Container Sizes Explained: 20ft vs 40ft vs 40HC

Shipping containers are the backbone of global trade. Understanding their sizes, dimensions, and capacity is essential knowledge for anyone importing goods—it directly affects your costs, logistics planning, and operational decisions.

This guide covers the three most common container types: 20ft standard, 40ft standard, and 40ft High Cube. You'll learn their exact dimensions, weight limits, and how to choose the right one for your shipment.

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The Three Main Container Types

20ft Standard Container (20' GP/DV)

The 20-foot container is the original standard and remains widely used for dense, heavy cargo.

Specification	Imperial	Metric
External Length	20 ft	6.06 m
External Width	8 ft	2.44 m
External Height	8 ft 6 in	2.59 m
Internal Length	19 ft 4 in	5.90 m
Internal Width	7 ft 8 in	2.35 m
Internal Height	7 ft 10 in	2.39 m
Door Width	7 ft 8 in	2.34 m
Door Height	7 ft 6 in	2.28 m
Cubic Capacity	1,172 cu ft	33.2 CBM
Tare Weight	4,916 lbs	2,230 kg
Max Payload	61,795 lbs	28,030 kg

Best for: Heavy, dense cargo where you'll hit weight limits before volume limits. Metal parts, machinery, stone, liquids.

40ft Standard Container (40' GP/DV)

The 40-foot standard offers double the length of a 20ft at roughly 1.5x the cost.

Specification	Imperial	Metric
External Length	40 ft	12.19 m
External Width	8 ft	2.44 m
External Height	8 ft 6 in	2.59 m
Internal Length	39 ft 5 in	12.03 m
Internal Width	7 ft 8 in	2.35 m
Internal Height	7 ft 10 in	2.39 m
Door Width	7 ft 8 in	2.34 m
Door Height	7 ft 6 in	2.28 m
Cubic Capacity	2,390 cu ft	67.7 CBM
Tare Weight	8,160 lbs	3,700 kg
Max Payload	59,040 lbs	26,780 kg

Best for: Balanced cargo with moderate density. General merchandise, furniture, consumer goods.

40ft High Cube Container (40' HC)

The High Cube adds 1 foot (30cm) of height, providing approximately 13% more volume than a standard 40ft.

Specification	Imperial	Metric
External Length	40 ft	12.19 m
External Width	8 ft	2.44 m
External Height	9 ft 6 in	2.90 m
Internal Length	39 ft 5 in	12.03 m
Internal Width	7 ft 8 in	2.35 m
Internal Height	8 ft 10 in	2.70 m
Door Width	7 ft 8 in	2.34 m
Door Height	8 ft 6 in	2.58 m
Cubic Capacity	2,694 cu ft	76.3 CBM
Tare Weight	8,750 lbs	3,970 kg
Max Payload	58,450 lbs	26,510 kg

Best for: Light, voluminous cargo. Furniture, foam products, clothing, toys, plastic goods.

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Quick Comparison Table

Feature	20ft	40ft	40ft HC
Length (internal)	5.90 m	12.03 m	12.03 m
Height (internal)	2.39 m	2.39 m	2.70 m
Volume (CBM)	33	67	76
Usable CBM	~28	~58	~68
Max Payload	28,030 kg	26,780 kg	26,510 kg
Euro Pallets	11	23-24	23-24
US Pallets	10-11	20-21	20-21

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Pallet Loading Capacity

Understanding pallet fit helps you plan efficient loading:

Euro Pallets (120cm × 80cm / 47" × 31")

• 20ft container: 11 pallets (single layer)
• 40ft container: 23-24 pallets (single layer)

US Standard Pallets (48" × 40" / 122cm × 102cm)

• 20ft container: 10 pallets (single layer)
• 40ft container: 20-21 pallets (single layer)

Note: These are floor-loaded counts. Total pallets depend on stacking capability, which depends on product weight, fragility, and pallet height.

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Weight vs Volume: Understanding the Trade-off

Here's a critical concept many new importers miss:

20ft containers have higher weight capacity relative to their volume.

This means:

• 20ft: Can carry ~850 kg per CBM before hitting limits
• 40ft/HC: Can carry ~400 kg per CBM before hitting limits

For dense, heavy products (metal, ceramics, stone), a 20ft container may be more efficient because you'll fill the weight capacity before running out of space.

For light, bulky products (furniture, toys, textiles), 40ft HC maximizes value because you'll fill the space before hitting weight limits.

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When to Use Each Container

Choose 20ft when:

• Cargo is heavy relative to volume (density > 500 kg/CBM)
• Shipment is 15-28 CBM
• Destination has infrastructure limitations for 40ft containers
• You want lower absolute cost (even if per-CBM is higher)
• You need more flexibility in trucking and handling

Choose 40ft Standard when:

• Cargo has moderate density
• Shipment is 30-55 CBM
• You need balanced cost efficiency
• Standard height (2.39m) is sufficient for your products

Choose 40ft High Cube when:

• Cargo is light and bulky
• Products are tall (furniture, equipment)
• Shipment exceeds 55 CBM
• You're shipping cartons that stack high
• The extra cost (~$100-200) is justified by 13% more space

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Real-World Cost Comparison

Let's look at a practical example. You're shipping 24 CBM of consumer goods from China to Central America.

Option 1: LCL

• Rate: $70 per CBM
• Cost: 24 × $70 = $1,680

Option 2: 20ft FCL

• Rate: $2,200 all-in
• Cost per CBM: $2,200 ÷ 28 usable CBM = $78.57

Option 3: 40ft FCL (if you could increase order)

• Rate: $3,200 all-in
• Cost per CBM: $3,200 ÷ 58 usable CBM = $55.17

In this scenario, LCL is slightly cheaper for 24 CBM. But if you could increase to 28 CBM, FCL becomes competitive. And if you could fill a 40ft, the per-CBM rate drops significantly.

The crossover point varies by route, season, and carrier—but typically falls between 12-18 CBM for 20ft and 35-45 CBM for 40ft.

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Specialty Container Types

Beyond standard dry containers, other types exist for specific cargo:

Open Top

• No fixed roof (tarpaulin cover)
• For tall cargo that can't fit through doors
• Loading by crane from above

Flat Rack

• No walls or roof
• For oversized, heavy machinery
• Can extend beyond container footprint

Refrigerated (Reefer)

• Temperature controlled (-30°C to +30°C)
• For perishables, pharmaceuticals
• Slightly smaller internal dimensions due to insulation

High Cube Pallet Wide

• Extra width for efficient pallet loading
• Common in European routes
• Holds 30 Euro pallets vs 24 in standard

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Practical Tips for Container Selection

Calculate your CBM accurately. Underestimating leads to cargo that won't fit; overestimating means paying for unused space.

Consider weight distribution. Heavy cargo should be spread evenly and placed low. Concentrated weight can cause handling problems or damage.

Account for loading efficiency. You won't achieve 100% utilization. Plan for 85-90% with normal cargo shapes.

Check inland restrictions. Some destinations have road or bridge limitations that favor 20ft over 40ft containers.

Ask about availability. Some routes have better availability of certain container types. Your forwarder can advise.

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Final Thoughts

Container selection isn't just about fitting your cargo—it's about optimizing your total logistics cost. The right container depends on your specific cargo characteristics, shipment size, and route economics.

When in doubt, request quotes for multiple options. A few dollars per CBM difference compounds across regular shipments. And remember: the cheapest container isn't always the best value if it doesn't match your cargo profile.

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