Housing affordability is a real issue in Australia. The price of homes just keeps on climbing, leading many people to look at alternative and often less traditional dwellings. The shipping…
Open Top Shipping Containers
Open top containers are built to transport and store items that are too tall, bulky or awkwardly shaped for a standard container.
12+ years on the market
3,000+ Satisfied Clients
Features + Specs
Compact, tough and customisable
Open top container dimensions
Open top container durability
- Waterproof and weatherproof steel construction.
- Choose any container grade – new, used, as-is – from vetted suppliers.
Open top container extras
- Order your container with additional lash points or anchor plates.
- Our modification partners can customise your container your way.
Use Cases
What can an open top container be used for?
1. Oversize transport
Why:
The open top makes it easy to load machinery that can’t fit through standard container doors.
Customisation:
Add extra anchor points and a tarpaulin cover to protect machinery during transit.
2. Construction transport/storage
Why:
Ideal for transporting and storing long beams, pipes, timber and other bulky building materials.
Customisation:
Install removable dunnage, loading frames or tie-down points for secure storage.
3. Scrap metal/waste removal
Why:
Easily drop bulk scrap metal, debris or construction waste into the container from above.
Customisation:
Add internal linings to protect the container, or partitions to separate different materials.
4. Large stones or blocks
Why:
Cranes can load heavy, irregular stone blocks directly into the container for transport or storage.
Customisation:
Install padding or dunnage to prevent container damage, and add a tarp to protect the cargo.
5. Shipping container pools
Why:
Easily repurpose an open top container as a pool by adding a waterproof lining.
Customisation:
Install your container inground or semi-inground, then surround it with a deck.
New or used
New vs used: which container is right for you?
3,000+ Satisfied Clients
best for business
New open top shipping container
Single-trip containers in as-new condition.
Ideal for long-term use or prominent, high visibility locations.
Available in multiple colours and fully customisable.
Can be delivered to your door almost anywhere in Australia.
Budget pick
Used open top shipping container
Choose your rating: As-is/project-grade, wind & watertight (WWT) or CSC-plated/cargo-worthy.
Ideal for budget storage and remote/low visibility sites.
May have cosmetic wear and (protective) external rust.
Limited colours, but cost-effective and fully customisable.
3,000+ Satisfied Clients
What is an open top container?
For items that need a little more headroom
Open top containers are simply shipping containers that don’t have a roof. With four walls and a floor, they’re used to transport particularly tall, bulky or awkwardly shaped items. A tarpaulin is often placed over the top to provide cargo with some protection from the weather.
Open tops form a midway point between standard containers and flat rack containers: they’re able to handle oversize goods, while also offering a level of protection, particularly from side impacts. In terms of size, 40ft open top containers are the most popular, but 20ft open top containers are also available.
Why choose an open top container?
- Strong and weatherproof: Built from high quality corten steel that can deal with outdoor conditions.
- Easy to modify: Add lash points, anchor plates, flooring, branding and a removable tarpaulin for extra protection.
- Readily available: Connect with vetted local suppliers across the country, and get a container delivered to your door.
- Great for tight spaces: Place your container in a driveway, on a construction site, or outside your commercial premises.
Got questions? Let’s chat.
Hello! I’m Sophie – Container Specialist, how can I help you?
We’re here to make container buying simple.
Talk to a real expert, get advice, and find your perfect fit – fast.
Blog
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FAQs
You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers
All you need to know about open top shipping containers.
01
While both types of container lack a roof, the difference between flat rack and open top containers is that open toppers still have side walls, while flat racks do not. Open top containers can also offer weather protection when fitted with a tarp.
02
Flat rack and open top containers aren’t better or worse than one another – they’re simply built for different uses. Open top containers are generally used for tall cargo that will still fit within the footprint of a standard container, and that could benefit from side protection during transport. Flat rack containers, meanwhile, are used for cargo that won’t fit within the walls of a standard/open top container.
03
Lacking a roof, you don’t necessarily need to open an open top container at all, as cargo can simply be lowered in and lifted out. But open top containers still have end doors, so smaller items can still be loaded and unloaded the usual way, and when a tarpaulin is added to protect cargo from the weather, an open top container acts more or less like a standard shipping container.
04
Shipping containers are intermodal: they can be transported on sea, rail and road. This means that they can be delivered almost anywhere in Australia. And by accessing our sprawling network of local container suppliers, delivery of your ideal container can be completed in quick time.
05
Not only is it possible to customise an open top shipping container, these simple metal boxes are perfect for modification. Storage, workspaces, container pools; if you can think of a use, there’s probably a way to make it happen. In fact, someone has probably already done it. And our modification partners are ready to help bring your container dreams to life.
06
As a container platform, we connect you with vetted local suppliers. Some exclusively sell containers, others also offer leasing and rental services. Renting can make sense for short-term use, while purchasing may be more suitable for longer-term or customised projects. Because pricing and availability vary by region and supplier, we recommend submitting your requirements to receive options tailored to your situation.