What is tare weight? Meaning and definition
Tare weight is the weight of an empty container, vehicle or package, without the goods inside. Add the tare weight to the net weight of the goods and you get the gross weight: gross = net + tare. An empty 20ft shipping container has a tare weight of about 2,200 kg (4,850 lb) and a 40ft about 3,750 kg (8,267 lb).
Tare weight meaning
“Tare” is the part of a weighing that you take away because it is not the goods: the truck, the container, the pallet, the box or the jar. The word came into English through French and Italian tara, from an Arabic word meaning “what is deducted”. On a kitchen or warehouse scale, the TARE button does exactly that: you put the empty bowl or pallet on the scale, press tare, and the display resets to zero so it shows only the contents.
You will also see tare mass. In trade, tare mass and tare weight mean the same thing; “mass” is the stricter scientific term because it is measured in kilograms rather than as a force.
Tare, net and gross weight
| Term | What it includes | Example: one 20ft container |
|---|---|---|
| Net weight | The goods only | 18,000 kg of ceramic tiles |
| Tare weight | The empty container, vehicle or packaging | 2,200 kg empty container |
| Gross weight | Net + tare | 20,200 kg |
| Payload | The most cargo the container may carry | about 28,200 kg |
| Max gross weight | Tare + payload: the most the loaded unit may weigh | about 30,480 kg (67,200 lb) |
Packaging can be counted at several levels. For a pallet of cartons, the cartons are the tare of the goods, and the pallet is part of the tare of the pallet load. When you declare cargo weight for a container booking, use the gross weight of the cargo: goods, cartons, pallets and dunnage.
Tare weight of shipping containers
| Container | Tare (kg) | Tare (lb) |
|---|---|---|
| 10' Standard (10GP) | 1,300 | 2,866 |
| 20' Standard (20GP) | 2,200 | 4,850 |
| 40' Standard (40GP) | 3,750 | 8,267 |
| 40' High Cube (40HQ) | 3,900 | 8,598 |
| 45' High Cube (45HQ) | 4,800 | 10,582 |
| 20' Reefer (20RF) | 3,000 | 6,614 |
| 40' High Cube Reefer (40RH) | 4,480 | 9,877 |
For a full breakdown by size, see 20ft container weight, 40ft container weight and shipping container weight limits.
Where to find the tare weight on a container
Every ISO container shows its weights on the right-hand door, usually as MAX GROSS, TARE, NET (or PAYLOAD) and CU. CAP., in both kg and lb. The same figures are on the CSC safety approval plate. Two containers of the same type can differ by a few hundred kilograms depending on the manufacturer, floor and repairs, so read the door, not a generic table, when the weight is critical.
Tare weight and VGM
Before a packed container is loaded on a ship, the shipper must declare its verified gross mass (VGM) under the SOLAS convention. One accepted method is to weigh all the cargo, packaging and securing material and add the container's tare weight. That is why the tare marked on the door matters.
Tare weight of trucks and other vehicles
For trucks, tare (also called unladen or empty weight) is the weight of the empty vehicle. Weighbridges at quarries, farms and recycling yards weigh a truck full and empty, and the difference is the net weight of the load. A typical US tractor with an empty 53 ft trailer weighs around 30,000–35,000 lb, which is why a rig loaded to 80,000 lb carries roughly 40,000–45,000 lb of cargo.
Frequently asked questions
What does tare weight mean?
The weight of an empty container, vehicle or package, without the goods inside.
What is the difference between tare weight and gross weight?
Tare is the empty weight; gross weight is the goods plus the tare. Net weight is the goods alone.
What is the tare weight of a 20ft container?
About 2,200 kg (4,850 lb), depending on the manufacturer.
What is the tare weight of a 40ft container?
About 3,750 kg (8,267 lb) for a standard 40ft and 3,900 kg (8,598 lb) for a high cube.
What is the weight of an empty container called?
Tare weight (or tare mass). It is also the answer to the familiar crossword clue “weight of an empty container”: TARE.