Container basics
twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU)
A twenty-foot equivalent unit is a general unit of cargo capacity based on a 20-foot-long intermodal container. It is mostly used for container ships and ports. A 20-foot container counts as one TEU, and a 40-foot container counts as two TEU.
Why it matters
TEU lets ports and carriers count mixed container sizes in one number. A ship that carries 10,000 TEU can hold 10,000 20-foot boxes or fewer 40-foot ones. Portable storage operators rarely use TEU day to day, but it appears in lessor reports, trade news and wholesale deals. It is a count of size, not weight or value. A common mistake is to treat TEU as a count of containers. One 40-foot box equals two TEU, so ten containers could be up to twenty TEU. The standard 20-foot container is a little under 20 feet long, which lets it stack with 40-foot boxes.
Read: Shipping container sizes and dimensions for rental fleets
Definition source: en.wikipedia.org
Related terms
forty-foot equivalent unit (FEU)
A forty-foot equivalent unit is a unit of cargo capacity based on a 40-foot-long intermodal container. One FEU equals two TEU. Shipping lines, ports and freight forwarders use it, often next to TEU, to count containers of different lengths in one clear number.
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.
40 ft container
A 40 ft container is a long ISO shipping container, 40 feet long and 8 feet wide. Standard height is 8 feet 6 inches. A high cube version is about 9 feet 6 inches tall. It holds roughly twice the length of a 20 ft box.
intermodal container
An intermodal container is a standardized, reusable container that can move between ships, trains and trucks without unloading the cargo. It has fittings for handling, securing and stacking. Most dry freight containers use a closed steel box with doors at one end.
ISO 668
ISO 668 is the international standard that classifies series 1 freight containers by their external dimensions. It sets the matching ratings, which include maximum gross mass, and gives minimum internal and door opening sizes for some container types. It covers containers meant for intercontinental traffic.
shipping container
A shipping container is a standardized steel box used to move freight by ship, rail and truck without unloading the goods. Most are rectangular, closed boxes with doors at one end. Many are reused for storage after their sea service ends.
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