---
title: "standard container: Definition and Meaning | NPSA"
description: "A standard container is a regular-height dry container, usually 8 feet 6 inches tall outside, as opposed to a high cube."
url: https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/standard-container
publisher: National Portable Storage Association (NPSA)
phone: "(816) 960-6552"
email: info@npsa.org
---

Container basics

# 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.

## Why it matters

Standard height gives a little less inside room than a high cube. A carrier lists a dry 20-foot standard box at about 7 feet 10 inches of inside height and a door opening about 7 feet 6 inches high. That is fine for most household and job site storage. A common mistake is to buy standard height when the load is tall, such as machinery or stacked racking. A high cube adds about a foot. Another is to assume all standard boxes have the same inside size. Builds differ a little, so measure the actual unit. Ask the seller for inside length, width, height and the door opening.

[Read: Portable storage container sizes: What size do you need?](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/guides/what-size-portable-storage-container)

Definition source: [one-line.com](https://www.one-line.com/container-information)

## Related terms

[### 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.](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/high-cube-container)[### general purpose container A general purpose container is a totally enclosed container for general cargo. ISO 1496-1 covers general cargo containers for general purposes, including some vented, ventilated and open top types. Short codes such as GP often appear on specs and quotes.](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/general-purpose-container)[### dry van container A dry van container is the standard enclosed freight container for general cargo that does not need refrigeration. IICL uses dry van for this type, along with flat racks, open tops and reefers. Trucking also uses dry van for a type of trailer, so context matters.](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/dry-van-container)[### 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.](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/internal-dimensions)[### 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.](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/door-opening)[### 20 ft container A 20 ft container is the standard short ISO shipping container. It is about 19 feet 10 1/2 inches long, 8 feet wide and 8 feet 6 inches tall on the outside. It is the most common size in portable storage and counts as one twenty-foot equivalent unit.](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/20-ft-container)

[All 220 terms](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary)

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