Dimensions of shipping containers

Sea (all-purpose) containers  vary in type and size. For any type of cargo you can choose the most suitable by its parameters container. The most widespread are standard, so-called “dry” containers (DC – Dry Container):

  • 20-ft containers are more suitable for transportation of “dense” or heavy-weight cargoes;
  • 40-ft standard or “high” (High Cube) containers are more suitable for transportation of light but bulky cargoes;

Besides the above containers, there are other types of containers, such as:

  • Refrigerated containers are used for cargoes that require temperature terms;
  • Oреn Tор (instead hardtop soft tent) are useful for loading from the top, the container allows the transportation of cargoes, which height exceeds 2.4 meters and cargoes that must be well ventilated. Top of the container is closed with a tarpaulin;
  • Flat Rack (open) – suitable for heavy and oversized cargo, the front and back panel of the container lie down, the container has additional devices to secure and transportation of the cargo.;
  • Tank Containers (Tank) are intended for liquids and gases.

This is the most widespread types of containers, but not a complete list. Recently, there was a tendency to increase the size of sea containers. Now 45-ft containers are very popular, and 48-ft and even the 53-ft containers exist.

Types of Appearance Tare weight, t Cargo weight capacity, t Internal, m Cubic capacity Door opening, m
containers Width Length Height Width Height
20′ Dry Van  20ft_dry_van 2.300 28.150 2.352 5.900 2.390 33.00 2.340 2.283
20′ Flat Rack  20ft_flattrack 2.560 29.500 2.352 5.900 2.310 32.00
20′ Open top  20ft_open_top 2.200 21.700 2.340 5.890 2.360 32.60 2.320 2.300
40′ Dry Van  40ft_dry_van 3.700 28.700 2.352 12.030 2.390 67.70 2.340 2.275
40′ Flat Rack / platform  40ft_flattrack 5.000 40.050 2.410 12.020 1.955 56.60
40′ High Cube  40ft_high_cube 3.930 26.480 2.352 12.030 2.695 76.00 2.340 2.585
40′ Open top  40ft_open_top 3.800 26.280 2.352 12.024 2.380 67.30 2.320 2.250
45′ High Cube  45_high_cube 4.590 27.910 2.352 13.556 2.695 86.00 2.340 2.579