📦 Container Specifications Guide

Dimensions, weights and capacities for all standard shipping container types

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How to use this guide: All dimensions are approximate and may vary slightly by manufacturer. Internal dimensions determine how much cargo fits inside. External dimensions determine vessel slot size and road/rail clearance. Tare weight is the weight of the empty container. Maximum Gross Weight (MGW) is the maximum permitted total weight including cargo. Maximum payload = MGW minus tare weight. Always verify with your shipping line or container leasing company for exact specifications.
Standard Dry Freight Containers
Type Ext. Length Ext. Width Ext. Height Int. Length Int. Width Int. Height Door Width Door Height Tare (kg) Max Payload (kg) Cubic Cap (m³)
20ft Standard TEU 6.058m2.438m2.591m 5.898m2.352m2.393m 2.342m2.280m 2,20028,28033.2
40ft Standard FEU 12.192m2.438m2.591m 12.032m2.352m2.393m 2.342m2.280m 3,75026,73067.7
40ft High Cube HC 12.192m2.438m2.896m 12.032m2.352m2.698m 2.342m2.585m 3,90026,58076.4
45ft High Cube HC 13.716m2.438m2.896m 13.556m2.352m2.698m 2.342m2.585m 4,80027,70086.1
20ft High Cube HC 6.058m2.438m2.896m 5.898m2.352m2.698m 2.342m2.585m 2,30028,18037.4
Special & Temperature-Controlled Containers
Type Ext. Length Ext. Height Int. Length Int. Width Int. Height Tare (kg) Max Payload (kg) Cubic Cap (m³) Notes
20ft Reefer RF 6.058m2.591m 5.444m2.268m2.228m 3,08027,40027.6 Temperature -30°C to +30°C. Requires power.
40ft Reefer RF 12.192m2.591m 11.583m2.268m2.228m 4,80027,70059.5 Temperature -30°C to +30°C. Requires power.
40ft HC Reefer RF 12.192m2.896m 11.583m2.268m2.500m 4,50029,50067.7 Temperature -30°C to +30°C. Requires power.
20ft Open Top OT 6.058m2.591m 5.888m2.345m2.315m 2,35028,13032.6 Removable roof for top-loading. Tarpaulin cover.
40ft Open Top OT 12.192m2.591m 12.034m2.345m2.315m 4,20026,28065.7 Removable roof for top-loading. Tarpaulin cover.
20ft Flat Rack FR 6.058m2.591m 5.620m2.126m2.233m 2,74027,760— No walls or roof. Heavy & out-of-gauge cargo.
40ft Flat Rack FR 12.192m2.591m 11.784m2.126m1.981m 5,00040,000— No walls or roof. Very heavy cargo.
20ft Tank TK 6.058m2.591m ——— 3,60026,00024,000L Liquids, gases, powders. ISO tank.
Useful Reference

📏 TEU vs FEU

TEU = Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (one 20ft container). FEU = Forty-foot Equivalent Unit (one 40ft container = 2 TEUs). Vessel and port capacity is measured in TEUs.

⚖️ Weight Limits

Maximum Gross Weight for most containers is 30,480kg. However road weight limits in many countries restrict payloads to 20,000-24,000kg. Always check local road weight regulations.

🌡️ Reefer Temperature Ranges

Frozen: -25°C to -18°C | Chilled: 0°C to +4°C | Controlled atmosphere: +4°C to +15°C | Ambient plus: +15°C to +25°C

📦 Pallets per Container

20ft standard: approx 10-11 EUR pallets or 10 US pallets. 40ft standard: approx 20-21 EUR pallets or 20 US pallets. 40ft HC: same floor space, extra height.

🚢 ISO Container Codes

GP = General Purpose (standard dry). HC = High Cube. RF = Reefer. OT = Open Top. FR = Flat Rack. TK = Tank. PW = Pallet Wide. HT = Hard Top.

⚠️ Overweight Containers

SOLAS VGM (Verified Gross Mass) rules require shippers to declare verified container weight before loading. Penalties for non-compliance can be severe.

Disclaimer: All dimensions and weights shown are standard industry approximations. Actual specifications vary by manufacturer, container age, and shipping line. Always verify exact specifications with your shipping line, freight forwarder, or container leasing company before booking. NetworkZone accepts no liability for decisions made based on this reference data.
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