Sea
Shipping containers
Dimensions, payloads and capacities of the most common containers, based on the figures published by shipping lines.
Identical outside. Not quite inside.
External dimensions are standardised (ISO 668): 2.44 m wide and 2.59 m high, or 2.90 m for High Cubes. What changes is the interior, the tare and the maximum payload, which depend on the manufacturer and the year. In reefers, the cooling unit takes up space, which is why they’re slightly shorter inside.
Drawings to scale relative to each other. 1.75 m person
20' Dry
The standard 20-foot container. Ideal for heavy, compact loads.
- External dimensions
- 6.06 × 2.44 × 2.59 m
- Internal dimensions
- 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 m
- Door
- 2.34 × 2.28 m
- Tare
- 2,150–2,350 kg
- Payload
- ≈ 28,200 kg
- Max. gross weight
- 30,480–32,500 kg
- Volume
- ≈ 33 m³
- Pallets
- 11 EUR · 9–10 US
40' Dry
Twice as long, for bulkier loads.
- External dimensions
- 12.19 × 2.44 × 2.59 m
- Internal dimensions
- 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m
- Door
- 2.34 × 2.28 m
- Tare
- 3,650–3,800 kg
- Payload
- 26,700–28,750 kg
- Max. gross weight
- 30,480–32,500 kg
- Volume
- ≈ 67.7 m³
- Pallets
- 23–25 EUR · 20–21 US
40' High Cube
30 cm taller than the standard: the go-to choice for light, bulky goods.
- External dimensions
- 12.19 × 2.44 × 2.90 m
- Internal dimensions
- 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.70 m
- Door
- 2.34 × 2.58 m
- Tare
- 3,700–3,900 kg
- Payload
- ≈ 28,600 kg
- Max. gross weight
- 32,500 kg
- Volume
- ≈ 76 m³
- Pallets
- 23–25 EUR · 20–21 US
45' High Cube
The longest option, common on European and short-sea routes.
- External dimensions
- 13.72 × 2.44 × 2.90 m
- Internal dimensions
- 13.56 × 2.35 × 2.70 m
- Door
- 2.34 × 2.59 m
- Tare
- 4,650–4,800 kg
- Payload
- ≈ 27,800 kg
- Max. gross weight
- 32,500 kg
- Volume
- ≈ 86 m³
- Pallets
- —
20' Reefer
A refrigerated container with its own cooling unit, for fresh or frozen goods.
- External dimensions
- 6.06 × 2.44 × 2.59 m
- Internal dimensions
- 5.45 × 2.28 × 2.16–2.26 m
- Door
- 2.29 × 2.22–2.26 m
- Tare
- 2,800–2,900 kg
- Payload
- 27,500–29,100 kg
- Max. gross weight
- 30,480–32,000 kg
- Volume
- ≈ 28 m³
- Temperature
- −30 … +30 °C
- Pallets
- —
40' Reefer High Cube
The most widely used reefer for high-volume perishables.
- External dimensions
- 12.19 × 2.44 × 2.90 m
- Internal dimensions
- 11.58–11.60 × 2.28 × 2.52 m
- Door
- 2.29 × 2.50–2.56 m
- Tare
- 4,300–4,500 kg
- Payload
- 29,500–30,500 kg
- Max. gross weight
- 34,000 kg
- Volume
- ≈ 67 m³
- Temperature
- −30 … +30 °C
- Pallets
- —
20' Open Top
No rigid roof: it’s loaded from above by crane. For tall or heavy cargo.
- External dimensions
- 6.06 × 2.44 × 2.59 m
- Internal dimensions
- 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.34 m
- Door
- 2.34 × 2.28 m
- Tare
- 2,240–2,450 kg
- Payload
- 28,240–30,050 kg
- Max. gross weight
- 30,480–32,500 kg
- Volume
- ≈ 32.5 m³
- Pallets
- 11 EUR
40' Open Top
The long version of the open top, for machinery and project cargo.
- External dimensions
- 12.19 × 2.44 × 2.59 m
- Internal dimensions
- 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.34 m
- Door
- 2.34 × 2.28 m
- Tare
- 3,880–4,050 kg
- Payload
- 26,600–28,450 kg
- Max. gross weight
- 30,480–32,500 kg
- Volume
- ≈ 66.5 m³
- Pallets
- 23–25 EUR
20' Flat Rack
A platform with folding end walls for oversized cargo.
- External dimensions
- 6.06 × 2.44 × 2.59 m
- Internal dimensions
- 5.57–5.64 × 2.19–2.23 × 2.21–2.23 m
- Door
- —
- Tare
- 2,740–3,100 kg
- Payload
- 31,260–42,100 kg
- Max. gross weight
- 34,000–45,000 kg
- Volume
- —
- Pallets
- —
40' Flat Rack
For long, heavy or out-of-gauge pieces.
- External dimensions
- 12.19 × 2.44 × 2.59 m
- Internal dimensions
- 11.65 × 2.21–2.25 × 1.96–2.27 m
- Door
- —
- Tare
- 5,900–6,200 kg
- Payload
- 38,800–49,100 kg
- Max. gross weight
- 45,000–55,000 kg
- Volume
- —
- Pallets
- —
How many pallets fit?
| 20' | 11 euro pallets | 9–10 pallets of 1200 × 1000 |
|---|---|---|
| 40' | 23–25 euro pallets | 20–21 pallets of 1200 × 1000 |
| 40' High Cube | Same floor space as the 40' | More height for stacking |
Reefers: cold on the high seas
Standard reefer containers typically operate between −30 °C and +30 °C, and special models go down to −60 °C. Never load above the red line inside: the air needs to circulate.
Compare
| Type | External dimensions | Internal dimensions | Door | Payload | Max. gross weight | Volume | Pallets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20' Dry | 6.06 × 2.44 × 2.59 m | 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | 2.34 × 2.28 m | ≈ 28,200 kg | 30,480–32,500 kg | ≈ 33 m³ | 11 EUR · 9–10 US |
| 40' Dry | 12.19 × 2.44 × 2.59 m | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | 2.34 × 2.28 m | 26,700–28,750 kg | 30,480–32,500 kg | ≈ 67.7 m³ | 23–25 EUR · 20–21 US |
| 40' High Cube | 12.19 × 2.44 × 2.90 m | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.70 m | 2.34 × 2.58 m | ≈ 28,600 kg | 32,500 kg | ≈ 76 m³ | 23–25 EUR · 20–21 US |
| 45' High Cube | 13.72 × 2.44 × 2.90 m | 13.56 × 2.35 × 2.70 m | 2.34 × 2.59 m | ≈ 27,800 kg | 32,500 kg | ≈ 86 m³ | — |
| 20' Reefer | 6.06 × 2.44 × 2.59 m | 5.45 × 2.28 × 2.16–2.26 m | 2.29 × 2.22–2.26 m | 27,500–29,100 kg | 30,480–32,000 kg | ≈ 28 m³ | — |
| 40' Reefer High Cube | 12.19 × 2.44 × 2.90 m | 11.58–11.60 × 2.28 × 2.52 m | 2.29 × 2.50–2.56 m | 29,500–30,500 kg | 34,000 kg | ≈ 67 m³ | — |
| 20' Open Top | 6.06 × 2.44 × 2.59 m | 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.34 m | 2.34 × 2.28 m | 28,240–30,050 kg | 30,480–32,500 kg | ≈ 32.5 m³ | 11 EUR |
| 40' Open Top | 12.19 × 2.44 × 2.59 m | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.34 m | 2.34 × 2.28 m | 26,600–28,450 kg | 30,480–32,500 kg | ≈ 66.5 m³ | 23–25 EUR |
| 20' Flat Rack | 6.06 × 2.44 × 2.59 m | 5.57–5.64 × 2.19–2.23 × 2.21–2.23 m | — | 31,260–42,100 kg | 34,000–45,000 kg | — | — |
| 40' Flat Rack | 12.19 × 2.44 × 2.59 m | 11.65 × 2.21–2.25 × 1.96–2.27 m | — | 38,800–49,100 kg | 45,000–55,000 kg | — | — |
Typical values. Every container shows its actual tare and maximum weight on its door. Sources: Hapag-Lloyd, Ocean Network Express (ONE), Maersk, iContainers and DSV.
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