What are the dimensions of a 20ft shipping container?

A standard 20ft container has internal dimensions of 5.90m (L) x 2.35m (W) x 2.39m (H), providing approximately 33.2 CBM of usable volume. The door opening is 2.34m wide by 2.28m high.

What is the difference between a 40ft and 40ft High Cube container?

A standard 40ft container has an internal height of 2.39m (7ft 10in). A 40ft High Cube (40HC/40HQ) is 2.89m (9ft 6in) tall — 30cm (12 inches) taller. This extra height makes it ideal for voluminous cargo. Both have the same length (12.03m) and width (2.35m).

How many CBM can a 20ft container hold?

A standard 20ft container holds approximately 33.2 CBM (cubic meters) of cargo. However, practical usable volume is typically 28-30 CBM due to packing constraints. For weight, a 20ft container can carry up to 28,200 kg (28.2 tonnes) of cargo.

What size box fits in a container?

The door opening of a standard container is 2.34m wide and 2.28m high (20ft/40ft). A 40HC door is 2.34m wide and 2.58m high. Any single item must fit through these door dimensions. For 20ft containers, the maximum internal length is 5.90m.

Container Dimensions & Specifications — 20ft, 40ft, 40HQ, 45HQ

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Unit System

Container	Type	Internal (L × W × H)	Door (W × H)	Volume	Max Payload	Tare Weight

Container Door Opening Sizes

The door opening is the most critical dimension when planning cargo loading. A single oversized item must fit through the door — even if the internal volume is sufficient. Below is a visual comparison of door openings across container types.

20ft / 40ft

2.34 × 2.28m

7ft 8in × 7ft 5.7in

40HC / 45HC

2.34 × 2.58m

7ft 8in × 8ft 5.6in

Open Top

2.34 × 2.28m

Same door + open roof

Flat Rack

No walls/roof

Side-loading only

Container Size Comparison

20ft

33.2 CBM

40ft

67.7 CBM

40HC

76.3 CBM

45HC

86.0 CBM

How Many Cartons Fit in a Container?

Carton Length (cm)

Carton Width (cm)

Carton Height (cm)

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Packing Tips

Always measure the door opening, not just internal dimensions

Leave 5-10cm clearance on each side for loading

Weight limit often reached before volume — check both

Use dunnage bags to prevent cargo shifting

Floor loading maximizes space vs palletized cargo

Standard Pallet Fit

20ft — EUR pallets10-11

20ft — ISO pallets9-10

40ft — EUR pallets24-25

40ft — ISO pallets20-22

40HC — EUR pallets24-25