Last updated: 23 October 2026

The biggest container ships can carry more than 24,000 TEU, which is over 12,000 forty-foot containers. Smaller “feeder” ships carry just a few hundred. Here’s how many containers fit on different ships, and what all the numbers mean.

A TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) is the size of one standard 20ft container. A 40ft container counts as 2 TEU. Ship capacity is measured in TEU. Read shipping container sizes.

Container ship sizes

The biggest container ships

Today’s largest ships, such as MSC’s Irina class and similar mega-ships, carry about 24,000 TEU. They are around 400 metres long and 61 metres wide, longer than four football pitches. Read biggest ships in the world and how big is a container ship.

How containers are stacked

• Below deck: containers sit in cell guides inside the holds, often 10 or more high.
• On deck: containers are stacked on hatch covers, often 8–10 high, and secured with twist-locks and lashing rods.
• Across the ship: the largest ships fit around 24 containers side by side.

Heavy containers go low and towards the middle for stability. Read how container ships are loaded.

Why the real number varies

1. Weight: a ship might reach its weight limit before every slot is filled.
2. Mix of 20ft and 40ft containers.
3. Reefers: refrigerated containers need power points, which are limited.
4. Stability and visibility rules limit how high containers can be stacked.

How much can one ship carry?

A 24,000 TEU ship can carry the equivalent of millions of pairs of shoes or tens of thousands of fridges, in one voyage. That is why container shipping is so cheap per item. Learn about the companies that own them in biggest shipping companies in the world.

You can travel on these giants as a passenger. See how to book a cargo ship voyage.

Frequently asked questions