Fast Delivery

Competitive Prices

Sales Available Nationwide

Rentals Available in California

Fast Delivery

Competitive Price

Sales Available Nationwide

Rentals Available in California

20 Foot Open Sided Shipping Containers

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About 20 Foot Open Sided Shipping Containers

Aztec Container’s 20-foot full side open containers take a standard steel shipping container and open up the entire long side, giving you full-length, ground-level access to everything inside. Instead of a single set of doors on the narrow 8-foot end, the whole 20-foot wall swings open.

Built on a heavy-duty Corten steel frame with a one-inch marine-grade plywood floor, each unit is a durable, secure, and highly flexible solution. The side-access design is what sets it apart — you can load pallets with a forklift, run a pop-up retail or workshop setup, or pull bulky equipment in and out without burying anything in the back. Aztec has been building containers since 1969, and every open-sided unit carries that same standard of construction.

Key Features

  • Full-Length Side Access: The entire 20-foot side opens, giving wide, walk-up access to the whole interior — not just a single end doorway.
  • Forklift-Friendly Ground-Level Loading: Load and unload pallets directly from the side with a forklift or pallet jack — no ramp or tight-end maneuvering required.
  • Heavy-Duty Corten Steel Construction: 8-gauge steel frame and 14-gauge steel body for long-term structural strength and security.
  • Marine-Grade Plywood Flooring: One-inch-thick flooring engineered to handle heavy loads and high-traffic, in-and-out use.
  • Secure Locking System: Heavy locking bars on the side doors plus an integrated lockbox to protect your padlock.
  • Doors That Stay Open While You Work: Side doors are designed to swing clear and stay open during the day, then lock flush at night.
  • Fully Customizable: Add shelving, workbenches, lighting and electrical, ventilation, partitions, custom paint, or signage.
  • Buy or Rent: Sales available nationwide; rentals available in California. New (one-trip) and used units offered.

Container Dimensions & Specifications

SpecificationMeasurement
External Length20′ 0″ (6.10 m)
External Width8′ 0″ (2.44 m)
External Height8′ 6″ (2.59 m)
Internal Length19′ 8″ (5.99 m)
Internal Width7′ 8.5″ (2.35 m)
Internal Height7′ 10″ (2.39 m)
Usable Volume≈ 33 m³ (≈ 1,165 cu ft)
Max Gross Weight≈ 67,196 lbs (30,480 kg)
Frame Material8-gauge Corten steel
Body Material14-gauge Corten steel
Flooring1″ marine-grade plywood

FAQ's

What exactly is a "full side open" 20 Foot container?

It’s a standard 20-foot steel container modified so the entire long side opens up, not just the end. Instead of one set of doors on the narrow 8-foot end, you get the full 20 feet of access along the side — so you can see and reach everything inside without climbing in or shuffling items to the front.

A standard container only opens at one narrow end, which means anything deep inside gets buried in the back. With a full side open unit, the whole side opens, giving you wide, walk-up access to the entire length. It’s the difference between loading through a doorway and loading through a garage-width opening.

They’re popular for workshops, tool and equipment storage, pop-up retail and vendor setups, parts inventory, and landscaping or construction gear — basically anywhere you need to grab bulky items quickly. The side access makes them a favorite whenever forklifts or pallet loading are involved.

Yes. Because the full side opens at ground level, a forklift or pallet jack can drive straight up and load or unload pallets from the side — no ramp and no maneuvering through a tight end door. That side access is one of the main reasons customers choose this style.

The interior gives you roughly 33 cubic meters — about 1,165 cubic feet — of usable space. That’s the same generous capacity as a standard 20-foot container; the open side just makes all of it far easier to reach. Full dimensions are in the specs table above.

They are. The side doors close flush and latch with heavy locking bars, and the unit includes an integrated lockbox to shield your padlock. When shut and locked, it secures just like a conventional steel shipping container.

Absolutely. Plenty of customers run workshops, retail booths, and job-site stations with the side open during the day and locked up at night. The doors are built to swing clear and stay open so they’re out of your way while you work.

New (one-trip) containers have the cleanest look and minimal wear, which is nice for retail or customer-facing setups. Used containers are more budget-friendly and still structurally solid for storage and work use. The right pick really comes down to your budget and how visible the container will be.

Yes, these 20 Foot Shipping Contianers make a great base for modifications. Common add-ons include shelving, workbenches, interior lighting and electrical, ventilation, partitions, custom paint, and signage. Tell us how you plan to use it and we can tailor the build to fit.

It’s one of the best container styles for that. The full-length opening makes tools and inventory easy to reach, brings plenty of natural light into the interior, and gives you a clean, lockable footprint you can set up as a workspace or storefront and close down securely when you’re done.

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Buy or Rent

Sales available nationwide, rentals available in California.

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You can customize your container to fit your exact needs.

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