Used 20ft Open Top Shipping Container for Sale
What makes a 20ft open top shipping container for sale worth the premium over a standard box is simple: the roof comes off. In place of the welded corrugated steel top, this unit carries removable steel bows and a weatherproof tarpaulin that ropes down to the roof rails, so a crane or an excavator with a grab can drop a load straight in from above. The door header over the rear doors swings clear as well, which opens up end loading for anything long. External dimensions are 19 ft 10 in (6.06 m) by 8 ft (2.44 m) by 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m), the floor is 28 mm marine plywood, and lashing rings are fitted for tying a load down in transit.
Jobs an open top does that a standard box cannot
- Loading machinery and plant that will not roll or slide through the doors
- Scrap, swarf and metal recycling loaded overhead with a grab
- Stone, marble and glass slabs craned in on A-frames
- Crated equipment that is taller than it is long
- Bulk aggregate, mineral and demolition arisings on short hauls
- Site waste collection where a lid matters but door access does not
- Set builds, props and staging that get lifted in and out repeatedly
- Long-term storage on a site that already has a crane or telehandler
The obvious question is whether to take an open top or a flat rack. If your load stands proud of the container roof line even with the bows off, a flat rack is the right answer, because an open top still has walls and end frames boxing the load in. If it fits inside the profile and the only problem is getting it in there, the open top wins on every count: you keep four walls, a lockable door end and a weatherproof cover once the sheet is on. Against the 40ft version, the shorter box is easier to place, easier to haul and far easier to swing into a tight yard, and it costs less to buy and to move. Buying used rather than one-trip brings a specialist container into the range of jobs where a new one could never be justified, and a box that is going to be loaded by grab does not need showroom paint. The standard container is the last comparison. It is cheaper again, and if everything you own fits through a door opening, buy that instead.
Condition and construction
This is a genuine used container that has worked for a living. The steel is Corten, the same weathering steel used across the shipping fleet, and the floor is 28 mm marine plywood laid on steel crossmembers. Tare weight is around 5,070 lbs (2,300 kg). Internal length runs 19 ft 4 in (5.90 m) with an internal width of 7 ft 8 in (2.35 m), and the door opening measures 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m) wide by 7 ft 6 in (2.28 m) high, so measure your load against the door as well as the roof opening.
Expect the cosmetic wear that comes with a working life at sea: surface rust, dents, patched paint and previous owner markings. What matters structurally is the frame, the corner castings, the floor and the door gear, and those are what we look at before a unit is allocated. Bows and a tarpaulin are part of what makes an open top an open top, and they also stiffen the box, so we confirm that the bows and sheet supplied with your unit are present and serviceable, along with the exact condition grade, before delivery. If you intend to ship the container internationally rather than use it on site, tell us at the point of order so we can confirm what is available with current plating.
Delivery, payment and returns
Delivery is a flat $550 anywhere in the continental United States, quoted at checkout, with most orders shipping inside one to three weeks. A 20ft container arrives on a tilt-bed truck and needs about 60 ft of straight, firm approach to slide off cleanly, plus roughly 14 ft of overhead clearance for the bed as it lifts. Firm ground and a couple of railroad ties or concrete blocks under the corner castings will keep the doors swinging true for years. We take Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Apple Pay and Google Pay through Stripe, plus bank transfer by ACH or wire. We do not collect sales tax. Standard unmodified units carry a 30-day return with free return shipping. If you want a second opinion on whether an open top or a flat rack suits your load, call us and describe what you are moving.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| External length | 19 ft 10 in (6.06 m) |
| External width | 8 ft (2.44 m) |
| External height | 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) |
| Internal length | 19 ft 4 in (5.90 m) |
| Internal width | 7 ft 8 in (2.35 m) |
| Door opening width | 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m) |
| Door opening height | 7 ft 6 in (2.28 m) |
| Tare weight | Approx 5,070 lbs (2,300 kg) |
| Roof | Removable bows with weatherproof tarpaulin |
| Door header | Swings clear or removes for end loading |
| Cargo securing | Lashing rings fitted |
| Floor | 1-1/8 in (28 mm) marine plywood |
| Condition | Used |
