Shipping containers across the globe sizes follow the international standard called the ISO (Industrial Standards Organisation). These containers have been created specifically to meet the demands of exporters and importers in international trade. There are twelve different categories of ISO containers and a variety of types to choose from within those categories, it’s possible to ship everything from bulk grains and raw materials to perishable commodities.
How do I know which container to use?
The various types of shipping containers have identifying serial numbers that act as a mark to helps shippers and freight forwarders track containers as they move through the shipping process.
The identifying mark vary and are combined of the following:
- The first three letters are the owner code, that is an abbreviation for the name of the owner of the container and is registered with the ICB (International Container Bureau).
- The fourth letter is known as the product code: U for all freight containers; J for detachable freight container equipment and; Z for trailers and chassis.
- The following six digits represent the registration number assigned by the owner operator to each container in their fleet.
- The final digit is the check digit, placed in brackets. This is a control number used to verify the owner, product code, and serial number.
- There is also an identifying code for the container type, the tare weight (weight of the empty container), gross weight and maximum payload.
The different shipping containers sizes and their dimensions are outlined below:
20-foot Dry Container Dimensions
Container Reference Code: |
22GP |
Container Application: |
The 20-foot dry container is for general purpose cargo. |
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Container Dimensions: |
Width | Height | Length |
| Door opening in feet | 7′ 8 ⅛” | 7′ 6 ¼” | |
| Door opening in meters | 2.34 m | 2.29 m | |
| Interior dimensions in feet | 7′ 8 ⅝” | 7′ 6 ¼” | 19′ 4 ¼” |
| Interior dimensions in meters | 2.34 m | 2.29 m | 5.9 m |
Container Weight |
Max Gross | Tare | Max Payload |
| Weight in lbs | 52,831 lbs | 4,914 lbs | 47,899 lbs |
| Weight in kg | 23,956 kg | 2,229 kg | 21,727 kg |
| Container Volume | In CFT | In CBM | |
| Load Capacity | 1,172 CFT | 33.2 CBM | |
20-foot Flat Rack Container Dimensions
Container Reference Code: |
22PC |
Container Application: |
The 20-foot flat rack container is for especially heavy loads, over-sized cargo, construction equipment, building supplies or heavy machinery. |
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Container Dimensions: |
Width | Height | Length |
| Interior dimensions in feet | 8′ | 7′ 3 ⅞” | 19′ 9 ¾” |
| Interior dimensions in meters | 2.438 m | 2.233 m | 5.638 m |
Container Weight |
Max Gross | Tare | Max Payload |
| Weight in lbs | 99,200 lbs | 6,400 lbs | 92,800 lbs |
| Weight in kg | 45,000 kg | 2,900 kg | 42,100 kg |
| Load Capacity | 1,154.3 CFT | 32.7 CBM | |
20-foot Open-Top Container Dimensions
Container Reference Code: |
22U1 |
Container Application: |
The 20-foot open-top container is for over-height cargo and top loading. |
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Container Dimensions: |
Width | Height | Length |
| Door opening in feet | 7′ 8 ⅛” | 7′ 6 ¼” | |
| Door opening in meters | 2.34 m | 2.29 m | |
| Interior dimensions in feet | 7′ 8 ⅝” | 7′ 10 ¼” | 19′ 4 ¼” |
| Interior dimensions in meters | 2.352 m | 2.395 m | 5.9 m |
Container Weight |
Max Gross | Tare | Max Payload |
| Weight in lbs | 52,897 lbs | 5,297 lbs | 47,619 lbs |
| Weight in kg | 23,994 kg | 2,394 kg | 21,600 kg |
| Container Volume | In CFT | In CBM | |
| Load Capacity | 1,172 CFT | 33.2 CBM | |
20-foot Ventilated Container Dimensions
Container Reference Code: |
22VH |
Container Application: |
The 20-foot ventilated container is for cargo that requires ventilation, typically used to transport green coffee beans or similar cargo. |
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Container Dimensions: |
Width | Height | Length |
| Door opening in feet | 7′ 8 ⅛” | 7′ 6 ¼” | |
| Door opening in meters | 2.34 m | 2.29 m | |
| Interior dimensions in feet | 7′ 8 ⅝” | 7′ 10 ¼” | 19′ 4 ¼” |
| Interior dimensions in meters | 2.352 m | 2.395 m | 5.9 m |
Container Weight |
Max Gross | Tare | Max Payload |
| Weight in lbs | 52,897 lbs | 5,297 lbs | 47,899 lbs |
| Weight in kg | 32,500 kg | 2,394 kg | 21,727 kg |
| Container Volume | In CFT | In CBM | |
| Load Capacity | 1,172 CFT | 33.2 CBM | |
20-foot Refrigerated Container Dimensions
Container Reference Code: |
22RT |
Container Application: |
The 20-foot refrigerated container is for cargo that requires temperature control. |
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Container Dimensions: |
Width | Height | Length |
| Door opening in feet | 7′ 8 ⅛” | 7′ 6 ¼” | |
| Door opening in meters | 2.34 m | 2.29 m | |
| Interior dimensions in feet | 7’6″ | 7′ 4 ⅞” | 17′ 11 ⅝” |
| Interior dimensions in meters | 2.28 m | 2.33 m | 5.45 m |
Container Weight |
Max Gross | Tare | Max Payload |
| Weight in lbs | 67,200 lbs | 6,970 lbs | 60,230 lbs |
| Weight in kg | 30,480 kg | 3,160 kg | 27,320 kg |
40-foot General Purpose Dry Container Dimensions
Container Reference Code: |
42GP |
Container Application: |
The 40-foot dry container is for general purpose cargo. |
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Container Dimensions: |
Width | Height | Length |
| Door opening in feet | 7′ 8 ⅛” | 7′ 6 ¼” | |
| Door opening in meters | 2.34 m | 2.29 m | |
| Interior dimensions in feet | 7′ 8 ⅝” | 7′ 10 ¼” | 37′ 11 ¼” |
| Interior dimensions in meters | 2.352 m | 2.395 m | 12.01 m |
Container Weight |
Max Gross | Tare | Max Payload |
| Weight in lbs | 67,199 lbs | 5,220 lbs | 59,039 lbs |
| Weight in kg | 30,481 kg | 3,701 kg | 26,780 kg |
| Container Volume | In CFT | In CBM | |
| Load Capacity | 2,389.75 CFT | 67.67 CBM | |
40-foot Open Top Container Dimensions
Container Reference Code: |
42OT |
Container Application: |
The 40-foot open top container is for top loading for excessively long or high cargo. |
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Container Dimensions: |
Width | Height | Length |
| Door opening in feet | 7′ 8 ⅛” | 7′ 6 ¼” | |
| Door opening in meters | 2.34 m | 2.29 m | |
| Interior dimensions in feet | 7′ 8 ⅝” | 7′ 10 ¼” | 39′ 5 ⅝” |
| Interior dimensions in meters | 2.352 m | 2.395 m | 12.01 m |
Container Weight |
Max Gross | Tare | Max Payload |
| Weight in lbs | 67,196 lbs | 8,487 lbs | 58,709 lbs |
| Weight in kg | 30,480 kg | 3,850 kg | 26,630 kg |
| Container Volume | In CFT | In CBM | |
| Load Capacity | 2,389.75 CFT | 66.67 CBM | |
40-foot High Cube Container Dimensions
Container Reference Code: |
40HQ or 40HC |
Container Application: |
The 40-foot High Cube container is larger than the 40-foot standard dry container. |
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Container Dimensions: |
Width | Height | Length |
| Door opening in feet | 7′ 8 ⅛” | 8′ 6 ¼” | |
| Door opening in meters | 2.34 m | 2.56 m | |
| Interior dimensions in feet | 7′ 8 ⅝” | 8′ 10 ⅛” | 39′ 5 ⅝” |
| Interior dimensions in meters | 2.352 m | 2.69 m | 12.01 m |
Container Weight |
Max Gross | Tare | Max Payload |
| Weight in lbs | 67,196 lbs | 8,747 lbs | 58,448 lbs |
| Weight in kg | 30,480 kg | 3,968 kg | 26,512 kg |
| Container Volume | In CFT | In CBM | |
| Load Capacity | 2,694 CFT | 76.3 CBM | |
40-foot Flat Rack Container Dimensions
Container Reference Code: |
42PC |
Container Application: |
The 40-foot flat rack container is for over-sized cargo, heavy machinery, construction equipment, or supplies. |
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Container Dimensions: |
Width | Height | Length |
| Door opening in feet | NA | NA | |
| Door opening in meters | NA | NA | |
| Interior dimensions in feet | 7′ 4″ | 7′ 5 ⅓” | 39′ 3 ⅞” |
| Interior dimensions in meters | 2.23 m | 2.27 m | 11.98 m |
Container Weight |
Max Gross | Tare | Max Payload |
| Weight in lbs | 98,326 lbs | 12,897 lbs | 85,429 lbs |
| Weight in kg | 44,600 kg | 5,850 kg | 38,750 kg |
| Container Volume | In CFT | In CBM | |
| Load Capacity | 1,860 CFT | 52.7 CBM | |
40-foot Refrigerated Container Dimensions
Container Reference Code: |
42RT |
Container Application: |
The 40-foot refrigerated container is for cargo that requires temperature control or perishable cargo. |
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Container Dimensions: |
Width | Height | Length |
| Door opening in feet | 7′ 5 ⅜” | 6′ 11 ⅞” | |
| Door opening in meters | 2.26 m | 2.13 m | |
| Interior dimensions in feet | 7’5 ⅜” | 7′ 1 ⅞” | 37′ 11 ¼” |
| Interior dimensions in meters | 2.26 m | 2.18 m | 11.48 m |
Container Weight |
Max Gross | Tare | Max Payload |
| Weight in lbs | 67,053 lbs | 10,778 lbs | 56,275 lbs |
| Weight in kg | 30,415 kg | 4,889 kg | 25,526 kg |
| Container Volume | In CFT | In CBM | |
| Load Capacity | 2,039.7 CFT | 57.76 CBM | |
45-foot High Cube General Purpose Container Dimensions
Container Reference Code: |
L5GO |
Container Application: |
The 45-foot high cube dry container is for general purpose cargo. |
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Container Dimensions: |
Width | Height | Length |
| Door opening in feet | 7′ 9½” | 8′ 5 ¾” | |
| Door opening in meters | 2.37 m | 2.58 m | |
| Interior dimensions in feet | 7′ 11″ | 8′ 10″ | 44′ 4 ¾” |
| Interior dimensions in meters | 2.41 m | 2.69 m | 13.53 m |
Container Weight |
Max Gross | Tare | Max Payload |
| Weight in lbs | 74,960 lbs | 10,910 lbs | 64,050 lbs |
| Weight in kg | 3,4000 kg | 4,950 kg | 29,050 kg |
| Container Volume | In CFT | In CBM | |
| Load Capacity | 3,122 CFT | 88.4 CBM | |
20-Foot Tank Container Dimensions
Container Reference Code: |
22TO |
Container Application: |
The 20-foot tank container is for food stuffs, oils, and chemicals. |
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Container Dimensions: |
Width | Height | Length |
| Exterior dimensions in feet | 8′ | 8′ 6″ | 20″ |
| Exterior dimensions in meters | 2.43 m | 2.59 m | 6.09 m |
| Container Volume | In U.S. Gallons | In Liters | |
| Load Capacity | 6,450 gl | 26,001 lt | |
How do I book a non-standard container?
When shipping oversized cargo, the dimensions and weight determine which container type best accommodates your shipment. If the items(s) do not fit in a standard container, your freight forwarder can arrange a non-containerised shipment. Information about the shipment, along with a photograph and spec sheet must be submitted to the freight forwarder. They will then handle the booking with the shipping company. Once the details are finalised and confirmed, the freight forwarder can give you a detailed assessment of fees and recommend your cargo solution.
How are shipping containers constructed?
Containers are built from thick non-corrosive steel and square tubing frame. The sides are built from 14 gauge, non-corrosive rolled steel that is corrugated to add rigidity and then welded to the steel frame.
The floor of containers are made of the same square steel tubing for the frame and a thick plywood floor attached to the cross braces.
The corner posts are designed to take the weight of nine containers stacked on top of one another. Each container has a door opening at one end.
Standard containers are 20’ x 8’ x 8’6”, However, the 40-foot and 45-foot containers are becoming just as common. An empty 20-foot container weighs approximately 5,500 pounds and can carry 65,000 pounds of goods.
When talking about containers the cargo statistics are calculated in TEU (20-foot equivalent units). Therefore, a 20 foot container would be 1 TEU, a 40-foot container would be 2 TEUs and so on. As newer super freighters become more commonplace, the sizes of containers are increasing as well, with some measuring as long as some as long as 57ft.
In Europe however, it’s worth noting that the larger sized containers are frown upon because of the older and more narrow streets in many European cities make it difficult for large trucks to navigate. This has been known to cause numerous congestions.
Please contact our sales team if you would like more information about container shipping.
