Shipping Container Dimensions: 8 ft Wide, 20 ft and 40 ft Long

A standard shipping container is 8 ft (2.44 m) wide, 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) tall, and 20 ft (6.06 m) or 40 ft (12.19 m) long. A high cube is 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) tall. Inside, the width is about 7 ft 8 in (2.35 m), and the rear door opening is about 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m) wide. These sizes follow ISO 668. The six sizes freight forwarders load most often are the 20ft Standard, 40ft Standard, 40ft High Cube, 45ft High Cube, 20ft Reefer, and 40ft High Cube Reefer. Door openings catch most forwarders off guard: cargo that fits the internal volume can still be too tall for the door.

External sizes are the ISO 668 nominal dimensions. Internal, door, capacity and payload figures are typical fleet values published in the Hapag-Lloyd container specification; the 20ft payload depends on whether the unit is rated to 30,480 kg or 32,500 kg gross. ISO 668 sets the minimum door opening at 2,337 mm wide by 2,261 mm high on standard units and 2,565 mm high on high cubes, so individual boxes vary by a few centimeters. Check the CSC plate on the unit before you plan a tight load.

This guide is the complete size reference for freight forwarders and NVOCCs. It covers external and internal dimensions, door openings, tare and payload weight, cubic capacity, and load planning across every ISO container type. Every measurement is in both metric and imperial so ops teams in the United States, Europe, and Asia can quote from one source.

How Wide Is a Shipping Container?

All standard ISO shipping containers are 2.44 meters (8 feet, or 96 inches) wide externally. This width is consistent across 20ft, 40ft, 45ft, High Cube, Reefer, Open Top, and Flat Rack variants.

Internal width is approximately 2.35 meters (7 feet 8 inches, or 92.5 inches). The difference between external and internal width is the wall thickness on both sides.

Door opening width is about 2.34 meters (7 feet 8 inches, or 92 inches). That is the widest load that passes through the rear doors, so two pallets loaded side by side have to clear 2.34 m at the door.

Are All Shipping Containers 8 Feet Wide?

Yes, every ISO 668 shipping container is 8 feet (2,438 mm) wide on the outside, whatever its length, height or type. A 20ft, a 40ft, a high cube and a 45ft all share the width so they fit the same ship cells, chassis and crane spreaders. Containers sold or rented for storage, often called conex boxes or sea cans, are mostly retired ISO shipping containers, so the same 8 foot width applies.

This width is fixed by ISO 668 specification because it must fit the standard container infrastructure at ports, ships, trucks, and rail. Wider containers exist (like US domestic 53ft units, which are 2.59 m / 8'6" wide), but they are not ISO standard for international shipping. Forwarders moving FCL and LCL volume internationally typically work in Ocean Freight Management Software built around the ISO 20ft and 40ft footprint.

Comprehensive Container Size Reference

Use this single table as the master reference across dry, refrigerated, and specialty ISO containers. Every row lists external and internal dimensions, door opening, tare weight, maximum payload, maximum gross weight, and cubic capacity in both metric and imperial. Typical use in the last column matches the container type to the cargo profile it is built for.

External sizes are ISO 668 nominal dimensions. Internal sizes, door openings, weights and capacities are one fleet series of each type from the Hapag-Lloyd container specification (for the 20ft Standard, the series rated to 30,480 kg gross); Hapag-Lloyd runs its 40ft reefers and 40ft flat racks as high cubes. Actual tare and payload vary by manufacturer and container generation, so always cross check the CSC plate on the specific unit before booking the cargo weight.

Standard Shipping Container Dimensions

External Dimensions

Internal Dimensions

Internal dimensions are smaller than external because of wall thickness. Buyers often confuse the two, which distorts cargo planning and leaves 5 to 10 percent of expected capacity unused.

Shipping Container Dimensions in Meters, Centimeters and Feet

Booking systems, load planners and customs forms ask for different units. The same four containers in centimeters, with feet and inches alongside:

How Long Is a Shipping Container?

Standard ISO container lengths:

• 20ft: 6.06 meters (19 feet 10.5 inches)
• 40ft: 12.19 meters (40 feet 0 inches)
• 45ft: 13.72 meters (45 feet 0 inches)
• Less common: 10ft, 48ft, 53ft (US domestic only, not ISO international)

The 20ft and 40ft sizes represent the vast majority of international ocean containers in circulation.

Internal length is about 5.90 m (19 feet 4 inches) in a 20ft, 12.03 m (39 feet 6 inches) in a 40ft, and 13.56 m (44 feet 6 inches) in a 45ft. A 20ft container is 6,058 mm long, slightly under 20 feet. Two of them plus a 76 mm (3 inch) gap take up exactly the 12,192 mm of one 40ft container, which lets two 20ft units share the length of a 40ft slot.

How Tall Is a Shipping Container?

A standard shipping container is 8 feet 6 inches (2.59 m) tall on the outside, and a high cube is 9 feet 6 inches (2.90 m) tall. Inside, the clear height is about 7 feet 10 inches (2.39 m) in a standard box and 8 feet 10 inches (2.70 m) in a high cube. The door opening is lower than the ceiling: about 7 feet 6 inches (2.28 to 2.29 m) on a standard container and 8 feet 6 inches (2.60 m) on a high cube.

Height is the only external dimension that changes between the two families. Length and the 8 foot width stay the same, and the 45ft is almost always supplied as a high cube.

High Cube vs Standard Height Comparison

The height difference between a Standard and a High Cube is 30 cm (1 foot) externally and 31 cm internally. That extra headroom translates into an 8.6 m³ volume gain on a 40ft footprint. Two comparisons matter for load planning.

The High Cube trades a small payload allowance for meaningful extra volume. It is the right choice for cargo where volume runs out before weight, which covers most retail and consumer goods lanes.

Shipping Container Wall Thickness

Shipping container walls are made of corrugated steel. Standard wall thickness:

• Side walls: 1.6 mm (0.063 inches) for standard dry containers
• Roof: 1.6 mm to 2 mm
• Floor: 28 mm plywood on 4.5 mm steel cross members
• Doors: 2 mm steel

The thickness is calibrated for structural strength while minimizing tare weight.

Shipping Container Steel Thickness

The corrugated steel gauge varies slightly by manufacturer, but common industry standard is 14 gauge to 16 gauge steel (approximately 1.6 mm to 2 mm). Roof and walls are lighter gauge; doors and corner posts are heavier.

Shipping Container Capacity

Cubic Capacity Explained

Cubic capacity is the internal volume of a container, measured in cubic meters (m³) or cubic feet (ft³). It is the theoretical maximum volume of cargo that could fit if the container were a perfect rectangular prism with zero packing waste.

Actual usable cargo volume is lower than cubic capacity. The gap comes from:

• Space between pallets and side walls
• Space between stacked cartons
• Dunnage, air bags, and load restraints
• Cargo footprint that does not tile perfectly to the container floor

A well loaded 40ft Standard holds less cargo than its 67.7 m³ of cubic capacity. Chargeable weight for LCL follows a similar logic. Volume based charging uses 1 m³ equals 1,000 kg for ocean and 1 m³ equals 167 kg for air.

How Many Pallets Fit in a Container?

Pallet counts are for one floor tier, from the iContainers guide to how many pallets fit in a container.

How Much Cargo Fits in a Container?

• 20ft: about 33 cubic meters / 1,165 cubic feet. Max payload 28,180 kg.
• 40ft: about 67 cubic meters / 2,390 cubic feet. Max payload 28,800 kg.
• 40ft HC: about 76 cubic meters / 2,700 cubic feet. Max payload 28,600 kg.

Heavy cargo hits the weight limit before filling the volume; light cargo fills the volume before hitting the weight limit. Understanding which constraint bites first for a given SKU set is the core of load planning.

Container Weight Limits

Tare Weight, Payload, and Max Gross

Three weight terms show up on the CSC plate of every ISO container. Confusing them is a common cause of overweight declarations that trigger VGM rejections at the port.

• Tare weight: the empty container. About 2,300 kg for a 20ft Standard, 3,700 kg for a 40ft Standard, and 3,900 kg for a 40ft High Cube.
• Max payload: the maximum cargo weight the container is rated to carry. About 28,180 kg for a 20ft Standard and 28,800 kg for a 40ft Standard.
• Max gross weight: tare plus payload. Usually 30,480 kg for a 20ft Standard and 32,500 kg for a 40ft Standard. Newer 20ft units are often rated to 32,500 kg gross as well, which lifts the 20ft payload to about 30,200 kg.

Under SOLAS rules, the shipper must submit a Verified Gross Mass (VGM) for every container before it is loaded onto a vessel. See the Verified Gross Mass (VGM) guide for the two allowed calculation methods.

Container Weight for Road Transport (Per Country Limits)

The container itself is rated to 30,480 or 32,500 kg gross, but road regulations on the inland leg almost always bring the ceiling lower. Booking cargo up to the container payload without checking the destination road limit is one of the most common overweight surprises.

The takeaway: the container is rarely the weight bottleneck once the box is on wheels. Confirm the destination road limit and back off cargo weight before booking heavy shipments to the United States or single container hauls anywhere in Europe.

Container Types and Specifications

Standard Dry Container

General purpose container for dry cargo. Fully enclosed, weatherproof steel construction. The most common container type in circulation, used for everything from consumer electronics to industrial parts.

High Cube Container

Same external length and width as a standard container but 30 cm (1 foot) taller. Provides 13 percent more volume. Common for lightweight, high volume cargo such as apparel, plastics, and furniture.

Refrigerated Container (Reefer)

Temperature controlled container with a built in refrigeration unit. Requires electrical power at port, on ship, and during trucking. Internal volume is slightly smaller than a dry container of the same length because of the insulation layer.

Open Top Container

Removable roof for loading oversize cargo from above with a crane. Secured with a tarpaulin and roof bows after loading. Used for cargo that is too tall or awkward to pass through standard container doors.

Flat Rack Container

Platform with corner posts but no side walls or roof. For oversize or heavy cargo like machinery, vehicles, boats, or construction equipment. Some variants have collapsible end walls that fold flat for empty repositioning.

Tank Container

Cylindrical stainless steel tank fixed inside a standard 20ft ISO frame. For liquids, gases, and hazardous chemicals. ISO frame keeps it compatible with the same container handling equipment as a dry box.

Shipping Container Specifications and Standards

International shipping containers are governed by several ISO standards:

• ISO 668: Container dimensions and ratings
• ISO 1496: Container testing requirements
• ISO 6346: Container identification and marking codes
• CSC (Convention for Safe Containers): Structural integrity and safety certification

Every compliant container has a CSC plate with certification details. TEU (Twenty foot Equivalent Unit) is the standard measurement of container capacity: one 20ft equals 1 TEU, one 40ft equals 2 TEU. FEU (Forty foot Equivalent Unit) is the paired term used for 40ft counts: one 40ft equals 1 FEU, so a 10,000 TEU vessel is also a 5,000 FEU vessel.

Container Size Chart

Quick scan reference in TEU terms, useful when tallying vessel capacity or a booking manifest.

Shipping Container Opening and Frame Dimensions

Door Opening Size

Standard shipping container door opening (width × height):

• 20ft / 40ft Standard: 2.34 m × 2.28 to 2.29 m (7'8" × 7'6")
• 40ft / 45ft High Cube: 2.34 m × 2.60 m (7'8" × 8'6")

The door opening is about 10 to 11 cm lower than the internal ceiling because of the door header. Any cargo taller than 2.28 to 2.29 m (Standard) or 2.60 m (High Cube) has to be loaded through an Open Top from above.

Frame Dimensions

The steel frame sits on corner castings at each corner. Corner casting positions are standardized across all ISO containers so they fit the same handling equipment regardless of length. This is why a 45ft High Cube can share a chassis, a crane spreader, and a stack cell with a 40ft Standard.

20ft vs 40ft: Cost and Break Even

A 40ft Standard carries roughly double the volume of a 20ft but almost the same payload, so the choice comes down to the cost per m³ of each quote against how heavy the cargo is.

Break even math: divide each quote by the box's cubic capacity. The 40ft is cheaper per m³ whenever its rate is less than about twice the 20ft rate. Weight changes the answer for dense cargo: a 20ft reaches its payload when the cargo averages about 850 kg per m³, a 40ft at about 425 kg per m³, so cargo denser than that moves more weight in two 20ft boxes than in one 40ft.

Load Planning Tips

Practical rules operators use to raise container utilization:

1. Model cargo in both dimensions. Every SKU has a weight and a volume; plan against whichever ceiling arrives first. A container full of heavy castings hits 28,000 kg before it fills; a container full of pillows fills before it hits 8,000 kg.
2. Plan the last row against the door height. The last row before the doors can only be as tall as the door opening (2.28 to 2.29 m Standard, 2.60 m High Cube). Load taller pallets deeper in the container.
3. Match pallet footprint to container width. Two US pallets fit side by side with their 40 in (1,016 mm) sides across the 2.35 m internal width, using 2.03 m. Two EU pallets fit side by side only with their 800 mm sides across, using 1.60 m; two 1,200 mm sides need 2.40 m and do not fit.
4. Distribute weight along the floor. Concentrated weight over one axle triggers overweight axle alarms at road weigh stations even when the total is under the payload limit.
5. Reserve 10 to 15 cm at the doors. Cargo pressed against the doors can shift in transit and blow the doors open at destination unload.
6. Track container level detail on every shipment. Modern Shipment Tracking & Operations Software for Forwarders keeps container tracking from ocean carriers, railroads, terminals and AIS on the shipment record, next to the HBL and MBL documents.

Choosing the Right Container Size

Frequently Asked Questions

How wide is a shipping container?

Standard ISO shipping containers are 2.44 meters (8 feet, or 96 inches) wide externally. Internal width is approximately 2.35 meters (7 feet 8 inches, or 92.5 inches), and the door opening is 2.34 meters wide. This width is consistent across 20ft, 40ft, 45ft, High Cube, Reefer, Open Top, and Flat Rack variants. US domestic 53ft trailers are wider at 2.59 meters but they are not ISO standard for international ocean shipping.

How long is a shipping container?

Standard ISO container lengths are 20 feet (6.06 meters) and 40 feet (12.19 meters). Less common sizes include 10ft, 45ft (13.72 meters), 48ft, and 53ft (US domestic only). The 20ft and 40ft sizes represent the vast majority of international ocean containers in circulation.

How tall is a shipping container?

Standard 20ft and 40ft containers are 2.59 meters (8 feet 6 inches) tall externally, with an internal height of 2.39 meters (7 feet 10 inches). High Cube containers are 2.90 meters (9 feet 6 inches) tall externally and 2.70 meters (8 feet 10 inches) internally, giving roughly 30 cm (1 foot) of extra headroom for taller cargo.

Are all shipping containers 8 feet wide?

Yes, every ISO shipping container is 8 feet (2.44 m) wide externally, whether it is a 20ft, 40ft, 45ft, high cube, reefer, open top or flat rack. Internal width is about 7 feet 8.5 inches (2.35 m). The common exception is the 53ft US domestic container at 8 feet 6 inches wide, which is built for North American domestic road and rail moves.

What are the actual dimensions of a 20ft shipping container?

A 20ft shipping container is actually 19 feet 10.5 inches long (6.058 m), 8 feet wide (2.438 m) and 8 feet 6 inches tall (2.591 m) on the outside. Inside it measures about 5.90 m by 2.35 m by 2.39 m (19 feet 4 inches by 7 feet 8.5 inches by 7 feet 10 inches), with a door opening of about 2.34 m by 2.28 m. Cubic capacity is 33.0 m³ (1,165 ft³) and maximum payload is 28,180 kg (62,126 lb) on a unit rated to 30,480 kg gross.

What are the dimensions of a 40ft shipping container?

A 40ft shipping container is 40 feet long (12.19 m), 8 feet wide (2.44 m) and 8 feet 6 inches tall (2.59 m) on the outside. Inside it measures about 12.03 m by 2.35 m by 2.39 m, with 67.7 m³ (2,391 ft³) of cubic capacity and a maximum payload of about 28,800 kg. A 40ft high cube has the same length and width but stands 9 feet 6 inches (2.90 m) tall, with 2.70 m of internal height and 76.3 m³ of capacity.

How big is a shipping container?

A 20ft container is 6.06 m long by 2.44 m wide by 2.59 m tall externally, with 33.0 m³ (1,165 cu ft) of internal volume. A 40ft container is 12.19 m long by 2.44 m wide by 2.59 m tall externally, with 67.7 m³ (2,391 cu ft) of internal volume. A 40ft High Cube is the same length and width but 2.90 m tall, with 76.3 m³ (2,695 cu ft) of volume.

What is the internal width of a shipping container?

Internal width of all standard ISO shipping containers is approximately 2.35 meters (7 feet 8 inches, or 92.5 inches). This is consistent across 20ft, 40ft, 45ft, and High Cube variants. The difference between external width (2.44 m) and internal width comes from the corrugated steel wall on each side.

How thick are shipping container walls?

Shipping container walls are corrugated steel, typically 1.6 mm (0.063 inches) thick for side walls and 1.6 to 2 mm for the roof. Doors are 2 mm steel. Corner castings carry the structural load. The floor is 28 mm plywood on 4.5 mm steel cross members. Steel gauge is roughly 14 to 16 gauge across most major manufacturers.

What are the standard shipping container dimensions?

The three most common standard dimensions are 20ft Standard (6.06 by 2.44 by 2.59 m), 40ft Standard (12.19 by 2.44 by 2.59 m), and 40ft High Cube (12.19 by 2.44 by 2.90 m). Additional ISO sizes include 10ft, 45ft High Cube, and specialty variants such as Reefer, Open Top, Flat Rack, and Tank. US domestic 53ft trailers are not ISO standard.

What is the square footage of a shipping container?

Internal floor area of a 20ft Standard container is approximately 13.86 square meters (149 square feet), based on 5.90 m by 2.35 m. A 40ft Standard container has roughly 28.27 square meters (304 square feet), based on 12.03 m by 2.35 m. A 40ft High Cube has the same floor area as the 40ft Standard but greater volume due to the extra height.

What is the weight of a shipping container?

Empty (tare) weight is roughly 2,300 kg (5,071 lb) for a 20ft Standard, 3,700 kg (8,157 lb) for a 40ft Standard, and 3,900 kg (8,598 lb) for a 40ft High Cube. Maximum payload (cargo weight) is 28,180 kg (62,126 lb) for 20ft, 28,800 kg for 40ft Standard, and 28,600 kg for 40ft High Cube. Maximum gross weight (tare plus payload) is around 30,480 kg for a 20ft Standard and 32,500 kg for a 40ft Standard.

What is a high cube container?

A High Cube container is the same external length and width as a standard container but 30 cm (1 foot) taller. The 40ft HC has 76.3 m³ of internal volume vs 67.7 m³ for the 40ft Standard, providing roughly 13 percent more volume. High Cube containers are commonly used for lightweight, high volume cargo like clothing, plastics, and furniture.

What is the difference between a 20ft and 40ft container?

A 40ft container has roughly double the internal volume of a 20ft (67.7 m³ vs 33.0 m³) but almost the same maximum payload (28,800 kg vs 28,180 kg). Whenever a 40ft quote is less than twice the 20ft quote, the 40ft costs less per cubic meter. Choose a 20ft when cargo is heavy and dense (weight limit hits first), a 40ft when cargo is medium density, and a 40ft High Cube when cargo is light and voluminous.

How much weight can a shipping container hold on the road?

The container itself is rated to 30,480 kg gross (20ft) or 32,500 kg gross (40ft), but road regulations on the inland leg are almost always the binding limit. In the United States, the federal 80,000 lb (36,287 kg) gross combination weight limit includes the tractor, chassis and container tare, so legal cargo weight sits well below the container payload. In the European Union, standard combinations allow 40,000 kg gross, or 44,000 kg for intermodal container hauls. Confirm the destination country road limit before booking heavy shipments.

What are the dimensions of a 20ft shipping container's doors?

The rear door opening on a 20ft Standard shipping container is 2.34 m wide by 2.28 m tall (7 feet 8 inches by 7 feet 6 inches), or roughly 234 cm by 228 cm. The pair of swing doors together provides this full clear opening. Cargo taller than 2.28 m has to be loaded through an Open Top from above, because the door header sits about 11 cm below the internal ceiling.

What are the dimensions of a 40ft High Cube container in cm?

A 40ft High Cube shipping container measures 1,219 cm long by 244 cm wide by 290 cm tall externally (12.19 m by 2.44 m by 2.90 m). Internal dimensions are 1,203 cm long by 235 cm wide by 270 cm tall (12.03 m by 2.35 m by 2.70 m). The door opening is 234 cm wide by 260 cm tall. Cubic capacity is 76.3 m³ or 2,695 ft³.

How many pallets fit in a shipping container?

A 20ft container fits 10 standard US pallets (48 by 40 inches) or 11 EU pallets (1,200 by 800 mm) on the floor. A 40ft Standard or 40ft High Cube fits up to 21 US pallets or 24 to 25 EU pallets, and the high cube adds room to stack where the cargo allows it. The 2.34 m door width is the check that decides whether two pallets can go in side by side.

What is the largest shipping container size?

The largest ISO shipping container in regular ocean service is the 45ft High Cube, at 13.72 m long, 2.44 m wide and 2.90 m tall, with about 86.0 m³ (3,037 ft³) of cubic capacity. 48ft and 53ft containers exist, but they are built for North American domestic rail and road moves and do not follow the ISO dimensions used on international ocean routes.

What is not allowed in a shipping container?

Undeclared dangerous goods are not allowed in a shipping container: anything classed as hazardous under the IMO International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code must be declared, packed, marked and accepted by the carrier before it is loaded. Cargo that is illegal at origin, in transit or at destination, such as narcotics, counterfeit goods or sanctioned items, is refused outright, and each carrier publishes its own list of restricted commodities. Check the carrier booking terms and the destination customs rules before the box is stuffed.

Conclusion

Shipping container dimensions follow ISO 668 standards that have been stable for decades. The 20ft Standard, 40ft Standard, and 40ft High Cube move the vast majority of international ocean containers, with Reefer, Open Top, Flat Rack, and ISO Tank covering specialty cargo. Understanding external and internal dimensions, door openings, tare, payload, and road weight limits helps forwarders plan cargo loading and avoid surprises between the port and the delivery yard.

Keep Reading

• VGM (Verified Gross Mass): SOLAS Rules, Methods and Deadlines
• What Is Sea Freight? Ocean Freight Costs, Transit & FCL vs LCL
• FCL (Full Container Load): Definition and When to Use It