---
title: "tare weight: Definition and Meaning | NPSA"
description: "Tare weight is the weight of an empty container or vehicle. Subtract it from the gross weight to find the weight of the goods inside."
url: https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/tare-weight
publisher: National Portable Storage Association (NPSA)
phone: "(816) 960-6552"
email: info@npsa.org
---

Dimensions and weight

# tare weight

Tare weight is the weight of an empty container or vehicle. Subtract it from the gross weight to find the weight of the goods inside. On a shipping container, it is not set by the ISO standards. It depends on how the container was built.

## Why it matters

Tare matters when you plan trucks, cranes, forklifts and delivery routes. A carrier lists a dry 20-foot container at about 2,150 kg (4,740 lb) tare, and a 40-foot high cube at about 3,700 kg. A dealer lists an estimated 5,120 lb for a 20-foot unit, which shows that figures vary by builder and by added features such as doors and steel floors. A common mistake is to use a generic number. Doors, extra steel, insulation or a side opening can change the weight. Read the weight on the unit if it is marked, or ask the seller for an actual figure before you plan the lift.

[Read: Container delivery equipment: Tilt-bed, roll-off, side-loader, and crane trucks](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/guides/container-delivery-equipment)

Definition source: [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermodal_container)

## Related terms

[### payload Payload is the weight of cargo a container can carry. It equals the maximum gross weight minus the container's own empty (tare) weight. Carrier specs list payload next to tare weight for each container size and type, so buyers can compare them side by side.](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/payload)[### maximum gross weight Maximum gross weight is the most a container may weigh when loaded, including its own tare weight and the cargo. In ISO 668, ratings include the gross mass of the container. Carrier listings often show 30,480 kg for 20-foot and 40-foot dry containers.](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/maximum-gross-weight)[### tilt-bed truck A tilt-bed truck has a bed that tilts down toward the ground. A winch pulls a container onto or off the bed. It places a 20 ft or 40 ft container on the ground without a crane or forklift. It is the most common delivery truck in portable storage.](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/tilt-bed-truck)[### crane truck A crane truck is a truck with a crane mounted on the bed or chassis. It lifts a container off a trailer, over fences or onto a tight spot. It is also called a boom truck or loader crane truck.](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/crane-truck)[### container modification A container modification is a change made to a standard shipping container. It covers a single door cut-in up to a full fit-out. Common changes include doors, windows, vents, insulation, electrical work, HVAC, lining, partitions and plumbing. Sellers often group these changes into packages.](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/container-modification)[### GVWR GVWR is gross vehicle weight rating. It is the maximum loaded weight of a single motor vehicle, as set by the manufacturer. It includes the vehicle, fuel, driver, cargo and equipment. It is printed on the vehicle's certification label and set by the maker.](https://npsa.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/gvwr)

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

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