Complete list of Shipping Container Dimensions & Sizes
Shipping containers come in a range of standard sizes. Their size refers to the container’s length in feet. Most containers are a similar width and there are two common heights, a general purpose or high cube variant. More about that later.
Shipping Container Dimensions
How big is a shipping container? They range in size from 8ft, or 2.43m, all the way up to 48ft, or 14.63m.
It’s important to note the following dimensions and weights can vary slightly between builds.
Shipping Container Sizes and Dimensions
- Standard Shipping Container Dimensions
- Shipping Container Height – The Difference Between General Purpose and High Cube
- What Do Container Weights Mean
- Shipping Containers Dimensions
- Site Shed Dimensions
- Dangerous Goods Container Dimensions
- ISO Tank Dimensions
- Bulk Liquid Tanks
- Refrigerated Container Dimensions
- Pallet Wide Container Dimensions
- Side Opening Container Dimensions
- Curtain Side Container Dimensions
Standard Shipping Container Dimensions
With so many different container sizes, there is no ‘standard’ shipping container. However the most common shipping container is the 20ft container.
10ft Shipping Container Dimensions |
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INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 2,831 | Length (mm) | 2,991 | Tare (kg) | 1,300 |
Width (mm) | 2,350 | Width (mm) | 2,438 | Payload (kg) | 8,860 |
Height (mm) | 2,390 | Height (mm) | 2,591 | MGW (kg) | 10,160 |
20ft Shipping Container Dimensions |
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INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 5,898 | Length (mm) | 6,058 | Tare (kg) | 2,120 |
Width (mm) | 2,352 | Width (mm) | 2,438 | Payload (kg) | 28,360 |
Height (mm) | 2,390 | Height (mm) | 2,591 | MGW (kg) | 30,480 |
20ft High Cube Shipping Container Dimensions |
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INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 5,898 | Length (mm) | 6,058 | Tare (kg) | 2,315 |
Width (mm) | 2,352 | Width (mm) | 2,438 | Payload (kg) | 28,165 |
Height (mm) | 2,700 | Height (mm) | 2,896 | MGW (kg) | 30,480 |
40ft Shipping Container Dimensions |
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INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 12,032 | Length (mm) | 12,192 | Tare (kg) | 3,490 |
Width (mm) | 2,352 | Width (mm) | 2,438 | Payload (kg) | 26,990 |
Height (mm) | 2,393 | Height (mm) | 2,591 | MGW (kg) | 30,480 |
40ft High Cube Shipping Container Dimensions |
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INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 12,032 | Length (mm) | 12,192 | Tare (kg) | 4,670 |
Width (mm) | 2,350 | Width (mm) | 2,438 | Payload (kg) | 29,330 |
Height (mm) | 2,695 | Height (mm) | 2,896 | MGW (kg) | 34,000 |
Shipping Container Height – What’s the difference between a General Purpose and High Cube?
General Purpose Container
The external height of a general purpose container is 8’6”, or 2.59m tall. The internal height varies slightly, but is ~2.39m high.
High Cube Container
A high cube container has an additional foot of height, so externally it measures 9’6”, or 2.89m tall. The internal height of a high cube container varies slightly, but is ~2.69m high.
High cubes were originally introduced to provide additional internal storage for the purpose of furniture storage and transport, but the benefits have extended into other uses also.
You can tell if a container is a high cube by looking at it if you see black and yellow tape next to the corner castings.
Is a 20ft shipping container as tall as a 40ft shipping container?
Generally speaking, yes.
A 10ft General Purpose container is the same height as a 20ft General Purpose container, which is the same height as a 40ft General Purpose container. The same goes for high cube variants.
What do container weights mean?
Tare
Tare weight is the weight of an empty shipping container.
Payload
A shipping container’s payload is the total weight of the cargo or goods that it can hold.
Maximum Gross Weight (MGW)
Maximum Gross Weight is the total maximum weight that is permitted for the container. It equals the Tare + Payload, or put simply, the weight of the container and the maximum amount of goods it can carry safely.
Shipping Container Dimensions & Sizes
Shipping containers come in a wide range of sizes. For storage containers, the most common size is 20ft, however there are others designed to cater for your storage needs or fit in the space available at your site.
8ft Shipping Container Dimensions
INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 2,287 | Length (mm) | 2,438 | Tare (kg) | 950 |
Width (mm) | 2,112 | Width (mm) | 2,200 | Payload (kg) | 5,050 |
Height (mm) | 2,067 | Height (mm) | 2,260 | MGW (kg) | 6,000 |
The 8ft shipping container is less common, but still a popular choice for space constrained sites that require extra storage. Courtyard homes, small business and sports clubs are well suited to containers of this size.
10ft Shipping Container Dimensions
INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 2,831 | Length (mm) | 2,991 | Tare (kg) | 1,300 |
Width (mm) | 2,350 | Width (mm) | 2,438 | Payload (kg) | 8,860 |
Height (mm) | 2,390 | Height (mm) | 2,591 | MGW (kg) | 10,160 |
Of the mini shipping containers available, 10ft shipping containers are the most commonly available. They provide ample space for onsite storage, but are still less common than 20ft containers.
10ft High Cube Dimensions
INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 2,840 | Length (mm) | 2,991 | Tare (kg) | 1,350 |
Width (mm) | 2,350 | Width (mm) | 2,438 | Payload (kg) | 10,000 |
Height (mm) | 2,698 | Height (mm) | 2,896 | MGW (kg) | 11,350 |
10ft high cube shipping containers provide an additional foot of height for extra storage.
20ft Shipping Container Dimensions
INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 5,898 | Length (mm) | 6,058 | Tare (kg) | 2,120 |
Width (mm) | 2,352 | Width (mm) | 2,438 | Payload (kg) | 28,360 |
Height (mm) | 2,390 | Height (mm) | 2,591 | MGW (kg) | 30,480 |
The original and most common type of container, the 20ft shipping container is everywhere.
20ft High Cube Dimensions
INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 5,898 | Length (mm) | 6,058 | Tare (kg) | 2,315 |
Width (mm) | 2,352 | Width (mm) | 2,438 | Payload (kg) | 28,165 |
Height (mm) | 2,700 | Height (mm) | 2,896 | MGW (kg) | 30,480 |
The 20ft high cube shipping container provides an additional foot of height for extra storage. These are popular for transport purposes too.
20ft Side Opening Shipping Container Dimensions
INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 5,898 | Length (mm) | 6,058 | Tare (kg) | 3,200 |
Width (mm) | 2,287 | Width (mm) | 2,438 | Payload (kg) | 20,800 |
Height (mm) | 2,302 | Height (mm) | 2,591 | MGW (kg) | 24,000 |
The 20ft side opening shipping container provides easy access to your stored goods. These are popular if you plan to regularly access stored goods.
20ft Side Opening High Cube Shipping Container Dimensions
INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 5,898 | Length (mm) | 6,058 | Tare (kg) | 3,300 |
Width (mm) | 2,287 | Width (mm) | 2,438 | Payload (kg) | 27,180 |
Height (mm) | 2,607 | Height (mm) | 2,896 | MGW (kg) | 30,480 |
The 20ft side opening high cube shipping container provides easy access to your stored goods with an additional foot of height. These are popular if you plan to regularly access stored goods, and need a little extra storage space.
40ft Shipping Container Dimensions
INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 12,032 | Length (mm) | 12,192 | Tare (kg) | 3,490 |
Width (mm) | 2,352 | Width (mm) | 2,438 | Payload (kg) | 26,990 |
Height (mm) | 2,393 | Height (mm) | 2,591 | MGW (kg) | 30,480 |
The 40ft shipping container is another common size. These are not much more expensive than 20ft variants and store a lot of goods.
40ft High Cube Container Dimensions
INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 12,032 | Length (mm) | 12,192 | Tare (kg) | 4,670 |
Width (mm) | 2,350 | Width (mm) | 2,438 | Payload (kg) | 29,330 |
Height (mm) | 2,695 | Height (mm) | 2,896 | MGW (kg) | 34,000 |
If space is not an issue, the 40ft high cube shipping container is often the most popular choice for large scale storage and transport.
20ft Crib Room Dimensions
VOLUME | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 5,770 | Length (mm) | 6,058 | Tare (kg) | 3,370 |
Width (mm) | 2,150 | Width (mm) | 2,438 | Payload (kg) | 6,630 |
Height (mm) | 2,440 | Height (mm) | 2,896 | MGW (kg) | 10,000 |
The 20ft crib room provides a safe, comfortable place for your team to take a break and refuel.
20ft Site Office Dimensions
VOLUME | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 5,770 | Length (mm) | 6,058 | Tare (kg) | 3,340 |
Width (mm) | 2,150 | Width (mm) | 2,438 | Payload (kg) | 6,660 |
Height (mm) | 2,440 | Height (mm) | 2,896 | MGW (kg) | 10,000 |
The 20ft site office can be configured to suit your requirements and help better manage your project onsite.
20ft Hoarding Platform 10kPa Dimensions
VOLUME | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | N/A | Length (mm) | 6,058 | Tare (kg) | N/A |
Width (mm) | N/A | Width (mm) | 2,438 | Payload (kg) | 20,000 |
Height (mm) | N/A | Height (mm) | 260 | MGW (kg) | N/A |
Keep your team safe on site with our 20ft hoarding platform 10kPa units configured to suit your site shed needs.
20ft Container Workshop Dimensions
VOLUME | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 5,898 | Length (mm) | 6,058 | Tare (kg) | 2,315 |
Width (mm) | 2,350 | Width (mm) | 2,438 | Payload (kg) | 28,165 |
Height (mm) | 2,700 | Height (mm) | 2,896 | MGW (kg) | 30,480 |
A 20ft container workshop is the perfect alternative to a shed, especially if you need it quickly and don’t want to go through the whole council approval process. They are also popular on worksites.
40ft Container Accommodation Dimensions
VOLUME | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 11,884 | Length (mm) | 12,192 | Tare (kg) | 7,320 |
Width (mm) | 2,150 | Width (mm) | 2,438 | Payload (kg) | 7,680 |
Height (mm) | 2,405 | Height (mm) | 2,896 | MGW (kg) | 15,000 |
40ft container accommodation units are popular on camps and regional projects. Each comes with all the amenities one could expect from a comfortable home away from home.
Chemical Storage Cabinet Dimensions
INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 2,100 | Length (mm) | 2,163 | Tare (kg) | 900 |
Width (mm) | 1,345 | Width (mm) | 1,425 | Payload (kg) | 3,000 |
Height (mm) | 1,675 | Height (mm) | 2,289 | MGW (kg) | 3,900 |
Store your dangerous goods safely on space constrained sites in a Chemical Storage Cabinet for much less than the cost of a dangerous goods container. Can be located inside or outside.
10ft Dangerous Goods Container Dimensions
INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 2,840 | Length (mm) | 2,991 | Tare (kg) | 1,800 |
Width (mm) | 2,370 | Width (mm) | 2,438 | Payload (kg) | 8,360 |
Height (mm) | 2,586 | Height (mm) | 2,896 | MGW (kg) | 10,160 |
Our 10ft Dangerous Goods container allows you to store more dangerous goods on your site. Get it out of your workshop so you can free up space and store them safely.
20ft Dangerous Goods Single Side Door Dimensions
INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 5,898 | Length (mm) | 6,058 | Tare (kg) | 4,000 |
Width (mm) | 2,309 | Width (mm) | 2,450 | Payload (kg) | 16,000 |
Height (mm) | 2,586 | Height (mm) | 2,896 | MGW (kg) | 20,000 |
Our 20ft Single Side Door Dangerous Goods container allows you to store and access dangerous goods from one whole side. Safe and easy access makes your day that much easier.
20ft Double Side Door Dangerous Goods Container Dimensions
INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 5,948 | Length (mm) | 6,058 | Tare (kg) | 4,600 |
Width (mm) | 2,248 | Width (mm) | 2,462 | Payload (kg) | 16,000 |
Height (mm) | 2,586 | Height (mm) | 2,896 | MGW (kg) | 20,600 |
Our 20ft Double Side Door Dangerous Goods container provides the ultimate flexibility to access and pack your dangerous goods. Access from both sides saves you time and increases safety onsite.
ISO Liquid Tank Dimensions
VOLUME | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Litres | 14,000 – 26,000 | Length (mm) | 6,058 | Tare (kg) | 2,500 – 3,500 |
m3 | 14-26 | Width (mm) | 2,438 | Payload (kg) | 32,500 – 33,500 |
Height (mm) | 2,591 | MGW (kg) | 36,000 |
Store and transport your bulk liquids in our ISO liquid tank. We have introduced a range of industry leading safety features to ensure the wellbeing of your staff and contractors.
ISO Pneumatic Tank Dimensions
VOLUME | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Litres | 28,000 | Length (mm) | 6,058 | Tare (kg) | 4,150 |
m3 | 28 | Width (mm) | 2,502 | Payload (kg) | 29,850 |
Height (mm) | 2,896 | MGW (kg) | 34,000 |
Our ISO Pneumatic tank enables the safe and efficient transport of bulk powders. We have introduced a range of industry leading safety features to ensure the wellbeing of your staff and contractors.
ISO Side Discharge Tank Dimensions
26,000L variant
VOLUME | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Litres | 26,000 | Length (mm) | 6,058 | Tare (kg) | 3,190 |
m3 | 26 | Width (mm) | 2,438 | Payload (kg) | 32,810 |
Height (mm) | 2,591 | MGW (kg) | 36,000 |
Our ISO Side Discharge tank has side discharge capabilities so your operator does not need to leave the ground. It also comes with a range of other industry leading safety features.
ISO Food Grade CIP Tank Dimensions
VOLUME | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Litres | 21,000 – 24,500 | Length (mm) | 6,058 | Tare (kg) | 3,460 |
m3 | 21 – 24.5 | Width (mm) | 2,438 | Payload (kg) | 35,540 |
Height (mm) | 2,591 | MGW (kg) | 39,000 |
Our ISO Food Grade CIP tank is designed for the safe and efficient transport of bulk foods that will not be spoiled in transit.
25ft Bulk Liquid Storage Tank
Volume | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Litres | 37,000 | Length (mm) | 7,620 | Tare (kg) | 6,200 |
Cubic (m3) | 37 | Width (mm) | 2,438 | Payload (kg) | 63,000 |
Barrels (BBL) | 232 | Height (mm) | 2,896 | MGW (kg) | 69,200 |
Our 25ft Bulk Liquid Storage Tank is the ideal solution small scale requirements or space constrained sites.
45ft Bulk Liquid Storage Tank
VOLUME | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Litres (L) | 77,000 | Length (mm) | 13,716 | Tare (kg) | 10,500 |
Cubic (m3) | 77 | Width (mm) | 2,500 | Payload (kg) | 76,000 |
Barrels (BBL) | 484 | Height (mm) | 2,896 | MGW (kg) | 86,500 |
45ft Bulk Liquid Storage Tanks are popular for sites with significant liquid storage requirements.
48ft Wheeled Frac Tank – Dual Axle
VOLUME | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Litres (L) | 77,000 | Length (mm) | 12,844 | Tare (kg) | 17,000 |
Cubic (m3) | 77 | Width (mm) | 2,500 | Payload (kg) | 76,000 |
Barrels (BBL) | 484 | Height (mm) | 4,227 | MGW (kg) | 93,000 |
48ft Dual Axle Bulk Liquid Tanks can be quickly and easily deployed to, or relocated on site.
20ft Cool Room Container Dimensions
INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 5,468 | Length (mm) | 6,058 | Tare (kg) | 3,740 |
Width (mm) | 2,375 | Width (mm) | 2,500 | Payload (kg) | 31,260 |
Height (mm) | 2,580 | Height (mm) | 2,896 | MGW (kg) | 35,000 |
Our 20ft Cool Room is suited to onsite cold storage, at manufacturing facilities or events. It can also transport temperature sensitive pallets and cargo.
41ft Refrigerated Container Dimensions
INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 11,780 | Length (mm) | 12,573 | Tare (kg) | 6,400 |
Width (mm) | 2,385 | Width (mm) | 2,500 | Payload (kg) | 28,200 |
Height (mm) | 2,716 | Height (mm) | 3,000 | MGW (kg) | 35,000 |
A 41ft Refrigerated Container is popular for the transport of temperature controlled pallets and cargo.
46ft Refrigerated Container Dimensions
INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 13,218 | Length (mm) | 14,185 | Tare (kg) | 6,870 |
Width (mm) | 2,390 | Width (mm) | 2,500 | Payload (kg) | 28,130 |
Height (mm) | 2,716 | Height (mm) | 3,000 | MGW (kg) | 35,000 |
The 46ft Refrigerated Container has the same capabilities as the 41ft unit, but can hold more goods. Popular for large scale transport of temperature sensitive pallets and cargo.
48ft Refrigerated Container Dimensions
INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 14,130 | Length (mm) | 15,234 | Tare (kg) | 7,760 |
Width (mm) | 2,380 | Width (mm) | 2,500 | Payload (kg) | 27,240 |
Height (mm) | 2,716 | Height (mm) | 3,000 | MGW (kg) | 35,000 |
The 48ft Refrigerated Container is the largest refrigerated container available on the market. It is best suited to the large-scale transport of temperature sensitive pallets and cargo.
Pallet Wide Container Dimensions
Pallet wide containers are designed to fit two Australia CHEP pallets (width ways). Our pallet wide containers also come with the option of vertical load bars, that enable you to safely stack fragile pallets on top of each other without the risk of damage.
20ft Pallet Wide Dimensions
INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 5,899 | Length (mm) | 6,058 | Tare (kg) | 2,882 |
Width (mm) | 2,422 | Width (mm) | 2,462 | Payload (kg) | 27,598 |
Height (mm) | 2,694 | Height (mm) | 2,896 | MGW (kg) | 30,480 |
Easily fit up to 10 pallets for safe and secure transport, or 20 pallets by adding our vertical load bars into our 20ft Pallet Wide container.
40ft Pallet Wide Dimensions
INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 12,041 | Length (mm) | 12,192 | Tare (kg) | 4,670 |
Width (mm) | 2,414 | Width (mm) | 2,462 | Payload (kg) | 29,330 |
Height (mm) | 2,695 | Height (mm) | 2,896 | MGW (kg) | 34,000 |
Easily fit up to 20 pallets for safe and secure transport, or 40 pallets by adding our vertical load bars into our 40ft Pallet Wide container.
48ft Pallet Wide Dimensions
INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 14,490 | Length (mm) | 14,630 | Tare (kg) | 6,280 |
Width (mm) | 2,402 | Width (mm) | 2,500 | Payload (kg) | 28,720 |
Height (mm) | 2,781 | Height (mm) | 3,000 | MGW (kg) | 35,000 |
Easily fit up to 24 pallets for safe and secure transport, or 48 pallets by adding our vertical load bars into our 48ft Pallet Wide container.
Side Door Container Dimensions
Side opening containers make loading and unloading cargo a breeze. Various sizes are suited to different cargo types. SCF’s mezzanine deck also enables operators to stack fragile freight without the risk of damage too.
20ft Side Door Container Dimensions
INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 5,970 | Length (mm) | 6,058 | Tare (kg) | 3,670 |
Width (mm) | 2,400 | Width (mm) | 2,500 | Payload (kg) | 30,330 |
Height (mm) | 2,587 | Height (mm) | 2,896 | MGW (kg) | 34,000 |
Safely and efficiently load or unload our 20ft Side Door Container from both sides.
40ft Half Height Side Door Dimensions
INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 12,086 | Length (mm) | 12,192 | Tare (kg) | 5,960 |
Width (mm) | 1,197 | Width (mm) | 2,500 | Payload (kg) | 24,520 |
Height (mm) | 1,695 | Height (mm) | 2,050 | MGW (kg) | 30,480 |
SCF’s 40ft Half Height Side Door Container makes it easy to load fragile pallets that cannot be stacked on top of each other, from both sides.
Curtain Side Containers
Curtain Side Containers provide side access for operators, who can easily, quickly and safely unload specific pallets. SCF’s mezzanine deck enables double stacking of fragile palletised stock without the risk of damage.
40ft Curtain Side Container Dimensions
INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 12,056 | Length (mm) | 12,192 | Tare (kg) | 6,310 |
Width (mm) | 2,412 | Width (mm) | 2,500 | Payload (kg) | 25,750 |
Height (mm) | 2,597 | Height (mm) | 3,000 | MGW (kg) | 32,000 |
SCF’s 40ft Curtain Side Shipping Container makes it easy to load and unload goods quickly and safely.
48ft Curtain Side Container Dimensions
INTERNAL | EXTERNAL | WEIGHT | |||
Length (mm) | 14,526 | Length (mm) | 14,630 | Tare (kg) | 7,950 |
Width (mm) | 2,400 | Width (mm) | 2,500 | Payload (kg) | 24,050 |
Height (mm) | 2,623 | Height (mm) | 2,997 | MGW (kg) | 32,000 |
SCF’s 48ft Curtain Side Shipping Container makes it easy to load and unload goods quickly and safely.
Quick response when asking for more information. The prices are incredible low. Ok, its not inside a building, but I am getting 3x the size for the same price elsewhere. Fantastic service, and 24 hour access. Brilliant.