rails: scrapes and dents from years of crane loading
- Roof bows: may be slightly bent but must seat properly
- Tarpaulin: weathered or patched but watertight
- Floor and doors: signs of use, but firm floor and doors that lock
We check that the tarpaulin covers the full opening, every bow is present and seats in its socket, and no daylight shows with the doors shut. Worn-out tarpaulins are replaced before sale.
Open Top or Standard Container?
Choose a used 40ft open top container when cargo is long, tall or heavy enough that crane loading is safer or faster. For goods that go in on pallets, a standard container is cheaper and has a solid steel roof, which is more secure for unattended storage. Many yards keep one open top for crane work alongside standard boxes for everything else.
Grades: Storage or Cargo Worthy
Our standard used stock is wind and watertight. If you plan to ship cargo, ask for a cargo worthy unit with a valid plate under the International Convention for Safe Containers. Cargo worthy open tops are scarcer, so tell us early.
Who Buys a Used 40ft Open Top Container?
- Pipe, steel and timber merchants handling long lengths
- Civil and construction contractors storing plant and materials
- Machinery dealers and engineering firms
- Exporters shipping long or crane-loaded cargo
- Farms and estates storing tall equipment
Loading a Used 40ft Open Top Container
Spread weight along the floor and keep the heaviest items near the middle. Use the lashing points on the bottom rails before refitting the bows. If cargo stands above the side walls, it is out of gauge for shipping, so check with your forwarder before booking. When closing up, tension the tarpaulin evenly and secure every eyelet so rain runs off rather than pooling along the 12 m roof.
Checking a Used 40ft Open Top Container Yourself
Unfold the tarpaulin and look for tears, worn eyelets and old patches. Lift out a few bows and drop them back to check they seat cleanly. Run your eye along both top rails for heavy dents and rust, since this is where loads are lowered and water collects. Then check the doors, floor, corner posts and bottom rails as you would on any used container.
What Affects the Price?
Fewer open tops are built than standard boxes, so supply on the used market is thinner and varies by region. The age of the unit, damage to the top rails, the condition of the tarpaulin and bows, the floor and cargo worthiness all affect the price of a used 40ft open top container. A replacement tarpaulin is a modest cost, but bent top rails are expensive to repair, so rails matter more than the cover when judging value. Delivery is quoted separately.
Using It as Storage
Plenty of owners use a used 40ft open top container as a fixed store for long materials, loading by crane only occasionally. In that case, keep the tarpaulin tight, consider a second tarpaulin layer in very wet climates, and keep the container level so water drains evenly off the roof. Remember that a tarpaulin roof is less secure than steel, so it suits materials like pipe, timber and steel better than small valuables.
Compare Options
For near-new condition, see the one trip 40ft open top container, or the top grade new 40ft open top shipping container. For heavy but shorter cargo, the used 20ft open top container is easier to place. If you need standard storage, the used 40ft shipping container costs less.
All open top units are on our open top shipping container for sale page.
Site and Delivery
A 40ft container needs a long, straight truck approach and firm ground. On site, prepare a level base about 12.5 m by 2.5 m with room at the door end. If you plan to load from above, make sure a crane or telehandler can safely reach the whole length and that there are no overhead cables. Our shipping and delivery policy explains how delivery is quoted.
Care
Keep the tarpaulin tight and check it every few months. Patch small tears quickly before they spread. Store the bows safely while the roof is open. Grease the door hinges and locking bars and treat rust on the top rails.
How to Buy a Used 40ft Open Top Container
- Request a quote. Quantity, location and whether you need storage or cargo worthy.
- See the condition. We send photos including the tarpaulin and bows.
- Pay and schedule. See our billing and payment policy.
- Inspect on delivery. Check the doors, tarpaulin, bows and floor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a used 40ft open top container watertight?
Yes, with the tarpaulin correctly fitted and tensioned. Re-tension it every time the roof has been opened so water runs off instead of pooling.
How long is the roof opening on a used 40ft open top container?
About 11.5 m, nearly the full internal length.
Does a used 40ft open top container come with a tarpaulin and roof bows?
Yes. Every unit comes with a full set of bows and a tarpaulin, and worn tarpaulins are replaced before sale. Spare tarpaulins can be ordered if you open the roof often.
Can I ship goods in a used 40ft open top 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 for a delivered price.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.