20ft Tunnel / Double Door Containers Felixstowe

20ft tunnel container dimensions

A published specification for a 20ft double door container gives external dimensions of approximately 6.06m long, 2.44m wide and 2.59m high. Internal dimensions are about 5.84m long, 2.35m wide and 2.39m high.

Dimensions can vary between manufacturers and individual designs. Another published tunnel specification gives an internal length of about 5.87m, so use these figures for initial planning rather than as a guaranteed specification. If machinery, pallets or another item will be a close fit, confirm the dimensions of the actual container and both door apertures before ordering.

Why choose a double door container?

The main advantage is access. With a conventional container, goods stored at the back may only be reached by moving whatever has been placed in front of them. A tunnel container gives you the option of opening the other end instead.

This can work well for stock rotation, palletised goods, tools and equipment that need to be retrieved frequently. It can also make forklift loading more practical where the site layout provides suitable access to both ends.

The second doorway only adds value if it can actually be used. If one end will sit permanently against a wall, fence or building, a 20ft standard shipping container may be the simpler option.

Plan the internal layout before deciding. Frequently used goods can be positioned near the closest door, while longer or awkward items can be arranged so that either end remains useful for access.

20ft high cube tunnel containers

A 20ft high cube tunnel container keeps the nominal 20ft length and 8ft width but increases the external height from about 8ft 6in to 9ft 6in. That additional 305mm, or roughly 1ft, can help with taller machinery, stacked goods and storage layouts that need more headroom.

A published high cube tunnel specification gives external dimensions of 6,058mm long, 2,438mm wide and 2,896mm high. Internal dimensions are approximately 5,898mm long, 2,352mm wide and 2,698mm high.

The high cube version is worth considering where height is the limiting factor rather than floor space. It can also help where taller equipment needs to move through the container or where vertical storage can be used efficiently.

If you need more height but do not need doors at both ends, compare the tunnel design with a 20ft high cube container. Additional access only makes sense when the site and storage arrangement can use it.

Buying a 20ft tunnel container

Buying can suit a continuing storage requirement where you plan to retain the container. Ownership can also give more control over future use and possible alterations, subject to the container structure, proposed site and intended purpose.

Check both sets of cargo doors as part of the condition assessment. Door seals, locking bars, hinges and lockboxes affect daily use, and a tunnel container has twice as many main cargo door assemblies as a standard container.

One-trip generally means the container has completed a limited initial shipping journey. It does not mean unused, and minor handling marks can occur during that first movement. Used containers can vary more widely in age, previous repairs, paint condition and service history.

Terms such as wind and watertight, cargo-worthy and CSC-plated refer to different aspects of condition or transport status. They should not be treated as interchangeable guarantees. If the container is intended for shipping rather than static storage, confirm the current certification and carrier requirements for the specific unit.

Hiring a 20ft tunnel container

Hire can suit temporary storage or a project with a defined end date. Before agreeing to the hire, confirm the permitted use, hire period, responsibility for damage and arrangements for collection.

Collection access deserves attention from the start. A double door layout may encourage activity at both ends of the site, but later fencing, stored materials, plant or construction work could restrict the route needed to remove the container.

Modifications may also be limited with hired equipment. Some tunnel containers can be divided internally to create separate storage areas, but any partition or other alteration should be discussed before work is carried out.

Plan both door areas before delivery

A tunnel container needs more usable space around it than its steel footprint suggests. Each pair of cargo doors needs room to swing open, and the working area beyond each end should suit the goods and handling equipment.

Consider which end will be used most often. If forklifts or pallet trucks regularly approach one side, keep that end clear and make sure the surface remains suitable. The opposite end can provide occasional access without becoming the main loading area.

Security should also be considered at both ends. Some one-trip tunnel containers have lockboxes at each end, but features vary between units. Choose locking arrangements that suit the site, contents and frequency of access rather than assuming both ends will have identical equipment.

Prepare the Felixstowe site for HIAB delivery

HIAB delivery uses a vehicle-mounted crane. A container fitting into its final position does not automatically mean it can be placed there, because the delivery vehicle also needs suitable access, a safe working position and sufficient crane reach.

Check the narrowest gate, turning and manoeuvring space, ground conditions and overhead obstructions such as cables and branches. Tell the supplier where the vehicle can stand and which direction each set of cargo doors needs to face.

The proposed drop point should provide firm, reasonably level support. Uneven settlement can twist the container and make one or both sets of doors difficult to use. Drainage should also prevent water collecting around either entrance.

Future access should be included in the plan, particularly for hire. The guidance on proper shipping container placement covers the main checks before a container is positioned.

Planning considerations in Felixstowe

Requirements can depend on the intended use, how long the container will remain, the status and location of the site, neighbouring property, listed status, conservation areas, any change of use and associated works or modifications.

There is no single planning answer that applies to every tunnel container. Check the current requirements with the relevant local council for the proposed Felixstowe site rather than assuming permission is either always required or always unnecessary.

Choose the right 20ft double door option

Start with access. If you regularly need to retrieve goods from either end, a tunnel container can make daily storage easier. If the second set of doors would remain blocked or rarely be used, a standard container may be more practical.

Then decide whether standard height is sufficient. Choose high cube where the additional vertical clearance provides a useful benefit for the load, stacking method or equipment being stored.

You can compare other designs in the container equipment range. When you request a container quote, include whether you need standard or high cube, sale or hire, what will be stored and how much clear space is available at both ends of the proposed position.