Calculators
Container dimensions and capacity table
Internal dimensions, volume and weight capacities.
| Type | Internal length (m) | Internal width (m) | Internal height (m) | Volume (m³) | Tare (kg) | Max gross (kg) | Max payload (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20' standard (DV) | 5.90 | 2.35 | 2.39 | ~33 | ~2,200 | ~30,480 | ~28,280 |
| 40' standard (DV) | 12.03 | 2.35 | 2.39 | ~67 | ~3,800 | ~32,500 | ~28,700 |
| 40' High Cube (HC) | 12.03 | 2.35 | 2.69 | ~76 | ~3,900 | ~32,500 | ~28,600 |
| 45' High Cube | 13.55 | 2.35 | 2.69 | ~86 | ~4,800 | ~32,500 | ~27,700 |
| 20' Reefer | 5.45 | 2.29 | 2.27 | ~28 | ~3,000 | ~30,480 | ~27,400 |
| 40' Reefer HC | 11.58 | 2.29 | 2.50 | ~66 | ~4,800 | ~34,000 | ~29,200 |
Values are typical dimensions; they may vary by a few centimetres with the manufacturer and age of the container, and the tare by up to a hundred kilograms. The exact figures are marked on the container door and the CSC plate.
Special container types
| Type | What it is | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Open Top | Roof closed with a tarpaulin, loaded from above by crane | Cargo is too tall to pass through the container door |
| Flat Rack | No side walls, platform shaped | Cargo is out of gauge in width or shape |
| Tank | Tank body for bulk liquids | Liquid chemicals, food-grade liquids |
| Reefer (Refrigerated) | Temperature-controlled container with its own refrigeration unit | Perishable goods that must stay within the cold chain, carried under controlled temperature |
What High Cube gains you
A High Cube’s floor area is the same as a standard 40’; the only difference is roughly 30 cm of extra height. That is why the pallet count in single-tier stacking does not change. What it gains you is allowing taller pallets and potentially making double stacking possible.
Why a reefer’s internal volume is smaller
The refrigeration unit takes up space at one end of the container, and the insulation increases the wall thickness. Compared with a standard container of the same external dimensions, the internal length, width and height are lower; pallet capacity is reduced accordingly.
Why the maximum payload may be lower than the calculated value
The maximum payload in the table is found by deducting the tare from the gross weight. In practice, however, two further constraints come into play:
- Road weight limits. The vehicle travelling from the port to the warehouse is subject to its own load limit; this limit may be reached before the container capacity.
- Trade lane and port restrictions. Some lanes set their own maximum loading values lower.
For this reason, the smaller of the two limits is used when planning the load.
This tool is for general guidance; request a quote for exact pricing and capacity.
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Guides
- Container types and dimensions: volume and capacityTypical internal dimensions, carrying capacity, pallet layout, and the weight-versus-volume balance for standard, High Cube, reefer, open top, flat rack, and tank containers.
- What are FCL and LCL? The difference, cost logic and selection criteriaThe cost logic of full-container and less-than-container sea shipping, the transit time difference, and the decision criteria for choosing between them for a given load.
- How many pallets fit in a container? 20', 40' and HC capacitiesTypical pallet capacities by container type, the three conditions for double stacking, and why the volume-versus-weight question should be asked first.
- What Is VGM? How Is the Verified Gross Mass Declared?The two calculation methods for verified gross mass, the tare and packaging items involved, cut-off timing, and the consequences of failing to submit the declaration.
- What is payload capacity? Axle weight and load distribution calculationHow payload capacity is calculated, why axle weight is a separate constraint, and how the same logic works in a container.
- What is intermodal transport? The difference between combined and multimodalThe difference between the terms intermodal, combined, and multimodal, loading units, the dependency created by transfer points, and how to compare total cost correctly.
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