Container Types and Dimensions
The external dimensions and classification of shipping containers are based on the ISO 668 standard, and their coding on ISO 6346. The internal dimensions, tare weights and payload capacities below are typical values from the technical data sheets of major shipping lines; they may vary by manufacturer and container age.
Technical table (typical values)
| Type | Internal dimensions L × W × H (mm) | Door opening W × H (mm) | Tare (kg) | Max. payload (kg) | Volume (m³) | Pallet capacity (single tier, approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20' DC (Dry / Standard) | 5.895 × 2.350 × 2.392 | 2.340 × 2.292 | ~2.200 | ~28.000 | ~33 | 11 EUR / 9–10 industrial |
| 40' DC (Standard) | 12.032 × 2.350 × 2.392 | 2.340 × 2.292 | ~3.750 | ~26.700–28.700 | ~67,7 | 23–25 EUR / 20–21 industrial |
| 40' HC (High Cube) | 12.032 × 2.350 × 2.700 | 2.340 × 2.597 | ~3.900 | ~28.600 | ~76,3 | 23–25 EUR / 20–21 industrial |
| 45' HC | 13.556 × 2.352 × 2.698 | 2.340 × 2.585 | ~4.800 | ~27.700 | ~86 | ~27 EUR / 24 industrial |
| 20' Reefer (refrigerated) | ~5.450 × 2.290 × 2.250 | ~2.290 × 2.250 | ~3.000 | ~27.400 | ~28 | 10 EUR / 8–9 industrial* |
| 40' Reefer HC | ~11.580 × 2.290 × 2.525 | ~2.290 × 2.565 | ~4.600 | ~29.000 | ~67 | 23–24 EUR / 20 industrial* |
| 20' Open Top | 5.895 × 2.350 × 2.350 | 2.340 × 2.280 | ~2.250 | ~28.000 | ~32,5 | 11 EUR |
| 40' Open Top | 12.029 × 2.350 × 2.350 | 2.340 × 2.280 | ~3.850 | ~26.500–28.600 | ~66 | 23–25 EUR |
| 20' Flat Rack (collapsible ends) | ~5.700–5.940 × ~2.400 × ~2.300 (between stanchions) | – (open sides/top) | ~2.500–2.900 | ~30.000–31.000 | – | Heavy/out-of-gauge cargo |
| 40' Flat Rack | ~12.000 × ~2.400 × ~2.000 | – | ~4.800–5.900 | ~39.000–40.000 | – | Heavy/out-of-gauge cargo |
| 20' Tank (ISO tank) | Frame 6.058 × 2.438 × 2.591 | – | ~3.000–4.000 | ~26.000–32.000 | 14.000–26.000 L (typically ~21.000–26.000 L) | Liquid bulk |
| Pallet-wide (PW) | Internal width ~2.440–2.460 | – | Variable | Variable | – | 40' PW HC ~30 EUR; 45' PW HC ~33 EUR |
\* In reefer containers, the internal dimensions are smaller because of the refrigeration unit and the T-floor; to allow air circulation, the cargo must not exceed the red load line.
Notes
- External dimensions: 20' = 6.058 × 2.438 × 2.591 mm; 40' = 12.192 × 2.438 × 2.591 mm; HC height 2.896 mm (9'6").
- The maximum gross weight (MGW) of new containers is generally 30.480 kg or 32.500 kg (mostly 32.500 kg for the 40' HC). However, road and rail limits (depending on the country) may become the constraint before the container's theoretical capacity; in Türkiye, the practical net load for a 20' container hauled by road is often planned at around ~24–26 tonnes.
- Open Top: For cargo loaded from above by crane or for tall cargo; covered with a tarpaulin, and the roof bows are removable.
- Flat Rack: For out-of-gauge (OOG) and heavy cargo such as machinery, vehicles and pipes.
- Tank: Food-grade (e.g. olive oil, syrup) or chemical liquids; the filling ratio should generally be between 80% and 95% (surge risk).
- Pallet-wide: The internal width allows 2 Euro pallets (2 × 1.200 mm or 3 × 800 mm) to be placed side by side; common in European short-sea shipping.
Key concepts
- TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit): 1 × 20' container = 1 TEU. The unit of measurement for vessel and port capacity.
- FEU (Forty-foot Equivalent Unit): 1 × 40' container = 1 FEU = 2 TEU.
- FCL (Full Container Load): The entire container is allocated to a single shipper; freight is paid per container.
- LCL (Less than Container Load): Cargo from different shippers is consolidated in the same container by a consolidator (forwarder); freight is generally calculated on a W/M (weight or measure) basis: 1 m³ ≈ 1.000 kg (whichever is greater).
- VGM (Verified Gross Mass): Under Chapter VI, Regulation 2 of the IMO SOLAS Convention (since 1 July 2016), the verified gross mass of a packed container must be submitted by the shipper to the carrier and the terminal before it is loaded on board. There are two methods: (1) weighing the packed container as a whole; (2) weighing all cargo, packaging and securing materials and adding them to the container's tare weight. A container without a declared VGM will not be loaded on board.
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Sources
- ICC – Incoterms® 2020: https://iccwbo.org/business-solutions/incoterms-rules/incoterms-2020/
- ICC – Incoterms rules history and overview: https://iccwbo.org/business-solutions/incoterms-rules/
- ICC – UCP 600 / Documentary credits: https://iccwbo.org/business-solutions/trade-finance/
- Hapag-Lloyd – Container Specification (PDF): https://www.hapag-lloyd.com/content/dam/website/downloads/press_and_media/publications/15211_Container_Specification_engl_Gesamt_web.pdf
- Hapag-Lloyd – 40' Standard High Cube: https://www.hapag-lloyd.com/en/services-information/cargo-fleet/container/40-standard-high-cube.html
- Hapag-Lloyd – 40' Standard: https://www.hapag-lloyd.com/en/services-information/cargo-fleet/container/40-standard.html
- Hapag-Lloyd – 40' Flatrack: https://www.hapag-lloyd.com/en/services-information/cargo-fleet/container/40-flatrack-high-cube.html
- Hapag-Lloyd – 40' Open Top: https://www.hapag-lloyd.com/en/services-information/cargo-fleet/container/40-open-top-high-cube.html
- ISO 668 – Series 1 freight containers: https://www.iso.org/standard/76912.html
- IMO – SOLAS Verified Gross Mass: https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Safety/Pages/Verification-of-the-gross-mass.aspx
- IATA – Air Cargo / e-AWB / ULD: https://www.iata.org/en/programs/cargo/
- IATA – Dangerous Goods Regulations: https://www.iata.org/en/publications/dgr/
- IPPC – ISPM 15: https://www.ippc.int/en/publications/640/
- EPAL – Euro pallet specifications: https://www.epal-pallets.org/
- EU Directive 96/53/EC (vehicle weights and dimensions): https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:31996L0053
- UNECE – CMR Convention: https://unece.org/transport/road-transport
- IRU – TIR system: https://www.iru.org/what-we-do/facilitating-trade-and-transit/tir
- TOBB – TIR and ATA carnets: https://www.tobb.org.tr/
- Kuehne+Nagel – Incoterms 2020 overview: https://www.kuehne-nagel.com/us/how-to/customs-clearance/incoterms
- Wikipedia – Incoterms (for general cross-checking): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incoterms