Shipping Container Standards - Container Sizes & Dimensions
The standard container sizes are 20ft, 40ft, 45 ft and 53ft. 20 TEU is the standard for measurement. For example some of the largest container ships have a capacity of more than 19,000 TEU. That means 19,000 20ft containers or 9500 40 footers or a mix thereof.
20 foot containers, called Twenty foot Equivalent Unit (TEU), is the industry standard for referencing cargo volume. So if a truck goes past with a 40ft container on the back that truck is carrying 2 TEU.
Download a pdf with the standard dimensions of ocean containers. Shipping container size and dimensions download.
Storage Container Specifications
| Type | Exterior | Internal | Door Openings | Weight | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size/Type | Length | Width | Height | Length | Width | Height | Width | Height | Tare |
| 20′ Dry Van | 19′ 10½” | 8′ | 8′ 6″ | 19′ 3″ | 7′ 8″ | 7′ 9⅞” | 7′ 8″ | 7′ 5″ | 5,050 |
| 40′ Dry Van | 40′ | 8′ | 8′ 6″ | 39′ 5″ | 7′ 8″ | 7′ 9⅞” | 7′ 8″ | 7′ 5″ | 8,000 |
| 40′ High Cube | 40′ | 8′ | 9′ 6″ | 39′ 5″ | 7′ 8″ | 8′ 10″ | 7′ 8″ | 8′ 5½” | 8,775 |
| 45′ High Cube | 45′ | 8′ | 9′ 6″ | 44′ 5″ | 7′ 8″ | 8′ 10″ | 7′ 8″ | 8′ 5½” | 9,810 |
| 20′ Refrigerated | 19′ 10½” | 8′ | 8′ 6″ | 17′ 11″ | 7′ 6″ | 7′ 6″ | 7′ 5″ | 7′ 3″ | 6,503 |
| 40′ Refrigerated | 40′ | 8′ | 8′ 6″ | 37′ 11″ | 7′ 6″ | 7′ 6″ | 7′ 6″ | 7′ 6″ | 9,750 |
| 40′ HC Refrigerated | 40′ | 8′ | 9′ 6″ | 37′ 11″ | 7′ 6″ | 8′ 4″ | 7′ 6″ | 8′ 4″ | 9,590 |
One of the disadvantages of shipping containers or sea cans is also their advantage. Size. They are big and they are heavy. Shipping containers require special equipment to pickup and move. The forks are 84" apart and weighs 10,000 lbs.
We have a number of other options for containers and we will start here with Economy Steel Storage Containers.
Economy Steel Storage Container sizes.
| Container Style | Aprox ft. | W x L x H | Weight |
| Skid container 60" high | 4 x 4 x 5 | 40 x 48 x 60 | 300 lbs |
| Skid container 78.5" high | 4 x 4 x 6 | 40 x 48 x 78.5 | 325 lbs |
|
Half container |
7 x 4 x 7 |
81 x 44.5 x 87.5 |
480 lbs |
| Standard container | 7 x 7 x 7 | 81 x 86 x 87.5 | 700 lbs |
| 1.5 container | 7 x 11 x 7 | 81 x 130.5 x 87.5 | 1000 lbs |
| Double container | 7 x 14 x 7 | 81 x 172 x 87.5 |
1250 lbs |
Modular Steel Storage Container Sizes
| Container Style | Aprox ft. | W x L x H | Weight |
| Modular 57" wide | 5 x 4 x 6 | 57 x 45 x 76.5 | 328 lbs |
| Modular 75" wide | 6 x 4 x 7 | 74.6 x 52.5 x 88.5 | 650 lbs |
|
Modular 57" + 1 extension |
5 x 7 x 7 |
57 x 81 x 76.5 |
518 lbs |
| Modular 57" + 2 extensions | 5 x 10 x 7 | 57 x 113 x 76.5 | 708 lbs |
| Modular 57" + 3 extensions | 5 x 14 x 7 | 57 x 149 x 76.5 | 898 lbs |
|
Modular 75" + 1 extension |
6 x 8 x 7 | 74.6 x 96.5 x 88.5 |
950 lbs |
|
Modular 75" + 2 extensions |
6 x 12 x 7 | 74.6 x 140.5 x 88.5 | 1250 lbs |
|
Modular 75" + 3 extensions |
6 x 15 x 7 | 74.6 x 184.5 x 88.5 | 1550 lbs |