Shipping Container Types and their Dimensions

Standard Shipping Container Dimensions

Standard shipping containers are commonly used for international shipping of ocean freight dry goods. They come in sizes of 6ft, 8ft, 10ft, 20ft, and 40ft. The base of a 40ft shipping container can accommodate about 21 pallets of the standard 1.016 m by 1.219 m American pallet type. When it comes to the European pallets that are 1.2m by 0.8m, they can hold up to 25 pallets. They accommodate these numbers of pallets given that the load isn’t landing on the sides.

A 20ft shipping container has a base that accommodates 10 standard American pallet types with dimensions of 1.016 m by 1.219 m. For the European pallets with dimensions of 1.2 m by 0.8 m, they can accommodate 11 pallets. A 10ft shipping container can be modified into a gun safe, worksite storage, garden shed, flammable goods storage, and much more. The 6ft and 8ft containers can be used to store your garden equipment, tools as well as furniture. They can also be used for storage at the back of a truck so as to keep the materials safe and dry. Below are the dimensions of each standard shipping container.

Below are the internal dimensions of different types of standard shipping containers

40ft standard shipping container dimensions are; 473.62in inside length, 92.52in inside width, 94.09in inside height, 67.000 cubic meters capacity, 8,333.47lbs tare weight, and 58,863.42lbs maximum cargo weight.

20ft standard shipping containers have dimensions of 232.09in inside length, 92.52in inside width, 94.17in inside height, 33.000 cubic meters in capacity, and 4,916.31lbs tare weight, and 62.236.50lbs maximum cargo weight.

10ft standard shipping containers have dimensions of 110.00in inside length, 92.44in inside width, 93.87in inside height, 15.860 cubic meters in capacity, and 2,645.65lbs tare weight, and 19,753.42lbs maximum cargo weight.

8ft standard shipping container dimensions are; 90.04in inside length, 83.15in inside width, 81.18in inside height, 10.000 cubic meters capacity, 1,984.16lbs tare weight, and 11,243.58lbs maximum cargo weight.

6ft standard shipping container dimensions have an inside length of 68.39in, inside width of 73.78in, inside height of 66.10in, a capacity of 5.000 cubic meters, tare weight of 1,433lbs, and maximum cargo weight of 9,590.11lbs

Table of standard shipping container dimenions

High Cube Shipping Container Dimensions

High cube shipping containers are quite similar to the standard containers but they are a foot taller. They’re also used for all types of general dry cargo. However, they’re most suitable for shipping light, voluminous goods, and oversized cargo. The maximum height of the cargo shouldn’t exceed 2.70 m tall as that is the standard height capacity of a high cube container. They’re made of steel or aluminum making them strong and secure. Below is a table with high cube container dimensions.

Here are clear internal dimensions of high cube shipping containers:

40ft high cube container dimensions are; 473.43in inside length, 92.52in inside width, 106.30in inside height, 76.000 cubic meters capacity, 8,862.58lbs tare weight, and 58,334.32lbs maximum cargo weight.

20ft high cube container dimensions include; 232.21inches inside length, 92.52inches inside width, 106.18inches inside height, 37.300 cubic meters capacity, 5,114.72lbs tare weight, and 62,082.17lbs maximum cargo weight.

45ft high cube containers have dimensions of 533.00in inside length, 92.44in inside width, 106.00in inside height, 86.170 cubic meters capacity, 10,119.22lbs tare weight, and 61,531.02lbs maximum cargo weight.

48ft high cube container dimensions include; 569.00in inside length, 98.00inches in inside width, 107.00inches in inside height, 97.810 cubic meters in capacity, 11,331.76lbs in tare weight, and 55,856.14lbs in maximum cargo weight.

53ft high cube container dimensions are; 629.00in inside length, 98.00in inside width, 107.00in inside height, 109.220 cubic meters capacity, 10,383.77lbs tare weight, and 56,813.13lbs maximum cargo weight.

Table of high cube shipping container dimensions

William Thomas

Senior Logistics Manager

Open Top Shipping Container Dimensions

Open-top shipping containers are suitable for dry cargo that’s too tall for the standard containers or heavy goods that can’t be loaded through the door and need to be lifted using a crane. They are made of corrugated steel. However, the floor is made of wood. Their roofs are convertible because they have removable bows and tarpaulin. These features make the packing and unpacking of the container easy from above or through the doors by the use of cranes when the roof is open and the door header is swiveled out. They have lashing rings that can hold up to 2,204.62 lbs in the upper and lower side rails as well as the corner posts. Below are the open-top container dimensions.

Below are the internal dimensions of open-top shipping containers:

20ft open-top container dimensions are; 231.81in inside length, 92.32in inside width, 91.14in inside height, 32.000 cubic meters capacity, 4,960.40lbs tare weight, and 67,196.90lbs maximum cargo weight.

40ft open-top container dimensions include; 473.58inches inside length, 92.20inches inside width, 91.57inches inside height, 65.000 cubic meters capacity, 8,399.61lbs tare weight, and 58,797.29lbs maximum cargo weight.

open top shipping container dimensions graph

Refrigerated ISO / Reefer Shipping Container Dimensions

A reefer container is suitable for goods that need to be shipped at a constant temperature below or above the freezing point. Therefore, it’s used for goods that are chilled or frozen. Some of the perishable goods include fruits, meat, vegetables, and dairy products such as butter and cheese. A refrigerated shipping container transporting chilled meat has special hook rails where it can be hanged. For the voluminous and lightweight goods such as fruits and flowers, a high-cube reefer container is used. A reefer container transported by road or rail is run by a generator set (genset) which is either a component of the refrigeration unit or connected to it. For the ones transported by the ship, they are connected to the onboard power supply system. In case the power supply isn’t enough for the number of refrigerated containers being shipped, large diesel generators are used. Below are the reefer container dimensions.

Below are the internal dimensions of refrigerated ISO/reefer shipping containers:

10ft reefer container dimensions are; 101.57inches in inside length, 89.76inches in inside width, 88.19inches in inside height, 16.000 cubic meters in capacity, 4,409.25lbs in tare weight, and 17,636.98lbs in maximum cargo weight.

10ft high cube reefer container dimensions include; 94.09in inside length, 89.76in inside width, 100.00in inside height, 16.000 cubic meters capacity, 4,409.25lbs tare weight, and 17,636.98lbs maximum cargo weight.

40ft reefer containers have dimensions of 452.92in inside length, 90.31in inside width, 100.55in inside height, 67.000 cubic meters capacity, 10,271.54lbs tare weight, and 64,683.63lbs maximum cargo weight.

40ft high cube reefer container dimensions are; 454.92in inside length, 90.31in inside width, 100.55in inside height, 67.000 cubic meters capacity, 10,273.54lbs tare weight, and 64,683.63lbs maximum cargo weight.

20ft reefer container dimensions include; 232.68in inside length, 92.32in inside width, 105.91in inside height, 37.280 cubic meters capacity, 5,335.19 tare weight, and 61,861.71lbs maximum cargo weight.

20ft high cube containers have dimensions of 214.80in inside length, 90.31in inside width, 89.06in inside height, 29.900 cubic meters capacity, 6,724.01lbs tare weight, and 67,196.90lbs maximum cargo weight.

45ft pallet wide reefer container dimensions are as follows; 524.25in inside length, 96.06in inside width, 101.06in inside height, 83.900 cubic meters capacity, 13,526.15lbs tare weight, and 61,531.02lbs maximum cargo weight.

Flat Rack Container Dimensions

A flat rack container is made of steel frame and softwood floors. It has two end walls which are either fixed or collapsible. They are suitable for large and heavy loads such as pipes and machinery that need to be loaded from the top or sides. Their end walls are stable enough to allow securing of cargo. They’re equipped with lash rings on the floor, corner posts, and side rails where cargo may be secured. Flat rack containers can also be stacked on top of each other. Flat rack containers are available in 20’ and 40’. Below are the fixed and collapsible flat rack container dimensions.

Below are reliable dimensions of flat rack containers:

40ft flat rack container dimensions are; 465.83inches in inside length, 87.72inches in inside width, 77.99inches in inside height, 0.000 cubic meters in capacity, 9,259.42lbs in tare weight, and 89,848.60lbs in maximum cargo weight.

40ft high cube flat rack container dimensions include; 474.80inches in inside length, 93.11inches in inside width, 88.39inches in inside height, 0.000 cubic meters in capacity, 12,566.30lbs in tare weight, and 86,641.67lbs in maximum cargo weight.

20ft flat rack container dimensions are as follows; 224.33inches in inside length, 87.80inches in inside width, 88.78inches in inside height, 0.000 cubic meters in capacity, 5,511.56lbs in tare weight, and 47,399.39lbs in maximum cargo weight.

40ft flat rack collapsible container dimensions are; 459.06inches in inside length, 86.61inches in inside width, 88.39inches in inside height, 0.000 cubic meters in capacity, 12,566.35lbs in tare weight, and 86,641.67lbs in maximum cargo weight.

20ft flat rack collapsible container dimensions are; 223.43inches in inside length, 87.13inches in inside width, 89.37inches in inside height, 0.000 cubic meters in capacity, 5,732.02lbs in tare weight, and 66,469.37lbs in maximum cargo weight.

Platform Shipping Container Dimensions

A platform container is used for oversized and overweight cargo. They're only made of a floor structure that has an extremely high loading capacity. They don’t have side or end walls. They are made of a wooden floor structure and a steel frame. Their high loading capacity allows them to be concentrated with heavyweights on small areas. They have lashing rings that can hold loads of up to 3,000 kgs equipped in the side rails. Platform containers are available in 20ft and 40ft. When using a platform container, paying attention when securing the goods is important. This is because a platform container with goods that aren’t well secured can easily cause an accident. Below are their dimensions.

Here are the reliable dimensions of platform shipping containers.

20ft platform container dimensions are; 238.50inches in inside length, 95.98inches in inside width, 14.57inches in inside height, 0.000 cubic meters in capacity, 5,555.65lbs in tare weight, and 61,641.25lbs in maximum cargo weight.

40ft platform container dimensions include; 480.00inches in inside length, 88.39inches in inside width, 25.51inches in inside height, 0.000 cubic meters in capacity, 12,566.35lbs in tare weight, and 86,641.67lbs in maximum cargo weight.

platform shipping container dimensions graph

Bulk Container Dimensions

TA bulk container is used to transport bulk goods such as grains, pet food, and spices. They have three loading manholes in the roof with diameters of about 455 mm. The distance between them is about 1.83m. On the door side, they have two discharge hatches. The two unloading hatches can also be mounted in the doorways. Bulk containers can also be used for transporting general cargo. In this case, lashing rings are installed in the top side rails for securing the goods. Some have forklift pockets for easy handling by forklift trucks. Bulk containers are mainly found in the sizes of 20 ft. Below are the bulk container dimensions.

Below are the dimensions of bulk containers.

20ft bulk container dimensions are; 233.62in inside length, 92.83in inside width, 92.13in inside height, 32.000 cubic meters capacity, 5,401.33lbs tare weight, and 47,509.62lbs maximum cargo weight.

30ft bulk container dimensions include; 350.91inches inside length, 95.98inches inside width, 99.45inches inside height, 55.600 cubic meters capacity, 6,448.52lbs tare weight, and 72,917.89lbs maximum cargo weight.

Tank Container Dimensions

A tank container is used for the transportation of liquid substances such as foodstuffs and hazardous materials. Some examples include fuels, corrosion protection agents, sweet oils, spirits, and fruit juices. They’re made of strong steel or anti-corrosive materials to provide them with a long life. They should be 80% full so as to prevent liquid surging during transit because it’s dangerous. In addition to that, they must not be over 95% full because there needs to be room for thermal expansion. If the liquid to be transported needs to be temperature-controlled, the tank container is equipped with heating or insulation. About 95% of tank containers are 20ft. However, there are other sizes as well-meaning that it can be customized to have dimensions that will suit your needs. Below are the tank container dimensions.

Below are the dimensions of the tank containers.

26,000litre tank container measurements are; 8,950.77lbs in tare weight, 70,415.65lbs in payload, 130 degrees celsius in maximum cargo temperature, 8.0 meter squared steam heating coil, 6.0 BAR test pressure, and 4.0 BAR working pressure.

25,000litre tank container measurements are; 8,223.24lbs in tare weight, 71,143.17lbs in payload, 130 degrees celsius in maximum cargo temperature, 8.0 meter squared steam heating coil, 6.0 BAR test pressure, and 4.0 BAR working pressure.

24,000litre tank container measurements are; 8,598.02lbs in tare weight, 70,768.39lbs in payload, 120 degrees celsius in maximum cargo temperature, 8.0 meter squared steam heating coil, 6.0 BAR test pressure, and 4.0 BAR working pressure.

21,000litre tank container measurements are; 8,046.87lbs in tare weight, 71,319.52lbs in payload, 120 degrees celsius in maximum cargo temperature, 8.0 meter squared steam heating coil, 6.0 BAR test pressure, and 4.0 BAR working pressure.

20ft tank container dimensions include; 238.50inches in inside length, 95.98inches in inside width, 101.97inches in inside height, 9,237.37lbs in tare weight, and 57,959.53lbs in maximum cargo weight.

10ft tank container dimensions include; 120.00inches in inside length, 96.00inches in inside width, 102.00inches in inside height, 7,275.26lbs in tare weight, and 36,817.20lbs in maximum cargo weight.

40ft tank container dimensions include; 480.00inches in inside length, 95.98inches in inside width, 103.15inches in inside height, 26,014.55lbs in tare weight, and 48,942.62lbs in maximum cargo weight.

45ft tank container dimensions include; 540.00inches in inside length, 95.98inches in inside width, 103.15inches in inside height, 36,089.67lbs in tare weight, and 43,276.74lbs in maximum cargo weight.

Tunnel / Double Door Container Dimensions

A tunnel container has doors on both ends which are handy during the loading and unloading of materials. They are easy to convert for multiple uses. For example, part storage and part office. Tunnel containers are available in standard 20ft and 40ft as well as 40ft high cube. Most of the time, tunnel containers are customized according to the client’s needs. They’re also known as tunnel-tainers or double-ender containers. Below are the tunnel container dimensions.

Here are the dimensions of the tunnel/double door containers:

40ft tunnel container dimensions are; 473.62inches in inside length, 92.13inches in inside width, 93.70inches in inside height, 65.300 cubic meters in capacity, 10,361.73lbs in tare weight, and 60,182.20lbs in maximum cargo weight.

40ft tunnel high cube container dimensions are; 473.62inches in inside length, 92.13inches in inside width, 105.91inches in inside height, 76.300 cubic meters in capacity, 11,464.04lbs in tare weight, and 63,052.21lbs in maximum cargo weight.

40ft tunnel container dimensions are; 231.89inches in inside length, 92.13inches in inside width, 93.70inches in inside height, 33.000 cubic meters in capacity, 5,952.48lbs in tare weight, and 61,244.42lbs in maximum cargo weight.

tunnel double door container dimensions graph

Side Door / Open Side Shipping Container Dimensions

An open side container has been modified to accommodate two sets of double doors. One of the doors is along the side of the container and the other one at the end. They open up entirely giving a wider room when it comes to loading and unloading of materials. Open side containers are made of iron and steel which make them strong and durable. They’re ideal for the transportation of bulky goods such as plant machinery or large furniture items that wouldn’t fit through standard container doors. Open side containers are available in the standard lengths of 20ft and 40ft as well as high cubes. However, their lengths can vary depending on the manufacturer or owner. Below are the open-side container dimensions.

Below are the dimensions of the side door/open side shipping containers:

40ft open-side container dimensions are; 473.62inches in inside length, 89.76inches in inside width, 90.16inches in inside height, 64.000 cubic meters in capacity, 13,448.2lbs in tare weight, and 67,020.50lbs in maximum cargo weight.

20ft open-side container dimensions are; 232.28inches in inside length, 92.52inches in inside width, 92.13inches in inside height, 31.000 cubic meters in capacity, 7,054.70lbs in tare weight, and 45,856.10lbs in maximum cargo weight.

20ft high cube open-side container dimensions include; 232.20inches in inside length, 90.04inches in inside width, 102.64inches in inside height, 35.200 cubic meters in capacity, 7,826.41lbs in tare weight, and 59,370.49lbs in maximum cargo weight.

40ft high cube open-side container dimensions include; 473.66inches in inside length, 90.08inches in inside width, 100.28inches in inside height, 32.800 cubic meters in capacity, 12,566.35lbs in tare weight, and 40,344.59lbs in maximum cargo weight.

open side shipping container dimensions graph

Insulated / Thermal Shipping Container Dimensions

An insulated shipping container has a regulated temperature control, allowing them to keep the temperature inside steady for longer hours. They are insulated on the inside protecting it from high temperature exposure. However, unlike reefer containers, they’re powered by an external source. They’re ideal for long-distance transportation of chilled or frozen foods and goods, pharmaceuticals, and any other products sensitive to temperatures. They can also be used to make a cool and comfy workshop, studio, home office, or any other stand-alone structure. Below are the thermal/insulated shipping container dimensions.

Here are the dimensions of insulated/thermal containers:

20ft insulated container dimensions are; 229.29inches in inside length, 90.24inches in inside width, 89.69inches in inside height, 30.400 cubic meters in capacity, 5,511.55lbs in tare weight, and 61,685.34lbs in maximum cargo weight.

40ft insulated container dimensions are; 470.79inches in inside length, 88.84inches in inside width, 89.69inches in inside height, 61.400 cubic meters in capacity, 8,377.57lbs in tare weight, and 58,819.33lbs in maximum cargo weight.

40ft high cube insulated container dimensions are; 470.79inches in inside length, 88.74inches in inside width, 100.20inches in inside height, 68.600 cubic meters in capacity, 9,700.34lbs in tare weight, and 65,256.83lbs in maximum cargo weight.

insulated shipping container dimensions graph

Half Height Shipping Container Dimensions

Half-height containers are mostly made of steel. They’re half the height of the full-sized containers. They’re not big but they’re extremely heavy. Therefore, they need to be loaded with smaller quantities of goods. They’re ideal for the transportation of goods that require easy loading and unloading. Some of these goods include coal and stones. Half-height containers are solely available in the open-top format. They have no top. However, you can have it configured to have a removable hardtop and tarpaulin. They have drainage points and barn doors just like the standard containers. Half-height shipping containers dimensions aren’t standard. This means you can have your half-height shipping container customized to your own liking. Below are the half-height container dimensions.

Below are the dimensions of half-height shipping containers.

10ft half-height container dimensions include; 108.00inches inside length, 84.00inches inside width, 36.00inches inside height, 3,748lbs in tare weight, and 18,298lbs in maximum cargo weight.

12ft half-height container dimensions are; 132.00inches inside length, 84.00inches inside width, 36.00inches inside height, 1,873.93lbs in tare weight, and 9,149.18lbs in maximum cargo weight.

15ft half-height container dimensions include; 168.00inches inside length, 84.00inches inside width, 36.00inches inside height, 6,526lbs in tare weight, and 22,796lbs in maximum cargo weight.

20ft half-height container dimensions are; 228.00inches inside length, 84.00inches inside width, 36.00inches inside height, 8,201lbs in tare weight, and 22,223lbs in maximum cargo weight.

23ft half-height container dimensions are; 264.00inches inside length, 84.00inches inside width, 36.00inches inside height, 9,182lbs in tare weight, and 23,887lbs in maximum cargo weight.

30ft half-height container dimensions include; 360.00inches inside length, 84.00inches inside width, 36.00inches inside height, 14,451lbs in tare weight, and 34,050lbs in maximum cargo weight.