The three sizes at a glance
| 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 |
Planning reference values. Actual dimensions and payload can vary by carrier, equipment and manufacturer.
20ft vs 40ft
A 40ft container is about twice as long as a 20ft and has about twice the volume, but it does not carry twice the weight. Its maximum payload is slightly lower than a 20ft's because the larger box weighs more itself. That leads to a simple rule:
- Heavy, dense cargo (tiles, metal, liquids in drums, paper) reaches the weight limit first. A 20ft is often the better and cheaper choice, and a large order may need several 20ft containers.
- Light or medium cargo (furniture, textiles, consumer goods) fills the space first. A 40ft is usually more economical per CBM.
A 40ft also costs less than two 20ft containers on most trade lanes, so if your cargo is too much for one 20ft but not too heavy, a 40ft is often the next step.
40ft vs 40HC
The 40ft high cube (40HC or 40HQ) has the same length and width as a standard 40ft but is one foot taller, adding about 30 cm of internal height and roughly 8–9 CBM of space. It is often priced the same or close to a standard 40ft.
- Choose a 40HC for light, bulky cargo, tall items, or cartons whose height divides better into the taller space.
- A standard 40ft can be enough when cartons stack to the same number of layers in both, or when weight is the limit.
A quick decision path
- Work out your CBM and gross weight.
- If the weight is close to or above a container's payload, plan by weight first: usually 20ft containers.
- If volume decides, compare how many cartons actually load in a 40ft and a 40HC; carton height often decides which wins.
- If you have well under one container's worth, compare against LCL; see LCL vs FCL.
The Container Loading Calculator runs your cartons through every container size and suggests the best combination, and the Pallets per Container Calculator does the same for loaded pallets. Exact figures for each size are on the 20ft, 40ft and 40ft high cube reference pages.