A standard shipping container is 8 ft wide and 8 ft 6 in tall on the outside, and comes in lengths of 10 ft, 20 ft and 40 ft. A high cube is one foot taller, at 9 ft 6 in. Inside, walls and floor take about 4 inches off the width and 8 inches off the height, so a standard container is roughly 7 ft 8 in wide and 7 ft 10 in tall inside.
The figures below come from the specification sheets of containers we sell where a listing gives them, and from the ISO 668 standard sizes otherwise. Internal dimensions and weights vary slightly by manufacturer, so treat the “typical” figures as a close guide, not a guarantee for a particular unit.
Container dimensions at a glance
| Container | External (L x W x H) | Internal (L x W x H) | Volume | Empty weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 ft standard | 9 ft 9¾ in x 8 ft x 8 ft 6 in 2,991 x 2,438 x 2,591 mm |
9 ft 1 in x 7 ft 8½ in x 7 ft 10 in 2,777 x 2,350 x 2,393 mm |
about 550 cu ft (15.6 m³) | 3,090 lb (1,400 kg)* |
| 20 ft standard | 19 ft 10½ in x 8 ft x 8 ft 6 in 6,058 x 2,438 x 2,591 mm |
19 ft 4 in x 7 ft 8½ in x 7 ft 10 in (typical) 5,898 x 2,352 x 2,393 mm |
about 1,170 cu ft (33 m³) | 4,850 to 5,300 lb (typical) |
| 20 ft high cube | 19 ft 10½ in x 8 ft x 9 ft 6 in 6,058 x 2,438 x 2,896 mm |
19 ft 4 in x 7 ft 8½ in x 8 ft 10 in (typical) | about 1,300 cu ft (37 m³) | about 5,000 to 5,500 lb (typical) |
| 40 ft standard | 40 ft x 8 ft x 8 ft 6 in 12,192 x 2,438 x 2,591 mm |
39 ft 5½ in x 7 ft 8½ in x 7 ft 10 in 12,032 x 2,350 x 2,393 mm |
about 2,390 cu ft (67.6 m³) | 7,830 lb (3,550 kg)* |
| 40 ft high cube | 40 ft x 8 ft x 9 ft 6 in 12,192 x 2,438 x 2,896 mm |
39 ft 5½ in x 7 ft 8½ in x 8 ft 10 in (typical) | about 2,700 cu ft (76 m³) | about 8,400 to 8,800 lb (typical) |
* From the specification of a unit we list: the 10 ft double-door container and the 40 ft standard one-trip container.
Door openings
The door opening is smaller than the inside of the box, and it is the measurement that decides what you can actually get in. On a standard-height container the opening is about 7 ft 8 in wide by 7 ft 6 in high (2,342 x 2,280 mm on our 40 ft one-trip unit). A high cube adds roughly a foot of door height. Measure the widest and tallest item you plan to store against the door, not the interior.
How much does a shipping container weigh?
- 10 ft: about 3,090 lb (1,400 kg) empty for our 10 ft double-door unit. Heavier specialist builds weigh more: our 10 ft offshore container is 1,960 kg.
- 20 ft: typically 4,850 to 5,300 lb (2,200 to 2,400 kg) empty. Open-side and modified units are heavier; our 20 ft open-side high cube lists a tare of 3,100 kg.
- 40 ft: 7,830 lb (3,550 kg) empty for our 40 ft standard one-trip unit, rated to a maximum gross weight of 67,200 lb (30,480 kg).
- 40 ft high cube: typically 8,400 to 8,800 lb empty.
Empty weight matters for delivery and siting: it sets the truck and crane needed, and the load your ground or foundation must carry at the four corners.
What fits in each size?
- 10 ft (about 550 cu ft): tools, garden equipment, a ride-on mower, or a small site store. Fits a single parking bay.
- 20 ft (about 1,170 cu ft): the contents of a two- or three-bedroom home, or stock and equipment for a small business. The most common size for storage.
- 40 ft (about 2,390 cu ft): twice the floor area of a 20 ft, typically for well under twice the price. Suits large inventories, machinery and conversions.
- High cube: choose one when you need racking, forklift access or head height for an office or home conversion.
Space needed for delivery
A container is delivered on a tilt-bed truck or placed by crane. As a rule of thumb, a tilt-bed needs about 60 ft of straight, level clearance to drop a 20 ft container and about 100 ft for a 40 ft, plus overhead clearance free of wires and branches. Check access before you order.
Common questions
What are the dimensions of a 20 ft shipping container? Outside, 19 ft 10½ in long, 8 ft wide and 8 ft 6 in tall (6,058 x 2,438 x 2,591 mm). Inside, typically about 19 ft 4 in x 7 ft 8½ in x 7 ft 10 in.
What are the dimensions of a 40 ft shipping container? Outside, 40 ft x 8 ft x 8 ft 6 in (12,192 x 2,438 x 2,591 mm). Inside, 39 ft 5½ in x 7 ft 8½ in x 7 ft 10 in on our 40 ft standard one-trip unit.
How tall is a high cube container? 9 ft 6 in outside, one foot taller than a standard container, giving about 8 ft 10 in of internal height.
How much does a 20 ft shipping container weigh empty? Typically 4,850 to 5,300 lb (2,200 to 2,400 kg). Modified and open-side units weigh more.
How much does a 40 ft shipping container weigh? Our 40 ft standard one-trip unit weighs 7,830 lb (3,550 kg) empty. A 40 ft high cube typically weighs 8,400 to 8,800 lb.
Browse 8 ft and 10 ft containers, 20 ft containers, 40 ft containers or high cube containers.