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…
Side Opening Shipping Container
Side opening shipping containers make it simple to load, unload and access items, particularly when they’re bulky, awkward or oversized.
Find Your Perfect ContainerNew & Used Options Available
Features + specs
Tough, adaptable and accessible
Side opening shipping container dimensions
Side opening shipping container durability
- Waterproof and weatherproof steel construction.
- Choose any container grade – new, used, as-is – from vetted suppliers.
Side opening shipping container extras
- Order your container with ventilation, lockboxes or secure floors.
- Our modification partners can customise your container your way.
Use Cases
What can a side opening container be used for?
1. Construction site storage
Why:
A strong, secure and easily accessible space for storing tools, machinery and materials.
Customisation:
Can be used as a temporary site office by adding ventilation, insulation and windows.
2. Workshops and studios
Why:
An affordable art studio, mobile workstation or space for your large or bulky DIY projects.
Customisation:
Make the space more comfortable and usable with electrical fit-outs, lighting and shelving.
3. Tiny homes and granny flats
Why:
An ideal basis for a modular living space, with built-in bifold or French doors to let air and light in.
Customisation:
Add insulation, windows, plumbing and solar to create a livable, comfortable space.
4. Personal and farm storage
Why:
A strong, secure and accessible way to store bulky and valuable items on your property.
Customisation:
Add windows, ventilation and flooring to create a usable work or personal space.
5. Retail and pop-up shops
Why:
A low-cost way to create airy, usable floorspace at your cafe, winery, boutique or event.
Customisation:
Brand the container and easily transport it to events, markets or a permanent commercial site.
New or used
New vs used: which container is right for you?
3,000+ Satisfied Clients
best for business
New side opening 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 supplied complete with factory lockbox and vents.
Budget pick
Used side opening 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 a side opening shipping container?
The most accessible and adaptable shipping container
In a traditional shipping container, access is gained through a narrow door at one end. A side opening shipping container, on the other hand, features hinged doors that span its 20ft (6.06m) or 40ft (12.19m) length.
With full access to the entire length of the container, you can more easily load and unload goods, especially those that are oversized or awkwardly shaped. Forklifts can access more or less the entire container, and items never become stuck at the back of the space. Side opening shipping containers are ideal for other uses too: as workshops, pop-up stalls, pavilions, or even as the basis of a tiny home.
Why choose our side opening shipping containers?
- Strong and protective: Built from corten steel with a weather-resistant, sealed construction, plus optional lockboxes and vents
- Easy to modify: Add insulation, windows, doors, plumbing and electrical to turn it into a living/working space.
- Available across Australia: Connect with vetted local suppliers across the country, and get a side opening 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 ideal container – fast.
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FAQs
You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers
All you need to know about side opening shipping containers.
01
Generally speaking, the price of a brand new 20ft side opening container is in the mid-to-high thousands. Used containers are cheaper, while 40-footers and specialised units – high cube, side opener – require a higher investment. Pricing naturally varies based on condition, modifications and availability. As an independent platform, we provide up-to-date market context and connect you with vetted local suppliers who offer transparent, competitive quotes tailored to your specific project budget.
02
There are side opening variations of the two standard container lengths used in international shipping: 20ft (6.06m) and 40ft (12.19m). Both of these sizes have the same standard width (2.44m) and height (2.59), but there are also high cube options that stand 305mm taller, and are great for double-stacking pallets, storing oversized/awkwardly-shaped items, or creating working/living/entertaining spaces with high ceilings.
03
The most obvious benefit of side opening shipping containers is the unfettered access: you can load, unload and access items quickly and easily, including with a forklift. Beyond storage, side opening shipping containers are ideal for modification: you can create an airy space for living, working and entertaining, and internal fit-outs like shelving, display walls and workbenches won’t get in the way like they can in a traditional shipping container.
04
Given the variety of side opening containers, it’s important to consider which size and type will best suit your needs. This will depend on what you’re using the container for – transport, secure storage, a space to work or live – and how much room you have to spare on your property. You should also consider your budget: a quality used container is a cost-effective option, but as-new containers can be better for long-term storage, highly visible locations, or for use as the basis of a living or working space.
05
Shipping containers are intermodal, meaning they can be transported on sea, rail and road, so 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.
06
Not only is it possible to customise a side opening shipping container, these simple metal boxes are perfect for modification. Storage, site offices, retail spaces, workshops, garages, galleries, tiny homes; 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.
07
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.