Shipping Container Dimensions And Specs.
Exterior size, interior usable space, door openings, weight terms, payload, and ISO reference context for 20-foot standard, 40-foot standard, and 40-foot high cube dry containers.
At-A-Glance Reference
The three sizes most buyers compare first.
Exterior dimensions follow the ISO 668 Series 1 container sizing convention; interior and door measurements vary slightly by manufacturer and unit history.
High Cube containers add one foot of exterior height compared with Standard containers.
Door opening is not the same as interior width. Measure the door opening for forklifts, pallets, racks, vehicles, and oversized cargo.
Measure the outside for the site. Measure the inside for the contents.
Exterior dimensions answer whether the container fits the lot, pad, driveway, and delivery path. Interior dimensions and door openings answer whether the cargo, racks, vehicle, or build-out actually fits.
20' Standard
ISO 22 G1A 20-foot standard dry container is the compact reference size: 20 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 8 feet 6 inches tall outside.
- Residential storage
- Tight-access jobsites
- Tool and equipment storage
| Measurement | Size | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior length | 20' 0"6,058 mm | Use this for yard, pad, delivery, and clearance planning. |
| Exterior width | 8' 0"2,438 mm | Standard dry containers are 8 feet wide outside. |
| Exterior height | 8' 6"2,591 mm | Standard dry-container exterior height. |
| Interior length | 19' 4 1/4"5,900 mm | Use this for contents, shelving, and modification planning. |
| Interior width | 7' 8 5/8"2,352 mm | Interior width is not the same as the door opening. |
| Interior height | 7' 10 1/4"2,395 mm | Useful for racking, machinery, and finished build-outs. |
| Door opening width | 7' 8 1/8"2,340 mm | Most common fit problem for pallets and equipment. |
| Door opening height | 7' 6 1/4"2,292 mm | Critical for forklifts, ATVs, carts, and tall cargo. |
40' Standard
ISO 42 G1A 40-foot standard dry container keeps the same 8-foot exterior width and 8-foot-6 exterior height, but doubles the exterior length to 40 feet.
- Commercial inventory
- Large-volume storage
- Construction staging
| Measurement | Size | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior length | 40' 0"12,192 mm | Use this for yard, pad, delivery, and clearance planning. |
| Exterior width | 8' 0"2,438 mm | Standard dry containers are 8 feet wide outside. |
| Exterior height | 8' 6"2,591 mm | Standard dry-container exterior height. |
| Interior length | 39' 5 5/8"12,032 mm | Use this for contents, shelving, and modification planning. |
| Interior width | 7' 8 5/8"2,352 mm | Interior width is not the same as the door opening. |
| Interior height | 7' 10 1/4"2,395 mm | Useful for racking, machinery, and finished build-outs. |
| Door opening width | 7' 8 1/8"2,340 mm | Most common fit problem for pallets and equipment. |
| Door opening height | 7' 6 1/4"2,292 mm | Critical for forklifts, ATVs, carts, and tall cargo. |
40' High Cube
ISO 45 G1A 40-foot high cube adds one foot of exterior height over a standard container, which is why modified builds and tall storage often start here.
- Modified container builds
- Tall shelving
- Bulky equipment storage
| Measurement | Size | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior length | 40' 0"12,192 mm | Use this for yard, pad, delivery, and clearance planning. |
| Exterior width | 8' 0"2,438 mm | Standard dry containers are 8 feet wide outside. |
| Exterior height | 9' 6"2,896 mm | High Cube adds one foot over standard exterior height. |
| Interior length | 39' 5 5/8"12,032 mm | Use this for contents, shelving, and modification planning. |
| Interior width | 7' 8 1/2"2,350 mm | Interior width is not the same as the door opening. |
| Interior height | 8' 10 1/4"2,700 mm | Useful for racking, machinery, and finished build-outs. |
| Door opening width | 7' 8 1/8"2,340 mm | Most common fit problem for pallets and equipment. |
| Door opening height | 8' 6 1/4"2,597 mm | Critical for forklifts, ATVs, carts, and tall cargo. |
Tare, gross, and payload are three different decisions.
Use these values as reference examples, not a substitute for the specific unit plate. Structural loads, stacking, roof attachments, equipment storage, and modified builds need a unit check before the plan becomes final.
Tare weight
Empty container weight
Use tare when planning transport, crane picks, trailer capacity, and total project weight before cargo is loaded.
Max gross
Container plus payload
This is the rated loaded weight on the spec reference. Confirm the CSC plate and the specific unit before relying on it.
Max payload
Cargo weight limit
Payload is not the same as floor point-load capacity. Equipment loads should be spread and confirmed before use.
Roof and stacking
Engineered paths only
Loads belong through corner castings and engineered supports. Do not treat the roof sheet as a deck, solar rack, or structural platform.
20' Standard
Capacity 1,172 cu. ft. / 33.2 m3
| Weight term | Reference value | Decision use |
|---|---|---|
| Tare | 5,181 lb2,350 kg | Approximate empty container weight. |
| Max gross | 67,197 lb30,480 kg | Container plus cargo at the rated loaded weight. |
| Max payload | 62,016 lb28,130 kg | Approximate cargo weight within the gross-weight rating. |
| Cubic capacity | 1,172 cu. ft.33.2 m3 | Approximate internal volume. |
40' Standard
Capacity 2,390 cu. ft. / 67.7 m3
| Weight term | Reference value | Decision use |
|---|---|---|
| Tare | 8,267 lb3,750 kg | Approximate empty container weight. |
| Max gross | 71,650 lb32,500 kg | Container plus cargo at the rated loaded weight. |
| Max payload | 63,383 lb28,750 kg | Approximate cargo weight within the gross-weight rating. |
| Cubic capacity | 2,390 cu. ft.67.7 m3 | Approximate internal volume. |
40' High Cube
Capacity 2,694 cu. ft. / 76.3 m3
| Weight term | Reference value | Decision use |
|---|---|---|
| Tare | 8,598 lb3,900 kg | Approximate empty container weight. |
| Max gross | 71,650 lb32,500 kg | Container plus cargo at the rated loaded weight. |
| Max payload | 63,052 lb28,600 kg | Approximate cargo weight within the gross-weight rating. |
| Cubic capacity | 2,694 cu. ft.76.3 m3 | Approximate internal volume. |
Door style changes the way the container works.
The standard end doors are only one access pattern. Double-end, side-door, full-side-door, and open-top configurations solve different loading problems and can change available inventory, modification scope, and delivery planning.
- STD
Single-End Cargo Doors
Two cargo-door leaves on one end. This is the default dry-container access pattern and the baseline for most storage use.
General storage, jobsites, inventory, and most standard purchases.
- DD
Double-End Doors
Cargo doors at both ends. Useful when loading from two sides, dividing access zones, or reducing the need to unload everything from one end.
Drive-through workflows, divided storage, and frequent access from both ends.
- SD
Side Door
One or more side-door openings along the length of the container. Useful when contents need to be reached without walking through the full box.
Retail, equipment staging, event service, and compartment-style storage.
- FSD
Full Side Door
A broad side-wall opening made from multiple door sections. Useful when the long side of the container is the loading face.
Pallet access, displays, bars, kiosks, and wide-load handling.
- OT
Open Top
A container with removable roof covering or top access for crane-loaded cargo. Availability and handling requirements vary by project.
Tall or heavy cargo that must load from above.
Choose length for volume. Choose high cube for headroom.
A 40-foot container is not twice as easy to place just because it is twice the exterior length. Delivery access, door access, and the item you need to load decide the correct size.
| Decision | 20' Standard | 40' Standard | 40' High Cube |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior | 20' x 8' x 8'6" | 40' x 8' x 8'6" | 40' x 8' x 9'6" |
| Interior height | 7' 10 1/4" / 2,395 mm | 7' 10 1/4" / 2,395 mm | 8' 10 1/4" / 2,700 mm |
| Door opening | 7' 8 1/8" W x 7' 6 1/4" H | 7' 8 1/8" W x 7' 6 1/4" H | 7' 8 1/8" W x 8' 6 1/4" H |
| Capacity | 1,172 cu. ft. / 33.2 m3 | 2,390 cu. ft. / 67.7 m3 | 2,694 cu. ft. / 76.3 m3 |
| Best fit | Residential storage, Tight-access jobsites, Tool and equipment storage | Commercial inventory, Large-volume storage, Construction staging | Modified container builds, Tall shelving, Bulky equipment storage |
Dimensions do not stop at the container walls.
The container footprint, cargo-door swing, truck approach, gate width, overhead clearance, surface firmness, and turn path all matter. Use this page for dimensions, then use Delivery Parameters for site access.
Open Delivery ParametersMaterials explain what can and cannot be assumed.
Containers are strong in specific load paths. Corner posts, corner castings, crossmembers, doors, floor, and roof do different jobs. Modification and structural assumptions should follow that reality.
- Corrugated weathering steel shell.
- Marine-grade plywood floor over steel crossmembers on most dry containers.
- Corner castings and steel corner posts carry the stacking and lifting load.
- Cargo doors use gasket seals, locking bars, and cam keepers.
- Paint, vents, lock boxes, doors, windows, insulation, electrical, and HVAC can be scoped as modifications.
Dimensions people check before they buy, deliver, or modify.
These answers are written for fast reference. The final quote still confirms the specific unit, condition, delivery method, and modification scope.
01What are the exterior dimensions of a 20-foot shipping container?
A 20-foot standard dry container is typically 20 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 8 feet 6 inches tall on the outside, or 6,058 mm by 2,438 mm by 2,591 mm.
02What are the interior dimensions and door opening of a 20-foot container?
A 20-foot standard dry container is commonly about 19 feet 4 1/4 inches long, 7 feet 8 5/8 inches wide, and 7 feet 10 1/4 inches high inside. The door opening is commonly about 7 feet 8 1/8 inches wide by 7 feet 6 1/4 inches high.
03How much bigger is a high cube than a standard container?
A high cube container is typically one foot taller outside than a standard container. A 40-foot standard is 8 feet 6 inches tall outside, while a 40-foot high cube is 9 feet 6 inches tall outside.
04How heavy is an empty shipping container?
Typical tare weight is about 5,181 lb for a 20-foot standard, 8,267 lb for a 40-foot standard, and 8,598 lb for a 40-foot high cube. Always confirm the specific unit's plate before transport or lifting.
05What is a shipping container's payload capacity?
Payload is the cargo weight a container can carry within its max gross rating. Typical examples are about 62,016 lb for a 20-foot standard, 63,383 lb for a 40-foot standard, and 63,052 lb for a 40-foot high cube.
06Are shipping container dimensions standardized worldwide?
Yes, standard ISO Series 1 freight containers follow ISO 668 for classification, dimensions, and ratings. Individual interior dimensions, door openings, tare weight, and payload can still vary by manufacturer and unit history.
07How much weight can a container floor support?
Start with the max payload and the specific unit's CSC plate, then confirm point loads before placing heavy equipment. Forklifts, vehicles, machines, and concentrated loads may need load spreading or engineering review.
08Can shipping containers be stacked, and how high?
Containers are designed to transfer stacking loads through the corner castings, not through the roof sheet. Any stacking, multi-level build, or modified-container structure should be reviewed against the specific units, foundation, and engineering requirements.
09What's the difference between a double-door and a side-door configuration?
A double-door container has cargo doors at both ends. A side-door container opens along the long wall, either through a partial side door or a full-side-door system.
10Where can I find the ISO standard that governs these dimensions?
ISO 668 is the international standard for Series 1 freight-container classification, dimensions, and ratings. ISO 1496-1 covers specification and testing requirements for general cargo containers.
Use the specs to narrow the size, then price the actual unit.
Bring the size, condition, door style, delivery zip, access notes, and modification needs into the purchase flow so the quoted unit matches the job.