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Open Top Shipping Containers

Our open top shipping containers are built for easily loading cargo from above. With a removable tarpaulin or steel hard top in place of a fixed roof, these containers give you clear overhead access for cranes, gantries, and other lifting equipment.

Open Top Shipping Containers

With an open top container there’s nothing stopping you from storing and shipping heavy or bulky loads that can’t fit through conventional container doors and need to be loaded from above. Whether you choose a tarpaulin or steel roof, it will be secure during transit and can be easily removed when your container is loaded or unloaded.

Your container can also come with a CSC plate confirming it’s been inspected and is safe to use and ship for a period of at least 12 months, so you’re ready to go!

Advantages of Open Top Containers

Our open top containers are built for sites and operations where standard end-door loading is not practical.

Overhead Loading Access

The removable roof gives you unrestricted access from above, making it easy to load bulky, heavy, or irregularly shaped items using a crane or gantry. Items that would not fit through a standard container door can be lowered straight in.

Hard Top or Soft Top Options

Choose between a steel hard top for maximum protection or a heavy-duty tarpaulin soft top for faster access and lighter handling. Both options are secured to the container frame and provide weatherproof coverage during transit and storage.

Built to ISO Shipping Standards

Every open top container is built from Corten steel to full ISO specifications and can be supplied with a CSC plate, confirming it has been inspected and is certified for international shipping for a minimum of 12 months.

Secure and Weatherproof

High-security steel end doors, multiple lashing points for securing cargo, and a windproof, watertight construction mean your goods stay protected throughout transit and on site.

Open Top Shipping Container Dimensions

Specification20ft Standard / High Cube40ft Standard / High Cube
External Length6.058m (20ft) / 6.058m (20ft)12.192m (40ft) / 12.192m (40ft)
External Width2.438m (8ft) / 2.438m (8ft)2.438m (8ft) / 2.438m (8ft)
External Height2.591m (8ft 6in) / 2.896m (9ft 6in)2.591m (8ft 6in) / 2.896m (9ft 6in)
Internal Length5.898m (19ft 4in) / 5.898m (19ft 4in)12.032m (39ft 5in) / 12.032m (39ft 5in)
Internal Width2.330m (7ft 8in) / 2.330m (7ft 8in)2.330m (7ft 8in) / 2.330m (7ft 8in)
Internal Height2.350m (7ft 9in) / 2.655m (8ft 8.5in)2.350m (7ft 9in) / 2.655m (8ft 8.5in)
Door Opening Width2.337m (7ft 8in) / 2.337m (7ft 8in)2.337m (7ft 8in) / 2.337m (7ft 8in)
Door Opening Height2.261m (7ft 5in) / 2.566m (8ft 5in)2.261m (7ft 5in) / 2.566m (8ft 5in)
Floor Space13.94m² (150 ft²) / 13.94m² (150 ft²)28.34m² (305 ft²) / 28.34m² (305 ft²)
Internal Capacity32.60 m³ (1,151 cu ft) / 36.85 m³ (1,301 cu ft)66.50 m³ (2,348 cu ft) / 75.15 m³ (2,654 cu ft)
Tare Weight2,240 kg (4,938 lbs) / 2,450 kg (5,401 lbs)3,900 kg (8,598 lbs) / 4,200 kg (9,259 lbs)
Max Payload21,760 kg (47,973 lbs) / 21,550 kg (47,510 lbs)26,580 kg (58,598 lbs) / 26,280 kg (57,937 lbs)
Max Gross Weight24,000 kg (52,911 lbs) / 24,000 kg (52,911 lbs)30,480 kg (67,200 lbs) / 30,480 kg (67,200 lbs)
All measurements are approximate and based on standard ISO specifications. Small variations can apply between individual units.

Why buy an open top container from Universal Containers

With over four decades of experience in the container industry, we understand what specialist shipping and storage applications require. We supply high-quality open top containers backed by expert advice and exceptional service.

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Built to last

Made from durable Corten steel, all our open top containers are built to withstand the demands of international shipping and long-term outdoor storage.
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Competitive pricing

We offer clear, competitive pricing on our full range of open top shipping containers, giving you a cost-effective solution for specialist loading requirements.

Fast turnaround

We hold an extensive stock of open top containers at our depot, so you get your container to your site quickly and hassle-free.
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Nationwide delivery

We deliver shipping containers across the UK. Our experienced transport team handles the logistics, making it easy to get your container in place wherever your site is located.

Get the right open top container for your needs

With over 40 years of experience supplying new and used specialist containers, we understand what different storage and access requirements demand. Our team can help you choose the right size, configuration, and features to get the most out of your open top shipping container.

Get in touch for expert advice, product recommendations, or a custom quote based on your requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an open top shipping container?

An open top shipping container is a standard ISO container with the steel roof replaced by a removable tarpaulin or steel hard top. This allows cargo to be loaded from above using a crane or gantry, making it suitable for items that are too tall, heavy, or awkwardly shaped to fit through standard end doors.

What open top container sizes are available?

We supply open top containers in 20ft and 40ft lengths, in both standard and high cube heights. All sizes are built to full ISO specifications and can come with a CSC plate for international shipping.

What is the difference between a hard top and a soft top?

A hard top uses a removable steel panel that sits on top of the container, providing maximum protection during transit. A soft top uses a heavy-duty tarpaulin stretched over steel roof bows, which is lighter and faster to remove for frequent loading and unloading. Both options are weatherproof when secured.

What are open top containers used for?

Open top containers are commonly used for shipping and storing oversized or heavy items that need crane loading, including timber, stone, pipes, industrial machinery, steel beams, and bagged goods such as grain or aggregate. They are also used on construction sites and in agriculture where top-loading access is more practical than end-door entry.

Can open top containers be used for storage?

Yes. When the tarpaulin or hard top is secured in place, the container is fully weatherproof and suitable for outdoor storage. The end doors remain accessible for standard loading and unloading.

Can open top containers be customised?

Yes. We offer a full range of modifications carried out by our in-house team, including lining and insulation (plywood, melamine boarding, food grade and medical grade materials), racking and shelving, condensation prevention, gas strut operated hatches, manual and automatic roller shutters, electrics, heating, lighting, doors, windows, and custom branding. Used containers can also be painted to any RAL colour.

Check out our other specialised containers

Our containers in action

See some of the ways our amazing customers are using their containers.

Case Study: Garden Room Office Container Case Studies
Case Study: Garden Room Office Container

Despite restricted site access, we delivered a fully insulated, light-filled container office with carefully planned glazing, heating and electrics. The finished space provides a practical, year-round working environment suited for everyday use.

Case Study: Compact Coffee Shop Case Studies
Case Study: Compact Coffee Shop

We built a fully functional compact coffee shop from a shipping container with doors for customer access, a roller shutter for security, a serving hatch, and a small kitchen area complete with water heater and sink. 

Case Study: Shipping Container Museum & Workshop Case Studies
Case Study: Shipping Container Museum & Workshop

In the pursuit of enhancing their museum and workshop facility, the Locomotive Society sought a creative solution to provide a welcoming space for their members, while adhering to the historical aesthetic of their railway centric environment.

Case Study: Garden Center Case Studies
Case Study: Garden Center

Universal Containers embarked on an exciting project to enhance a garden centre’s retail experience by supplying and customising two shipping container cabins. The goal was to seamlessly link these cabins on-site and transform them into a vibrant and functional gift shop.

Case Study: Outdoor Catering Unit Case Studies
Case Study: Outdoor Catering Unit

A restaurant had been operating successfully for several years. However, due to increasing demand and limited space within the restaurant premises, the owners decided to expand their operations by introducing an outdoor catering unit.

Case Study: Shipping Container Ticket Office Case Studies
Case Study: Shipping Container Ticket Office

The local rugby club had been using a small, outdated ticket booth that no longer met their needs. The club’s management sought a more efficient and visually appealing solution that could accommodate their growing fan base.

Case Study: Chemical Store Shipping Container Conversion Case Studies
Case Study: Chemical Store Shipping Container Conversion

The client, an Industrial Chemical Storage Company specialising in chemical production and storage, faced the challenge of storing hazardous chemicals on their premises while adhering to stringent health and safety regulations.

Dropside Shipping Container Conversion Shipping
Dropside Shipping Container Conversion

Universal Containers take pride in continually pushing the boundaries in product development within the shipping container industry.

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32ft × 10ft Stacked Cabins

These 2 large 32x10ft cabins were built for a British transport company. They requested a large space to act as a welfare facility for drivers and staff in the peak district. Due to the customer’s specific requirements, one unit was not large enough so we suggested 2 units, however floor space was an issue on-siteContinue reading “32ft × 10ft Stacked Cabins”

32×10 Green Office Offices
32×10 Green Office

This particular office unit was completed for a North-West-based container hire company.

20×10 Gas Bottle Store
20×10 Gas Bottle Store

Custom Built Atex Coshh store for storing gas bottles. This unit was custom built with corrugated steel panels 20ft long x 10ft wide. It had a fully ventilated floor from galvanised steel mesh, as well as 4 aluminium louver vents in the walls. We also fitted galvanised box section racks with chains on to holdContinue reading “20×10 Gas Bottle Store”

Corrugated 32×10 Office / Store room
Corrugated 32×10 Office / Store room

Corrugated steel cabin 32ft x 10ft with adjustable jacklegs anti vandal steel personnel door and anti-vandal aluminium sliding windows in steel shutters. Painted externally in non-corrosive container paint in a vibrant red. Internally with walls where lined in a cost-effective melamine faced chipboard and fully insulated throughout in Rockwool. The floor had hard wearing vinylContinue reading “Corrugated 32×10 Office / Store room”

20ft Multi-Bay Unit
20ft Multi-Bay Unit

Standard shipping container transformed into a bespoke storage unit. With multiple purposes across many industries. For example, self-storage companies or engineering companies for members of staff to lock tools away when not in use. The unit was split evenly into 8 small rooms approximately 5ftx4ft each by steel partition walls for security. Each room withContinue reading “20ft Multi-Bay Unit”

10ft Generator Housing Container
10ft Generator Housing Container

10ft container conversion for an off-grid company custom built to house a very large generator. The customer wanted a unit with multiple apertures and louver vents to allow for ventilation, they wanted all openings to have cover hoods to help stop water coming in. The Universal CAD team had a meeting with the client toContinue reading “10ft Generator Housing Container”

40ft × 12ft Truck Stop Shower Unit Site Accommodation
40ft × 12ft Truck Stop Shower Unit

This 40ft x 12ft custom built flat panel cabin was a container conversion project completed for Eddie Stobart’s site.

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