Container sizes
Shipping container door dimensions
Short answer
The door opening of a standard 20ft or 40ft container is about 2.34 m wide and 2.28 m high (7′ 8″ × 7′ 6″). A high cube door is about 2.58 m high (8′ 5.5″). The door is about 11 cm lower than the inside height, and it is the real height limit for anything loaded on a pallet or with a forklift.
Door sizes by container
| Container | Door width | Door height | Inside height |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20' Standard (20GP) | 2.34 m 7′ 8″ | 2.28 m 7′ 6″ | 2.39 m |
| 40' Standard (40GP) | 2.34 m 7′ 8″ | 2.28 m 7′ 6″ | 2.39 m |
| 40' High Cube (40HQ) | 2.34 m 7′ 8″ | 2.58 m 8′ 5.5″ | 2.69 m |
| 45' High Cube (45HQ) | 2.34 m 7′ 8″ | 2.58 m 8′ 5.5″ | 2.69 m |
| 20' Reefer (20RF) | 2.29 m 7′ 6″ | 2.23 m 7′ 4″ | 2.27 m |
| 40' High Cube Reefer (40RH) | 2.29 m 7′ 6″ | 2.48 m 8′ 1.5″ | 2.50 m |
Why the door height matters
Cartons can be hand-stacked all the way to the ceiling. Anything that goes in on a forklift, such as pallets, crates and machines, has to pass under the door header first. That is why:
- Double-stacked pallets must be lower than the door: about 114 cm per pallet in a standard container and 129 cm in a high cube.
- A single machine or crate taller than about 2.28 m needs a high cube, and above about 2.58 m it needs an open top or flat rack container.
- The forklift mast needs some headroom too, so leave a few centimeters of clearance.
Check your own cargoEnter your carton or pallet size and get a 3D loading plan in seconds.
Open in the load calculator →Frequently asked questions
How wide is a shipping container door?
About 2.34 m (7′ 8″) on standard dry containers.
How tall is a 40ft high cube door?
About 2.58 m (8′ 5.5″).
Are 20ft and 40ft container doors the same size?
Yes. Standard 20ft and 40ft containers have the same door size; only high cubes have a taller door.
Related guides
Container sizesSide door (open side) container dimensionsA 20ft open side container is about 5.90 × 2.29–2.34 × 2.29–2.38 m inside, with doors along one long side.
Container sizesOpen top container dimensions (20ft and 40ft)A 20ft open top container is about 5.90 m × 2.35 m × 2.34 m inside; a 40ft open top about 12.03 m × 2.35 m × 2.34 m.
ContainersHigh cube container: meaning, height and sizesA high cube (HC/HQ) container is 9′ 6″ (2.90 m) tall instead of 8′ 6″, about 2.69 m high inside.