Last updated: 22 October 2026
Container ships range from small feeder vessels around 150 metres long to giants of about 400 metres, longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall. The largest ships in service today carry over 24,000 containers’ worth of cargo. Here is how container ships are measured, how the size classes compare, and what that means if you travel on one.
Container ship capacity is measured in TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units). One TEU is a standard 20-foot container, about 6 metres long. Most cargo now moves in 40-foot containers, which count as 2 TEU. So a 10,000 TEU ship carries roughly 5,000 forty-foot boxes when full.
| Size class | Typical capacity | Typical length | Where you see them |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feeder | Up to about 3,000 TEU | 140–200 m | Short regional routes, smaller ports |
| Panamax | About 3,000–5,000 TEU | Up to 294 m | Older ships sized for the original Panama Canal locks |
| Neopanamax | Up to about 15,000 TEU | Up to 366 m | Ships sized for the expanded Panama Canal locks |
| Ultra Large Container Vessel (ULCV) | 18,000–24,000+ TEU | About 400 m | Asia–Europe main routes |
The record is held by MSC’s Irina class, launched from 2023. MSC Irina carries 24,346 TEU, is 399.9 metres long and 61.3 metres wide. Ships of this size are so big that only a handful of the world’s ports can handle them, and they sail mainly between Asia and northern Europe.
Passenger cabins sit in the accommodation block at the back of the ship, near the bridge. A standard passenger cabin is roughly the size of a good hotel room, with an en-suite shower, desk and window. Owner’s cabins are larger, often with a separate sitting area. The accommodation block is several decks high, so the view from your window is often above the container stacks.
If you are prone to seasickness, a larger ship on a summer crossing is a good first choice.
From about 150 metres for small feeder ships to around 400 metres for the largest ultra large container vessels.
The MSC Irina class holds the record at 24,346 TEU, with ships 399.9 metres long and 61.3 metres wide.
Twenty-foot equivalent unit, the capacity of one standard 20-foot container.
The largest ships carry over 24,000 TEU, which is roughly 12,000 forty-foot containers.
Usually about 20–30, even on the very largest ships.
Book a passenger cabin and watch the ocean from above the container stacks.
Find a container ship voyage →
