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Shipping Container Specifications and Capacity Reference

Before a container load is planned, someone has to answer how much fits in the box and how much it may weigh. This reference puts the typical internal dimensions, door openings, volume and payload of the common ISO containers in one table you can search and export.

Download:
Container typeInternal length (m)Internal width (m)Internal height (m)Door opening W x H (m)Capacity (cbm)Tare (kg)Typical payload (kg)Floor pallets (single layer)
20 ft general purpose
5.90
2.35
2.39
2.34 x 2.28
33
2,200
approx 28,000
10 GMA, 11 EUR
40 ft general purpose
12.03
2.35
2.39
2.34 x 2.28
67
3,700
approx 26,500 to 28,700
20 GMA, 23 EUR
40 ft high cube
12.03
2.35
2.69
2.34 x 2.58
76
3,900
approx 26,500 to 28,600
20 GMA, 23 EUR
45 ft high cube
13.56
2.35
2.69
2.34 x 2.58
86
4,800
approx 27,000
23 GMA, 26 EUR
20 ft reefer
5.44
2.29
2.27
2.29 x 2.26
28
3,000
approx 27,000
9 GMA, 10 EUR
40 ft high cube reefer
11.58
2.29
2.55
2.29 x 2.56
67
4,800
approx 29,000
19 GMA, 23 EUR
20 ft open top
5.90
2.35
2.35
2.34 x 2.28
32
2,300
approx 28,000
10 GMA, 11 EUR
40 ft open top
12.03
2.35
2.35
2.34 x 2.28
65
4,000
approx 26,000
20 GMA, 23 EUR

Figures are typical and vary by manufacturer, age and shipping line. Use the carrier equipment guide for the actual box you are booked on. Pallet counts assume single-layer floor loading with typical stowage and no dunnage; mixed footprints or tall loads change the result.

Item dimension and weight cleanup

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How to use the table

Find the container you are quoted and read the internal length, width and height for cube planning and the door opening for the tallest and widest cartons. Compare the cubic capacity with your cargo volume, then compare the payload with your cargo weight. Whichever limit hits first sets the container count. Export to Excel to paste the rows into a booking sheet.

Weight versus volume

Dense cargo such as metal parts, tile or machinery reaches the payload limit long before the cube is full, while light cargo such as furniture or packaging cube-outs first. Plan to the lower of the two, and remember that road weight limits in the origin and destination country can cap the legal payload below what the container can carry.

  • Cube-out: volume is full, weight is not
  • Weight-out: payload is reached, space remains
  • Road limits can be lower than container limits

High cube, reefer and open top

High cube containers add about 30 centimetres of height, valuable for light cargo but not for heavy loads. Reefers lose internal space to insulation and the cooling unit, so their internal dimensions and cube are smaller than a dry box. Open top boxes suit tall or crane-loaded cargo, and the load still must be secured and covered. Always confirm availability and surcharges with the carrier.

Common mistakes

People often use external dimensions for a load plan, forget the door opening is smaller than the interior, or plan a full cube without dunnage space. Another common error is using nominal volume as usable volume; stowage factor and loading method typically lose a meaningful share of the cube. Add a margin and verify with a load plan for expensive cargo.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many pallets fit in a 40 ft container?

Typically about 20 GMA pallets (48 by 40 inches) or 23 to 24 EUR pallets (1200 by 800 millimetres) in a single layer. Turning pallets sideways or stacking can change the count, depending on height and weight.

What is the difference between a 40 ft and a 40 ft high cube?

Both are 40 feet long and about 2.35 metres wide inside. The high cube is about 30 centimetres taller, roughly 2.69 metres inside versus 2.39, which gives around 76 cubic metres instead of 67.

Why are reefer containers smaller inside?

Insulated walls, floor and the refrigeration unit at the front take space, so internal length, width and height are smaller than a dry container of the same external size.

Where do I get exact container specs?

The shipping line or lessor publishes an equipment guide with exact internal dimensions, tare weight and maximum payload for each box type. Treat any general table, including this one, as a planning estimate.

If container planning still lives in spreadsheets outside your ERP, we can help connect item dimensions and weights to load planning inside your existing system.

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