What are the standard shipping container sizes?
The most common sizes are 20 ft and 40 ft, in standard height or high cube. They are built to the dimensions in ISO 668, the international standard for container sizes and ratings. See the glossary entries on ISO 668, the 20 ft container, and the 40 ft container.
Outside, a standard box is 8 ft wide and 8 ft 6 in tall. A 20 ft box is 19 ft 10.5 in long. A 40 ft box is 40 ft long. A high cube is 9 ft 6 in tall. Inside space is smaller because of the walls, floor, and roof.
The figures below come from Wikipedia’s ISO table. Treat them as planning numbers. Builders differ by a few inches, and older boxes can differ more.
| Spec | 20 ft standard | 40 ft standard | 40 ft high cube |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outside length | 19 ft 10.5 in (6.058 m) | 40 ft (12.192 m) | 40 ft (12.192 m) |
| Outside width | 8 ft (2.438 m) | 8 ft (2.438 m) | 8 ft (2.438 m) |
| Outside height | 8 ft 6 in (2.591 m) | 8 ft 6 in (2.591 m) | 9 ft 6.5 in (2.908 m) |
| Inside length (max) | 19 ft 3 in (5.867 m) | 39 ft 4.4 in (11.998 m) | 39 ft 4.4 in (11.998 m) |
| Inside width (max) | 7 ft 7.75 in (2.330 m) | 8 ft 2 in (2.489 m) | 8 ft 2 in (2.489 m) |
| Inside height (max) | 7 ft 8.5 in (2.350 m) | 8 ft 8.5 in (2.654 m) | 8 ft 11 in (2.718 m) |
| Volume | 1,169 cu ft (33.1 m3) | 2,385 cu ft (67.5 m3) | 2,660 cu ft (75.3 m3) |
| Tare weight (approx.) | 4,850 lb (2,200 kg) | 8,380 lb (3,800 kg) | 8,675 lb (3,935 kg) |
Source: Wikipedia, Intermodal container, ISO 668 table.
The sources disagree on 40 ft inside width: Wikipedia lists 8 ft 2 in, while Ship4wd lists 7 ft 8 in. When it matters, measure a box in your yard or get the builder’s spec sheet. The glossary covers internal dimensions and external dimensions.
What are the interior dimensions of a 20 ft container?
A 20 ft standard container is about 19 ft 3 in long, 7 ft 8 in wide, and 7 ft 8 in to 7 ft 10 in tall inside. That is close to 1,170 cubic feet.
Wikipedia lists a maximum interior of 19 ft 3 in by 7 ft 7.75 in by 7 ft 8.5 in. Ship4wd lists 19 ft 3 in by 7 ft 8 in by 7 ft 10 in. The gap is a few inches. Do not tell a customer a couch fits on the basis of a table. Measure.
What is a high cube container?
A high cube container has the same footprint as a standard box but is about one foot taller. See high cube container in the glossary.
Conexwest says a high cube adds about 12 inches of interior height, about 8 ft 10 in against 7 ft 10 in on a standard unit. It says a 40 ft high cube holds roughly 2,694 to 2,700 cubic feet, against about 2,390 for a standard 40 ft box. Wikipedia lists 2,660 and 2,385 cubic feet.
High cube boxes are useful for tall items, shelving, and modifications such as insulation or offices, which eat into inside height. They are also taller on a truck. Check the route for low bridges and wires. The delivery guide, container delivery equipment, covers clearance.
What is the door opening size?
Door openings are smaller than the inside of the box. For a standard box, expect an opening near 7 ft 6 in to 8 ft 2 in wide and 7 ft 5 in tall. A high cube opening is taller. See door opening in the glossary.
| Source | 20 ft standard | 40 ft standard | 40 ft high cube |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia (typical aperture) | 7 ft 6 in x 7 ft 5 in | 8 ft 2 in x 8 ft 5 in | 8 ft 2 in x 8 ft 10 in |
| Ship4wd | 7 ft 8 in x 7 ft 5 in | 7 ft 8 in x 7 ft 5 in | 7 ft 8 in x 8 ft 5 in |
The sources disagree, which is normal. Door width depends on the door hardware and the builder. Measure your own fleet and put the real figure on your sales sheet. Door width decides whether a pallet jack, a washer, or a piece of equipment goes in.
How much does an empty container weigh?
Empty weight is called tare weight. Expect about 4,850 to 5,500 lb for a 20 ft box and about 8,000 to 8,700 lb for a 40 ft box. See tare weight in the glossary.
| Box | Wikipedia | Ship4wd |
|---|---|---|
| 20 ft standard | 4,850 lb | 5,070 lb |
| 20 ft high cube | not listed | 5,500 lb |
| 40 ft standard | 8,380 lb | 8,000 lb |
| 40 ft high cube | 8,675 lb | 8,500 lb |
Boxhub says an unloaded 20 ft container weighs about 5,000 lb. These sources agree to within a few hundred pounds. Modifications such as a roll-up door or insulation add weight, so weigh a modified box before you quote a truck.
Use the weight on the CSC plate, not a table. The glossary entries on payload and maximum gross weight explain the rest of the plate. Wikipedia reports an ISO maximum gross mass of 36,000 kg (79,000 lb) for standard 20 ft and 40 ft boxes. That is a transport rating, not a guide to what a customer can safely load on a delivery truck or a driveway.
How many pallets fit in a 20 ft container?
About 10 standard pallets or 11 Euro pallets fit in a 20 ft container. A 40 ft container fits about 22 standard pallets or 24 Euro pallets. Those counts come from Ship4wd’s article text.
Counts change with pallet size, stacking, and how you load. Customers who store boxes, not pallets, think in rooms of furniture instead. For that, read the customer guide on what size portable storage container to rent.
What sizes do portable storage fleets use besides 20 ft and 40 ft?
Many portable storage companies also use 8 ft, 10 ft, 12 ft, and 16 ft boxes. These are not part of the standard shipping lines, and their dimensions vary by manufacturer and by fleet.
Steel or plastic 12 ft and 16 ft containers are common portable units (Inside Self-Storage, 2007). A city ordinance in New Lenox, Illinois, caps a residential portable storage container at 8 ft tall, 8 ft wide, and 16 ft long. A 20 ft box would not fit under that cap. Local limits like this can shape which sizes you stock. Check local rules before you pick a fleet size. See permits, zoning, and HOA rules for operators.
For the short forms, see the glossary entries on the 8 ft, 10 ft, 12 ft, and 16 ft containers.
How does size affect handling and delivery?
Size decides which truck you can use. A 20 ft box can be lifted by a forklift or moved by a tilt-bed truck. A 40 ft box often cannot be forklifted.
Eveon Containers says 20 ft containers have forklift pockets, so a forklift works, and a crane also works. It says 40 ft and 40 ft high cube boxes do not have forklift pockets and need a crane and a certified operator. It gives minimum offloading equipment ratings of 5,500 lb for 20 ft boxes and 10,000 lb for 40 ft boxes. See forklift pocket in the glossary.
Boxhub adds that only new, one-trip containers are guaranteed to have forklift pockets. Used boxes may not have them. If your fleet includes used boxes, check each one.
Conexwest says its smallest tilt-bed truck can deliver containers up to 24 ft long and needs at least 60 ft of straight-line clearance. Its tilt-bed truck with trailer handles boxes up to 45 ft and needs 100 ft. So length affects the site, too.
What should I measure on my own boxes?
Published tables give a starting point. Your boxes are what customers use. Pick one box per size and record these measurements in a shared sheet:
| Measurement | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Inside length, width, and height | Tells customers what fits |
| Door opening width and height | Sets the largest item that goes in |
| Empty weight with all fittings | Sets the truck and lift rating |
| Outside height on the truck | Sets the route and overhead clearance |
| Forklift pockets present or not | Sets the unloading method |
Redo the list after any modification. Insulation, a roll-up door, or an office build-out changes the numbers. Keep a photo of the tape measure on each reading. When a customer disputes fit, a record helps.
How should I use this in my fleet plan?
Pick a short list of sizes and stay with it. Every size adds spare parts, locks, and delivery rules. A simple approach:
- List the sizes your market asks for most.
- Check each size against local limits and your trucks.
- Record the real inside and door measurements of one box per size.
- Put weights and measures on your quote sheet.
- Re-measure after any modification.
Grade and size go together. Read shipping container grades before you buy.
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