Equipment guide
Shipping Container Types & Dimensions
Every standard container compared — sizes, capacity, weight limits and what each type is built for, with interactive 3D views.
Dry (general purpose)
High cube
Refrigerated (reefer)
Special equipment
20ot20ft Open Top ContainerRemovable tarpaulin roof for crane-loaded and over-height cargo40ot40ft Open Top ContainerTop-loading length for long machinery and structures20fr20ft Flat Rack ContainerA reinforced floor with end walls — for over-width and over-weight pieces40fr40ft Flat Rack ContainerThe project-cargo platform — up to ~39 t payload on 12 metres20tk20ft Tank Container (ISO Tank)A stainless-steel tank in a 20ft frame — up to ~26,000 litres of liquid
All types at a glance
Internal dimensions, capacity and weight limits for every standard container type.
| Type | Internal dimensions (L × W × H) | Capacity | Max payload | Max gross | Euro pallets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft Container (20' Dry / GP) | 5,898 × 2,352 × 2,393 mm | 33.2 m³ | 28,180 kg | 30,480 kg | 11 |
| 40ft Container (40' Dry / GP) | 12,032 × 2,352 × 2,393 mm | 67.7 m³ | 26,700 kg | 30,450 kg | 25 |
| 40ft High Cube Container (40' HC) | 12,032 × 2,352 × 2,698 mm | 76.4 m³ | 26,460 kg | 30,360 kg | 25 |
| 45ft High Cube Container (45' HC) | 13,556 × 2,352 × 2,698 mm | 86 m³ | 25,600 kg | 30,400 kg | 33 |
| 20ft Reefer Container (20' RF) | 5,444 × 2,294 × 2,276 mm | 28.3 m³ | 27,400 kg | 30,480 kg | 10 |
| 40ft Reefer Container (40' RF High Cube) | 11,583 × 2,294 × 2,557 mm | 67.9 m³ | 27,700 kg | 32,500 kg | 23 |
| 20ft Open Top Container | 5,895 × 2,350 × 2,365 mm | 32.6 m³ | 28,130 kg | 30,480 kg | 11 |
| 40ft Open Top Container | 12,029 × 2,342 × 2,326 mm | 65.6 m³ | 26,780 kg | 30,480 kg | 25 |
| 20ft Flat Rack Container | 5,918 × 2,230 × 2,255 mm | — | 31,300 kg | 34,000 kg | — |
| 40ft Flat Rack Container | 11,660 × 2,438 × 1,955 mm | — | 39,300 kg | 45,000 kg | — |
| 20ft Tank Container (ISO Tank) | — | 26,000 L | 26,290 kg | 30,480 kg | — |
Compare two containers in 3D
Pick any two types and see their real size difference, with a person for scale.
Will your cargo fit?Simulate stuffing this exact container with your cartons, pallets and drums in the free 3D load calculator.CBM CalculatorCalculate the volume and chargeable weight of your shipment in seconds.
Container FAQ
- Which container size do I need for my cargo?
- Work from volume first: up to ~26–28 m³ of cargo fits a 20ft, up to ~55–58 m³ a 40ft, and up to ~65 m³ a 40ft high cube. If your cargo is very heavy (steel, tiles, minerals), the 20ft usually wins because you hit the weight limit before the volume. Use our free CBM calculator to get your shipment volume, then the 3D load calculator to verify the fit.
- What do TEU and FEU mean?
- TEU is a twenty-foot equivalent unit — the capacity of one 20ft container, the industry’s standard measure. A 40ft container equals 2 TEU, also called 1 FEU (forty-foot equivalent unit). Vessel and port capacities are quoted in TEU.
- What is a high cube container?
- A high cube (HC) is a standard container that is one foot taller: 9′6″ external instead of 8′6″, giving roughly 30 cm of extra internal height. The 40ft HC is now the most common container in global fleets and usually costs the same as a standard 40ft.
- How much weight can a container legally carry?
- The box itself is rated to about 28 t of cargo (20ft) or 26–27 t (40ft), but road limits at origin and destination are often lower — commonly ~22–26 t total depending on the country. Since SOLAS, every packed container also needs a Verified Gross Mass (VGM) declaration before loading.