Shipping container sizes & dimensions guide

A standard 20ft shipping container has internal dimensions of 589 × 235 × 239 cm (length × width × height), giving roughly 33.1 m³ of usable space. A 40ft Standard is 1,203 × 235 × 239 cm (~67.6 m³), and a 40ft High Cube is 1,203 × 235 × 269 cm (~76.0 m³). External dimensions are slightly larger because they include the steel walls, corner castings and corrugation.

A 40ft container is twice the length of a 20ft (1,203 cm vs 589 cm internal) with the same width and height, so it holds roughly double the volume: about 67.6 m³ versus 33.1 m³. However, the maximum payload is similar (around 26,000–28,000 kg) because both share comparable axle and structural limits, so a 20ft is the better choice for dense, heavy cargo that hits the weight limit before filling the space.

A High Cube container is 30 cm (about 1 ft) taller than a standard container: 269 cm internal height versus 239 cm. The extra height adds roughly 12% more volume, making High Cubes ideal for tall, lightweight or bulky cargo. They are available in 40ft and 45ft lengths and are identifiable by the black-and-yellow striping along the top rail.

A reefer (refrigerated container) is an insulated container with a built-in refrigeration unit for temperature-controlled cargo such as food, pharmaceuticals and flowers. Because the insulation and machinery take up space, a 20ft reefer has smaller internal dimensions (about 543 × 228 × 226 cm) and less usable volume than a standard 20ft dry container.

A 20ft Standard container has a maximum payload of around 28,080 kg and a maximum gross weight (cargo plus the container itself) of about 30,480 kg. A 40ft Standard carries up to roughly 26,580 kg of payload. Under SOLAS VGM rules, the verified gross mass of every packed container must be declared before it can be loaded onto a vessel.

Internal dimensions are the usable cargo space inside the container; these are the figures you use for load planning and CBM calculations. External dimensions describe the outside footprint (a 20ft is 6.06 m long externally) and matter for transport, stacking and storage. The difference comes from the wall thickness, corrugation and corner fittings; this guide lists internal dimensions throughout.

The door opening on a standard 20ft or 40ft container is approximately 234 cm wide and 228 cm high; on a 40ft High Cube the door is taller, at about 257 cm. Door openings are slightly smaller than the internal dimensions and vary by around a centimetre between manufacturers. If you are loading a wide or tall item, measure it against the door opening, not just the internal dimensions, to be sure it physically fits through the doors.

The empty weight, or tare weight, of a shipping container is approximately 2,200 kg for a 20ft Standard, 3,700 kg for a 40ft Standard and 3,900 kg for a 40ft High Cube. Tare weight varies with the manufacturer, build and age of the container, so treat these as approximate. For a precise SOLAS VGM (verified gross mass) declaration, use the exact tare weight stamped on the container door.