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42G1

40ft Shipping Containers for Sale

Twice the length of a 20ft box for roughly twice the volume and slightly less payload — 12.19 m, 67.7 m³, 26.7 t.

External length
12 192 mm
Internal height
2 393 mm
Cubic capacity
67.7 m³
Payload
26 730 kg
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40ft Shipping Container

The 40ft dry container (ISO type 42G1) is the volume workhorse of container shipping. At 12 192 mm long it carries 67.7 m³, about double a 20ft unit, while its maximum gross mass stays at the same 30 480 kg — which means the payload is slightly *lower* than a 20ft box, at roughly 26 730 kg.

That asymmetry decides the size for most buyers. Dense cargo goes in 20ft units because weight fills them before volume does; light and bulky cargo goes in 40ft units because volume is what runs out. For storage, the calculation is simpler: a 40ft box is cheaper per cubic metre than two 20ft boxes and needs one delivery instead of two.

Technical specifications

Unit system
Technical specifications
Property40ft Standard42G1
External dimensions
Length12 192 mm40 ft
Width2 438 mm8 ft
Height2 591 mm8 ft 6.0 in
Internal dimensions
Length12 032 mm39 ft 5.7 in
Width2 352 mm7 ft 8.6 in
Height2 393 mm7 ft 10.2 in
Door opening
Width2 340 mm7 ft 8.1 in
Height2 280 mm7 ft 5.8 in
Weights
Tare weight3 750 kg8 270 lb
Maximum gross mass30 480 kg67 200 lb
Payload26 730 kg58 930 lb
Capacity
Cubic capacity67.7 m³2 390 cu ft

Nominal figures for current production. The CSC safety approval plate on the individual unit is the governing document.

Construction & fittings

ISO type code
42G1
Construction
Corrugated Corten steel on a welded steel frame
Corner castings
ISO 1161, all eight corners
Floor
28 mm marine-grade plywood on steel cross-members
Doors
Double doors one end, 4 cam-operated locking bars, gasket seals
Forklift pockets
Not fitted
Gooseneck tunnel
Not on standard height — high cube units only
CSC status
Valid plate on one-trip and cargo-worthy units

Payload, not volume, is the trap

A 40ft container holds twice as much space as a 20ft but cannot legally carry twice the weight. Both types are commonly plated at 30 480 kg maximum gross, and the 40ft unit spends 3 750 kg of that on its own structure against 2 250 kg for the 20ft. Loading to volume with a dense product is the most common way to arrive at a port with a container that cannot be moved.

Road limits bite before the plate does in most of Europe. A loaded 40ft container on a standard skeletal trailer often reaches national gross-vehicle-weight limits at 24–26 t of cargo, well under the container's own rating. Check the destination's road limit, not just the CSC plate.

Delivery access for a 40ft unit

A 40ft container is materially harder to deliver than a 20ft. Plan for roughly 30 m of straight, firm approach for a tilt-bed delivery, and remember the vehicle plus container is around 16 m long before you count the turning circle. Crane-truck placement needs the crane to stand beside the final position with the boom clear of cables.

Where site access is doubtful, two 20ft units often solve the problem at a small premium. See container delivery.

Forklift pockets and moving the box on site

40ft containers do not have forklift pockets. They are lifted at the corner castings, or handled with a reach stacker or side loader. If the container will need to be repositioned on your site after delivery, say so at the RFQ stage — it changes the equipment and therefore the price.

Typical uses

  • Volume ocean freight

    The default box for light, bulky and palletised cargo on deep-sea trades.

  • Bulk storage

    Cheapest secure covered volume per cubic metre available without a building permit.

  • Machinery and vehicle export

    Two cars, or long plant that will not fit a 20ft unit.

  • Workshop conversions

    Long enough to divide into workshop plus store in a single unit.

Multiple units and container lots

Single units, multiple units and full lots are all quoted. Consolidating units from one depot usually reduces the transport component noticeably, so state the quantity on the enquiry even when it is provisional.

A heavy container handler lifting a shipping container at a depot, with rows of containers behind

Delivery

Road delivery across Europe from whichever depot suits your destination, and named-port quotations on agreed Incoterms overseas.

GermanyEuropeWorldwide

Frequently asked questions

Why does a 40ft container carry less weight than a 20ft?
Because both are usually plated at the same 30 480 kg maximum gross mass, while the 40ft structure weighs about 1 500 kg more. Subtract tare from maximum gross and the 40ft ends up with roughly 26 730 kg of payload against 28 230 kg for the 20ft.
How many europallets fit in a 40ft container?
Twenty-three to twenty-five europallets on the floor depending on the loading pattern and how much space is left for securing. Plan on 23 for a load that has to be strapped.
Should I buy one 40ft or two 20ft containers?
For sea freight, one 40ft is almost always cheaper than two 20ft slots. For road delivery to a difficult site, two 20ft units are easier to place and can be moved with a forklift afterwards. For storage on an open yard, one 40ft wins on cost per cubic metre.
Is a 40ft container the same width as a 20ft?
Yes — 2 438 mm external and 2 352 mm internal on both. Only length and, on high cube units, height differ.

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