Shipping Container Dimensions by Size & Type
Shipping container dimensions vary in length, width, and height. The most common container sizes in the United States are 10 ft., 20 ft., and 40 ft. long, each at around 8 ft. wide. The height of each shipping container varies between “standard” height (8 feet 6 inches) and “high cube” (9 feet 6 inches), which are often used to increase storage space or create better air circulation. Check out the table below for a breakdown of shipping container dimensions and specifications.
| 10' Standard | 20' Standard | 40' Standard | 40' High Cube | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| External | ||||
| Length | 9' 9.75" | 19' 10.5" | 40' 0.0" | 40' 0.0" |
| Width | 8' 0.0" | 8' 0.0" | 8' 0.0" | 8' 0.0" |
| Height | 8' 6.0" | 8' 6.0" | 8' 6.0" | 9' 6.0" |
| Internal | ||||
| Length | 9' 4" | 19' 4.2" | 39' 5.7" | 39' 5.7" |
| Width | 7' 8.6" | 7' 8.6" | 7' 8.6" | 7' 8.6" |
| Height | 7' 10.2" | 7' 10.2" | 7' 10.2" | 8' 10.2" |
| Door Opening | ||||
| Width | 7'8.5" | 7' 8.1" | 7' 8.1" | 7' 8.1" |
| Height | 7'8.5" | 7' 5.8" | 7' 5.8" | 8' 5.8" |
| Cubic | ||||
| Capacity | 561 ft3 | 1172 ft3 | 2390 ft3 | 2700 ft3 |
| Weight & Payload | ||||
| Empty Weight (Estimate) | 2,850 lbs | 4,630 lbs | 7,800 lbs | 8,160 lbs |
| Maximum Gross Weight | 22,398 lbs | 22,398 lbs | 71,650 lbs | 71,650 lbs |
| Maximum Payload | 19,759 lbs | 62,570 lbs | 63,850 lbs | 63,490 lbs |
Customers often use the 10 ft containers as sheds, offices, job site boxes, she sheds, and man caves. These steel shipping containers are one of the more rare and unique shipping container sizes. When available, they can offer an excellent storage solution for spaces where the more common 20′ and 40′ options can’t fit or aren’t needed.
| Dimension Type | Measurements |
|---|---|
| Exterior Dimensions (L x W x H) | 10' x 8' x 8'6" |
| Interior Dimensions (L x W x H) | 9' 4" x 7' 8.6" x 7'10.2" |
| Door Opening (W x H) | 7'8.5" x 7'8.5" |
| Cubic Capacity | 561 cu ft |
| Tare weight (on average) | 2,850 lbs |
Great option for storage garages or sheds as well as pop-up shops and portable bathrooms.
Get more ideas »
| Dimension Type | Measurements |
|---|---|
| Exterior Dimensions (L x W x H) | 19'11’ x 8' x 8'6" |
| Interior Dimensions (L x W x H) | 19'4" x7'9" x 7'8" |
| Door Opening (W x H) | 7'5" x 7'8" |
| Cubic Capacity | 1,165 cu ft |
| Tare weight (on average) | 4,853 lbs |
Great for a restaurant, café, school, shop, bar, gym, greenhouse, cabin, garage, shelter, workshop, or storage.
| Dimension Type | Measurements |
|---|---|
| Exterior Dimensions (L x W x H) | 40' x 8’ x 8'6" |
| Interior Dimensions (L x W x H) | 39.6" x7'9" x 7'8" |
| Door Opening (W x H) | 7'8" x 7'5" |
| Cubic Capacity | 2390 cu ft |
| Tare weight (on average) | 7,800 lbs |
Great for a movie screen back drop, event space, commercial office, art gallery, hotel, gym, hospitals, library, student housing.
| Dimension Type | Measurements |
|---|---|
| Exterior Dimensions (L x W x H) | 40' x 8’ x 9'6" |
| Interior Dimensions (L x W x H) | 39.6" x 7'9" x 8'10" |
| Door Opening (W x H) | 7'8" x 8'6" |
| Cubic Capacity | 2700 cu ft |
| Tare weight (on average) | 8,160 lbs |
Double door containers (doors on both ends), also known as tunnel containers, make loading, unloading, and sorting of goods easier and more flexible as you can access the container from both ends. It can also be repurposed as a general dry container as well by closing one of the doors permanently.
| Dimension Type | Measurements |
|---|---|
| Exterior Dimensions (L x W x H) | 20' x 8' x 8'6" |
| Interior Dimensions (L x W x H) | 19'4" x7'8" x 7'9" |
| Door Opening (W x H) | 7'8" x 7'5" |
| Cubic Capacity | 1,172 cu ft |
| Tare weight (on average) | 5,071.5 lbs |
Double Door Containers have two sets of double doors on each end of the cargo container thus creating a tunnel when both doors are opened. The main purpose of the extra set of doors is for easier access on both sides of the container.
| Dimension Type | Measurements |
|---|---|
| Exterior Dimensions (L x W x H) | 40' x 8’ x 8'6" |
| Interior Dimensions (L x W x H) | 39.6" x 7'9" x 7'10" |
| Door Opening (W x H) | 7'8" x 7'6" |
| Cubic Capacity | 2,377 cu ft |
| Tare weight (on average) | 8,160 lbs |
Open-sided containers make managing cargo easy and functional. Items can be loaded and unloaded much faster as compared to an ISO container.
| Dimension Type | Measurements |
|---|---|
| Exterior Dimensions (L x W x H) | 20' x 8' x 8'6" |
| Interior Dimensions (L x W x H) | 19'4" x7'8" x 7'9" |
| Door Opening (W x H) | 7'8" x 7'5" |
| Cubic Capacity | 1,172 cu ft |
| Tare weight (on average) | 5,071.5 lbs |
Open-sided containers make managing cargo easy and functional. Items can be loaded and unloaded much faster as compared to an ISO container.
| Dimension Type | Measurements |
|---|---|
| Exterior Dimensions (L x W x H) | 40' x 8’ x 9'6" |
| Interior Dimensions (L x W x H) | 39.6" x 7'9" x 8'10" |
| Door Opening (W x H) | 7'8" x 8'6" |
| Cubic Capacity | 2700 cu ft |
| Tare weight (on average) | 8,160 lbs |
A Double Door, High Cube shipping container features the added benefit of an extra foot of vertical storage that is ideal for storing larger items. The second set of doors (also known as a tunnel container) facilitates easy loading/unloading and provides additional secure access to the container.
| Dimension Type | Measurements |
|---|---|
| Exterior Dimensions (L x W x H) | 40' x 8’ x 9'6" |
| Interior Dimensions (L x W x H) | 39.6" x 7'9" x 8'10" |
| Door Opening (W x H) | 7'8" x 8'6" |
| Cubic Capacity | 2700 cu ft |
| Tare weight (on average) | 8,160 lbs |
Ship used goods that are too heavy or large, like: machines, pipes, steel bars, wire, scrap metal, trees, and construction materials; also, this size container is perfect for swimming pools.
20 ft.
| Dimension Type | Measurements |
|---|---|
| Exterior Dimensions (L x W x H) | 20' x 8' x 8'6" |
| Interior Dimensions (L x W x H) | 19'4" x7'8" x 7'9" |
| Door Opening (W x H) | 7'8" x 7'5" |
| Cubic Capacity | 1,172 cu ft |
| Tare weight (on average) | 5,071.5 lbs |
40 ft.
| Dimension Type | Measurements |
|---|---|
| Exterior Dimensions (L x W x H) | 40' x 8’ x 8'6" |
| Interior Dimensions (L x W x H) | 39.6" x7'9" x 7'8" |
| Door Opening (W x H) | 7'5" x 7'8" |
| Cubic Capacity | 2,330.8 cu ft |
| Tare weight (on average) | 9,039 lbs |
How to Choose the Right Shipping Container Size for Your Project
The first step to choosing the right size container is to determine your exact and specific project needs. When choosing how big a shipping container needed, you should consider the following:
20 ft. vs. 40 ft. Container
It is important to consider the cost as a 20ft. shipping container is less money than a 40ft shipping container.
Confirm How Much Space You Need For Storage
Each container is built to carry a specific amount of cargo. Take the time to research square footage capacity to ensure your container will hold all your items.
Do you Need Height?
Standard height containers are 8 ft. 6” high and High Cube Containers are 9 ft. 6 in high. To accommodate bigger or taller items, you may choose a High Cube container.
Do You Have The Required Delivery Space?
Typically, a 20 ft. container needs 50-75 ft. of straight-line space, and a 40 ft. container needs 120 ft. of straight-line space to safely deliver the shipping container on the ground.
At Container Sales Group, our main goal is to help our customers solve their storage, building & ocean export needs. We are proud to be a Women-Owned Company, with experience selling New and Used Shipping Containers since 1998. Container Sales Group buys shipping containers direct from the steamship lines to offer our customers the highest quality container at the most competitive prices.
We work with F500 Companies, Nationwide Construction Firms, Universities/Schools, Builders, Individual Homeowners, and International Freight Forwarders- helping them with their shipping container needs. Let us know if we can help you, call Container Sales Group at (708) 722-5995.
