Pallet Dimensions

Shipping container dimensions

A 20 ft standard container measures about 5,900 × 2,350 × 2,390 mm inside (19 ft 4 in × 7 ft 8 in × 7 ft 10 in) and holds about 33 m³. A 40 ft is 12,032 mm long inside with the same width and height, about 67.7 m³. A 40 ft high cube adds 305 mm of height, for about 76 m³.

Checked November 14, 2026 against Hapag-Lloyd, Ocean Network Express (ONE), Maersk and CMA CGM.

Container dimensions

Inside, mm, with feet and inches below
Ranges span the figures Hapag-Lloyd, ONE, CMA CGM, Maersk, MSC and DSV publish; each carrier says its numbers are examples that vary by box maker.
ContainerInside, L × W × HDoor, W × HCapacityTareMax payloadSource
mmmmm³kgkg
20 ft standardOutside 20 ft × 8 ft × 8 ft 6 in. ISO type 22G1.5,896–5,900 × 2,350–2,352 × 2,390–2,39519′ 4.1″–19′ 4.3″ × 7′ 8.5″–7′ 8.6″ × 7′ 10.1″–7′ 10.3″2,340–2,350 × 2,274–2,2927′ 8.1″–7′ 8.5″ × 7′ 5.5″–7′ 6.2″33–33.21,165–1,172 ft³2,150–2,3504,740–5,181 lb28,130–28,33062,016–62,457 lb1234155
40 ft standardOutside 40 ft × 8 ft × 8 ft 6 in. ISO type 42G1. Boxes rated to 30,480 kg gross carry about 2,000 kg less than those rated to 32,500 kg.12,032–12,034 × 2,350–2,352 × 2,390–2,39539′ 5.7″–39′ 5.8″ × 7′ 8.5″–7′ 8.6″ × 7′ 10.1″–7′ 10.3″2,340 × 2,274–2,2927′ 8.1″ × 7′ 5.5″–7′ 6.2″67–67.82,366–2,394 ft³3,640–3,7508,025–8,267 lb26,840–28,86059,172–63,625 lb6234155
40 ft high cubeOutside 40 ft × 8 ft × 9 ft 6 in. ISO type 45G1.12,032–12,034 × 2,350–2,352 × 2,695–2,70039′ 5.7″–39′ 5.8″ × 7′ 8.5″–7′ 8.6″ × 8′ 10.1″–8′ 10.3″2,340 × 2,577–2,5977′ 8.1″ × 8′ 5.5″–8′ 6.2″76–76.42,684–2,698 ft³3,700–3,9408,157–8,686 lb26,580–28,80058,599–63,493 lb723415165
45 ft high cubeOutside 45 ft × 8 ft × 9 ft 6 in. ISO type L5G1.13,556 × 2,352 × 2,697–2,70044′ 5.7″ × 7′ 8.6″ × 8′ 10.2″–8′ 10.3″2,340 × 2,585–2,5977′ 8.1″ × 8′ 5.8″–8′ 6.2″85–863,002–3,037 ft³4,650–4,90010,251–10,803 lb25,780–27,86056,835–61,421 lb8234165
20 ft reeferOutside 20 ft × 8 ft × 8 ft 6 in. ISO type 22R1. The lower inside heights are the height you may stow cargo to, below the air channel.5,450–5,456 × 2,280–2,294 × 2,159–2,27317′ 10.6″–17′ 10.8″ × 7′ 5.8″–7′ 6.3″ × 7′ 1″–7′ 5.5″2,290 × 2,212–2,2647′ 6.2″ × 7′ 3.1″–7′ 5.1″27–28.6953–1,010 ft³2,810–3,0106,195–6,636 lb27,470–29,14060,561–64,243 lb91011125
40 ft reefer high cubeOutside 40 ft × 8 ft × 9 ft 6 in. ISO type 45R1. The lower inside heights are stowage heights, below the air channel.11,580–11,599 × 2,275–2,294 × 2,415–2,55737′ 11.9″–38′ 0.7″ × 7′ 5.6″–7′ 6.3″ × 7′ 11.1″–8′ 4.7″2,276–2,290 × 2,471–2,5697′ 5.6″–7′ 6.2″ × 8′ 1.3″–8′ 5.1″67.5–682,384–2,401 ft³4,420–4,7409,744–10,450 lb29,260–30,51064,507–67,263 lb131011125

Cite this table: Container dimensions, Pallet Dimensions, checked November 14, 2026, https://palletdimensions.com/container-dimensions/#containersDownload CSV

Pallets per container

One layer on the floor
Forwarders’ counts. Turning some pallets on the floor gets the higher figure.
ContainerPalletPallets, one layerSource
20 ft container48 × 40 in10171819
20 ft containerEuro, 1200 × 800 mm11171819
40 ft containerForwarders give 20, or 21 with careful loading; Mercer gives 18 to 20.48 × 40 in20–2117181920
40 ft containerEuro, 1200 × 800 mm23–25171819

Cite this table: Pallets per container, Pallet Dimensions, checked November 14, 2026, https://palletdimensions.com/container-dimensions/#palletsDownload CSV

Tare, payload and gross weight

Tare is the empty box. Payload is the most cargo it may carry, and the two add up to its maximum gross weight. A 20 ft dry box is rated at 30,480 kg gross by every carrier read here; 40 ft boxes are rated at 30,480 or 32,500 kg, so check the rating of the box you are given.6 Road weight limits for the truck that carries the box can bind before the box’s own rating does.

What changes the answer

Carrier and box maker
Inside dimensions vary by a few millimetres between fleets; tare can vary by 200 kg on the same type.
Door opening
The door is narrower and lower than the inside, about 2,340 mm wide on dry boxes. Wide or tall freight is limited by the door.
Reefer stowage height
Reefers have a lower usable height than their inside height, because of the air channels. Load below the line marked inside.
Pallets and orientation
The 2,350 mm inside width takes two pallets side by side only on their shorter sides. Two 40 in (1,016 mm) or 800 mm sides fit; two 48 in or 1,200 mm sides, at 2,438 and 2,400 mm, do not.

Questions about container sizes

What are the inside dimensions of a 20 ft container?

About 5,900 × 2,350 × 2,390 mm, or 19 ft 4 in × 7 ft 8 in × 7 ft 10 in, and about 33 m³.

What is the difference between a 40 ft and a 40 ft high cube?

Height. A high cube is 9 ft 6 in tall outside instead of 8 ft 6 in, and about 2,700 mm inside instead of 2,390 mm.

How many pallets fit in a 40 ft container?

20 to 21 standard 48 × 40 in pallets, or 23 to 25 Euro pallets, in one layer.

How much can a 20 ft container hold?

Carriers rate a 20 ft dry box for about 28,100 to 28,300 kg of cargo, but road weight limits for the truck may allow less.

Sources

  1. 20 ft standard container, Hapag-Lloyd. Primary source. Read November 14, 2026. Hapag-Lloyd says its figures are examples and vary by manufacturer.
  2. Dry containers, Ocean Network Express (ONE). Primary source. Read November 14, 2026.
  3. Containers brochure, CMA CGM. Primary source. Read November 14, 2026. CMA CGM calls the figures non-contractual and the tare an average.
  4. Dry equipment specifications, Maersk. Primary source. Read November 14, 2026.
  5. Container specification brochure (03/2016), Hapag-Lloyd. Primary source. Read November 14, 2026. Used only for the ISO nominal outside dimensions it prints.
  6. 40 ft standard container, Hapag-Lloyd. Primary source. Read November 14, 2026.
  7. 40 ft high cube container, Hapag-Lloyd. Primary source. Read November 14, 2026.
  8. 45 ft high cube container, Hapag-Lloyd. Primary source. Read November 14, 2026.
  9. 20 ft reefer container, Hapag-Lloyd. Primary source. Read November 14, 2026.
  10. Container information, Ocean Network Express (ONE). Primary source. Read November 14, 2026.
  11. Reefer technical specifications, CMA CGM. Primary source. Read November 14, 2026.
  12. Reefer equipment specifications, Maersk. Primary source. Read November 14, 2026.
  13. 40 ft reefer high cube container, Hapag-Lloyd. Primary source. Read November 14, 2026. Its 2,425 mm inside height is a stowage height.
  14. ISO 668:2020 Series 1 freight containers: classification, dimensions and ratings, ISO. Primary source. Read November 14, 2026. The catalogue page carries no figures; the standard is sold by ISO.
  15. Guide to dry cargo container types, MSC. Read November 14, 2026. A blog guide, updated January 19, 2026.
  16. High cube dry container dimensions, DSV. Read November 14, 2026.
  17. How many pallets fit in a container, iContainers. Read November 14, 2026.
  18. How many pallets fit in a container, Ship4wd. Read November 14, 2026.
  19. Pallet types, Hillebrand Gori. Read November 14, 2026.
  20. How many pallets fit in a truck, Mercer Transportation. Read November 14, 2026.