{"id":99697,"date":"2026-10-22T17:13:53","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T17:13:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/shipping-container-sizes"},"modified":"2026-10-22T20:02:42","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T20:02:42","slug":"shipping-container-sizes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/shipping-container-sizes","title":{"rendered":"Shipping Container Sizes: 20ft, 40ft &#038; High Cube Dimensions Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"<head><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\n    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n    \"@graph\": [\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"BlogPosting\",\n            \"headline\": \"Shipping Container Sizes: 20ft, 40ft & High Cube Dimensions Explained\",\n            \"description\": \"Shipping container sizes explained: 20ft, 40ft and 40ft high cube dimensions in metres and feet, capacity, weight limits, pallet counts and which to choose.\",\n            \"mainEntityOfPage\": \"https:\\\/\\\/cargoholidays.com\\\/shipping-container-sizes\",\n            \"image\": \"https:\\\/\\\/cargoholidays.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/11\\\/Cargo-Ship-Travel-Cargoholidays1-1024x682.jpg\",\n            \"datePublished\": \"2026-10-22\",\n            \"dateModified\": \"2026-10-22\",\n            \"inLanguage\": \"en-GB\",\n            \"author\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n                \"name\": \"CargoHolidays\"\n            },\n            \"publisher\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n                \"name\": \"CargoHolidays\",\n                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/cargoholidays.com\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n            \"mainEntity\": [\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"What are the dimensions of a 40ft container?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Externally about 12.19m long, 2.44m wide and 2.59m high. Internally about 12.03m &times; 2.35m &times; 2.39m.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"What are the dimensions of a 20ft container?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Externally about 6.06m &times; 2.44m &times; 2.59m, with about 33 cubic metres of internal space.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"What is a high cube container?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"A container 30cm (one foot) taller than standard: 2.90m high externally, giving about 76 cubic metres in a 40ft box.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"How much weight can a 20ft container hold?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Typically up to about 28 tonnes of cargo, but road weight limits often make the practical maximum lower.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"What does TEU mean?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Twenty-foot equivalent unit, the standard measure of container capacity.\"\n                    }\n                }\n            ]\n        }\n    ]\n}<\/script>\n<\/head><div class=\"ch-post\"><p class=\"ch-updated\">Last updated: 22 October 2026<\/p><p><strong>Almost everything traded around the world travels in a steel box built to a handful of standard sizes.<\/strong> Whether you are moving abroad, shipping stock, buying a container for storage or simply curious about the ships that carry them, here are the shipping container sizes you need to know.<\/p><h2>Standard shipping container dimensions<\/h2><div class=\"ch-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Container<\/th><th>External (L &times; W &times; H)<\/th><th>Internal (L &times; W &times; H)<\/th><th>Volume<\/th><th>Max payload (approx.)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>20ft standard<\/td><td>6.06m &times; 2.44m &times; 2.59m<\/td><td>5.90m &times; 2.35m &times; 2.39m<\/td><td>about 33 m&sup3;<\/td><td>about 28,000 kg<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>40ft standard<\/td><td>12.19m &times; 2.44m &times; 2.59m<\/td><td>12.03m &times; 2.35m &times; 2.39m<\/td><td>about 67 m&sup3;<\/td><td>about 26,500 kg<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>40ft high cube<\/td><td>12.19m &times; 2.44m &times; 2.90m<\/td><td>12.03m &times; 2.35m &times; 2.69m<\/td><td>about 76 m&sup3;<\/td><td>about 26,500 kg<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>45ft high cube<\/td><td>13.72m &times; 2.44m &times; 2.90m<\/td><td>13.56m &times; 2.35m &times; 2.69m<\/td><td>about 86 m&sup3;<\/td><td>about 27,500 kg<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>10ft (storage)<\/td><td>3.05m &times; 2.44m &times; 2.59m<\/td><td>2.83m &times; 2.35m &times; 2.39m<\/td><td>about 16 m&sup3;<\/td><td>Varies<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><p><em>Exact internal measurements and weights vary slightly by manufacturer. Always check the data plate on the door.<\/em><\/p><h3>In feet<\/h3><ul><li><strong>20ft:<\/strong> 20&prime; long &times; 8&prime; wide &times; 8&rsquo;6&Prime; high<\/li><li><strong>40ft:<\/strong> 40&prime; long &times; 8&prime; wide &times; 8&rsquo;6&Prime; high<\/li><li><strong>40ft high cube:<\/strong> 40&prime; long &times; 8&prime; wide &times; 9&rsquo;6&Prime; high<\/li><\/ul><h3>Door openings<\/h3><p>The door opening is a little smaller than the inside: around <strong>2.34m wide &times; 2.28m high<\/strong> on standard boxes, and about <strong>2.58m high<\/strong> on high cubes. Check this before you load tall furniture or machinery.<\/p><figure style=\"margin:1.6em 0\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Cargo-Ship-Travel-Cargoholidays1-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"Container ship loaded with 20ft and 40ft shipping containers\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:12px;display:block\" title=\"Container ship loaded with 20ft and 40ft shipping containers\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:.85em;color:#6b7280;margin-top:.45em;text-align:center\">Most containers you see are 20ft or 40ft long, 8ft wide and 8ft 6in or 9ft 6in tall.<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2>How many pallets fit in a container?<\/h2><div class=\"ch-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Container<\/th><th>Standard UK\/EU pallets (1.2m &times; 1.0m)<\/th><th>Euro pallets (1.2m &times; 0.8m)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>20ft<\/td><td>9&ndash;10<\/td><td>11<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>40ft<\/td><td>20&ndash;21<\/td><td>23&ndash;24<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><h2>Which container size do I need?<\/h2><ul><li><strong>20ft:<\/strong> a 2&ndash;3 bedroom home, about 1,000 cu ft, or heavy dense cargo. It is the most common size for international removals.<\/li><li><strong>40ft:<\/strong> a 3&ndash;5 bedroom home, a car plus furniture, or bulky light goods.<\/li><li><strong>40ft high cube:<\/strong> tall items, or extra cube for light cargo. Popular for container homes and offices.<\/li><li><strong>Specialist containers:<\/strong> reefers (refrigerated), open tops, flat racks and tank containers for special cargo.<\/li><\/ul><p>Read our <a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/international-removals-from-uk\/\">international removals guide<\/a> to see how container size affects your moving costs.<\/p><h2>What is a TEU?<\/h2><p><strong>TEU<\/strong> stands for <strong>twenty-foot equivalent unit<\/strong>. It is the standard measure of container volume and ship capacity. A 20ft container is 1 TEU, and a 40ft container is 2 TEU (also called an FEU). When you read that a ship carries 24,000 TEU, that means space for about 24,000 twenty-foot boxes.<\/p><figure style=\"margin:1.6em 0\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/AdobeStock_416832706-1024x684.jpeg\" alt=\"Container ship loaded with thousands of containers\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:12px;display:block\" title=\"Container ship loaded with thousands of containers\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:.85em;color:#6b7280;margin-top:.45em;text-align:center\">Ship capacity is measured in TEU, the number of 20ft containers it can carry.<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2>Container ship sizes<\/h2><div class=\"ch-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Class<\/th><th>Capacity<\/th><th>Typical length<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Feeder<\/td><td>Up to about 3,000 TEU<\/td><td>100&ndash;200m<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Panamax (original)<\/td><td>About 3,000&ndash;5,000 TEU<\/td><td>Up to 294m<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Neo-Panamax<\/td><td>About 10,000&ndash;15,000 TEU<\/td><td>Up to about 366m<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ultra Large Container Vessel (ULCV)<\/td><td>18,000&ndash;24,000+ TEU<\/td><td>Around 400m<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><p>Want the full picture? Read <a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/how-big-is-a-container-ship\/\">how big is a container ship?<\/a> e <a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/biggest-ships-in-the-world\/\">the biggest ships in the world<\/a>.<\/p><h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2><div class=\"ch-faq\"><h3>What are the dimensions of a 40ft container?<\/h3><p>Externally about 12.19m long, 2.44m wide and 2.59m high. Internally about 12.03m &times; 2.35m &times; 2.39m.<\/p><h3>What are the dimensions of a 20ft container?<\/h3><p>Externally about 6.06m &times; 2.44m &times; 2.59m, with about 33 cubic metres of internal space.<\/p><h3>What is a high cube container?<\/h3><p>A container 30cm (one foot) taller than standard: 2.90m high externally, giving about 76 cubic metres in a 40ft box.<\/p><h3>How much weight can a 20ft container hold?<\/h3><p>Typically up to about 28 tonnes of cargo, but road weight limits often make the practical maximum lower.<\/p><h3>What does TEU mean?<\/h3><p>Twenty-foot equivalent unit, the standard measure of container capacity.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"ch-cta\"><strong>See the giants up close<\/strong><p>Sail on a ship carrying thousands of containers, with a passenger cabin of your own.<\/p><a class=\"ch-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/enquire-for-a-cargo-cruise\/\">Ask about a container ship voyage &rarr;<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<style>\n.ch-post{font-family:inherit;line-height:1.7;color:#1f2937;max-width:820px;margin:0 auto}\n.ch-post h2{font-size:1.6em;margin:1.8em 0 .6em;color:#0b2545;border-bottom:3px solid #f5a623;padding-bottom:.25em}\n.ch-post h3{font-size:1.15em;margin:1.4em 0 .3em;color:#0b2545}\n.ch-post p{margin:0 0 1em}\n.ch-post ul,.ch-post ol{margin:0 0 1.2em 1.3em}\n.ch-post li{margin:.35em 0}\n.ch-post .ch-updated{font-size:.9em;color:#6b7280;margin-bottom:1.2em}\n.ch-post .ch-table{overflow-x:auto;margin:1.2em 0 1.6em}\n.ch-post table{border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;font-size:.95em}\n.ch-post th{background:#0b2545;color:#fff;text-align:left;padding:.65em .8em}\n.ch-post td{padding:.6em .8em;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;vertical-align:top}\n.ch-post tr:nth-child(even) td{background:#f6f8fb}\n.ch-post .ch-faq{background:#f6f8fb;border-radius:12px;padding:1em 1.4em;margin:1em 0 2em}\n.ch-post .ch-faq h3{margin-top:1em}\n.ch-post .ch-cta{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#0b2545,#13315c);color:#fff;border-radius:14px;padding:1.6em 1.8em;margin:2.2em 0;text-align:center}\n.ch-post .ch-cta strong{display:block;font-size:1.35em;margin-bottom:.4em;color:#fff}\n.ch-post .ch-cta p{color:#dbe4f0;margin:.2em 0 1.1em}\n.ch-post .ch-btn{display:inline-block;background:#f5a623;color:#0b2545 !important;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;padding:.8em 1.6em;border-radius:999px}\n.ch-post .ch-btn:hover{background:#ffbb45}\n.ch-post em{color:#4b5563}\n<\/style>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Shipping container sizes explained: 20ft, 40ft and 40ft high cube dimensions in metres and feet, capacity, weight limits, pallet counts and which to choose.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":99802,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"single3.php","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1030,118],"tags":[1564,1565,1563,1566,1562],"yst_prominent_words":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99697"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=99697"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99697\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":99717,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99697\/revisions\/99717"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99802"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=99697"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=99697"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=99697"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=99697"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}