Side-Opening Shipping Containers for Sale
A side-opening container has folding doors along one long side as well as the normal end doors. Open them all and almost the full length of the box becomes one wide entrance. Builders, event crews, farmers and clubs use them for gear that is awkward to reach through a 2.3 m wide end door.
Backed by the team behind Shipping-Containers.com.au
Design
How side-opening containers work
Construction
Door sets along the side wall
The manufacturer replaces most of one side wall with a row of door leaves, each set with its own locking bars and seals. A reinforced frame along the base and roof rail takes over the structural job of the missing wall panel. The end doors stay, so you can still load from the end with a pallet jack or forklift.
Both 20ft and 40ft high cube versions are common in New Zealand. The 40ft units in our October 2026 price data were listed with four or five sets of side doors. High cube side openers add about 30 cm of height, which helps with racking and tall equipment; see high cube containers for the size difference.
Access
Clear opening and working space
With every side door open, the clear opening runs almost the full length of the container, less the corner posts and door frame. Builds differ, so ask the supplier for the exact clear width and height of the side opening, and whether intermediate posts remain between door sets. Those posts set the widest item you can pass through.
Plan the space in front of the doors. The leaves need room to swing fully open, and you need working room beyond that for a forklift, trailer or people. A side opener placed with its doors facing a fence gives you nothing more than a standard container. More detail on door layouts is on our Australian guide to side opening containers.
Delivery
Decide the door direction before delivery
Tell the supplier in writing which way the side doors must face. A swinglift sets the container down beside the truck, a HIAB can turn it during the lift, and a tilt tray slides it off the back in line with the truck. The delivery method therefore decides which orientations are possible on your site. Our HIAB vs swinglift guide explains the options and the space each truck needs.
| Container | Price incl. GST | Price excl. GST | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft side-opening, standard and high cube | $9,188 to $13,795 | $7,990 to $11,996 | Median $11,122 incl. GST, 12 listings |
| 40ft high cube, multiple side doors | $12,975 to $25,000 | $11,283 to $21,739 | Median $15,950 incl. GST, 7 listings |
| 20ft standard one-trip, for comparison | $3,990 to $6,325 | $3,470 to $5,500 | Median $4,830 incl. GST, 51 listings |
What side-opening containers cost
Side openers cost more than twice as much as a standard container of the same length. In October 2026 the median 20ft side-opening unit was listed at $11,122 incl. GST, against $4,830 incl. GST for a standard one-trip 20ft. Most are sold new or one-trip because the side doors are fitted at the factory, though used units do come up. The full data set is in the NZ shipping container price index.
With a premium that size, hire is worth pricing for short projects. Some hire suppliers keep side openers for building sites and events; others only offer standard boxes. Ask for side-opening units specifically through our container hire page, or look at double door containers if access from both ends would do the job for less.
Uses
Where side openers earn their price
Construction
Building sites and trades
Site managers use side openers as tool and material stores where several trades need access at once. Timber lengths, pipe and scaffold load from the side instead of being fed through the end doors, and nothing has to be unpacked to reach the item at the back. See site storage and workshop containers for security and placement on building sites.
Events
Events, markets and pop-up retail
With the doors folded back, a side opener becomes a stall, bar or ticket office with a full-length counter. Add a lining, lighting and a serving shelf, and the same box can be locked up and moved between events. Our event and hospitality containers page covers site layout for temporary setups.
Rural and clubs
Farms, lifestyle blocks and clubs
On farms and lifestyle blocks a side opener holds quad bikes, mowers, sprayers and pallets of feed, each reachable without moving the others. Sports clubs use them for boats, kayaks and field equipment, with everything visible along one wall.
Weather, maintenance and security
Every extra door set adds seals, hinges and locking gear that need care. Check seals for splits each year, keep hinges greased and make sure water runs off the roof rather than pooling above the door headers. Within about 500 m of the coast, salt spray attacks hinges and door edges first. BRANZ Maps shows the exposure zone for your address, and our guide to coastal rust and corrosion covers maintenance.
Fit a padlock, and ideally a lockbox, to every door set rather than only the end doors. Our container accessories page compares the options. When you are ready, send the size, height, number of door sets and whether you want to buy or hire through the quote form.
Request side-opening container quotes
Tell us the length, standard or high cube, how many side door sets you need and the delivery address. Suppliers who service your area quote you directly.
Get a free quote
FAQ
Side-opening container questions
In the Shipping-Containers.co.nz NZ price index, October 2026, 20ft side-opening containers were listed at $9,188 to $13,795 incl. GST, with a median of $11,122 incl. GST. 40ft high cube units with four or five side door sets ranged from $12,975 to $25,000 incl. GST, median $15,950. Prices exclude delivery. High cube and one-trip units sit at the upper end.
The side doors replace part of a structural wall, so the manufacturer adds a reinforced frame to carry the loads. For storage, events and site use that is ample. Ask the supplier about stacking and lifting limits, keep the doors closed and locked when the container is lifted, and get engineering advice before cutting or welding near the door frame.
Some NZ hire suppliers keep side openers, mainly for building sites and events, but they are less common than standard hire boxes. Ask for them specifically, give the hire period and the delivery address, and allow lead time. If none are available nearby, a double door container or a standard container with a roller door may be an alternative.
They have more door seals, so there are more places for water to get in if the seals are worn or the container is not level. A new or one-trip unit on level ground should be weathertight. Check the seals every year, keep the hinges greased and make sure the roof does not pond water above the door headers.
Face the doors towards the space where you load and work, with room for the leaves to swing fully open plus working space beyond. Avoid facing them into the prevailing wind on exposed sites. Confirm the orientation with the supplier before delivery, because the truck type limits how the container can be set down.