Open Side Shipping Containers: 20ft & 40ft
Full Side Access Guide

Open side shipping containers replace one full wall panel with a wide, full-length opening — giving you maximum access along the entire side of the unit. When end-door-only entry is too limiting for your workflow, open side containers make loading, unloading, and organizing dramatically easier. YES Containers carries open side units nationwide in 20ft standard and 40ft High Cube configurations.

20 & 40

What Is an Open Side Shipping Container?

An open side shipping container is a steel container with a full-length side opening — the entire side wall swings open rather than just a door section. The standard end doors remain intact, giving you two very different access modes in the same unit.

Where a side door container opens in sections, an open side container removes the entire wall from the equation. This makes it the most accessible configuration available — ideal for forklifts, long materials, and any application where fast, unobstructed full-width entry matters.

Warehouses Construction Teams Industrial Users Forklift Operations Long Material Storage Full-Access Layouts

Full-Length Side Opening

The entire wall opens — no door frames breaking up access along the length.

Excellent Forklift Access

Side entry approach is unobstructed — pallets move in and out without angling.

Long Material Handling

Lumber, pipe, rebar, and long equipment load without fighting the end-door frame.

Full Inventory Visibility

Everything stored inside is visible at once — no digging from the front.

Steel Security When Closed

The full side wall and end doors lock shut — secure storage when access is complete.

Wind & Watertight When Sealed

New one-trip units seal fully — contents are protected when the side is closed.

How Open Side Containers Compare

Open side containers offer the widest access of any container configuration. Here is how they compare to both standard containers and side door units.

Open Side vs. Standard Container

Feature comparison between standard and open side containers.
Feature	Standard	Open Side
Access points	End doors only	End doors + full side opening
Long material loading	Limited	Much easier
Forklift side access	Limited	Excellent
Inventory visibility	Front-only view	Full interior visible
Best for	General storage	Full-access storage and workflow

Open Side vs. Side Door Container

Feature comparison between side door and open side containers.
Feature	Side Door	Open Side
Side access type	Multiple door sections	Full-length opening wall
Access flexibility	Section-by-section	Entire side at once
Long item handling	Moderate	Excellent
Best for	Organized storage zones	Long items and maximum access
Availability	Limited — specialty unit	More limited — rarer specialty build

20ft and 40ft Open Side Options

Both sizes deliver the same full-length side opening. Choose based on how much storage volume you need and the space available at your site.

20ft Standard Open Side

The 20ft open side container delivers maximum side access in a compact footprint. It is well suited for sites with limited space where full end-door loading is impractical, and for teams that need daily access along the full container length without occupying a large footprint.

Common Advantages

Full side access on smaller sites
Easier loading of items stored along the length
Improved daily workflow at compact locations
Lower delivered cost than 40ft

Often Used For

Industrial supplies and consumables
Warehouse spare inventory
Worksite materials and tools
Event materials and frequently accessed goods

40ft High Cube Open Side

The 40ft High Cube open side container adds an extra foot of interior height to the full-length side opening — making it the highest-volume, most accessible container configuration YES Containers carries. It is the right choice when you need to load pallets, tall items, or long materials efficiently at scale.

Common Advantages

Full-length access for palletized or oversized loads
Extra High Cube height for tall items and racking
Improved efficiency for larger inventory volumes
Best-in-class access configuration for active sites

Often Used For

Palletized inventory and packaging materials
Seasonal overflow stock
Long equipment and structural materials
Workspace and conversion-ready layouts

Hot Right Now

20ft Standard Open Side — Available Near You

New one-trip units at key depot locations across the U.S. Open side inventory moves quickly — these are current listings.

One-Trip

New 20ft Standard Open Side Shipping Container

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One-Trip

New 20ft Standard Open Side Shipping Container

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One-Trip

New 20ft Standard Open Side Shipping Container

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One-Trip

New 20ft Standard Open Side Shipping Container

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Hot Right Now

40ft High Cube Open Side — Available Near You

The highest-access, highest-volume configuration we carry. New one-trip High Cube open side units at select depot locations.

One-Trip

New 40ft High Cube Open Side Shipping Container

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One-Trip

New 40ft High Cube Open Side Shipping Container

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One-Trip

New 40ft High Cube Open Side Shipping Container

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One-Trip

New 40ft High Cube Open Side Shipping Container

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View All 40ft HC Open Side Units

Who Should Choose One, How Delivery Works, and What Affects Pricing

Who Should Choose an Open Side Container

Open side containers are the strongest choice when your workflow depends on fast, unobstructed access to the full length of the container. If you regularly move long materials, operate forklifts from the side, or need to see and reach everything stored inside without digging from the end — open side is the right configuration.

Warehouses with side-loading dock layouts
Construction teams storing long structural materials
Industrial users moving pallets with forklifts
Operations with high daily access frequency
Businesses needing full inventory visibility at a glance

Delivery and Placement Planning

Open side containers require more deliberate placement than standard units. The full opening wall needs usable clearance on the working side — enough room for forklifts, carts, people, or whatever will be moving materials in and out. Getting the orientation right before delivery avoids costly repositioning.

Confirm orientation so the opening side faces the working area
Ensure straight clearance for the tilt-bed delivery trailer
Verify full forklift or cart clearance on the open side
Confirm level, stable ground at the placement location
Plan enough room for the full side panels to open safely

What Affects Open Side Container Pricing

Open side containers are among the highest-premium specialty configurations because they require additional structural engineering and reinforcement — the entire wall opening demands heavier framing than standard containers or even side door units. Availability is lower than most other configurations, and lead times can vary significantly by region.

Carry a premium over standard and side door units
20ft units are more affordable than 40ft High Cube
One-trip condition adds cost over used condition
Delivery distance from nearest depot affects total cost
Ordering early is strongly recommended for availability

Find an Open Side Container Near You

Enter your ZIP code to view location-based pricing for open side containers near your delivery area. Open side units move quickly — a container specialist can confirm current availability and walk through delivery requirements before inventory changes.

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