Dimensions and weight
door opening
Door opening is the width and height of the clear opening when a container's doors are open. It is smaller than the container's inside width and height because of the door frame and header. Carrier specs list door opening separately from inside size.
Why it matters
Door opening is the real limit for what goes in. A carrier lists a dry 20-foot container door opening at about 7 feet 8 inches wide and 7 feet 6 inches high. A high cube opens to about 8 feet 6 inches high. Large furniture, machinery or a vehicle may fit inside but not pass through the door. A common mistake is to size items by the inside height. Measure the item against the door opening, and allow room for a forklift or pallet jack. Open top and side door units give other access routes. Ask which type fits your item before you reserve.
Read: Portable storage container sizes: What size do you need?
Definition source: one-line.com
Related terms
internal dimensions
Internal dimensions are the length, width and height of the usable space inside a container. They are smaller than the outside size because of wall thickness, floor and roof structure. ISO 1496 is the authoritative document for internal container dimensions.
cargo door
A cargo door is one of the two hinged steel doors at the end of a standard shipping container. The doors close on rubber gaskets and lock with vertical locking bars. They are the main way in and out of a container.
high cube container
A high cube container is a container that is taller than standard, usually 9 feet 6 inches tall outside, compared with 8 feet 6 inches for a standard unit. It is often written HC or HQ. The extra height adds inside room.
standard container
A standard container is a regular-height dry container, usually 8 feet 6 inches tall outside, as opposed to a high cube. Carrier listings give dry 20-foot and 40-foot specifications at 8 feet 6 inches. Sellers use the word standard with some variation.
side door container
A side door container, also called an open side or side access container, has doors along the long side as well as at the end. Sea Box lists a 20-foot ISO container with one full side opening. It gives wide access to the whole length of the box.
open top container
An open top container is a container with a removable or open roof, so cargo can be loaded from above by crane or lift. It is made for tall or heavy items. Carrier listings include open tops in 20-foot, 40-foot and 40-foot high cube sizes.
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