Shipping Container Dimensions & Sizes: 10ft, 20ft, 40ft & High Cube Chart
Before you buy or place a container, you need the exact shipping container dimensions: exterior footprint, interior space, door opening, weight and cubic capacity. This guide covers every standard size sold in the US, from the compact 10ft conex box to the 45ft high cube, in feet and meters. Figures are ISO-standard nominal values; individual units can vary by a fraction of an inch by manufacturer.
Shipping Container Dimensions Chart (All Sizes)
| Container | Exterior (L x W x H) | Interior (L x W x H) | Door Opening (W x H) | Tare Weight | Max Payload | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10ft Standard | 10′ x 8′ x 8’6″ | 9’3″ x 7’8″ x 7’10” | 7’8″ x 7’5″ | ~2,850 lb | ~19,150 lb | ~560 cu ft |
| 20ft Standard | 20′ x 8′ x 8’6″ | 19’4″ x 7’8″ x 7’10” | 7’8″ x 7’5″ | ~4,850 lb | ~48,060 lb | ~1,172 cu ft |
| 40ft Standard | 40′ x 8′ x 8’6″ | 39’6″ x 7’8″ x 7’10” | 7’8″ x 7’5″ | ~8,300 lb | ~58,900 lb | ~2,390 cu ft |
| 40ft High Cube | 40′ x 8′ x 9’6″ | 39’6″ x 7’8″ x 8’10” | 7’8″ x 8’5″ | ~8,750 lb | ~58,450 lb | ~2,694 cu ft |
| 45ft High Cube | 45′ x 8′ x 9’6″ | 44’5″ x 7’8″ x 8’10” | 7’8″ x 8’5″ | ~10,360 lb | ~56,620 lb | ~3,040 cu ft |
All standard ISO containers are 8 ft (2.44 m) wide externally. Metric equivalents are listed in each size section below.
10ft Container Dimensions
The 10ft container (also called a 10ft conex box) is the compact option for tight sites and small storage needs.
- Exterior: 10′ L x 8′ W x 8’6″ H (3.05 x 2.44 x 2.59 m)
- Interior: approx. 9’3″ L x 7’8″ W x 7’10” H (2.83 x 2.35 x 2.39 m)
- Door opening: 7’8″ W x 7’5″ H (2.34 x 2.28 m)
- Capacity: approx. 560 cu ft (16 cubic meters)
- Weight: tare approx. 2,850 lb (1,300 kg); max gross about 22,000 lb (10 t), so practical payload is roughly 8 to 9 US tons
Good for: garden storage, small job sites, kiosks. Most 10ft units in the US are cut down from larger containers, which is why they can cost as much as a 20ft (see current container prices). Browse stock on our 8ft and 10ft containers page.
20ft Container Dimensions
The 20ft container is the industry workhorse and the unit the whole system is measured in (1 TEU).
- Exterior: 20′ L x 8′ W x 8’6″ H (6.06 x 2.44 x 2.59 m)
- Interior: approx. 19’4″ L x 7’8″ W x 7’10” H (5.90 x 2.35 x 2.39 m)
- Door opening: 7’8″ W x 7’5″ H (2.34 x 2.28 m)
- Capacity: approx. 1,172 cu ft (33.2 cubic meters)
- Weight: tare approx. 4,850 lb (2,200 kg); max gross 52,910 lb (24,000 kg)
Fits the contents of a 2 to 3 bedroom home. See pricing on the 20ft containers category.
40ft Container Dimensions
- Exterior: 40′ L x 8′ W x 8’6″ H (12.19 x 2.44 x 2.59 m)
- Interior: approx. 39’6″ L x 7’8″ W x 7’10” H (12.03 x 2.35 x 2.39 m)
- Door opening: 7’8″ W x 7’5″ H (2.34 x 2.28 m)
- Capacity: approx. 2,390 cu ft (67.7 cubic meters)
- Weight: tare approx. 8,300 lb (3,750 kg); max gross 67,200 lb (30,480 kg)
Twice the length of a 20ft but usually only about 70 percent more cost, which is why it is the value pick for large storage, workshops, and container home builds. Shop 40ft containers.
High Cube Container Dimensions: The Extra Foot
High cube (HC) containers are identical in footprint to standard units but 9’6″ (2.90 m) tall instead of 8’6″. That extra foot of interior height (7’10” becomes 8’10”) matters for racking, insulation and interior finishing, and van-style conversions. A 40ft HC carries about 2,694 cu ft (76.3 cubic meters), roughly 13 percent more volume than a standard 40ft. Compare options in our high cube containers range.
45ft High Cube Dimensions
- Exterior: 45′ L x 8′ W x 9’6″ H (13.72 x 2.44 x 2.90 m)
- Interior: approx. 44’5″ L x 7’8″ W x 8’10” H (13.55 x 2.35 x 2.70 m)
- Capacity: approx. 3,040 cu ft (86 cubic meters)
The largest common ISO size; check availability on our 45ft containers page.
Container Weights at a Glance
| Container | Tare (empty) | Max Payload | Max Gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10ft | ~2,850 lb | ~19,150 lb | ~22,000 lb |
| 20ft | ~4,850 lb | ~48,060 lb | 52,910 lb |
| 40ft | ~8,300 lb | ~58,900 lb | 67,200 lb |
| 40ft HC | ~8,750 lb | ~58,450 lb | 67,200 lb |
Note: road weight limits usually cap real-world payload well below the ISO maximum. Ask us about legal transport weights for your state when you order.
Which Size Do You Actually Need?
- Occasional home storage: 10ft or 20ft standard.
- Job site or full-house storage: 20ft standard.
- Workshop, large inventory, resale flexibility: 40ft standard.
- Any conversion project (office, cabin, home): high cube, always; the extra height disappears fast once you insulate and finish the ceiling.
Still deciding between grades? Read our guide to new vs used shipping containers, check how delivery works before you pick a spot, or compare all shipping containers for sale.
Shipping Container Dimensions FAQ
How wide is a shipping container?
All standard ISO shipping containers are 8 feet (2.44 m) wide on the exterior, with about 7’8″ of interior width. Only rare specialty pallet-wide units differ.
How tall is a shipping container?
Standard containers are 8’6″ tall; high cube containers are 9’6″ tall, a full foot taller, with about 8’10” of interior height.
What are the dimensions of a 10ft shipping container?
A 10ft container measures 10′ L x 8′ W x 8’6″ H externally (3.05 x 2.44 x 2.59 m), with an interior of about 9’3″ x 7’8″ x 7’10” and roughly 560 cubic feet of capacity.
How much can a 10ft container hold in tons?
The ISO rating allows roughly 9.5 US tons of payload, but practical road transport usually keeps loaded weight lower. By volume it holds about 560 cubic feet, roughly the contents of a single room.
How much does a 40ft shipping container weigh?
An empty 40ft container weighs about 8,300 lb (standard) or 8,750 lb (high cube), with a maximum gross weight of 67,200 lb.
What is the difference between a conex box and a shipping container?
Nothing. “Conex” is the military-origin nickname; the dimensions above apply equally. More in our guide: what is a conex box.
Need help choosing a size? Call StackCrateCo at (312) 998-4030 and we will match the right container to your space and budget, delivered nationwide.