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Side Opening Shipping 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.

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

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 Height2.393m (7ft 10in) / 2.698m (8ft 10in)2.393m (7ft 10in) / 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 Capacity32.98 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 Weight3,180 kg (7,011 lbs) / 3,350 kg (7,385 lbs)5,200 kg (11,464 lbs) / 5,450 kg (12,015 lbs)
Max Payload21,600 kg (47,620 lbs) / 21,410 kg (47,201 lbs)25,280 kg (55,732 lbs) / 25,030 kg (55,181 lbs)
Max Gross 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 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.

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Built to last

Made from durable Corten steel, all our side door containers are built to handle the rigours of daily use and provide long-term, reliable performance.
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Competitive pricing

We offer clear, competitive pricing on our full range of side opening containers. Whether you need a single unit or multiple containers for a larger project, we provide excellent value without compromising on quality.

Fast turnaround

We hold an extensive stock of open sided 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 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.

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