A used 20ft open top container has no solid steel roof. Instead, removable roof bows support a heavy tarpaulin cover, so you can take the top off and load cargo straight in from above with a crane, telehandler or forklift. Prime Cargo Box sells every used 20ft open top container wind and watertight with the tarpaulin fitted, giving you a practical, lower-cost way to handle tall, heavy or awkward loads.
Open tops are specialist containers, and used units sell quickly. Here is how they work, the specification, what wear to expect and what to check before you buy.
Why Buy a Used 20ft Open Top Container?
Some cargo simply won’t go through a standard door. Machinery, stone blocks, steel coils, pipe bundles and tall equipment are often easier and safer to lower in from above. A used 20ft open top container lets you do that, then cover the load with a tarpaulin for protection. The 20ft length also suits heavy, dense cargo, because it reaches its weight limit before its volume limit.
Buying used keeps costs down. Open tops are more expensive to build and less common than standard boxes, so new units carry a premium. A used unit gives you the same top-loading capability for less.
Used 20ft Open Top Container Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Container type | 20ft open top container (20′ OT), standard height |
| Condition | Used, wind and watertight with tarpaulin fitted |
| 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 4 in (5.90 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 |
| Roof opening | Approx. 17 ft 6 in long x 7 ft 3 in wide (5.34 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. 1,150 cu ft (32.5 m³) |
| Tare weight | Approx. 5,070 to 5,500 lbs (2,300 to 2,500 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 dimensions vary between builders and years. As a reference, carriers publish similar figures for their own fleets, such as this Hapag-Lloyd 20ft open top specification. We confirm the details of your unit when we quote.
How an Open Top Works
Instead of a fixed steel roof, the top of the container is spanned by steel roof bows that drop into sockets along the top rails. A heavy-duty tarpaulin goes over the bows and is secured along the sides and ends with a cable or rope threaded through eyelets. To load from above, you release the tarpaulin, lift out the bows and lower cargo straight in. Once loaded, the bows go back and the tarpaulin is pulled tight.
Many open tops also have a swing-out header above the doors, which can be released to give extra height when loading through the end. The end doors work like any standard container, so you can still use the box for everyday storage.
Open Top or Standard Container?
A used 20ft open top container is the right choice when cargo is too tall, too heavy or too awkward to go through the end doors, or when loading by crane is simply safer and quicker. For general storage that goes in on a pallet truck, a standard container is cheaper and has a fully solid roof. Some buyers keep a used 20ft open top container on site specifically for crane-loaded items, alongside standard boxes for everything else.
Remember that a tarpaulin roof is less secure than steel. For valuable goods in an unattended location, a standard box or a hard-top container is the better choice for storage, while the open top is ideal for loading work and shipping.
What Wear to Expect on a Used 20ft Open Top Container
- Outside: dents, faded paint, surface rust and old markings
- Tarpaulin: may show weathering and patches but must be watertight
- Roof bows: may be slightly bent from cargo but must seat properly
- Floor: stained and scuffed but firm
- Doors: may be stiff but must close and lock
We check that the tarpaulin covers the full opening, the bows sit in their sockets and no light shows through with the doors closed. If a tarpaulin is worn out, we replace it before sale.
Grades: Storage or Cargo Worthy
Our standard used stock is wind and watertight, which suits storage and site work. If you want to ship cargo in it, ask for a cargo worthy unit with a valid plate under the International Convention for Safe Containers. Cargo worthy open tops are limited, so mention it early.
Who Buys a Used 20ft Open Top Container?
- Quarries and stone merchants handling heavy blocks
- Engineering and plant firms storing or shipping machinery
- Steel stockholders handling coils and bundles
- Builders storing scaffolding and tall equipment
- Exporters with cargo that must be crane-loaded
Checking a Used Open Top Yourself
If you inspect a used 20ft open top container in person, check the parts that are unique to this type. Unfold the tarpaulin and look for tears, worn eyelets and old patches. Lift out a few roof bows and drop them back into their sockets to make sure they seat cleanly. Look along the top rails for dents and heavy rust, since that is where water collects and where loads are most often lowered. Then do the usual checks on the doors, floor, corner posts and bottom rails.
Loading a Used 20ft Open Top Container
Lower cargo centrally and spread the weight along the floor, keeping the heaviest items over the middle of the container. Use the lashing points on the bottom rails to secure loads before the bows go back in. If cargo is taller than the side walls, check it will clear the bows; for out-of-gauge loads, shipping lines treat the container differently, so speak to your forwarder before booking. When re-fitting the tarpaulin, pull it tight and make sure every eyelet is secured so rain can’t pool on top.
Used, One Trip or New?
For near-new condition, see the one trip 20ft open top container. For a longer unit, there is the used 40ft open top container and the new 40ft open top shipping container. If you only need standard storage, the used 20ft shipping container costs less.
See all open tops on our open top shipping container for sale page.
Care
Keep the tarpaulin tight so water runs off instead of pooling. Check it every few months for tears and patch small holes promptly. Store spare bows safely when they are out. Grease the door hinges and locking bars, and treat rust spots on the top rails, where water collects most. Keep the container level so the doors close and the tarpaulin sits evenly.
Site and Delivery
Prepare a firm, level base of about 6.5 m by 2.5 m with room to open the doors. If you plan to load from above, make sure there is space and safe access for a crane or telehandler to reach over the container. Our shipping and delivery policy explains how delivery is quoted.
How to Buy a Used 20ft 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 doors, tarpaulin, bows and floor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a used 20ft open top container watertight?
Yes, with the tarpaulin properly fitted and tensioned. Keep it tight so water can’t pool.
Can the roof bows be removed completely?
Yes. They lift out of their sockets to leave the top fully open for loading. Two people can usually handle them by hand, and it is worth keeping them together in a safe spot while the roof is open so none go missing.
Does a used 20ft open top container come with a tarpaulin?
Yes. Every unit is supplied with a tarpaulin and roof bows, and worn tarpaulins are replaced before sale. Spare tarpaulins can also be ordered if you open the roof often.
Can I ship goods in a used 20ft 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 on a used 20ft open top container.
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