Updated
Container sizing is simpler than it looks. There are four lengths in general circulation — 10ft, 20ft, 40ft and 45ft — and two heights, standard at 8 ft 6 in and High Cube at 9 ft 6 in. Width is 8 ft on all of them.
The decision is rarely about volume alone. Payload, site access and cost per cubic metre pull in different directions, and the constraint that binds is usually not the one the buyer started with.
| Size | Internal dimensions | Door opening | Cubic capacity | Payload | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10ft12G1 | 2 831 mm × 2 352 mm × 2 393 mm9 ft 3.5 in × 7 ft 8.6 in × 7 ft 10.2 in | 2 340 mm × 2 280 mm7 ft 8.1 in × 7 ft 5.8 in | 15.9 m³560 cu ft | 8 860 kg19 530 lb | Constrained sites |
| 20ft22G1Popular | 5 898 mm × 2 352 mm × 2 393 mm19 ft 4.2 in × 7 ft 8.6 in × 7 ft 10.2 in | 2 340 mm × 2 280 mm7 ft 8.1 in × 7 ft 5.8 in | 33.2 m³1 170 cu ft | 28 230 kg62 240 lb | Ocean freight |
| 20ft HC25G1 | 5 898 mm × 2 352 mm × 2 698 mm19 ft 4.2 in × 7 ft 8.6 in × 8 ft 10.2 in | 2 340 mm × 2 585 mm7 ft 8.1 in × 8 ft 5.8 in | 37.4 m³1 320 cu ft | 28 130 kg62 020 lb | Tall cargo on a short footprint |
| 40ft42G1 | 12 032 mm × 2 352 mm × 2 393 mm39 ft 5.7 in × 7 ft 8.6 in × 7 ft 10.2 in | 2 340 mm × 2 280 mm7 ft 8.1 in × 7 ft 5.8 in | 67.7 m³2 390 cu ft | 26 730 kg58 930 lb | Volume ocean freight |
| 40ft HC45G1Popular | 12 032 mm × 2 352 mm × 2 698 mm39 ft 5.7 in × 7 ft 8.6 in × 8 ft 10.2 in | 2 340 mm × 2 585 mm7 ft 8.1 in × 8 ft 5.8 in | 76.4 m³2 700 cu ft | 26 530 kg58 490 lb | Volume ocean freight |
| 45ft HCL5G1 | 13 556 mm × 2 352 mm × 2 698 mm44 ft 5.7 in × 7 ft 8.6 in × 8 ft 10.2 in | 2 340 mm × 2 585 mm7 ft 8.1 in × 8 ft 5.8 in | 86.0 m³3 040 cu ft | 25 680 kg56 610 lb | European intermodal |
The four decisions in order
- Can the site take the delivery? A 40ft vehicle needs roughly 30 m of straight, firm approach. If it cannot, the size question is already answered.
- Is the cargo dense or bulky? Dense cargo fills a 20ft on weight before volume. Bulky cargo fills a 40ft on volume before weight.
- Is height a constraint or an opportunity? High Cube gives 305 mm more inside and costs almost nothing extra — unless a bridge, gate or deck rules it out.
- How much of it do you need? One 40ft beats two 20ft on cost per cubic metre and needs one delivery. Two 20ft beat one 40ft on flexibility and access.
Cost per cubic metre
A 40ft container costs less than two 20ft containers and holds slightly more than twice the volume, so for pure storage it wins clearly. That advantage disappears the moment site access forces a crane truck, or the moment you need containers in two places.
For ocean freight the same logic applies more strongly, because a 40ft slot costs less than two 20ft slots on most trades.
When to choose each size
- [10ft](/containers/10ft-shipping-container) — constrained sites where a 20ft cannot be placed or delivered
- [20ft](/containers/20ft-shipping-container) — dense cargo, difficult access, the need to move the box later with a forklift
- [40ft](/containers/40ft-shipping-container) — bulky cargo, bulk storage, best cost per cubic metre
- [40ft High Cube](/containers/40ft-high-cube-container) — the default for volume and for conversions needing headroom
- [45ft High Cube](/containers/45ft-high-cube-container) — maximum volume, subject to road length rules