20ft Side Opening Shipping Containers for Sale

Full side access in a 20ft footprint

A 20ft side opening container, also called a full side access container, has standard double cargo doors at one end and an opening section along one long side. That side access changes how the container works. Instead of loading everything from the end and digging through the front to reach stock at the back, you can open the side and reach the full length.

This makes the unit useful for palletised goods, timber, pipes, staging, event equipment, generators, plant parts, retail stock and bulky items that do not suit a standard 20ft container for sale. It can also work well where the container needs to face a yard, workshop or customer area from the long side rather than the narrow end.

The trade-off is cost, weight and door clearance. Side doors add steel, hinges, locking bars and frame reinforcement. Internal height can be slightly lower than a standard 20ft container on some builds because the roof and floor are strengthened. Door panel layout also varies, so always confirm the exact specification before buying.

Typical specification to check

Side opening containers are specialist units, so do not rely on a single set of measurements from memory. The figures below are common for standard-height 20ft full side access units, but the exact container supplied should be measured or confirmed against a current drawing.

Confirm the side the doors open on as well. Many side-opening containers open on the right-hand side when you look at the end doors from outside, but other layouts may exist. This matters if the container is being placed against a wall, fence, racking line or loading route.

Buying rather than hiring

Buying suits long-term storage, repeated use, resale value and projects where the container may be modified. A purchased unit can usually be adapted more freely than a hired unit, subject to the container condition, structural limits, planning position and the work being done.

Hire may suit short projects, seasonal peaks or building sites where the unit will be collected afterwards. If you are comparing options, see container hire as a possible alternative before committing to purchase.

Think about what happens after the first job. A 20ft side opener is compact enough for many yards, but it still needs a clear strip along the side doors. If future sites are tight, a standard end-opening unit may be easier to place even if it is less convenient to load.

Condition, CSC status and export use

One-trip usually means the container was built overseas and used for a single cargo move into the UK. It should look newer than a used container, but it may still have handling marks, small dents, tyre marks inside or paint scuffs from transport.

Used side opening units can be good value where appearance is less important. Check the floor, door seals, hinges, locking bars, roof, lower rails and side-door alignment. Wind and watertight condition is a storage grade, not a promise that the unit is suitable for shipping cargo.

For export, ask about CSC plating, cargo-worthy condition, lashing points and carrier acceptance before buying. A CSC plate is part of the picture, but shipping lines, freight forwarders and ports may have their own checks. For shipper-owned export moves, use the Shippers Own Containers guidance and confirm requirements with your freight forwarder, customs agent, insurer and shipping line.

Delivery and placement checks

Plan delivery before you place the order. A side opener is only useful if the doors can open safely where the container will sit. Leave room along the full long side for the door leaves, people, pallets and any forklift route.

Most customers need to check gate width, turning space, overhead cables, branches, roof edges, soft ground, gradients, parked cars and the delivery route from the main road. A HIAB lorry, which is a truck with a crane, still needs a firm standing area and safe crane reach. The container delivery guide covers the practical access checks in more detail.

Place the container on firm, level ground. Concrete, compacted hardcore or suitable sleepers can help keep the base even. If the unit twists, the side doors can become harder to operate. Keep enough access for future inspection, maintenance and collection if the container may be moved later.

Storage, security and modifications

Side access makes loading easier, but it also means more door gear to look after. Check that every door closes cleanly and that locking bars seat properly. A lockbox helps shield a padlock, and site lighting or CCTV may be sensible for valuable stock.

Condensation can form inside steel containers when warm damp air meets cold metal. Vents help, but storage practice matters too. Keep goods off the floor where possible, leave air gaps around the walls, avoid storing wet items and consider lining, insulation or anti-condensation coating where the contents are sensitive.

Modifications can include lining, insulation, electrics, racking, personnel doors, windows, vents or repainting, but structural changes need care because side opening containers already rely on reinforced frames. Planning requirements can depend on the intended use, duration, site status, neighbouring property, listed status, conservation areas, change of use, works and local policy. Check current requirements with the local council before committing to a long-term placement or conversion.

For a current specification and delivery discussion, send the site details through the container quote page.