Side Opening Containers
Our side opening shipping containers are built for sites where quick, unrestricted access matters. Bi-folding doors open along the full length of the container, so forklifts and pallet trucks can load directly from the side without the constraints of a standard end door.
ISO Certified Quality
Built to recognised international container standards.
40+ Years of Experience
Supplying containers for homes and businesses across the UK.
Structural Guarantee
Inspected for strength, security and durability.
Nationwide Delivery
Delivered to your door across mainland UK.
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Advantages of Side Door Shipping Containers
Our side door shipping containers open along the full length of one side, giving you unrestricted access for loading with forklifts, pallet trucks, or by hand. Suitable for trade storage, retail stock management, and container conversions, each unit is built to the same heavy-duty standards as our full range.
Full Side Access
Bi-folding doors run the full length of one side, opening up the entire container for loading and unloading along its length. Large equipment can be driven straight in from the side, making it practical for palletised goods and bulky items.
Ideal for Conversions
The full-length opening makes side door containers a popular base for conversions such as pop-up shops, bars, showrooms, and serving hatches. The open side creates a natural entrance or customer-facing frontage that a standard end-opening container dosn’t provide.
High Security
The bi-folding doors come with heavy-duty locking bars and a factory-fitted lock box. The side opening is fully secure when closed, giving you the same level of protection you would expect from any shipping container.
Multiple Configuration Options
Available in 20ft and 40ft lengths, in both standard and high cube heights. We also offer dual side access units with doors on both sides for sites that need loading from either side.
Side Opening Shipping Container Dimensions
| Specification | 20ft Standard / High Cube | 40ft Standard / High Cube |
|---|---|---|
| External Length | 6.058m (20ft) / 6.058m (20ft) | 12.192m (40ft) / 12.192m (40ft) |
| External Width | 2.438m (8ft) / 2.438m (8ft) | 2.438m (8ft) / 2.438m (8ft) |
| External Height | 2.591m (8ft 6in) / 2.896m (9ft 6in) | 2.591m (8ft 6in) / 2.896m (9ft 6in) |
| Internal Length | 5.898m (19ft 4in) / 5.898m (19ft 4in) | 12.032m (39ft 5in) / 12.032m (39ft 5in) |
| Internal Width | 2.330m (7ft 8in) / 2.330m (7ft 8in) | 2.330m (7ft 8in) / 2.330m (7ft 8in) |
| Internal Height | 2.393m (7ft 10in) / 2.698m (8ft 10in) | 2.393m (7ft 10in) / 2.655m (8ft 8.5in) |
| Door Opening Width | 2.337m (7ft 8in) / 2.337m (7ft 8in) | 2.337m (7ft 8in) / 2.337m (7ft 8in) |
| Door Opening Height | 2.261m (7ft 5in) / 2.566m (8ft 5in) | 2.261m (7ft 5in) / 2.566m (8ft 5in) |
| Floor Space | 13.94m² (150 ft²) / 13.94m² (150 ft²) | 28.34m² (305 ft²) / 28.34m² (305 ft²) |
| Internal Capacity | 32.98 m³ (1,164 cu ft) / 36.95 m³ (1,305 cu ft) | 67.28 m³ (2,376 cu ft) / 74.59 m³ (2,634 cu ft) |
| Tare Weight | 3,180 kg (7,011 lbs) / 3,350 kg (7,385 lbs) | 5,200 kg (11,464 lbs) / 5,450 kg (12,015 lbs) |
| Max Payload | 21,600 kg (47,620 lbs) / 21,410 kg (47,201 lbs) | 25,280 kg (55,732 lbs) / 25,030 kg (55,181 lbs) |
| Max Gross Weight | 24,000 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 a side opening container from Universal Containers
With over four decades of experience in the container industry, we understand what flexible, dual-access storage requires. We supply high-quality tunnel containers backed by expert advice and exceptional service.
Built to last
Competitive pricing
Fast turnaround
Nationwide delivery
Get the right side opening shipping container for your needs
With over 40 years of experience supplying new and used 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 side door access container.
Get in touch for expert advice, product recommendations, or a custom quote based on your requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a side opening container?
A side door opening container is a shipping container with bi-folding doors fitted along its longest side. When opened, the doors provide full-length access to the interior, making it far easier to load, unload, and organise stored items compared to a standard end-opening container.
What side opening container sizes are available?
We offer side door access containers in 20ft and 40ft lengths, in both standard height and high cube options. We also supply dual side access units with doors on both sides of the container for maximum flexibility.
Can I use a forklift to load a side door container?
Yes. The full-length opening is specifically designed to allow forklifts, pallet trucks, and other handling equipment to load directly from the side. This makes side door containers particularly popular for warehousing, distribution, and any application where palletised goods need to be moved in and out efficiently.
Are side opening shipping containers secure?
All our side door access containers are built from heavy-duty corten steel with secure bi-folding doors and a factory-fitted lock box. Only authorised personnel can access the container, and your stored goods remain protected from theft and tampering.
What are side door containers used for?
Side door opening containers are used across a wide range of industries and applications. Common uses include on-site storage where frequent access is needed, retail and trade storage for bulky or palletised goods, event and exhibition setups where wide openings are required, and container conversions such as pop-up shops, bars, and showrooms where the open side creates an inviting entrance.
Can side opening containers be customised?
Yes, we offer bespoke modifications including shelving, additional ventilation, lighting, roller shutters, personnel doors, and layout adjustments to suit your specific requirements.
Check out our other specialised containers
Our containers in action
See some of the ways our amazing customers are using their containers.
Case StudiesBlackpool Zoo has rehomed a group of rescued Sulcata tortoises, several of them seized by UK customs from smugglers, in a converted 16ft shipping container on its Kidepo Trail.
Case StudiesUniversal Containers was commissioned to design and build a bespoke container gym for Salford City FC, providing players with a dedicated on-site training space.
Case StudiesDespite 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 StudiesWe 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 StudiesIn 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 StudiesUniversal 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 StudiesA 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 StudiesThe 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 StudiesThe 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.
ShippingUniversal Containers take pride in continually pushing the boundaries in product development within the shipping container industry.
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”
OfficesThis particular office unit was completed for a North-West-based container hire company.
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 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”
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 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”
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