Container types and sizes: which container is the right container for your shipment?

Container dimensions and types

Containers Types and Sizes
Containers Types and Sizes – Picture by Chanaka

The imperial unit measure system and not the metric system is used for container sizes, therefore container sizes are expressed in foot and the quantity of containers in TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) so 1 x 20’ container = 1 TEU and 1 x 40’ container = 2 TEUS.

The main difference between the standard container (dry container) and other container types is that dry van containers are hermetically sealed and do not have refrigeration or ventilation systems, as it is the case with refrigerated or ventilated containers.

If the cargo is more than 30 m3 and weighs less than 26 tonnes, the right thing to do is to choose a 40-foot container.

If the cargo has a volume up to 30 m3, the most appropriate container would be a 20-foot container which can load up to 28 tons.

Container Door
Container Door – Image by Worac

On every container’s door, the container payload (maximum cargo that can be loaded into the container) is mentioned and this must be strictly respected.

The container tare (weight of the container empty) and the volume capacity in m3 are also mentioned on the container’s door.

The main container types used in the shipping industry are

Kindly note that container dimensions may vary depending on container series, container manufacturer, the age of the container as well as the shipping line owner of the container. The information mentioned below is however most representative

Standard dry containers

20’ Dry container
20' Dry Container
20' Dry Container – Image by Vladru

Internal Dimensions

Length: 5,90m

Width: 2,35m

Height: 2,39m

Door Opening

Width: 2,34m

Height: 2,28m

Maximum payload Weight

28’200 kg (some containers can take up to 30’200kg, they are called 20’Heavy tested containers)

Capacity: 33,2m3

Its base allows the transport of up to 11 stacks of European pallets or 10 stacks of standard pallets.

The 20’ standard container is also known as 20-foot dry container, 20-ft dry van container and 20’ft general purpose container.

Commonly referred to as 20’DV, 22’GP, 22’G0 or 22’G1

40’ Dry container
40' Dry Container
40' Dry container – Image by OBalazs

Internal Dimensions

Length: 12,03m

Width: 2,35m

Height: 2,39m

Door Opening

Width: 2,34m

Height: 2,28m

Maximum payload Weight

26’700kg to 28’200kg

Capacity: 67,7m3

Its base allows up to 25 stacks of Euro pallets to be transported.

The standard 40-foot container is also known as a 40’ dry container, 40’ dry van container or 40’ general purpose container.

The market is increasingly asking for 40’High cube containers due to the extra cargo that can fit inside so the 40’ dry container is slowly being totally replaced by 40’High cube containers.

Commonly referred to as 40’DV, 40’GP, 42’G0 or 42’G1

40’ High-Cube container
40' High Cube Dry Container
40' High Cube Dry Container – Picture by Mario Guti

Internal Dimensions

Length: 12,03m

Width: 2,35m

Height: 2,70m

Door Opening

Width: 2,34m

Height: 2,58m

Maximum payload Weight

26’500kg to 28’600kg

Capacity: 76,4m3

Its base allows up to 25 stacks of Euro pallets to be transported. Commonly referred to as 40’HC, 40’HQ, 45’G0 or 45’G1.

These boxes correspond to standard containers but are about 30cm higher.

45’ High-Cube container (not available in Africa trade in general)
45HighCube Dry Container Picture By Vittavat-a
45 High Cube Dry Container – Picture by Vittavat-a

Internal Dimensions

Length: 13,55m

Width: 2,35m

Height: 2,70m

Door Opening

Width: 2,34m

Height: 2,58m

Maximum payload Weight

25’700kg

Capacity: 86,0m3

45’ containers are mainly used for shipping on the Transpacific routes from Asia to North America and not all shipping companies have this type of container within their container stock.

Commonly referred to as 45’HC or L5’G1

Reefer (refrigerated) containers

Reefer Containers
Reefer Containers – Picture By Lucian Coman

Reefer containers (20’ and 40’) are used to transport chilled or frozen products. Fresh food is not permitted to be shipped unless it is in a refrigerated container.

These containers are used to transport fresh and frozen food, such as fish, meat, and fruit as well as other perishable cargoes. They are also commonly used in the transport pharmaceutical products.

You need to clearly indicate to us the temperature (in C°) at which the goods need to be carried before loading the goods in a reefer container.

The refrigerated container has a system that maintains a temperature inside the container of between -25 C° and +25 C°.

Contrary to widespread belief, these containers cannot cool the temperature because they do not generate cold air but can only maintain it.

Although this type of container has an integrated motor that enables temperature cooling, the system must be connected to the power grid of vessels, to reefer plug infrastructure in the ports, or to a genset on trucks for inland transport.

Some special types of refrigerated containers can maintain temperatures as low as -60° (deep frozen reefer containers).

20’ Reefer container
20ft Reefer Containers
20ft Reefer Containers – Picture by Fahroni

Internal Dimensions

Length: 5,45m

Width: 2,29m

Height: 2,16m

Door Opening

Width: 2,29m

Height: 2,26m

Maximum payload Weight

27’500kg

Capacity: 28,3m3

Commonly referred to as 20’RF, 20’RE or 22’R1.

This container type is mainly used to transport chilled cargo.

40' High-Cube reefer container
40ft High-Cube reefer container by Ibercontainer
40ft High-Cube reefer container by Ibercontainer

Internal Dimensions

Length: 11,59m

Width: 2,29m

Height: 2,40m

Door Opening

Width: 2,29m

Height: 2,57m

Maximum payload Weight

30’200kg

Capacity: 67,9m3

Commonly referred to as 40’RF, 40’RH or 45’R1

Special equipment

Open-top containers
Open-top container – Image by Topae
Open-top container – Image by Topae

This box is also a variant of the standard 20’ or 40’ft container.

Unlike the Hardtop container, the roof is made of a tarpaulin.

As a result, the container cannot be stacked. The advantage is fast loading and unloading and a lower price.

In addition, the tarpaulin can cover oversized goods (in height) and thus protect them.

The type of goods carried in this type of container is essentially the same as in a flatbed container, but with more regular measurements on the sides.

It is suitable for loads that are too high and do not fit into a standard dry van container.

Unlike the flat rack, which also has no roof, the open top container has side walls, and the roof can also be covered with a tarpaulin so that the goods travel more protected.

Note that the open part of an open top container is slightly smaller than the inside of the container, as is the case with the doors of an ordinary container.

In other words, when loading your goods from the top of an open container, consider that you will have less room to manoeuvre than inside a standard container.

The demand for this type of containers is much lower and shipping line’s Open Top container stock is quite limited in some areas, therefore a special equipment surcharge is applied on top of the ocean freight for standard dry van containers, the surcharge will also depend on the weight of the Open top container as the lost slots incurring from the loading of an Open Top on board the vessel must be calculated.

20' open-top container
20Ft Open-Top container by Port Shipping Containers
20Ft Open-Top container by Port Shipping Containers

Internal Dimensions

Length: 5,9m

Width: 2,35m

Height: 2,35m

Door Opening

Width: 2,25m

Length: 5,38m

Maximum payload Weight

28’100kg

Capacity: 33,2m3

Commonly referred to as 20’OT or 22’U1

40' open-top container
40ft Open-Top container by Mechanic International
40ft Open-Top container by Mechanic International

Internal Dimensions

Length: 12,03m

Width: 2,35m

Height: 2,39m

Door Opening

Width: 2,25m

Length: 11,51m

Maximum payload Weight

26’500kg

Capacity: 66,5m3

Commonly referred to as 40’OT or 42’U1

Flat rack container
Flat-rack use for cargo transport. Picture by Kyrill Gorlov
Flat-rack use for cargo transport – Picture by Kyrill Gorlov

Flatbed containers are designed to accommodate all loads whose dimensions, package distribution or weight do not allow them to be transported in standard containers or dry vans, whether they are 20’ or 40’.

These containers have no side walls. The walls make it possible to secure the load laterally by means of supports and to stack the boxes. The floor is particularly reinforced so that flat containers are mainly suitable for very heavy and bulky goods that must be loaded from the side.

Flat racks are made of metal plates that fit into a standard 20’ or 40’ft structure.

The sides are hinged and have no roof or top. They are therefore suitable for the transport of out of gauge cargo (goods with a height greater than that of a 20’ or 40’ container or with a very irregular volume, such as industrial vehicles or pipes and very heavy goods that need to be loaded into the container with cranes or specialised equipment.

As they have no sides or top, this type of container presents some additional complexities. The goods must travel exposed to rain, wind and other weather conditions and the only way to ensure that the cargo stays in place or inside the container and well protected is by securing and covering it properly.

20' Flat rack container
20ft Flat-Rack container by Conexwest
20ft Flat-Rack container by Conexwest

Internal Dimensions

Length: 5,96m

Width: 2,40m

Height: 2,29m

Between headers length

5,85m

Between corners

Length: 5,42m

Width: 2,06m

Maximum payload Weight

37’000kg

Commonly referred to as 20’FR, 20’FL, 20’PC or 22’P3

40' Flat rack container
40' Flat Rack Container by Direct Industry
40' Flat Rack Container by Direct Industry

Internal Dimensions

Length: 11,65m

Width: 2,35m

Height: 1,96m

Between headers length

12,06m

Between corners

Length: 11,66m

Width: 2,22m

Maximum payload Weight

44’600kg

Commonly referred to as 40’FR, 40’FL, 40’PC or 42’P3

Tank containers
Tank Container by Cargo Store
Tank Container by Cargo Store

Tank containers or ISO tanks are containers specially designed for the transport of liquids or gases.

They allow the transport of bulk cargo by sea, whether it is liquid foodstuffs such as oil or wine, or dangerous substances.

Tank containers carrying dangerous goods must comply with a few additional regulations.

In addition, once an iso tank has been marked for use as a container for dangerous cargoes, it can no longer be used for the transport of other conventional bulk cargoes.

In terms of structure, the tank or tanker moves within a frame that allows for stowage and conforms to ISO standard dimensions.

The tank is covered with an insulating material that protects it from the weather.

ISO tanks are one of the most efficient solutions for intermodal bulk transport. They have the advantage of being safer, more agile, more environmentally friendly, and more economical than other options such as drums.

The most common tank containers are 20’tank containers.

The tank container or ISO tank is also known as Iso tank, Tanktainer, Tank Container, Iso Tank Container.

20' Tank container
20' Tank container by Multitank
20' Tank container by Multitank

Nominal capacity

26’000 litres

Maximum payload Weight

32’500kg

Commonly referred to as 20’TK, 20’KL or T11

Conversion factors
Conversion factors for all the information about containers dimensions, weights, temperatures and capacities
Conversion factors for all the information about containers dimensions, weights, temperatures and capacities

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