Container dimensions

Containers appear in many shapes and sizes. It’s important to know which container(s) you need for your specific shipments, a number of pallets or for goods with deviating dimensions.

Standard sizes and dimensions for containers

A container is a standardised, metal cargo box used to transport goods. The same international standard dimensions are used worldwide and therefore they can be transferred from ocean-going vessel to train, truck or barge.

TEU is the standard size of a container and stands for Twenty feet Equivalent Unit. Typically, a container is:

20 feet (approximately 6 metres = 1 TEU);
40 feet (2 TEU = 1 FEU).

FEU staat voor Fourty feet Equivalent Unit. Daarnaast zijn er ook containers met verschillende afmetingen. Naast TEU’s en FEU’s zijn er ook verschillende soorten containers. Hieronder staan de belangrijkste op een rij.

The standard: dry container

A standard container is made of steel and is intended for general cargo that is not too long, too wide, too high, too heavy or bulk cargo. A standard container is also called a ‘dry container’. View dimensions

Special dimensions: Flat Rack

Do you have heavy cargo to transport? Then Flat Racks are the most suitable. Flat Racks have collapsible end frames, lashing rings on the rails at the bottom and corner supports to protect the load with straps or chains. View dimensions

Refrigerated containers (reefers)

When a container is transporting temperature-sensitive products, such as food, films, plants or pharmaceutical products, it is very important that the products remain at the right temperature during transport. This is done in so-called reefers, which contain cooling units on the side of the container. Cold or warmer air circulates constantly around the cargo. In this way, the quality of the cargo is guaranteed throughout the entire journey. View dimensions

Open top container

These containers do not have a solid roof but are covered with waterproof tarpaulin that is secured with ropes. Moreover, an open top container has lashing rings on the inside so that the load does not shift. So it is well suited for overheight and/or long loads. View dimensions

The standard: dry container

	20 FT Standard	40 FT Standard
Capacity	33 cbm	67,4 cbm
Inside dimensions in mm (LxWxH)	5.888 x 2.340 x 2.387	12.031 x 2.346 x 2.383
Door opening in mm (WxH)	2.280 x 2.275	2.338 x 2.272
Weight (max. gross/total weight)	30.480 kg	30.480 kg
Tare (container) weight	2.200 kg	3.740 kg
Max. load weight	28.280 kg	26.740 kg

	40FT High Cube	45FT
Capacity	76,2 cbm	86,0 cbm
Inside dimensions in mm (LxWxH)	12.031 x 2.350 x 2.694	13.556 x 2.352 x 2.697
Door opening in mm (WxH)	2.338 x 2.585	2.340 x 2.585
Weight (max. gross/total weight)	30.480 kg	30.480 kg
Tare (container) weight	3.830 kg	4.780 kg
Max. load weight	26.650 kg	25.700 kg

Special dimensions: Flat Rack

	20FT Flat Rack	40FT Flat Rack
Capacity	28,4 cbm	53,2 cbm
Inside dimensions in mm (LxWxH)	5.652 x 2.438 x 2.213	12.082 x 2.438 x 1.955
Weight (max. gross/total weight)	34.000 kg	45.000 kg
Tare (container) weight	3.050 kg	6.200 kg
Max. load weight	30.950 kg	38.800 kg

Refrigerated containers (reefers)

	20FT Reefer	40FT Reefer HQ
Capacity	28,2 cbm	64,9 cbm
Inside dimensions in mm (LxWxH)	5.446 x 2.268 x 2.260	11.558 x 2.284 x 2.522
Door opening in mm (WxH)	2.290 x 2.264	2.286 x 2.542
Weight (max. gross/total weight)	30.480 kg	34.000 kg
Tare (container) weight	3.080 kg	4.720 kg
Max. load weight	27.400	29.280 kg

Open top container

	20FT Open top	40FT Open Top
Capacity	32,4 cbm	66,2 cbm
Inside dimensions in mm (LxWxH)	5.893 x 2.346 x 2.348	12.022 x 2.346 x 2.348
Door opening in mm (WxH)	2.336 x 2.244	2.336 x 2.244
Roof opening in mm (WxL)	5.760 x 2.228	11.891 x 2.184
Weight (max. gross/total weight)	30.480 kg	30.480 kg
Tare (container) weight	2.380 kg	3.880
Max. load weight	28.100 kg	26.600