Reference
Shipping container dimensions
Typical internal dimensions, door openings, cubic capacity and maximum payload. Figures vary by manufacturer and by a few centimetres between units — for a tight load, confirm with your carrier's container specification.
ISO dry and reefer containers
Trucks and trailers
Standard pallets
Pallet "height" in the table is a typical maximum stack height for road transport; use your own limit.
External dimensions and door openings
| Container | External L × W × H | Door opening W × H | Tare (typical) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20' Standard (20GP) | 6.058 × 2.438 × 2.591 m | 2.340 × 2.280 m | ≈ 2,300 kg |
| 40' Standard (40GP) | 12.192 × 2.438 × 2.591 m | 2.340 × 2.280 m | ≈ 3,750 kg |
| 40' High Cube (40HC) | 12.192 × 2.438 × 2.896 m | 2.340 × 2.585 m | ≈ 3,900 kg |
| 45' High Cube (45HC) | 13.716 × 2.438 × 2.896 m | 2.340 × 2.585 m | ≈ 4,800 kg |
Door openings are slightly smaller than the internal cross-section: a pallet that fits inside may still not fit through the door standing up. Cubestow's planner uses internal dimensions; check tall items against the door height.
How many of your boxes fit? Volume alone over-estimates — boxes leave gaps, pallets can't be stacked, long items only go one way. Open the free 3D planner and find out in a few seconds, or use the quick CBM calculator.
Rules of thumb
- A 20' container fits 10 EUR pallets (1200 × 800) or 10 UK/industrial pallets (1200 × 1000) in one layer; a 40' fits 24–25 EUR or 20–21 UK pallets.
- Usable volume is typically 80–90% of the internal cubic capacity for mixed cartons, lower with pallets and unstackable items.
- Payload limits are often reached before the cube is full with dense goods (tiles, paper, metal parts) — watch the weight bar as well as the volume bar.
- Road weight limits along the route may be lower than the container's rated payload.