Container dimensions – all sizes at a glance

Anyone buying a container first needs two figures: the external dimensions for the pitch and the internal dimensions for what is to go inside. The two differ considerably – depending on the size, the walls, corner posts and floor structure swallow 8 to 20 centimetres per direction. This overview brings together the standardised dimensions of all common sizes.

All standard sizes compared

The external dimensions of shipping and storage containers are laid down in ISO 668 and are identical worldwide. A 20 ft container from Korea therefore fits on the same pitch as one from China – that is the real point of standardisation.

Size	External L × W × H	Internal L × W × H	Door opening W × H	Volume	Tare weight
10 ft	2,99 × 2,44 × 2,59 m	2,83 × 2,35 × 2,39 m	2,34 × 2,28 m	approx. 16 m³	approx. 1.300 kg
20 ft standard	6,06 × 2,44 × 2,59 m	5,90 × 2,35 × 2,39 m	2,34 × 2,28 m	approx. 33 m³	approx. 2.250 kg
40 ft standard	12,19 × 2,44 × 2,59 m	12,03 × 2,35 × 2,39 m	2,34 × 2,28 m	approx. 67 m³	approx. 3.750 kg
40 ft High Cube	12,19 × 2,44 × 2,90 m	12,03 × 2,35 × 2,70 m	2,34 × 2,58 m	approx. 76 m³	approx. 3.900 kg
45 ft High Cube	13,72 × 2,44 × 2,90 m	13,56 × 2,35 × 2,70 m	2,34 × 2,58 m	approx. 86 m³	approx. 4.800 kg

About the figures: The external dimensions are standardised and apply without tolerance. Internal dimensions and volumes vary by a few centimetres, or one to two cubic metres, because the floor structure and wall profile differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. Tare weights are guide values: year of construction, steel thickness and floor material make a difference of up to 300 kilograms on a 40 ft container. For transport planning or structural calculations, please ask us for the values of the specific container – they are stated bindingly on the CSC plate on the door.

What the figures mean in practice

Euro pallets

The question asked most often in a sales conversation. A Euro pallet measures 1,20 × 0,80 m. 11 Euro pallets fit in one layer in a 20 ft container, and 25 in a 40 ft container. Placed crosswise the figures are 10 and 21 respectively – the lengthwise arrangement makes better use of the width. If they can be stacked, the number doubles, provided the goods and the height allow it: with an internal height of 2,39 m, two layers of 1,05 m each leave just under 29 centimetres of clearance.

Internal height and High Cube

A High Cube is exactly 30,5 centimetres higher than the standard version – one foot. That sounds like little, but it regularly makes the difference: anyone using the container as a workshop, office or break room quickly loses 10 to 15 centimetres of standing height through insulation and interior fit-out. 2,39 m of bare height then rapidly becomes 2,20 m, which is borderline for a break room. In a High Cube container, around 2,50 m remains under the same conditions.

Pitch and access

The container’s footprint alone is not enough for the pitch. Allow at least 50 centimetres of working space all round, and 1,5 metres in front of the doors for opening them. Usually more decisive is the delivery: a lorry with a crane needs a surfaced, level area and clear height above the point where the container is set down – branches, overhead lines and balconies are the most common surprises on site. Details on this are set out under Shipping & Delivery.

Ground

A container transfers its weight through the four corner castings, not through the floor area. On soft ground these four points sink in and the frame warps – and then the doors no longer close. Four load-bearing bearing points, aligned level, are more important than a continuous concrete slab.

Which size for which purpose

10 ft – garden tools, construction site material, club equipment. Fits on plots where a 20 ft container can no longer be manoeuvred.
20 ft – the best-selling size. The household contents of a three- to four-room flat, workshop and storage needs, construction site stores. See Standard containers.
40 ft – moving a detached house, machinery, bulky goods. Twice the volume at the same width.
40 ft High Cube – first choice for fitting out as an office, workshop or living space, because the standing height is retained after insulation.
45 ft – special cases with very long loads. Not permitted everywhere and more demanding to deliver.

Undecided? The buying advice goes through the selection step by step, and under Buy containers you will find the current stock with prices.

Frequently asked questions

How many Euro pallets fit in a 20 ft container?

11 Euro pallets lengthwise in one layer, 10 crosswise. With stackable goods, correspondingly twice as many.

How heavy is a 20 ft container?

Around 2.250 kilograms empty. The permissible gross weight is 30.480 kilograms, giving a payload of about 28 tonnes – in practice, however, it is almost always the transport vehicle that is the limiting factor, not the container.

How high is a High Cube container inside?

Around 2,70 metres, compared with 2,39 metres for a standard container. The difference is exactly one foot.

Does a container need a foundation?

Not a continuous one. What is needed is four load-bearing, level bearing points under the corner castings – such as concrete slabs or strip foundations. The important thing is that they do not settle unevenly.

Will a 40 ft container fit through a normal yard entrance?

The container itself is 2,44 metres wide, but the delivery vehicle is considerably wider, and wider still with the crane outriggers extended. Allow for at least 3,5 metres of clear access width and sufficient turning area. If in doubt, we will clarify this with you in advance.