Every standard shipping container is 8 feet wide on the outside. That never changes. What changes is length (8, 10, 20, 40 or 45 feet), height (8’6″ standard or 9’6″ high cube), and weight rating. Get those three numbers right and everything else — how much fits, what it weighs empty, whether it clears your gate — follows from them.
Below are the full spec tables: external dimensions, internal dimensions, door openings, floor area, cubic capacity, tare weight, payload and max gross for every common size. The figures come from ISO 668, the standard that defines container external dimensions and gross mass ratings, cross-checked against published carrier data from the Transport Information Service (GDV). Where a size is not ISO-standardized — 8ft and 9ft mini containers, for example — that is called out explicitly rather than glossed over.
Last reviewed: July 2026.
All Container Sizes at a Glance
If you only need the headline numbers, this is the table. Internal dimensions are rounded to the nearest inch; exact millimetre figures are in the detailed tables further down.
| Size | External L × W × H | Internal L × W × H | Floor area | Volume | Tare (typical) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8ft (non-ISO) | 8’0″ × 7’0″ × 7’6″ | 7’8″ × 6’8″ × 6’11” | ~51 sq ft | ~355 cu ft | ~1,900 lb |
| 10ft | 9’10” × 8’0″ × 8’6″ | 9’3″ × 7’8″ × 7’10” | ~72 sq ft | ~563 cu ft | ~2,870 lb |
| 20ft standard | 19’10.5″ × 8’0″ × 8’6″ | 19’4″ × 7’8″ × 7’10” | ~149 sq ft | ~1,172 cu ft | ~5,000 lb |
| 20ft high cube | 19’10.5″ × 8’0″ × 9’6″ | 19’4″ × 7’8″ × 8’10” | ~149 sq ft | ~1,320 cu ft | ~5,300 lb |
| 40ft standard | 40’0″ × 8’0″ × 8’6″ | 39’6″ × 7’8″ × 7’10” | ~304 sq ft | ~2,390 cu ft | ~8,340 lb |
| 40ft high cube | 40’0″ × 8’0″ × 9’6″ | 39’6″ × 7’8″ × 8’10” | ~304 sq ft | ~2,694 cu ft | ~8,860 lb |
| 45ft high cube | 45’0″ × 8’0″ × 9’6″ | 44’6″ × 7’8″ × 8’10” | ~343 sq ft | ~3,040 cu ft | ~10,580 lb |
You can browse what is physically on the ground across every one of these sizes in our shipping containers inventory.
How to Read a Container Spec Sheet
Four numbers get confused constantly, and confusing them is how people end up with a container that will not hold the pallet rack they bought.
- External dimensions are the ISO-controlled figures. They are measured corner casting to corner casting and they are identical worldwide, because containers have to stack, lock and fit on the same ships and chassis everywhere. A 40ft container is 40’0″ long, period.
- Internal dimensions are what you actually get. Corrugated steel walls, the corner posts and the plywood or bamboo floor eat roughly 2 inches off the width, 4 inches off the height and 6 inches off the length compared with the outside. These vary slightly between manufacturers.
- Door opening is smaller than the internal cross-section. The door frame and header intrude. This is the number that decides whether your forklift, pallet, vehicle or machine can physically get inside — not the internal height.
- Weights: tare is the empty container. Max gross is the total loaded weight the box is rated for. Payload is max gross minus tare. Every unit’s actual ratings are stamped on its CSC safety approval plate, and that plate — not a website table — is the legally governing figure for that specific container.
Why internal length loses about 6 inches
The corrugated end walls, the door frame assembly and the rear sill all sit inside the external envelope. On a 20ft box the external length is 19’10.5″ (6,058 mm) and the internal is about 19’4″ (5,898 mm). The 40ft loses a similar amount at each end. If you are planning a build-out — shelving runs, a workbench, a bunk — design to internal, and leave an inch of slack.
External Dimensions (ISO 668)
These are fixed by standard and do not vary between manufacturers. Width is 8’0″ (2,438 mm) on every ISO size below.
| Container | ISO code | Length | Width | Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10ft | 1D | 9’9.75″ (2,991 mm) | 8’0″ (2,438 mm) | 8’6″ (2,591 mm) |
| 20ft standard | 1CC | 19’10.5″ (6,058 mm) | 8’0″ (2,438 mm) | 8’6″ (2,591 mm) |
| 20ft high cube | 1CCC | 19’10.5″ (6,058 mm) | 8’0″ (2,438 mm) | 9’6″ (2,896 mm) |
| 40ft standard | 1AA | 40’0″ (12,192 mm) | 8’0″ (2,438 mm) | 8’6″ (2,591 mm) |
| 40ft high cube | 1AAA | 40’0″ (12,192 mm) | 8’0″ (2,438 mm) | 9’6″ (2,896 mm) |
| 45ft high cube | 1EEE | 45’0″ (13,716 mm) | 8’0″ (2,438 mm) | 9’6″ (2,896 mm) |
Note the 20ft length: it is 19 feet 10.5 inches, not 20 feet. The half-inch-shy dimension exists so that two 20ft boxes plus the gap between them fit exactly into a 40ft slot on a ship or chassis. People pouring a slab to an exact 20’0″ have been caught out by assuming otherwise — though in that direction the error is harmless.
Internal Dimensions
Internal figures vary by a few millimetres between builders. The values below are the widely published industry norms and match carrier-issued data.
| Container | Internal length | Internal width | Internal height |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10ft | 9’3.5″ (2,831 mm) | 7’8.5″ (2,350 mm) | 7’10” (2,393 mm) |
| 20ft standard | 19’4.2″ (5,898 mm) | 7’8.5″ (2,350 mm) | 7’10” (2,393 mm) |
| 20ft high cube | 19’4.2″ (5,898 mm) | 7’8.5″ (2,350 mm) | 8’10.2″ (2,697 mm) |
| 40ft standard | 39’5.7″ (12,032 mm) | 7’8.5″ (2,350 mm) | 7’10” (2,393 mm) |
| 40ft high cube | 39’5.7″ (12,032 mm) | 7’8.5″ (2,350 mm) | 8’10.2″ (2,697 mm) |
| 45ft high cube | 44’5.6″ (13,556 mm) | 7’8.5″ (2,350 mm) | 8’10.2″ (2,697 mm) |
Two things fall straight out of this table. First, internal width is the same 7’8.5″ on every size — a 45ft container is no wider inside than a 10ft. Second, a standard-height box gives you 7’10” of headroom, which is enough to stand up in but not enough to stand up in after you have added a subfloor, insulation and a ceiling. That is the single biggest reason people upgrade to a high cube.
Door Opening Dimensions
The door aperture is the real bottleneck. It is roughly 4 inches narrower than the internal width and 4 inches shorter than the internal height.
| Container | Door opening width | Door opening height |
|---|---|---|
| 10ft | 7’8″ (2,340 mm) | 7’6″ (2,280 mm) |
| 20ft standard | 7’8″ (2,340 mm) | 7’6″ (2,280 mm) |
| 20ft high cube | 7’8″ (2,340 mm) | 8’6″ (2,585 mm) |
| 40ft standard | 7’8″ (2,340 mm) | 7’6″ (2,280 mm) |
| 40ft high cube | 7’8″ (2,340 mm) | 8’6″ (2,585 mm) |
| 45ft high cube | 7’8″ (2,340 mm) | 8’6″ (2,585 mm) |
Practical consequences worth knowing before you buy:
- A standard 48″ × 40″ GMA pallet fits through easily either orientation. Two pallets side by side across the width (80″ total) will not — the opening is 92″.
- Most standard forklifts clear a 7’6″ door opening but taller masts and a raised backrest will not. Measure your mast height with forks at ground level.
- Cars and light trucks generally clear a high cube’s 8’6″ door opening. A standard 8’6″ container’s 7’6″ opening is marginal for many pickups and SUVs.
- The doors swing to 270 degrees when the container is level and undamaged. On uneven ground, the frame racks slightly and doors bind — this is the number-one complaint after a bad set-down. Level the setting pads, not the container.
Floor Area and Cubic Capacity
Floor area is internal length × internal width. Volume is that times internal height. Both are calculated from the internal figures above.
| Container | Floor area | Internal volume | Volume (m³) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10ft | 72 sq ft | 563 cu ft | 15.9 m³ |
| 20ft standard | 149 sq ft | 1,172 cu ft | 33.2 m³ |
| 20ft high cube | 149 sq ft | 1,320 cu ft | 37.4 m³ |
| 40ft standard | 304 sq ft | 2,390 cu ft | 67.7 m³ |
| 40ft high cube | 304 sq ft | 2,694 cu ft | 76.3 m³ |
| 45ft high cube | 343 sq ft | 3,040 cu ft | 86.0 m³ |
A useful rule of thumb for household or shop storage: a 20ft container holds roughly the contents of a two- to three-bedroom house, and a 40ft container roughly a four- to five-bedroom house. For pallets, a 20ft takes 10 standard GMA pallets floor-loaded in a single row plus one turned, and a 40ft takes 20 to 21.
Weight Ratings: Tare, Payload and Max Gross
This is where published tables most often mislead people, so read the distinction carefully.
ISO 668 was amended in 2016 to raise the maximum gross mass rating for standard containers of all sizes except the 10ft from 30,480 kg (67,200 lb) to 36,000 kg (79,370 lb). That is what the standard now permits. It is not what most containers in circulation are actually plated at. The overwhelming majority of the global fleet — including essentially everything you will find on the domestic resale market — is still built and certified to 30,480 kg / 67,200 lb max gross.
The figures below use the 30,480 kg rating because that is what real units carry. Always confirm against the CSC plate on the door of the specific container you are buying.
| Container | Tare weight (typical) | Max gross weight | Max payload |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10ft | 2,870 lb (1,300 kg) | 22,400 lb (10,160 kg) | 19,530 lb (8,860 kg) |
| 20ft standard | 5,000 lb (2,270 kg) | 67,200 lb (30,480 kg) | 62,200 lb (28,210 kg) |
| 20ft high cube | 5,300 lb (2,400 kg) | 67,200 lb (30,480 kg) | 61,900 lb (28,080 kg) |
| 40ft standard | 8,340 lb (3,780 kg) | 67,200 lb (30,480 kg) | 58,860 lb (26,700 kg) |
| 40ft high cube | 8,860 lb (4,020 kg) | 67,200 lb (30,480 kg) | 58,340 lb (26,460 kg) |
| 45ft high cube | 10,580 lb (4,800 kg) | 67,200 lb (30,480 kg) | 56,620 lb (25,680 kg) |
Tare weights vary by around ±5% between manufacturers and build years. Older boxes with heavier steel and repaired units with welded patch plates run heavier. If you are working to a tight lift capacity, weigh the unit rather than trusting a table.
The number that actually limits you on the road
A 20ft container is rated for a 62,200 lb payload. You will almost never be allowed to move that on a public highway. Federal limits on the Interstate System cap gross combination weight at 80,000 lb, with 20,000 lb on a single axle and 34,000 lb on a tandem, subject to the federal bridge formula (see FHWA’s summary of federal size and weight limits).
Do the arithmetic. A tractor weighs 17,000–20,000 lb. A 40ft chassis weighs 6,500–8,000 lb. A 40ft high cube weighs 8,860 lb empty. That leaves roughly 44,000–47,000 lb of cargo before you are overweight — well under the container’s structural rating. This is exactly why ports run tri-axle chassis for heavy boxes, and it is worth understanding before you commit to a load plan. Our container chassis and trailers pages list tare weights per model so you can budget the payload properly.
Size-by-Size Notes
8ft and 9ft containers (non-ISO)
Be clear on this: 8ft and 9ft containers are not ISO sizes. ISO 668 defines nothing shorter than the 10ft 1D. Units at these lengths are either purpose-built mini containers or 20ft boxes that have been cut down and re-ended by a fabricator. That means dimensions, wall construction, corner-casting placement and weight ratings vary by builder, and there is no universal spec table that applies.
Typical purpose-built 8ft units run about 8’0″ × 7’0″ × 7’6″ externally with roughly 51 sq ft of floor and a tare near 1,900 lb, but treat those as indicative only. Always get the actual specs in writing from the seller. What these units buy you is placement: an 8ft shipping container fits in a garage bay, a side yard or a tight job site where a 20ft simply cannot be turned. A 9ft container splits the difference when you need a little more depth.
One structural caveat: cut-down containers are only as strong as the re-end weld. They are generally not rated for stacking or for ocean carriage, and they will not have a valid CSC plate. For ground-level storage that is irrelevant. For anything that gets lifted by the corners repeatedly, it matters.
10ft containers
The 10ft (ISO 1D) is a genuine ISO size but an uncommon one — it was never widely used in ocean trade and most units you see were built for the storage and military markets. It gives 72 sq ft of floor and 563 cu ft, with the same 7’8.5″ internal width and 7’10” internal height as a 20ft.
Note the weight rating: the 2016 ISO amendment that raised max gross to 36,000 kg excluded the 10ft, which stays at 10,160 kg (22,400 lb). That gives a payload around 19,530 lb — plenty for storage, but a real constraint if you intended to fill it with anything dense. A 10ft shipping container is the practical minimum if you want to walk in and stand up comfortably with room for shelving down one side.
20ft standard
The workhorse. 149 sq ft, 1,172 cu ft, about 5,000 lb empty. It is the largest container most people can get delivered to a residential lot without drama, because a tilt-bed truck needs roughly 60 feet of straight backing room plus about 12 feet of width to set one down cleanly. It is also the size a standard forklift with 6,000 lb capacity and long forks can reposition on a hard yard surface.
20ft high cube
Same footprint as a 20ft standard, one foot taller. You gain 148 cu ft and, more usefully, 12 inches of headroom. Note that 20ft high cubes are relatively scarce in the global fleet compared with 40ft high cubes, so availability is more variable. If your build calls for a subfloor and insulation, the extra foot is the difference between a finished ceiling at 6’10” and one at 7’10”.
40ft standard
304 sq ft, 2,390 cu ft, about 8,340 lb empty. Double the storage of a 20ft for well under double the cost per square foot, provided you have the site access. That is the catch — a 40ft needs roughly 100 feet of straight approach for a tilt-bed delivery and it cannot be turned once it is on the ground without equipment.
40ft high cube
The most common container in the world fleet today and the default choice for conversions. 2,694 cu ft, 8’10” internal height, 8’6″ door opening. If you are doing any kind of build-out — office, shop, workshop, living space — start here rather than with a standard. The extra foot costs relatively little and cannot be added later.
Every 40ft container also has a gooseneck tunnel: a recessed channel in the underside of the floor at the front end, about 4 feet long and 5 inches deep, which lets the box sit down over the raised neck of a gooseneck chassis. That recess is why a 9’6″ high cube can be hauled at a legal overall height. It also means the floor is not flat underneath at that end, which matters when you are setting the container on piers rather than a continuous slab.
45ft high cube
343 sq ft and 3,040 cu ft — the most enclosed volume you can get in a single box while staying within ISO corner-casting geometry. The 45ft (ISO 1EEE) has corner castings at both the 45ft extremities and at the 40ft positions, so it can be handled by 40ft equipment.
Transport is where 45s get complicated. You need an extendable chassis or a 45ft-capable trailer, and some jurisdictions treat the combination differently for permitting. Budget more for freight and confirm site access carefully before ordering a 45ft high cube.
Standard vs High Cube: the 12 Inches That Matter
A high cube is exactly one foot taller externally (9’6″ vs 8’6″) and gives about 11.5 inches more internal height (8’10.2″ vs 7’10”). The footprint, width, door width, floor area and weight rating are unchanged. You pay for it in three ways: slightly higher tare weight, slightly higher cost, and transport height.
That last one is the practical constraint. Most states cap vehicle height at 13’6″, with 14’0″ allowed in many western states. A 9’6″ high cube on a standard chassis with a 48–50″ deck height puts you at or just over 13’6″. That is precisely why gooseneck chassis exist and why a high cube usually needs to be hauled on one. Check bridge and overhead clearances on your delivery route before you order — a low railway underpass two miles from the site is a problem you want to discover in advance.
Verifying the Specs on Your Actual Container
Website tables are planning aids. The governing document for any individual container is the CSC safety approval plate, a metal plate riveted to the left-hand door required under the IMO’s International Convention for Safe Containers. It carries the manufacturer, date of manufacture, identification number, maximum gross weight, allowable stacking weight and racking test load for that unit.
Read it before you buy, and photograph it. If a container’s plate is missing, painted over or illegible, the unit cannot legally move in international transport and its ratings are unverifiable. For static ground storage that may be acceptable at the right price; for anything that will be lifted, stacked or shipped, it is not.
Also measure the doorway yourself with a tape if a specific piece of equipment has to fit. Repaired containers sometimes have replacement door frames or headers that shave an inch off the published aperture, and an inch is exactly the margin most people are working with.
Matching a Container to the Right Transport
Dimensions determine how the box gets to you, and this is where a lot of first-time buyers underestimate the job. In brief:
- Tilt-bed / roll-off trailer — the standard way to deliver a container to a site with no crane. The bed tilts, the container slides off under control. Needs the most straight-line room but requires no lifting equipment at the destination. See our tilt deck trailers.
- Container chassis — a skeletal trailer with twist locks at the corner castings. Efficient and light, but the container has to be lifted on and off with a crane, reach stacker or heavy forklift at both ends. Browse container chassis.
- Flatbed — workable for a 20ft if you have lifting equipment, and often the cheapest option when a crane is already on site. See flatbed trailers.
- Gooseneck or equipment trailer — used for shorter units and mini containers behind a heavy pickup. An gooseneck trailer or equipment trailer handles an 8ft, 9ft or 10ft comfortably; a loaded 20ft is generally past what a pickup should be pulling.
HR Trailer Service LLC is based in Wickenburg, Arizona and ships containers and trailers to the lower 48 on flat-rate freight quotes, with a 30-day guarantee. If you are unsure which size clears your access, send site photos and measurements before ordering — that conversation takes five minutes and prevents the most expensive mistake in this business. Full inventory is on the shop page.
Site Preparation Sized to the Container
Whatever size you choose, the container needs to sit level and off the dirt. The standard approach is to support it at the corner castings — that is where the structure is designed to carry load. Six support points for a 40ft or 45ft (corners plus mid-span), four for a 20ft or smaller.
Concrete blocks, railroad ties, precast piers or a poured footing all work. What does not work is setting a container directly on soil, which traps moisture against the floor frame and starts corrosion, or supporting it in the middle only, which puts the frame into a bending condition it was not designed for. Get the four corners within about half an inch of level and the doors will operate correctly for the life of the box.
Allow drainage away from the footprint, and if you are in a high-wind or coastal area, plan on anchoring — a wind-loaded empty 40ft is a large sail with a low tare weight. Local code may require engineered tie-downs regardless of whether a permit is otherwise needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the exact internal dimensions of a 20ft shipping container?
A standard 20ft container measures 19’4.2″ long × 7’8.5″ wide × 7’10” high internally (5,898 × 2,350 × 2,393 mm). That gives 149 square feet of floor and 1,172 cubic feet of volume. The door opening is smaller at 7’8″ wide × 7’6″ high. Figures vary a few millimetres by manufacturer.
How much does an empty shipping container weigh?
Typical tare weights are about 2,870 lb for a 10ft, 5,000 lb for a 20ft standard, 8,340 lb for a 40ft standard, 8,860 lb for a 40ft high cube and 10,580 lb for a 45ft high cube. Actual weight varies roughly ±5% by manufacturer and is stamped on the container’s CSC plate.
What is the difference between a standard container and a high cube?
A high cube is one foot taller externally — 9’6″ instead of 8’6″ — giving about 11.5 inches more interior headroom (8’10.2″ vs 7’10”) and a taller 8’6″ door opening. Length, width, floor area and weight rating are identical. High cubes are preferred for conversions where insulation and a subfloor consume headroom.
Is a 20ft container really 20 feet long?
No. A 20ft container is 19 feet 10.5 inches (6,058 mm) long externally, per ISO 668. The half-inch-short dimension exists so two 20ft containers plus the gap between them fit exactly into a 40ft ship or chassis slot. Internally you get about 19’4″.
How much weight can a shipping container hold?
Most containers are plated at 67,200 lb (30,480 kg) maximum gross weight. Subtracting tare, that is roughly 62,200 lb payload for a 20ft and 58,340 lb for a 40ft high cube. Road limits are far lower — federal gross combination weight caps at 80,000 lb, leaving about 44,000–47,000 lb of cargo.
Are 8ft and 10ft containers standard sizes?
The 10ft is a genuine ISO size (designation 1D), rated at 22,400 lb max gross. The 8ft and 9ft are not ISO sizes — they are purpose-built mini containers or cut-down 20ft units, so dimensions and ratings vary by builder. Always get written specs from the seller for these.
Will a shipping container fit through my gate?
The container itself is 8 feet wide, but the delivery truck needs more. A tilt-bed delivery typically requires about 12 feet of width and 60 feet of straight approach for a 20ft, roughly 100 feet for a 40ft. Overhead clearance matters too — a high cube on a chassis approaches 13’6″.