Shipping Container Sizes & Dimensions
Understand the sizes and dimensions of shipping containers for ocean freight, ensuring the best fit for your cargo shipping needs.
Understand the sizes and dimensions of shipping containers for ocean freight, ensuring the best fit for your cargo shipping needs.
Shipping containers are essential in international trade, providing a secure and efficient way to transport goods across oceans. Understanding the size of shipping containers is vital for businesses and individuals looking to ship cargo efficiently and cost-effectively. This page covers the standard sizes of shipping containers, including 20ft, 40ft, and high-cube variations, as well as other specialized container types designed to meet unique shipping needs.
The 20-foot container is one of the most popular container sizes for international shipping, measuring approximately 20 feet in length, 8 feet in width, and 8.5 feet in height. This size is ideal for smaller shipments, offering about 33 cubic meters of space, and is commonly used for transporting heavy cargo due to its manageable size and weight. The 20ft container is also cost-effective, making it a preferred choice for individuals moving household goods and small businesses shipping internationally.
A 40-foot container offers double the length of a 20ft container, providing around 67 cubic meters of space. This larger container is ideal for shipments that require more room and can accommodate a variety of goods, from bulk products to vehicles. With standard dimensions of 40 feet in length, 8 feet in width, and 8.5 feet in height, this container is commonly used for bulkier or higher-volume cargo. Businesses often choose the 40ft container for cost-efficient shipping of larger quantities.
The 40-foot high cube container is similar to the standard 40ft container but offers an extra foot in height, making it 9.5 feet tall. This additional space provides approximately 76 cubic meters of room, ideal for goods that require extra vertical space. High cube containers are commonly used in industries that need to transport taller or larger goods, offering flexibility and greater storage capacity for lightweight but voluminous cargo.
In addition to standard containers, there are specialized container types designed for specific cargo needs. These include refrigerated containers (reefers) for perishable goods, open-top containers for oversized cargo, and flat rack containers for machinery and heavy equipment. Choosing the right container size and type depends on the nature and requirements of your cargo. Specialized containers ensure that goods are transported safely and efficiently, even if they do not fit within standard dimensions.
Selecting the correct container size is essential for maximizing space and minimizing costs. Factors to consider include the weight and volume of your cargo, destination requirements, and any unique transportation needs. For shipments that do not require a full container, Less Than Container Load (LCL) options are available, allowing multiple shipments to share space and reduce costs.
20ft Container: A standard container measuring approximately 20 feet in length, commonly used for smaller shipments.
40ft Container: A larger container measuring 40 feet in length, ideal for high-volume or bulk shipments.
High Cube Container: A container with an additional foot in height, offering more space for taller goods.
Reefer Container: A refrigerated container used to transport perishable goods at controlled temperatures.
Flat Rack Container: A container with collapsible sides, used for oversized items or heavy machinery.
Open-Top Container: A container with an open top, allowing for easy loading of large or irregularly shaped cargo.
Less Than Container Load (LCL): A shipping option where multiple shipments share one container, reducing costs.
Full Container Load (FCL): A shipping option where a container is dedicated to a single shipment, offering exclusive use of the space.