Shipping Container Dimensions

By the LandedBox team · Sources listed at the end

Short answer. Standard shipping containers, also called conex boxes, are 8 ft wide and come in two main lengths, 20 ft and 40 ft, and two heights: 8′6″ for a standard box and 9′6″ for a high cube. Inside, a 20ft measures about 19′4″ × 7′8½″ × 7′10″ and a 40ft about 39′5½″ × 7′8½″ × 7′10″ (8′10″ high in a high cube). 10ft, 45ft and 53ft containers also exist, and every unit varies slightly by manufacturer.

Shipping container sizes chart

The outside sizes of ocean containers are set by the ISO 668 standard. Inside sizes and door openings vary by a fraction of an inch from one builder to the next, so the chart gives the typical figure, or the range we found across fleet specifications.

Container dimensions and measurements, length × width × height, in feet and meters
Size	Outside	Inside	Door opening (W × H)
10ft	about 10′ × 8′ × 8′6″ about 3.05 × 2.44 × 2.59 m	about 9′3″ × 7′8½″ × 7′10″ about 2.82 × 2.35 × 2.39 m	about 7′8″ × 7′6″ about 2.34 × 2.28 m
20ft standard	19′10½″ × 8′ × 8′6″ 6.06 × 2.44 × 2.59 m	19′4″ × 7′8½″ × 7′10″ 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 m	about 7′8″ × 7′6″ about 2.34 × 2.28 m
20ft high cube	19′10½″ × 8′ × 9′6″ 6.06 × 2.44 × 2.90 m	19′4″ × 7′8½″ × 8′10″ 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.69 m	about 7′8″ × 8′6″ about 2.34 × 2.59 m
40ft standard	40′ × 8′ × 8′6″ 12.19 × 2.44 × 2.59 m	39′5½″ × 7′8½″ × 7′10″ 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m	about 7′8″ × 7′6″ about 2.34 × 2.28 m
40ft high cube	40′ × 8′ × 9′6″ 12.19 × 2.44 × 2.90 m	39′5½″ × 7′8½″ × 8′10″ 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.69 m	about 7′8″ × 8′6″ about 2.34 × 2.59 m
45ft high cube	45′ × 8′ × 9′6″ 13.72 × 2.44 × 2.90 m	about 44′3″–44′6″ × 7′8″–7′8½″ × 8′10″ about 13.49–13.56 × 2.34–2.35 × 2.69–2.70 m	about 7′8″ × 8′5″ about 2.34 × 2.58 m
53ft high cube (domestic)	53′ × 8′6″ × 9′6″ 16.15 × 2.59 × 2.90 m	about 52′3″ × 8′2″ × 8′10″ about 15.93 × 2.49 × 2.69 m	about 8′2″ × 8′5″ about 2.49 × 2.57 m

10ft units sold in the US are usually 8′6″ tall, taller than the ISO 10ft. The 45ft and 53ft figures are ranges from seller and fleet specifications; the 53ft is a North American domestic container, 6 inches wider than ocean boxes. Starting prices for each size this week: shipping container prices.

Weight and capacity

An empty 20ft weighs about 4,700–5,200 lb (2,140–2,350 kg) and a 40ft about 8,000–8,300 lb (3,640–3,750 kg). Three weights describe a container: the empty weight, or tare, is the box itself; payload is the most cargo it may carry; and the maximum gross weight is the two together, the rating that the container’s safety approval plate states.

Empty weight, payload and maximum gross weight, typical values
Size	Empty (tare)	Max payload	Max gross
10ft	about 2,650–3,360 lb about 1,200–1,520 kg	about 19,500 lb about 8,860 kg	about 22,400 lb about 10,160 kg
20ft standard	about 4,700–5,200 lb about 2,140–2,350 kg	about 62,000 lb about 28,100 kg	67,200 lb 30,480 kg
20ft high cube	about 5,100–5,400 lb about 2,300–2,460 kg	about 62,100 lb about 28,170 kg	67,200 lb on most units 30,480 kg on most units
40ft standard	about 8,000–8,300 lb about 3,640–3,750 kg	about 63,500 lb about 28,800 kg	up to 71,650 lb up to 32,500 kg
40ft high cube	about 8,200–8,600 lb about 3,700–3,900 kg	about 63,300 lb about 28,700 kg	up to 71,650 lb up to 32,500 kg
45ft high cube	about 10,360–10,630 lb about 4,700–4,820 kg	about 56,800–63,900 lb about 25,780–29,000 kg	—
53ft high cube (domestic)	about 12,100 lb about 5,490 kg	—	—

— : no figure we could source for that size; the unit’s own markings give it. For delivery, the number that matters is the empty weight: it sets the truck and the ground the container will rest on. Delivery and site needs.

Height: standard or high cube

A standard container stands 8′6″ (2.59 m) tall and gives about 7′10″ of headroom inside. A high cube adds a foot, to 9′6″ (2.90 m) outside and about 8′10″ inside, for some 13% more space on a 40ft (2,690 cu ft against 2,380 cu ft). Length doesn’t change the height: a 20ft and a 40ft of the same type are equally tall. When to pick which: high cube vs standard.

Door opening

The cargo doors at the end open about 7′8″ (2.34 m) wide on every standard ocean container. The opening sits about 4 inches below the inside ceiling, at roughly 7′6″ on a standard box and 8′6″ on a high cube, so the door frame, not the roof, limits how tall a load can be. The domestic 53ft opens wider, about 8′2″ by 8′5″.

Square feet and volume

Inside floor space runs from about 71 sq ft in a 10ft to about 150 sq ft in a 20ft, 305 sq ft in a 40ft, 340 sq ft in a 45ft and 427 sq ft in a 53ft. On the ground, the footprint is a little larger: about 159 sq ft for a 20ft (8 × 19′10½″) and 320 sq ft for a 40ft. How many 40ft containers a home floor plan takes, and what they cost: shipping container home cost.

Inside volume, floor area and standard US pallets (48 × 40 in) on one layer, turned to fit as many as possible
Size	Volume	Floor area	Pallets
10ft	about 540 cu ft about 15.3 m³	about 71 sq ft about 6.6 m²	4
20ft standard	about 1,170 cu ft about 33.1 m³	about 150 sq ft about 13.9 m²	9
20ft high cube	about 1,320 cu ft about 37.4 m³	about 150 sq ft about 13.9 m²	9
40ft standard	about 2,380 cu ft about 67.4 m³	about 305 sq ft about 28.3 m²	20
40ft high cube	about 2,690 cu ft about 76.2 m³	about 305 sq ft about 28.3 m²	20
45ft high cube	about 3,000–3,040 cu ft about 85–86 m³	about 340 sq ft about 31.6–31.9 m²	about 24
53ft high cube (domestic)	about 3,880 cu ft about 110 m³	about 427 sq ft about 39.6 m²	about 30, two across

Smallest and largest containers

The current ISO standard has five lengths: 10, 20, 30, 40 and 45 ft, all 8 ft wide; shorter 6½ft and 5ft sizes belonged to earlier editions. Some sellers offer 6ft and 8ft boxes for storage, outside the standard: the 8ft has its own page here (8ft shipping container), and a 6ft can be asked for through a quote request; the small sizes are compared on small shipping containers. At the other end, the longest ocean size is the 45ft, and the longest container in regular use in North America is the 53ft, built for rail and road rather than ships.

Refrigerated containers are smaller inside

For the same outside size, a reefer gives up space to its insulation and its cooling unit: a 20ft reefer measures about 17′10″ × 7′6″ × 7′1″–7′5″ inside, roughly a foot and a half shorter and a few inches narrower and lower than a dry 20ft. Sizes and prices: refrigerated containers.

Your container’s exact figures

Every container carries its own numbers on its doors: maximum gross weight, tare, net (payload) and cubic capacity. The safety approval (CSC) plate states the gross rating but not the tare, which is painted separately. Check your site as well: the delivery truck backs in on a straight, clear run, roughly 60–80 ft (18–24 m) long for a 20ft and 100–120 ft (30–37 m) for a 40ft (delivery and site needs).

Buy by size

10ft containers · 20ft containers · 40ft containers
45ft high cube · 53ft high cube · all shipping containers

Frequently asked questions

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

Outside, 19′10½″ × 8′ × 8′6″: a “20 foot” container is an inch and a half short of 20 ft, because the length is nominal. Inside, about 19′4″ × 7′8½″ × 7′10″. Weights, door and what fits: 20ft container dimensions.

What are the dimensions of a 40-foot shipping container?

Exactly 40′ × 8′ × 8′6″ outside, or 9′6″ tall for a high cube. Inside, about 39′5½″ × 7′8½″ × 7′10″, with 8′10″ of headroom in a high cube. In detail: 40ft container dimensions.

Are all shipping containers 8 ft wide?

Ocean containers are: every ISO size is 8 ft (2.44 m) wide outside, which leaves about 7′8½″ between the walls inside. The exceptions are the 53ft domestic container, at 8′6″, and pallet-wide versions of the 45ft, built slightly wider.

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

Mostly length. The 40ft is twice as long outside and holds about twice as much, 2,380 cu ft against 1,170 cu ft and 20 pallets against 9, with the same width, height and door opening. Empty, it weighs 8,000–8,300 lb against 4,700–5,200 lb, and it needs a longer straight approach to be delivered. Used, the 40ft costs $1,900 this week and the 20ft $1,400.

How many square feet is a 40 foot container?

About 305 sq ft of floor inside (about 28.3 m²), and 320 sq ft of ground outside, 8 by 40 ft. A 20ft gives about 150 sq ft inside.

Is there a 12 foot shipping container?

Not as a standard size: the ISO 668 standard lists 10, 20, 30, 40 and 45 ft lengths, all 8 ft wide. Some sellers list other lengths; ours are 10, 20, 40, 45 and 53 ft.

Sources

Outside sizes and lengths: ISO 668 (2020 edition, through its published summary). Inside sizes, doors, volumes and weights of the 20ft and 40ft: fleet specification sheets from five ocean carriers and container lessors, which give them as examples that vary by manufacturer; 10ft: two overseas suppliers’ spec sheets; 20ft high cube: a US builder’s and two overseas sellers’; 45ft and 53ft: seller and fleet specifications; reefers: two carriers’ reefer specifications. Door markings and the CSC plate: the World Nuclear Transport Institute’s guide to the CSC plate. Floor areas, footprints and pallet counts are our calculations from those figures.