Shipping container dimensions and sizes
How wide, tall and long shipping containers are: inside size, door opening, volume and payload of every common container, in metric and imperial units.
A standard 20ft container is about 5.90 m × 2.35 m × 2.39 m inside (33.1 m³). A 40ft standard is 12.03 m × 2.35 m × 2.39 m (67.6 m³), and a 40ft high cube is 30 cm taller at 2.69 m (76.0 m³). Door openings are about 2.34 m wide and 2.28 m high (2.58 m on high cubes).
| Container | Length | Width | Height | Volume | Max payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10' Standard (10GP) | 2.83 m 9′ 3″ | 2.35 m 7′ 9″ | 2.39 m 7′ 10″ | 15.9 m³ 561 ft³ | 8,860 kg 19,533 lb |
| 20' Standard (20GP) | 5.90 m 19′ 4″ | 2.35 m 7′ 9″ | 2.39 m 7′ 10″ | 33.1 m³ 1,170 ft³ | 28,200 kg 62,170 lb |
| 40' Standard (40GP) | 12.03 m 39′ 6″ | 2.35 m 7′ 9″ | 2.39 m 7′ 10″ | 67.6 m³ 2,386 ft³ | 26,700 kg 58,863 lb |
| 40' High Cube (40HQ) | 12.03 m 39′ 6″ | 2.35 m 7′ 9″ | 2.69 m 8′ 10″ | 76.0 m³ 2,686 ft³ | 26,500 kg 58,422 lb |
| 45' High Cube (45HQ) | 13.56 m 44′ 6″ | 2.35 m 7′ 9″ | 2.69 m 8′ 10″ | 85.7 m³ 3,027 ft³ | 27,700 kg 61,068 lb |
| 20' Reefer (20RF) | 5.44 m 17′ 10″ | 2.29 m 7′ 6″ | 2.27 m 7′ 5″ | 28.3 m³ 999 ft³ | 27,400 kg 60,407 lb |
| 40' High Cube Reefer (40RH) | 11.58 m 38′ 0″ | 2.29 m 7′ 6″ | 2.50 m 8′ 2″ | 66.3 m³ 2,341 ft³ | 29,000 kg 63,934 lb |
| 20' Open Top (20OT) | 5.90 m 19′ 4″ | 2.35 m 7′ 9″ | 2.34 m 7′ 8″ | 32.4 m³ 1,146 ft³ | 30,050 kg 66,249 lb |
| 40' Open Top (40OT) | 12.03 m 39′ 6″ | 2.35 m 7′ 9″ | 2.34 m 7′ 8″ | 66.2 m³ 2,336 ft³ | 28,450 kg 62,722 lb |
Typical values. Exact dimensions and weights vary by container manufacturer, age and shipping line. Always confirm with your carrier before booking. Machine-readable data: containers.json.
How wide is a shipping container?
Standard shipping containers are 8 ft (2.44 m) wide outside and about 2.35 m (7′ 9″) wide inside. The width is the same for 10ft, 20ft, 40ft and high cube containers. Reefers are narrower inside, about 2.29 m, because of their insulated walls.
How tall is a shipping container?
A standard container is 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) tall outside and about 2.39 m inside. A high cube is 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) outside and about 2.69 m inside. The door opening is about 11 cm lower than the inside height.
How long is a shipping container?
Inside lengths are about 2.83 m for a 10ft, 5.90 m for a 20ft, 12.03 m for a 40ft and 13.56 m for a 45ft. Outside, a 20ft is 6.06 m (19 ft 10.5 in) and a 40ft exactly 12.19 m (40 ft).
How big is a shipping container?
A 20ft container has about 13.9 m² (149 sq ft) of floor space and 33.1 m³ of volume; a 40ft has about 28.3 m² (304 sq ft) and 67.6 m³. Shipping containers are also called ISO containers, conex boxes or sea cans; see container terms.
Other container types and sizes
Besides the standard boxes in the table, you may come across a 20ft high cube (2.69 m inside height), side door (open side) containers, flat racks and the North American 53 ft domestic container. See types of shipping containers for every type and its ISO code, high cube containers for HC sizes, and 20ft or 40ft container weight for empty and loaded weights.
Usable volume vs. internal volume
The internal volume is the size of the empty box. Cartons rarely divide the container exactly, so plan on using about 25–28 m³ of a 20ft, 55–60 m³ of a 40ft and 65–70 m³ of a 40HQ for carton cargo. See 20ft container CBM and 40ft container CBM, or use the container load calculator for your own cartons.
10' Standard (10GP) dimensions
The smallest common container, used mostly for storage and site offices rather than ocean freight.
| Inside length | 2.83 m (9′ 3″) |
|---|---|
| Inside width | 2.35 m (7′ 9″) |
| Inside height | 2.39 m (7′ 10″) |
| Door opening (W × H) | 2.34 m × 2.28 m |
| Internal volume | 15.9 m³ (561 ft³) |
| Max payload | 8,860 kg (19,533 lb) |
| Tare weight | 1,300 kg (2,866 lb) |
Full 10' Standard (10GP) guide → · Plan a load in a 10GP →
20' Standard (20GP) dimensions
The most common container for heavy, dense cargo such as tiles, steel, machinery parts and bagged goods. It usually reaches its weight limit before it is full.
| Inside length | 5.90 m (19′ 4″) |
|---|---|
| Inside width | 2.35 m (7′ 9″) |
| Inside height | 2.39 m (7′ 10″) |
| Door opening (W × H) | 2.34 m × 2.28 m |
| Internal volume | 33.1 m³ (1,170 ft³) |
| Max payload | 28,200 kg (62,170 lb) |
| Tare weight | 2,200 kg (4,850 lb) |
Full 20' Standard (20GP) guide → · Plan a load in a 20GP →
40' Standard (40GP) dimensions
Twice the floor length of a 20ft for about the same payload. Good for general cargo that is neither very heavy nor very tall.
| Inside length | 12.03 m (39′ 6″) |
|---|---|
| Inside width | 2.35 m (7′ 9″) |
| Inside height | 2.39 m (7′ 10″) |
| Door opening (W × H) | 2.34 m × 2.28 m |
| Internal volume | 67.6 m³ (2,386 ft³) |
| Max payload | 26,700 kg (58,863 lb) |
| Tare weight | 3,750 kg (8,267 lb) |
Full 40' Standard (40GP) guide → · Plan a load in a 40GP →
40' High Cube (40HQ) dimensions
30 cm taller than a 40GP, which adds about 8.5 m³. It is the usual choice for light, bulky cargo such as furniture, textiles and household goods.
| Inside length | 12.03 m (39′ 6″) |
|---|---|
| Inside width | 2.35 m (7′ 9″) |
| Inside height | 2.69 m (8′ 10″) |
| Door opening (W × H) | 2.34 m × 2.58 m |
| Internal volume | 76.0 m³ (2,686 ft³) |
| Max payload | 26,500 kg (58,422 lb) |
| Tare weight | 3,900 kg (8,598 lb) |
Full 40' High Cube (40HQ) guide → · Plan a load in a 40HQ →
45' High Cube (45HQ) dimensions
The largest common dry container. Availability and road rules for 45ft units vary by country, so check with your forwarder first.
| Inside length | 13.56 m (44′ 6″) |
|---|---|
| Inside width | 2.35 m (7′ 9″) |
| Inside height | 2.69 m (8′ 10″) |
| Door opening (W × H) | 2.34 m × 2.58 m |
| Internal volume | 85.7 m³ (3,027 ft³) |
| Max payload | 27,700 kg (61,068 lb) |
| Tare weight | 4,800 kg (10,582 lb) |
Full 45' High Cube (45HQ) guide → · Plan a load in a 45HQ →
20' Reefer (20RF) dimensions
Refrigerated container for chilled and frozen goods. Insulated walls and the cooling unit make it smaller inside than a 20GP.
| Inside length | 5.44 m (17′ 10″) |
|---|---|
| Inside width | 2.29 m (7′ 6″) |
| Inside height | 2.27 m (7′ 5″) |
| Door opening (W × H) | 2.29 m × 2.23 m |
| Internal volume | 28.3 m³ (999 ft³) |
| Max payload | 27,400 kg (60,407 lb) |
| Tare weight | 3,000 kg (6,614 lb) |
Full 20' Reefer (20RF) guide → · Plan a load in a 20RF →
40' High Cube Reefer (40RH) dimensions
The standard refrigerated container for larger volumes of temperature-controlled cargo.
| Inside length | 11.58 m (38′ 0″) |
|---|---|
| Inside width | 2.29 m (7′ 6″) |
| Inside height | 2.50 m (8′ 2″) |
| Door opening (W × H) | 2.29 m × 2.48 m |
| Internal volume | 66.3 m³ (2,341 ft³) |
| Max payload | 29,000 kg (63,934 lb) |
| Tare weight | 4,480 kg (9,877 lb) |
Full 40' High Cube Reefer (40RH) guide → · Plan a load in a 40RH →
20' Open Top (20OT) dimensions
Open top container with a removable tarpaulin roof, for tall cargo loaded from above by crane.
| Inside length | 5.90 m (19′ 4″) |
|---|---|
| Inside width | 2.35 m (7′ 9″) |
| Inside height | 2.34 m (7′ 8″) |
| Door opening (W × H) | 2.33 m × 2.28 m |
| Internal volume | 32.4 m³ (1,146 ft³) |
| Max payload | 30,050 kg (66,249 lb) |
| Tare weight | 2,450 kg (5,401 lb) |
Full 20' Open Top (20OT) guide → · Plan a load in a 20OT →
40' Open Top (40OT) dimensions
The 40ft version of the open top container, for long and tall cargo such as machinery or timber.
| Inside length | 12.03 m (39′ 6″) |
|---|---|
| Inside width | 2.35 m (7′ 9″) |
| Inside height | 2.34 m (7′ 8″) |
| Door opening (W × H) | 2.34 m × 2.27 m |
| Internal volume | 66.2 m³ (2,336 ft³) |
| Max payload | 28,450 kg (62,722 lb) |
| Tare weight | 4,050 kg (8,929 lb) |
Full 40' Open Top (40OT) guide → · Plan a load in a 40OT →
Frequently asked questions
What are the inside dimensions of a 20ft container?
About 590 × 235 × 239 cm (19′ 4″ × 7′ 9″ × 7′ 10″), or 33.1 m³.
What are the inside dimensions of a 40ft container?
About 1203 × 235 × 239 cm for a 40GP (67.6 m³) and 1203 × 235 × 269 cm for a 40HQ (76.0 m³).
How big is the door of a shipping container?
About 234 cm wide and 228 cm high on standard containers, and 258 cm high on high cubes.