20ft Open Top Container – Cargo-Worthy, Tarpaulin Roof

Loading From Above With a 20ft Open Top Shipping Container

A 20ft open top shipping container is what you buy when the load goes in from the sky. Instead of a fixed steel roof it uses removable bows and a tarpaulin, so a crane can lower cargo straight down into the box and the cover goes back on afterward. You keep the walls, the doors, and the security of a standard container while removing the height restriction at the door opening.

This unit carries a cargo-worthy grade, meaning it has been assessed as fit for transport by sea, rail, or road rather than for storage alone. Open tops are working equipment, so expect the usual evidence of that: scuffed paint, dents in the corrugation, and honest wear on the tarpaulin fittings. The structure and the top rail are what matter, and those are what get checked.

Specifications at a Glance

• Condition grade: Used, cargo-worthy
• External dimensions: 20' × 8' × 8'6"
• Internal dimensions (approx.): 19'4" × 7'8" × 7'10"
• Door opening: 7'8" wide × 7'6" high
• Roof: removable tarpaulin over detachable bows for full-length top access
• Interior volume: roughly 1,170 cubic feet
• Securing: integrated lashing rings and ISO corner castings
• Delivery: flat $500 to any of the 50 states

Cargo That Needs an Open Top Container for Sale

The common thread is height, weight, or an awkward shape that a forklift cannot push through a door.

• Machinery and process equipment craned in as a single unit
• Stone, marble slabs, and dense bulk materials loaded from above
• Scrap metal, castings, and heavy offcuts dropped by grab
• Tall components that clear the walls but not the door header
• Site waste and demolition arisings loaded over the side

Working With the Tarpaulin and Preparing Your Site

Open tops need a bit more care than a dry box. Tension the tarpaulin properly over the bows so water runs off rather than ponding, check the roping and eyelets before each move, and store the cover clean and dry when the unit sits unused. If the container will live outdoors long term, inspect the cover seasonally, since that is the part that ages fastest.

Delivery follows the usual rule: container length plus about 40 feet of straight approach, roughly 60 feet in total for a 20-footer, and about 15 feet of overhead clearance. If your cargo is wider than the walls rather than taller than the door, the 20ft flat rack is the better tool. For longer top-loading jobs, see the 40ft open top unit. The full open top container category and our 20-foot range show what else is available, with figures on the specifications reference.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an open top container weatherproof?

With the bows in place and the tarpaulin correctly tensioned and roped down, it sheds rain well. It is not sealed to the same standard as a solid steel roof, and a slack cover will pond water. For long-term storage of moisture-sensitive goods, a standard dry container with a fixed roof is the safer choice.

Can I remove the door header for extra access?

Many open tops are built with a removable or swing-out door header specifically so cargo can be loaded lengthwise as well as from above. Whether this unit has that feature depends on the individual box, so ask us to confirm before you order if your loading plan depends on clearing the full door height.

Does the open top affect security?

Yes. A tarpaulin is not a steel roof, so for anything valuable or left unattended you should plan accordingly. Owners commonly use open tops for bulk and industrial materials rather than high-value goods, and keep them inside a secured yard. If lockable security is the priority, buy a standard enclosed container.