Knowing how big your shipping container should be is always challenging. If you haven’t worked with them directly before and have an intuitive sense of the volume you require, it can be hard to imagine what you need.
The trick is to read articles like this and learn more about shipping container sizes and what’s available. Once you grasp the basics, you can better estimate the sizes you require.
This article discusses the various standard shipping container sizes available and the various containers you can use for different needs. After you finish reading it, you should better understand your requirements.
Standard Shipping Container Sizes
Shipping containers come in various standard sizes to make domestic and international logistics easier. Ports can stack units and load them onto trucks, knowing they are always a standard size.
10-foot shipping container. 10-foot shipping containers are the smallest standard option measuring, as the name suggests, 10 feet in length. These containers are made from high-quality steel, giving them the same robustness as conventional options, making them suitable for transporting and protecting smaller and lighter options. Businesses often use them to ship part-truckloads of stock while individuals often use them for their belongings. Because of their affordability, they are also suitable for those looking for low-cost affordable options, particularly when shipping overseas.
20-foot shipping container. 20-foot shipping containers are standard options for international shipping. You often see these containers stacked on top of each other at major ports, like Felixstowe in Suffolk, UK. These are made of corrugated steel and are suitable for furniture, office equipment, paperwork, machinery, and sometimes vehicles. Many people use them when moving house, but they are also suitable for businesses wanting cheap space for their inventory. It is also possible to convert shipping containers into temporary accommodation or for mobile business purposes (e.g. setting up a food truck).
40-foot shipping container. 40-foot shipping containers are the largest standard variety, suitable for bulky or heavy items that won’t fit into 20-foot units. These containers often feature corrugated steel reinforcement, allowing them to carry up to 28 metric tonnes of cargo. Units also feature advanced weatherproofing, allowing you to keep them outside, and fittings around the corner points to hold them in place whether on lorries or in storage.
Dimensions of Shipping Containers
The dimensions of standard shipping containers are usually the same within categories (although there is sometimes variation).
10-Foot Dimensions
Here are the standard dimensions for 10-foot shipping containers:
External length: 10 ft (3.05 m)
External width: 8 ft (2.44 m)
External height: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Internal length: 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)
Internal width: 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m)
Internal height: 7 ft 10 in (2.39 m)
Cubic capacity: 560 cu ft (15.9 m³)
Tare weight: 1,540 kg
Max payload: 7,500 kg
20-Foot Dimensions
Here are the standard dimensions for 20-foot shipping containers:
External length: 20 ft (6.06 m)
External width: 8 ft (2.44 m)
External height: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Internal length: 19 ft 4 in (5.89 m)
Internal width: 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m)
Internal height: 7 ft 10 in (2.39 m)
Cubic capacity: 1,169 cu ft (33.1 m³)
Tare weight: 2,200 kg
Max payload: 28,300 kg
40-Foot Dimensions
And, finally, here are the dimensions for 40-foot shipping containers:
External length: 40 ft (12.19 m)
External width: 8 ft (2.44 m)
External height: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Internal length: 39 ft 5 in (12.01 m)
Internal width: 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m)
Internal height: 7 ft 10 in (2.39 m)
Cubic capacity: 2,385 cu ft (67.5 m³)
Tare weight: 3,750 kg
Max payload: 26,700 kg
10-foot shipping container. 10-foot shipping containers are the smallest standard option measuring, as the name suggests, 10 feet in length. These containers are made from high-quality steel, giving them the same robustness as conventional options, making them suitable for transporting and protecting smaller and lighter options. Businesses often use them to ship part-truckloads of stock while individuals often use them for their belongings. Because of their affordability, they are also suitable for those looking for low-cost affordable options, particularly when shipping overseas.
20-foot shipping container. 20-foot shipping containers are standard options for international shipping. You often see these containers stacked on top of each other at major ports, like Felixstowe in Suffolk, UK. These are made of corrugated steel and are suitable for furniture, office equipment, paperwork, machinery, and sometimes vehicles. Many people use them when moving house, but they are also suitable for businesses wanting cheap space for their inventory. It is also possible to convert shipping containers into temporary accommodation or for mobile business purposes (e.g. setting up a food truck).
40-foot shipping container. 40-foot shipping containers are the largest standard variety, suitable for bulky or heavy items that won’t fit into 20-foot units. These containers often feature corrugated steel reinforcement, allowing them to carry up to 28 metric tonnes of cargo. Units also feature advanced weatherproofing, allowing you to keep them outside, and fittings around the corner points to hold them in place whether on lorries or in storage.
External length: 10 ft (3.05 m)
External width: 8 ft (2.44 m)
External height: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Internal length: 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)
Internal width: 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m)
Internal height: 7 ft 10 in (2.39 m)
Cubic capacity: 560 cu ft (15.9 m³)
Tare weight: 1,540 kg
Max payload: 7,500 kg
External length: 20 ft (6.06 m)
External width: 8 ft (2.44 m)
External height: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Internal length: 19 ft 4 in (5.89 m)
Internal width: 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m)
Internal height: 7 ft 10 in (2.39 m)
Cubic capacity: 1,169 cu ft (33.1 m³)
Tare weight: 2,200 kg
Max payload: 28,300 kg
External length: 40 ft (12.19 m)
External width: 8 ft (2.44 m)
External height: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Internal length: 39 ft 5 in (12.01 m)
Internal width: 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m)
Internal height: 7 ft 10 in (2.39 m)
Cubic capacity: 2,385 cu ft (67.5 m³)
Tare weight: 3,750 kg
Max payload: 26,700 kg
Shipping container sizes vary in length, but also volume. As such, what you can use them for varies substantially.
A standard 10-foot shipping container has a volume of 560 cu ft (15.9 m³), meaning that it has around 25% of the capacity of a 40-foot container.
A 20-foot standard container has a volume of 1,169 cu ft (33.1 m³), giving it 100% more space than a 10-foot unit. It’s popular for transporting moderate cargo and is often used in international shipping because it balances size with strength.
The biggest capacity is found in 40-foot standard containers offering 2,385 cu ft (67.5 m³). These are used for high-volume cargo, often by industries requiring bulk transportation.
Here’s a rundown of volume comparisons between containers:
A 20-foot container has 209% more internal volume than a 10-foot container
A 40-foot container’s volume is 204% higher than a 20-foot container
A 40-foot container has 426% more volume than a 10-foot container
Other Shipping Container Types
The containers discussed thus far are all Conex containers, developed by the U.S. military years ago and then standardized for use globally. However, they aren’t the only options. Other containers are available which may better suit your purposes.
Flat Rack Containers
Flat rack containers still abide by Comex standards, but they allow you to transport bulkier or misshapen items. Manufacturers make these to the same specifications but eliminate the sides and top, leaving only the base and panels at each of the short ends.
Flat rack containers are either collapsible or non-collapsible. The former type has end walls you can fold down, while the latter remains rigid during transport.
You can also get flat rack containers in 20-foot and 40-foot variants. These provide you with more options, allowing you to transport longer items, such as building materials or wind turbine parts.
Like conventional containers, flat racks are stackable, allowing you to transport them at a low cost. Furthermore, you can keep them on top of each other while loaded, as long as the cargo doesn’t exceed height restrictions.
Site Office Containers
Site office containers are another use of shipping containers. These let you set up functional workspaces wherever you want.
For example, you can use them for:
Setting up a mobile clinic in a neighbourhood with limited access to medical care
Create an on-site office for a building site to be closer to workers in the field
Set up a pop-up store at a festival or in a car park at low cost
Just like regular containers, site office containers also come in standard sizes. 20-foot versions are ideal for one or two workstations, while 40-foot options can accommodate four to five (if you arrange them sensibly).
Site office containers offer most of the benefits of conventional workplaces. Being made of solid steel, they provide exceptional shelter from the elements. Furthermore, you can equip them with modern conveniences, including electricity, running water, and heating for winter operations. Door insulation and other additions are also available, depending on the supplier you choose.
Dangerous Goods Containers
Dangerous goods containers are another option. These are suitable for transporting hazardous items and protecting people and premises from harm.
Typically, companies use them for agricultural inputs, mining products and waste management. However, they also see heavy use in geological research, the oil & gas industry, and defence and security.
Dangerous goods containers sometimes follow standard sizing conventions, but not always. 10-foot and 20-foot containers are available, but so too are sealed and reinforced 8-foot units for smaller items.
Dangerous goods containers are made of special materials and come with various safety features to reduce risks. Commonly transported items include:
Flammable liquids
Corrosives
Explosives
Uranium
Oil-based products
When using dangerous goods containers, always check the unit’s classification is suitable for the products you want to transport. Containers may be unsuitable for your specific application.
Open-Top Shipping Containers
Finally, you can sometimes find open-top shipping containers. These retain all four walls but remove the roof.
The purpose of these containers is usually to facilitate easy loading and unloading. Many come with removable tarpaulin roofs to protect cargo from the elements while allowing them to violate height restrictions.
Standard 20-foot and 40-foot variants of these containers are available made from durable materials for long-lasting use.
Different Size Shipping Containers For Various Needs
Here are some of the items you could put in containers of different sizes:
10-Foot Container
Suitable for:
The furniture from a studio apartment or small flat
Bicycles and other small vehicles, like ATVs and kayaks
Tools and equipment, including gardening supplies
Appliances, such as dishwashers and tumble dryers
Various boxes and bins for moving home
20-Foot Container
Suitable for:
The furniture from a three-bedroom house and other household items for moving
Palletized goods (space for up to 25 standard pallets)
Heavy equipment including trailers, construction tools and some farm machinery
Bulky items, including clothes or building supplies
Multiple recreational vehicles, like snowmobiles and jet skis
40-Foot Container
Suitable for:
Commercial distribution of palletized goods
Long construction machinery or farm equipment
Space for furniture from a four or five-bedroom house
So there you have it: our attempt to decode the different shipping container sizes for your needs.