Quick Answer: Shipping Container Sizes
The standard shipping container sizes are 10, 20, 40 and 45 ft long, and every one is 8 ft wide. Standard units stand 8 ft 6 in tall, while a high cube shipping container stands 9 ft 6 in. A 20 ft container weighs about 4,850 lb empty and a 40 ft about 8,160 lb. Used 20 ft units run $800–$3,500 by grade and new ones $2,500–$5,000; a 40 ft runs $1,000–$4,500 used and $3,500–$6,500 new.
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Shipping Container Sizes: Dimensions, Weights and Capacity Chart
Shipping container sizes follow an international standard, so a 20 ft or 40 ft box has the same footprint wherever it was built. What changes from unit to unit is the inside: wall and floor construction shift the interior measurements, the empty weight and the payload. Those differences decide what fits through the doors and what the truck has to carry.
This page is for anyone choosing a container for storage, a workshop, an office or a building project. It starts with the shipping container sizes chart, then covers interior space, door openings and weight. After that come what fits in each size, how to pick one, and a short look at what each size costs.
Shipping Container Sizes Chart: 10, 20, 40 and 45 ft
The exterior shipping container dimensions below are the ISO sizes listed in the IMO informative material on cargo transport units, which draws them from ISO 668. Length is the one measurement that differs between shipping container sizes. Width never changes, and height comes in two common options.
| Container size | Exterior length | Exterior width | Exterior height | Footprint |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 ft | 9' 9¾" | 8' 0" | 8' 0" (ISO) | about 79 sq ft |
| 20 ft standard | 19' 10½" | 8' 0" | 8' 6" | about 159 sq ft |
| 40 ft standard | 40' 0" | 8' 0" | 8' 6" | 320 sq ft |
| 40 ft high cube | 40' 0" | 8' 0" | 9' 6" | 320 sq ft |
| 45 ft high cube | 45' 0" | 8' 0" | 9' 6" | 360 sq ft |
A "20 ft" container is actually a little under 20 feet long. Two of them end to end measure 39 ft 9 in, 3 inches short of one 40. It rarely matters on a lot, but it matters when you line up boxes for a joined building.
The same IMO document notes that practically all 20 ft containers are 8 ft 6 in high and practically all 45 ft containers are 9 ft 6 in high. Very few 20 ft high cubes exist. So among the standard shipping container sizes, the 40 ft is the one you can realistically choose in either height.
About the 10 ft Row
ISO lists the 10 ft length at 8 ft tall or half height. Check any 10 ft unit you are offered against the chart. Confirm its length, height and door size before you plan around it.
Interior Dimensions, Door Openings and Capacity
Inside, shipping container sizes stop being identical. Corrugated walls, the floor and the frame all take up room, and manufacturers build them slightly differently. Treat the interior figures below as typical, varying by manufacturer, and ask for the spec sheet of the unit you are buying.
| Container size | Interior L x W x H (typical) | Door opening W x H (ISO minimum) | Floor area | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 ft | at least 9' 2" x 7' 7¾"; height varies | 7' 6" x 7' 0" on an 8 ft tall unit | about 70 sq ft | varies by unit |
| 20 ft standard | 19' 4" x 7' 8" x 7' 10" | 7' 6" x 7' 5" | about 148 sq ft | about 1,160 cu ft |
| 40 ft standard | 39' 5" x 7' 8" x 7' 10" | 7' 6" x 7' 5" | about 302 sq ft | about 2,370 cu ft |
| 40 ft high cube | 39' 5" x 7' 8" x 8' 10" | 7' 6" x 8' 5" | about 302 sq ft | about 2,670 cu ft |
| 45 ft high cube | at least 44' 4" x 7' 7¾"; height similar to a 40 ft high cube | 7' 6" x 8' 5" | about 339 sq ft | varies by unit |
The door openings are the ISO minimums from the IMO document. The site's 20 ft and 40 ft guides list the same door figures. The door is the tightest point in all shipping container sizes, so measure your largest item against the opening before you measure it against the room inside.
Floor area and volume come from the typical interior measurements, not the exterior footprint. That is why a 40 ft container shows about 302 square feet of usable floor rather than 320. Plan layouts and shelving from the inside numbers.
How Much Does a Shipping Container Weigh?
Weight varies more than shipping container sizes do. Shipping container weight comes in three numbers. Tare is the empty weight. Maximum gross mass, or rating, is the most the loaded container may weigh. Payload is the difference, the most cargo you can put inside.
| Container size | Tare weight (typical) | Maximum gross (ISO rating) | Payload at that rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 ft | varies by unit | read the plate | read the plate |
| 20 ft standard | about 4,850 lb | 67,200 lb | about 62,350 lb |
| 40 ft standard | about 8,160 lb | 67,200 lb | about 59,040 lb |
| 40 ft high cube | about 8,510 lb | 67,200 lb | about 58,690 lb |
| 45 ft high cube | about 9,700 lb | 67,200 lb | about 57,500 lb |
Under ISO standards, every length except the 10 ft carries a maximum rating of 30,480 kg, which is 67,200 lb. Some 20, 40 and 45 ft boxes are rated higher, at 32,500 kg or 34,000 kg. Units built to earlier versions of the standard may carry a lower rating. Tare weights vary by unit; the 45 ft figure is the IMO document's tare for planning purposes only.
The real numbers for any container are printed on it. The IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units says the CSC safety approval plate sits on the rear of the container, usually on the left-hand door. The plate shows the maximum gross mass, which should never be exceeded.
For a storage or building project, tare weight is the number that usually matters. It sets the delivery equipment and the load on whatever the container sits on. Even an empty 40 ft unit weighs about four tons.
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High Cube Shipping Container vs Standard Height
A high cube shipping container is one foot taller than a standard unit, 9 ft 6 in on the outside instead of 8 ft 6 in. Length, width and floor area stay the same. The extra foot shows up inside, taking typical interior height from about 7 ft 10 in to 8 ft 10 in.
The door grows too. The ISO minimum door height rises from 7 ft 5 in to 8 ft 5 in, while the width stays at 7 ft 6 in. For storage, that taller door can matter as much as the headroom.
Headroom matters most once people work inside. Insulation, a finished ceiling and light fixtures each take a few inches. In a standard unit, that leaves a low ceiling. In a high cube, it leaves ordinary standing room.
When the Taller Box Earns Its Price
- Offices, workshops and studios that will be insulated and finished
- Storage of tall items, such as full sheets of plywood stood on end
- Shelving or racking that needs vertical space
- Any use where ducts or lights hang below the roof
A standard height is the better buy for ground-level storage where nobody stands inside for long. The price gap between the two heights is in the cost section below.
The 10 ft Shipping Container and the 45 ft
These two sit at either end of the shipping container sizes range. The 10 ft shipping container suits sites where a 20 ft box will not fit. Think of a narrow side yard, a corner of a jobsite or a small equipment enclosure. It holds roughly half of what a 20 ft holds, with about 70 square feet of floor.
Ask the supplier for its actual measurements, the door size and the plate data. Prices for 10 ft units are quoted by size, condition and location.
The 45 ft sits at the other end. It is almost always a high cube, 45 ft long, 8 ft wide and 9 ft 6 in tall. It adds about 40 square feet of floor over a 40 ft unit.
Check your site before choosing one. A 45 ft container needs a longer truck and more room to set down than a 40. Prices for 45 ft units are also quoted by size, condition and location.
Shipping Container Sizes and What Fits in Each
Start with the door, then the interior length, then the height. The same three checks apply to all shipping container sizes. The examples below use the typical interior figures from the chart.
Fit Checks Worth Doing
- Pallets: about 10 standard 48 x 40 inch pallets on the floor of a 20 ft, and about 20 in a 40 ft, mixing orientations
- Lumber and pipe: 16 ft lengths fit a 20 ft container's 19 ft 4 in interior; 20 ft lengths need a 40 ft
- Sheet goods: a 4 x 8 sheet lies flat in any size, but stands on end only in a high cube
- Vehicles: width is usually the limit, so measure mirror to mirror against the 7 ft 6 in door
- Equipment: check the tallest point against 7 ft 5 in, or 8 ft 5 in for a high cube
Vehicles deserve a second look. A car may pass through the door and still leave no room to open its own doors inside a 7 ft 8 in interior. Measure length against 19 ft 4 in for a 20 ft or 39 ft 5 in for a 40 ft, and leave space to walk around.
Payload is seldom the limit. Even a 40 ft high cube is rated for tens of thousands of pounds of cargo. The ground under the container deserves more thought, and the next section covers it.
How to Pick the Right Shipping Container Size
Choosing among shipping container sizes goes faster when you work through the same questions in order. Answer each one before you ask for prices.
Measure what goes inside. List the longest, widest and tallest items and compare them to the door and interior figures above. If two 20s would do the job, one 40 ft of the same grade costs less at this site's prices.
Measure the site. Mark the footprint and leave room around it to open the doors. Longer shipping container sizes also need a longer clear path for delivery. Check that path for overhead wires and tight turns. Your supplier can tell you how much straight-line space their truck needs for each size.
Prepare the ground. The packing code quoted earlier calls for a firm, flat and drained surface for containers on the ground, with each one supported by its four bottom corner fittings. A level base keeps the doors opening and closing properly.
Plan the placement. A container lifted into place by crane is a heavy load. OSHA's crane, derrick and hoist safety page notes that these hazards are addressed in specific OSHA standards, including standards for construction. Leave lifting to a trained crew.
A Container Used as a Building Needs Approval
Using a container on a property, even for storage, usually needs local zoning approval and often a permit. Rules are local, so call your building department before you buy. The International Code Council publishes the ICC G5 guideline for shipping containers repurposed as buildings. It is intended to help jurisdictions, owners, architects, builders and engineers assess how to design, review and approve containers as a building element.
Decide whether it will be heated or cooled. A conditioned container can fall under the local energy code, which affects insulation and therefore headroom. The DOE Building Energy Codes Program tracks which states have adopted which energy codes. If you expect thick insulation, lean toward a high cube.
Plan any openings with an engineer. Cutting doors or windows removes steel the box relies on, so openings are an engineer's call. For finished projects, see the guides on the shipping container office and the shipping container home.
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What Shipping Container Sizes Cost
Price depends on size and grade first, then on distance from the nearest depot. The figures below are this site's ranges for the two most common shipping container sizes, 20 ft and 40 ft. Grade often moves the price more than size does.
| Grade | 20 ft container | 40 ft standard |
|---|---|---|
| New (one-trip) | $2,500–$5,000 | $3,500–$6,500 |
| IICL / multi-trip | $2,000–$3,500 | $2,800–$4,500 |
| Cargo-worthy | $1,500–$2,800 | $2,000–$3,500 |
| Wind and watertight | $1,200–$2,200 | $1,800–$2,800 |
| As-is | $800–$1,500 | $1,000–$2,000 |
| 40 ft high cube | n/a | used $2,200–$3,800; new $4,000–$7,000 |
| 10 ft and 45 ft | quoted by size, condition and location | |
| Delivery | $300–$2,500+ by distance from the depot | |
Cargo-worthy containers are inspected and certified to carry cargo. Wind and watertight units are sealed against weather but not certified for shipping. For storage on the ground, either can work. Full grade-by-grade detail is on the shipping container prices page.
Renting suits short jobs. A 20 ft rents for about $75–$200 a month and a 40 ft for about $100–$300, as covered on the storage container rental cost page. For a finished building, compare a container against a steel building on the shipping container vs metal building page.
Frequently Asked Questions
The standard shipping container sizes are 10, 20, 40 and 45 ft long, all 8 ft wide. Most 20 ft and 40 ft units are 8 ft 6 in tall, and high cube units are 9 ft 6 in tall. The 45 ft is almost always a high cube.
On the outside, a 20 ft container is 19 ft 10½ in long, 8 ft wide and 8 ft 6 in tall. A typical interior is about 19 ft 4 in long, 7 ft 8 in wide and 7 ft 10 in tall, though it varies by manufacturer. That gives about 148 square feet of floor.
A 40 ft container is 40 ft long, 8 ft wide and 8 ft 6 in tall outside, or 9 ft 6 in as a high cube. A typical interior is about 39 ft 5 in long and 7 ft 8 in wide. Interior height is about 7 ft 10 in standard and 8 ft 10 in high cube.
Empty, a 20 ft container weighs about 4,850 lb, a 40 ft about 8,160 lb and a 40 ft high cube about 8,510 lb. Weights vary by manufacturer. The maximum gross weight is printed on the CSC plate; ISO rates every length except 10 ft at 67,200 lb, and some units higher.
A high cube is a container one foot taller than standard, 9 ft 6 in instead of 8 ft 6 in. The footprint is the same. It gives about 8 ft 10 in of interior height and a taller door, which helps with insulated rooms and tall cargo.
Under ISO minimums, the door opening is at least 7 ft 6 in wide on every size. It is at least 7 ft 5 in high on an 8 ft 6 in container and 8 ft 5 in high on a high cube. Measure your largest item against the door first.
Yes. ISO lists a 10 ft length of 9 ft 9¾ in, 8 ft wide, at 8 ft tall. Check the measurements and door size of any unit you are offered against that size. Prices are quoted by size, condition and location.
About 10 standard 48 by 40 inch pallets fit on the floor of a typical 20 ft container, and about 20 in a 40 ft. Some pallets must be turned to make them fit. A container with a shorter interior may take fewer.
Exterior shipping container sizes are standardized, so boxes of the same size share a footprint. Interior dimensions, tare weight and payload vary by manufacturer and model. Ask for the spec sheet and read the CSC plate on the unit you buy.
At this site's prices, one 40 ft container costs less than two 20 ft units of the same grade and gives about the same floor area. A used 40 ft runs $1,000–$4,500 by grade, against $800–$3,500 for each used 20 ft. Pick the smaller of the shipping container sizes only when the site or the job calls for it.
Width is usually the limit for a car. The door is at least 7 ft 6 in wide and a typical interior is 7 ft 8 in wide, which leaves little room to open car doors. Measure the car mirror to mirror and check its length against the interior.
Shipping container sizes are simple once you separate the outside from the inside. The outside is standard: 8 ft wide, 8 ft 6 in or 9 ft 6 in tall, and 10 to 45 ft long. The inside, the weight and the payload vary by unit, so check the spec sheet and the plate.
Choose between shipping container sizes by your largest item, your site and your plans for the space. Then compare prices for that exact size and grade, with delivery included. A quote on the right box beats a bargain on the wrong one.
Related Resources
- Shipping Container Prices by Size and Grade
- 20ft Shipping Container Cost: Specs and Pricing
- 40ft Shipping Container Cost: Standard and High Cube
- Storage Container Rental Cost
- Shipping Container vs Metal Building
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