Standard shipping container dimensions follow ISO specifications. The three most common types are 20ft Standard, 40ft Standard, and 40ft High Cube. Here is the quick answer:
This guide covers standard shipping container dimensions, internal and external measurements, wall thickness, door opening sizes, and how to choose the right container size for your cargo.
| Container Type | Length | Width | Height | Internal Volume | Max Payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft Standard | 6.06 m (19'10") | 2.44 m (8'0") | 2.59 m (8'6") | 33.2 m³ / 1,172 cu ft | 28,200 kg / 62,170 lb |
| 40ft Standard | 12.19 m (40'0") | 2.44 m (8'0") | 2.59 m (8'6") | 67.7 m³ / 2,389 cu ft | 28,800 kg / 63,500 lb |
| 40ft High Cube | 12.19 m (40'0") | 2.44 m (8'0") | 2.90 m (9'6") | 76.4 m³ / 2,696 cu ft | 28,560 kg / 62,960 lb |
| 45ft High Cube | 13.72 m (45'0") | 2.44 m (8'0") | 2.90 m (9'6") | 86.0 m³ / 3,040 cu ft | 27,600 kg / 60,847 lb |
| 20ft Refrigerated (Reefer) | 6.06 m | 2.44 m | 2.59 m | 28.3 m³ | 27,400 kg |
| 40ft Refrigerated (Reefer) | 12.19 m | 2.44 m | 2.59 m | 58.0 m³ | 27,700 kg |
| 20ft Open Top | 6.06 m | 2.44 m | 2.59 m | 32.0 m³ | 28,100 kg |
| 40ft Flat Rack | 12.19 m | 2.44 m | 2.59 m | N/A (platform) | 39,400 kg |
Internal dimensions are smaller than external because of wall thickness. Buyers often confuse the two, which affects cargo planning.
| Container Type | Internal Length | Internal Width | Internal Height | Door Opening Width × Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft Standard | 5.90 m (19'4") | 2.35 m (7'8") | 2.39 m (7'10") | 2.34 × 2.28 m |
| 40ft Standard | 12.03 m (39'5") | 2.35 m (7'8") | 2.39 m (7'10") | 2.34 × 2.28 m |
| 40ft High Cube | 12.03 m (39'5") | 2.35 m (7'8") | 2.70 m (8'10") | 2.34 × 2.58 m |
| 45ft High Cube | 13.56 m (44'6") | 2.35 m (7'8") | 2.70 m (8'10") | 2.34 × 2.58 m |
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.
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 containers, which are 2.59m / 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.
Standard ISO container lengths:
The most common sizes are 20ft and 40ft, representing the vast majority of international ocean containers in circulation.
Shipping container walls are made of corrugated steel. Standard wall thickness:
The thickness is calibrated for structural strength while minimizing weight. Containers are designed to stack 9 high when loaded (though typically stacked 6 to 7 high on ships).
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.
| Container Type | Standard US Pallets (48×40 in) | EU Pallets (1200×800 mm) |
|---|---|---|
| 20ft Standard | 10 to 11 pallets | 11 pallets |
| 40ft Standard | 20 to 21 pallets | 23 to 24 pallets |
| 40ft High Cube | 20 to 21 pallets (+ stackable room) | 23 to 24 pallets (+ stackable) |
Actual cargo capacity is typically 85 to 90 percent of the internal volume due to packing inefficiency. Heavy cargo hits the weight limit before filling the volume; light cargo fills the volume before hitting the weight limit.
General purpose container for dry cargo. Fully enclosed, weatherproof steel construction. Most common container type in circulation.
Same external length and width as standard but 30 cm (1 foot) taller. Provides 13 percent more volume. Common for lightweight, high-volume cargo.
Temperature-controlled container with built-in refrigeration unit. Requires electrical power at port, on ship, and during trucking. Internal volume slightly less due to insulation.
Removable roof for loading oversized cargo from above. Secured with a tarpaulin after loading. Used for cargo too tall or awkward for standard container doors.
Platform with corner posts but no side walls or roof. For oversized or heavy cargo like machinery, vehicles, or construction equipment. Collapsible end walls on some variants.
Cylindrical tank inside a standard 20ft frame. For liquids, gases, and hazardous chemicals. ISO-standard compatible with container handling infrastructure.
International shipping containers are governed by several ISO standards:
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.
| Container | External L × W × H (m) | Internal L × W × H (m) | TEU | Max Payload (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10ft | 2.99 × 2.44 × 2.59 | 2.83 × 2.35 × 2.39 | 0.5 | 10,200 |
| 20ft Standard | 6.06 × 2.44 × 2.59 | 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 | 1 | 28,200 |
| 40ft Standard | 12.19 × 2.44 × 2.59 | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 | 2 | 28,800 |
| 40ft HC | 12.19 × 2.44 × 2.90 | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.70 | 2 | 28,560 |
| 45ft HC | 13.72 × 2.44 × 2.90 | 13.56 × 2.35 × 2.70 | 2.25 | 27,600 |
Standard shipping container door opening (width × height):
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.
| Your Cargo | Recommended Container |
|---|---|
| Heavy, dense cargo (metals, machinery) | 20ft Standard (weight limit reached before volume) |
| Medium density cargo (general merchandise) | 40ft Standard |
| Light, bulky cargo (clothing, plastics) | 40ft High Cube (more volume) |
| Oversized cargo (tall machinery) | Open Top or Flat Rack |
| Temperature-sensitive (food, pharma) | Reefer |
| Liquids, chemicals | Tank container |
| E-commerce fulfillment | 40ft HC (maximum SKU variety per load) |
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.
Standard ISO container lengths are 20 feet (6.06 meters) and 40 feet (12.19 meters). Less common sizes include 10ft (2.99 meters), 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.
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.
A 20ft container is 6.06m long by 2.44m wide by 2.59m tall externally, with 33.2 m³ (1,172 cu ft) of internal volume. A 40ft container is 12.19m long by 2.44m wide by 2.59m tall externally, with 67.7 m³ (2,389 cu ft) of internal volume. A 40ft High Cube is the same length and width but 2.90m tall, with 76.4 m³ (2,696 cu ft) of volume.
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.
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 are 12 mm steel for structural load bearing. 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.
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.
Internal floor area of a 20ft Standard container is approximately 13.86 square meters (149 square feet), based on 5.90m by 2.35m. A 40ft Standard container has roughly 28.27 square meters (304 square feet), based on 12.03m by 2.35m. A 40ft High Cube has the same floor area as the 40ft Standard but greater volume due to the extra height.
Empty (tare) weight is roughly 2,300 kg (5,070 lb) for a 20ft Standard, 3,750 kg (8,270 lb) for a 40ft Standard, and 3,900 kg (8,600 lb) for a 40ft High Cube. Maximum payload (cargo weight) is 28,200 kg for 20ft, 28,800 kg for 40ft Standard, and 28,560 kg for 40ft High Cube. Maximum gross weight (tare plus payload) is around 30,480 kg for most ISO containers.
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 76.4 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.
Shipping container dimensions follow ISO 668 standards that have been stable for decades. The 20ft Standard, 40ft Standard, and 40ft High Cube represent the vast majority of international ocean container movements. Understanding both external and internal dimensions, plus door opening sizes, helps you plan cargo loading and avoid surprises at the port.
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