53 ft trailer dimensions (dry van)
A typical 53 ft dry van trailer is about 52′ 6″ long, 98 in wide and 108 in high inside (16.00 m × 2.50 m × 2.74 m), or roughly 3,870 cubic feet. The rear door opening is about 98 in wide and 94 in high. Cargo capacity is usually about 40,000–45,000 lb, set by the 80,000 lb gross vehicle limit.
53 ft and 48 ft dry van dimensions
| 53 ft dry van | 48 ft dry van | |
|---|---|---|
| Inside length | 52′ 6″ (16.00 m) | 47′ 7″ (14.50 m) |
| Inside width | 98 in (2.50 m) | 98 in (2.50 m) |
| Inside height | 108 in (2.74 m) | 108 in (2.74 m) |
| Door opening (W × H) | 98 × 94 in | 98 × 94 in |
| Volume | 3,870 ft³ (109.6 m³) | 3,508 ft³ (99.3 m³) |
| Standard pallets (straight / turned) | 26 / 30 | 22 / 28 |
| Typical cargo capacity | 40,000–45,000 lb | 40,000–45,000 lb |
53 ft trailer vs 40ft container
A 53 ft trailer is longer and slightly wider than a 40ft shipping container: about 109.6 m³ against 76.0 m³ for a 40ft high cube. That is why importers often “transload” the contents of two 40ft containers into fewer 53 ft trailers for inland delivery. Cartons of 60 × 40 × 40 cm: about 960 per 53 ft trailer vs 660 per 40HQ.
Exterior size and legal limits
A 53 ft trailer is 53 ft long and 102 in wide outside, and about 13 ft 6 in tall with the tractor in most states. Federal rules limit gross vehicle weight to 80,000 lb on the Interstate system; some states allow more with permits.
Frequently asked questions
What are the inside dimensions of a 53 ft trailer?
About 52′ 6″ long, 98 in wide and 108 in high, depending on the trailer.
How many cubic feet is a 53 ft trailer?
About 3,870 ft³ for a typical dry van; published figures range from about 3,400 to 4,000 ft³.
How much weight can a 53 ft trailer carry?
Usually about 40,000–45,000 lb of cargo, because the whole truck is limited to 80,000 lb gross on US interstates.
How tall is a 53 ft trailer door?
About 94 in, lower than the inside height, which limits stacked pallet height.