Shipping Container Dimensions
Inside dimensions, door openings, capacity, tare and payload for the ten ocean container types shippers ask about most: 20′ and 40′ standard, 40′ and 45′ high cube, reefers, open tops and flat racks. Every figure is shown in metric and imperial, with the source for each group of rows.
Container dimensions and weights by type
These are typical published figures for one representative unit of each type. Inside dimensions, tare and payload vary by carrier, manufacturer and build year; the binding figures for a specific box are on the CSC safety-approval plate on its door.
| Container | ISO type | Inside L × W × H | Door opening W × H | Capacity | Tare | Max gross | Max payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard dry and high cube containers | |||||||
| 20′ Standard (Dry) | 22G1 | 5.898 × 2.352 × 2.393 m19′ 4¼″ × 7′ 8⅝″ × 7′ 10¼″ | 2.340 × 2.280 m7′ 8⅛″ × 7′ 5¾″ | 33.2 m³1,172 cu ft | 2,250 kg4,960 lb | 30,480 kg67,197 lb | 28,230 kg62,236 lb |
| 40′ Standard (Dry) | 42G1 | 12.032 × 2.352 × 2.393 m39′ 5¾″ × 7′ 8⅝″ × 7′ 10¼″ | 2.340 × 2.280 m7′ 8⅛″ × 7′ 5¾″ | 67.7 m³2,391 cu ft | 3,750 kg8,267 lb | 30,480 kg67,197 lb | 26,730 kg58,930 lb |
| 40′ High Cube | 45G1 | 12.032 × 2.352 × 2.698 m39′ 5¾″ × 7′ 8⅝″ × 8′ 10¼″ | 2.340 × 2.585 m7′ 8⅛″ × 8′ 5¾″ | 76.3 m³2,695 cu ft | 3,940 kg8,686 lb | 30,480 kg67,197 lb | 26,540 kg58,511 lb |
| 45′ High Cube | L5G1 | 13.556 × 2.352 × 2.698 m44′ 5¾″ × 7′ 8⅝″ × 8′ 10¼″ | 2.340 × 2.585 m7′ 8⅛″ × 8′ 5¾″ | 86.0 m³3,037 cu ft | 4,800 kg10,582 lb | 32,500 kg71,650 lb | 27,700 kg61,068 lb |
| Refrigerated (reefer) containers | |||||||
| 20′ Reefer | 22R1 | 5.450 × 2.284 × 2.267 m17′ 10⅝″ × 7′ 5⅞″ × 7′ 5¼″ | 2.290 × 2.264 m7′ 6⅛″ × 7′ 5⅛″ | 28.2 m³996 cu ft | 2,905 kg6,404 lb | 30,480 kg67,197 lb | 27,575 kg60,792 lb |
| 40′ High Cube Reefer | 45R1 | 11.578 × 2.280 × 2.525 m37′ 11⅞″ × 7′ 5¾″ × 8′ 3⅜″ | 2.276 × 2.535 m7′ 5⅝″ × 8′ 3¾″ | 66.7 m³2,355 cu ft | 4,300 kg9,480 lb | 34,000 kg74,957 lb | 29,700 kg65,477 lb |
| Open top containers | |||||||
| 20′ Open Top | 22U1 | 5.895 × 2.350 × 2.380 m19′ 4⅛″ × 7′ 8½″ × 7′ 9¾″ | 2.338 × 2.280 m7′ 8″ × 7′ 5¾″ | 32.5 m³1,148 cu ft | 2,450 kg5,401 lb | 32,500 kg71,650 lb | 30,050 kg66,249 lb |
| 40′ Open Top | 42U1 | 12.030 × 2.350 × 2.377 m39′ 5⅝″ × 7′ 8½″ × 7′ 9⅝″ | 2.338 × 2.292 m7′ 8″ × 7′ 6¼″ | 66.4 m³2,345 cu ft | 3,850 kg8,488 lb | 30,480 kg67,197 lb | 26,630 kg58,709 lb |
| Flat rack containers | |||||||
| 20′ Flat Rack | 22P3 | 5.612 × 2.227 × 2.219 m18′ 5″ × 7′ 3⅝″ × 7′ 3⅜″ | No doors (open sides and ends) | Not enclosed | 2,740 kg6,041 lb | 34,000 kg74,957 lb | 31,260 kg68,917 lb |
| 40′ High Cube Flat Rack | 45P3 | 11.652 × 2.224 × 2.248 m38′ 2¾″ × 7′ 3½″ × 7′ 4½″ | No doors (open sides and ends) | Not enclosed | 5,950 kg13,118 lb | 50,000 kg110,231 lb | 44,050 kg97,114 lb |
Metric figures are as published. Imperial figures are converted from them, rounded to the nearest ⅛ inch, pound or cubic foot. Max payload is max gross minus tare.
What each container type is for
Standard dry and high cube containers
The general-purpose boxes most cargo ships in. A high cube is 9′6″ tall outside instead of 8′6″, which buys about 30 cm (1 ft) of inside height.
- 20′ Standard (Dry). The workhorse box for dense cargo. It usually hits its weight limit long before it fills up.
- 40′ Standard (Dry). Twice the floor of a 20′ but a lower payload, because the box itself weighs more.
- 40′ High Cube. About 30 cm of extra internal height — often one more carton tier for light, bulky cargo.
- 45′ High Cube. Roughly 13% more cube than a 40′ HC. Availability is thinner and some inland routings restrict it.
Source:Airlift container specifications (the table the container load calculator uses). ISO 668 series-1 freight container dimensions, cross-checked against published carrier equipment guides (Maersk, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd container specification pages). Last reviewed 2026-09-03.
Refrigerated (reefer) containers
Insulated walls and a refrigeration unit at the front end make a reefer shorter and narrower inside than a dry box of the same size. Cargo must stay below the load line so air can circulate. Hapag-Lloyd lists its 40′ reefers as 9′6″ high cubes.
- 20′ Reefer. Maximum stowage height to the load line: 2,184 mm (7′ 2″).
- 40′ High Cube Reefer. Maximum stowage height to the load line: 2,425 mm (7′ 11½″).
Source:Hapag-Lloyd, Container Specification (edition 03/2016). Pages 41 and 43, first series listed for each size (HLXU 371450–371949 and HLXU 676100–676599). Temperature range of that fleet: −40 °C to +30 °C.
Open top containers
A removable tarpaulin roof and a swing-out door header let cargo go in from above by crane, or stand taller than the walls. Inside height is measured at the middle of the roof bows.
- 20′ Open Top. Roof opening about 5,338 × 2,230 mm (17′ 6⅛″ × 7′ 3¾″).
- 40′ Open Top. Roof opening about 11,573 × 2,210 mm (37′ 11⅝″ × 7′ 3″).
Source:Hapag-Lloyd, Container Specification (edition 03/2016). Pages 25, 27 and 31, first series listed for each size (HLXU 362000–362999 and HLXU 461670–461819). Door height is measured up to the door header.
Flat rack containers
A floor with two end walls and no sides or roof, for heavy and out-of-gauge cargo such as machinery, vehicles and steel. There is no door and no enclosed volume; cargo can overhang the sides or stand taller than the end walls if the carrier accepts it as out of gauge.
- 20′ Flat Rack. Full payload only when the weight is spread over the whole floor; shorter heavy loads are rated lower.
- 40′ High Cube Flat Rack. Payload depends on how much of the side rails the cargo rests on; heavy cargo must sit on the main girders.
Source:Hapag-Lloyd, Container Specification (edition 03/2016). Pages 35 and 37, first series listed for each size (HLXU 268800–269199 and HLXU 669800–669899). Length is between the corner posts; height is from the floor to the top of the end walls. Other series in the same fleet are rated up to 45,000 kg (20′) and 60,000 kg (40′) gross.
Why the numbers vary. Internal dimensions, tare, and payload vary by build year, manufacturer, and carrier. The binding figures for any individual unit are stamped on its CSC safety-approval plate. Payload here is the maximum gross weight less the tare shown, and road weight limits at either end frequently cap the usable payload well below it.
Outside dimensions (ISO 668)
Outside dimensions are fixed by the ISO 668 standard, so every carrier’s boxes stack, lock and ride the same chassis. Reefers, open tops and flat racks share the same outside length and width as the dry box of their size.
| Container | Outside L × W × H (metric) | Outside L × W × H (imperial) |
|---|---|---|
| 20′ standard | 6.058 × 2.438 × 2.591 m | 20′ × 8′ × 8′ 6″ |
| 40′ standard | 12.192 × 2.438 × 2.591 m | 40′ × 8′ × 8′ 6″ |
| 40′ high cube | 12.192 × 2.438 × 2.896 m | 40′ × 8′ × 9′ 6″ |
| 45′ high cube | 13.716 × 2.438 × 2.896 m | 45′ × 8′ × 9′ 6″ |
Source: ISO 668 external dimensions as reproduced in Hapag-Lloyd’s Container Specification, page 5.
Plan the load, then get a quote
Know your cartons? The container load calculator works out how many fit in a 20′, 40′, 40′ high cube or 45′ high cube, and whether weight or space runs out first. Not enough for a full container? Work out the CBM and chargeable weight with the CBM calculator, then compare with LCL consolidation, which prices part loads by weight or measure. For full-container moves, see FCL ocean freight.
Container dimension questions
What are the dimensions of a 20ft container?
Outside, a standard 20′ container is 20′ long, 8′ wide and 8′ 6″ high (6.058 × 2.438 × 2.591 m, per ISO 668). Inside, a typical unit measures about 5.898 × 2.352 × 2.393 m (19′ 4¼″ × 7′ 8⅝″ × 7′ 10¼″), holds about 33.2 m³ (1,172 cu ft) and has a door opening of about 2.340 × 2.280 m. Exact figures vary by manufacturer and carrier.
What are the dimensions of a 40ft container?
Outside, a standard 40′ container is 40′ × 8′ × 8′ 6″ (12.192 × 2.438 × 2.591 m). Inside, a typical unit is about 12.032 × 2.352 × 2.393 m (39′ 5¾″ × 7′ 8⅝″ × 7′ 10¼″), with about 67.7 m³ of space. A 40′ high cube has the same length and width but is 9′ 6″ tall outside and about 2.70 m inside.
What is the difference between a 40ft standard and a 40ft high cube?
Height. A high cube is one foot taller outside (9′ 6″ instead of 8′ 6″), which gives about 31 cm more inside height and about 9 m³ more capacity (76.3 m³ against 67.7 m³). That is often one more tier of cartons for light, bulky cargo. Length, width and door width are the same.
How many CBM fit in a 20ft and a 40ft container?
The nominal capacity is about 33.2 m³ for a 20′, 67.7 m³ for a 40′ and 76.3 m³ for a 40′ high cube. Real loads come in lower because cartons never fill every centimeter: count on noticeably less for a typical mixed load. The container load calculator estimates how many of your cartons fit in each size.
How much weight can a shipping container carry?
The container’s payload is its maximum gross weight minus its tare, both stamped on the CSC safety-approval plate on the door. Typical payloads are about 28,230 kg for a 20′ and 26,730 kg for a 40′. In practice, road weight limits at origin and destination usually cap the load well below that, so check the trucking leg before planning to the plate.
Why is a reefer container smaller inside than a dry container?
The insulated walls, floor and roof, and the refrigeration unit built into the front end, take up space. A 20′ reefer typically has about 5 m³ less capacity than a 20′ dry box, and cargo must be stowed below the red load line so cold air can circulate.
When do I need an open top or a flat rack instead of a standard container?
Use an open top when the cargo has to be loaded from above by crane, or stands taller than a standard door opening. Use a flat rack when it is too wide or too heavy for an enclosed box, such as machinery, vehicles or steel. Either can carry cargo taller than the container, or wider on a flat rack, as out-of-gauge cargo, which the carrier must accept in advance.
Get a container shipping quote
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