Tunnel Containers
Designed with doors at both ends, our wide range of tunnel containers are made for easy loading, unloading, and stock management. Available in 20ft and 40ft sizes, and bespoke 30ft units with nationwide delivery and competitive pricing on all new and used containers.
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 Tunnel Containers
Tunnel containers, also known as double door containers, feature full-height cargo doors at both ends. This dual-entry design gives faster access to stored goods and opens up flexible uses that standard single-door containers cannot match.
Dual End Access
With full-height double doors at each end, you can load from either side and reach any item without having to move through the entire length of the container. This dramatically reduces the time it takes to find and retrieve stored goods.
Ideal for Quick Loading
When both sets of doors are opened on each end, you create a clear drive-through path. Forklifts and pallet trucks can enter from one end and exit the other, speeding up loading and unloading on busy sites.
High Security
Each set of doors comes with heavy-duty locking gear and a factory-fitted lock box. Both ends of the container are fully secure, giving you the same level of protection you would expect from any shipping container.
Multiple Size Options
Available in standard 20ft and 40ft sizes, our tunnel container range also includes 30ft cut-down units and high cube versions with an extra foot of headroom, so you can always find the right fit for your needs.
Tunnel 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 | 32.55 m³ (1,149 cu ft) / 36.95 m³ (1,305 cu ft) | 67.56 m³ (2,386 cu ft) / 76.17 m³ (2,690 cu ft) |
| Tare Weight | 2,400 kg (5,291 lbs) / 2,590 kg (5,710 lbs) | 4,200 kg (9,259 lbs) / 4,500 kg (9,921 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 should be used as a guide. Small variations can and do apply. |
Why buy a tunnel 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 tunnel 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 tunnel container.
Get in touch for expert advice, product recommendations, or a custom quote based on your requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a tunnel container?
A tunnel container is a shipping container with full-height cargo doors at both ends instead of just one. This dual-entry design is why they are also called double door containers. The doors at each end open and lock independently, giving you flexible access from either side of the unit.
What sizes do tunnel containers come in?
We stock tunnel containers in 20ft and 40ft lengths as standard, with high cube versions available for additional headroom. Our in-house team can also cut down containers to create bespoke sizes such as 30ft units.
What are tunnel containers used for?
Tunnel containers serve a wide range of purposes. Common uses include storage where you want to organise goods by section and access each end independently, drive-through loading on busy sites where forklifts need to enter one end and exit the other, event infrastructure such as covered walkways or secure entry tunnels at concerts, festivals, and sporting events, and partitioned spaces where an internal wall divides the container into two separate rooms accessed from opposite ends.
Can a tunnel container be split into two rooms?
Yes. We can fit an internal partition wall to divide the container into two separate, independently accessible spaces. This is a popular option for sites that need a workshop on one side and storage on the other, or separate storage areas for different teams or product types.
Are tunnel containers available in high cube variations?
Yes, we stock high cube tunnel containers in both 20ft and 40ft lengths. The high cube version adds an extra foot of internal height (9ft 6in external), which is useful for storing taller items or for conversions where insulation and ceiling installations reduce headroom.
Are tunnel containers secure?
All our tunnel containers are built from heavy-duty corten steel with secure doors and factory-fitted lock boxes at both ends. Each set of doors locks independently, giving you full control over access from either side of the container.
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Our containers in action
See some of the ways our amazing customers are using their containers.
Case StudiesUniversal Containers converted three new 30ft high cube shipping containers into branded Click & Collect units for B&Q, ready for use at selected Tesco car parks.
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”
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