Container reference

Shipping Container Dimensions

Reference dimensions for the four most common dry shipping containers, in metric and imperial units, with capacity, weights and how many pallets fit on the floor.

Specifications are planning references. Actual dimensions and payload can vary by carrier, equipment and manufacturer.

Container size comparison

Container	Internal L × W × H	Door W × H	Capacity	Payload	Euro pallets
20ft Container	5,898 × 2,352 × 2,393 mm	2,340 × 2,280 mm	33.2 m³	28,250 kg	11
40ft Container	12,032 × 2,352 × 2,393 mm	2,340 × 2,280 mm	67.7 m³	26,730 kg	25
40ft High Cube Container	12,032 × 2,352 × 2,698 mm	2,340 × 2,585 mm	76.4 m³	26,540 kg	25
45ft High Cube Container	13,556 × 2,352 × 2,698 mm	2,340 × 2,585 mm	86.0 m³	25,680 kg	27

Euro pallets (1200 × 800 mm) single stacked on the floor, as arranged by the packing engine. Weight and pallet height are not checked here; use the Pallets per Container Calculator for your loaded pallets.

Pallet floor positions by container

Pallet	20ft Container	40ft Container	40ft High Cube Container	45ft High Cube Container
Euro pallet (EUR 1) 1200 × 800 mm	11	25	25	27
Euro pallet (EUR 2) 1200 × 1000 mm	9	22	22	24
North American GMA 48 × 40 in	9	20	20	24
Asian standard 1100 × 1100 mm	10	20	20	24
Australian standard 1165 × 1165 mm	10	20	20	22

Floor positions for single-stacked pallets, as arranged by the packing engine with pallets kept upright and turned where that fits more. Stacking can add more where loaded pallets are low and strong enough; payload and handling space can reduce the count.

Reading these figures

Plan cargo with the internal dimensions and check that every item passes through the door opening, which is smaller than the inside of the container. External dimensions matter for trucks, cranes and the space at your site.

Payload is the cargo weight the container can take: the maximum gross weight minus the container's own tare weight. Road weight limits at origin or destination can be lower still.

For what each figure means and how to choose between sizes, read Shipping Container Dimensions Explained and 20ft vs 40ft vs 40HC Container. To see how your own cartons fit, use the Container Loading Calculator.

Related calculators

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

What are the internal dimensions of a 20ft container?

A typical 20ft dry container is about 5.90 m long, 2.35 m wide and 2.39 m high inside, giving roughly 33 CBM of space.

How much taller is a high cube container?

A high cube is 9 ft 6 in tall outside instead of 8 ft 6 in, so it has about 30 cm more internal height than a standard container of the same length.

Do all containers of the same size have identical dimensions?

No. The figures here are planning references. Internal sizes, door openings, tare and payload vary by carrier, equipment and manufacturer, so check the CSC plate or your carrier's specification.