Shipping Container Dimensions & Sizes
Every ISO container size side-by-side — external and internal dimensions, door openings, tare weights and cubic capacity, so you pick the right unit the first time.
Shipping containers are built to ISO standard sizes, which means a 20ft or 40ft container has the same footprint wherever you buy it. What changes between units is length, height (standard 8'6" versus high cube 9'6"), and on the largest domestic boxes, width. The tables below list the real numbers we quote on every order — the same figures that appear on our product spec sheets.
As a rule of thumb: a 20ft container gives you about 160 sq ft of floor space and 1,172 cubic feet of volume — the contents of a 2–3 bedroom home. A 40ft container doubles that to roughly 320 sq ft and 2,390 cubic feet. Choose a high cube whenever the container will be insulated, wired or lived in — the extra foot of ceiling is what makes conversions comfortable.
External dimensions
The outside footprint — what you need to fit on your pad and through your gate.
| Size | Length | Width | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10ft Standard | 10'0" | 8'0" | 8'6" |
| 20ft Standard | 20'0" | 8'0" | 8'6" |
| 20ft High Cube | 20'0" | 8'0" | 9'6" |
| 40ft Standard | 40'0" | 8'0" | 8'6" |
| 40ft High Cube | 40'0" | 8'0" | 9'6" |
| 45ft High Cube | 45'0" | 8'0" | 9'6" |
| 53ft High Cube | 53'0" | 8'6" | 9'6" |
Internal dimensions & capacity
Usable space inside the box after wall corrugation and floor thickness.
| Size | Int. Length | Int. Width | Int. Height | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10ft Standard | 9'3" | 7'8" | 7'10" | 563 cu ft |
| 20ft Standard | 19'4" | 7'8" | 7'10" | 1,172 cu ft |
| 20ft High Cube | 19'4" | 7'8" | 8'10" | 1,172 cu ft |
| 40ft Standard | 39'5" | 7'8" | 7'10" | 2,390 cu ft |
| 40ft High Cube | 39'5" | 7'8" | 8'10" | 2,390 cu ft |
| 45ft High Cube | 44'4" | 7'8" | 8'10" | 2,720 cu ft |
| 53ft High Cube | 52'4" | 8'2" | 8'10" | 3,030 cu ft |
Door opening sizes
The clear opening with both doors swung fully open — check this against pallets, vehicles and equipment you plan to load.
| Size | Door Width | Door Height |
|---|---|---|
| 10ft Standard | 7'8" | 6'6" |
| 20ft Standard | 7'8" | 7'5" |
| 20ft High Cube | 7'8" | 8'5" |
| 40ft Standard | 7'8" | 7'5" |
| 40ft High Cube | 7'8" | 8'5" |
| 45ft High Cube | 7'8" | 8'5" |
| 53ft High Cube | 8'2" | 8'5" |
Weights & payload
Tare is the empty container; payload is the maximum cargo weight; max gross is the two combined. Payload matters if the unit will ever be craned or hauled loaded.
| Size | Tare Weight | Max Payload | Max Gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10ft Standard | 2,850 lbs | 19,300 lbs | 22,150 lbs |
| 20ft Standard | 5,070 lbs | 55,100 lbs | 60,170 lbs |
| 20ft High Cube | 5,070 lbs | 55,100 lbs | 60,170 lbs |
| 40ft Standard | 8,160 lbs | 58,040 lbs | 66,200 lbs |
| 40ft High Cube | 8,160 lbs | 58,040 lbs | 66,200 lbs |
| 45ft High Cube | 10,600 lbs | 55,600 lbs | 66,200 lbs |
| 53ft High Cube | 10,700 lbs | 55,500 lbs | 66,200 lbs |
Which size is best for what?
Tight sites, tool & equipment storage
Most popular — homes, job sites, storage
Offices & workshops needing headroom
Maximum capacity storage & commercial use
Container homes, offices, conversions
Extended length — large builds, industrial
Domestic freight & maximum-volume builds
Container size FAQs
Know your size? Get a delivered price.
Tell us the size and your ZIP code — in-stock units are delivered in 7–10 business days anywhere in the lower 48.