Container Type Size

containers

MARITIME CONTAINERS

The 40 ft (12 m) container is the most popular container worldwide. Longer container types have become more common, especially in North America. Shorter containers (e.g. 10 ft (3.0 m) containers) are rare.
The following table shows the weights and dimensions of the three most common types of containers worldwide. The weights and dimensions quoted below are averages, different manufacture series of the same type of container may vary slightly in actual size and weight.

20′ container

40′ container

45′ high-cube container

imperial

metric

imperial

metric

imperial

metric
external
dimensions

length

20′ 0″

6.096 m

40′ 0″

12.192 m

45′ 0″

13.716 m

width

8′ 0″

2.438 m

8′ 0″

2.438 m

8′ 0″

2.438 m

height

8′ 6″

2.591 m

8′ 6″

2.591 m

9′ 6″

2.896 m
interior
dimensions

length

18′ 10 5⁄16″

5.758 m

39′ 5 45⁄64″

12.032 m

44′ 4″

13.556 m

width

7′ 8 19⁄32″

2.352 m

7′ 8 19⁄32″

2.352 m

7′ 8 19⁄32″

2.352 m
height

7′ 9 57⁄64″

2.385 m

7′ 9 57⁄64″

2.385 m

8′ 9 15⁄16″

2.698 m
door aperture

width

7′ 8 ⅛″

2.343 m

7′ 8 ⅛″

2.343 m

7′ 8 ⅛″

2.343 m

height

7′ 5 ¾″

2.280 m

7′ 5 ¾″

2.280 m

8′ 5 49⁄64″

2.585 m
   volume

1,169 ft³

33.1 m³

2,385 ft³

67.5 m³

3,040 ft³

86.1 m³
   maximum gross mass

52,910 lb

24,000 kg

67,200 lb

30,480 kg

67,200 lb

30,480 kg
   empty weight

4,850 lb

2,200 kg

8,380 lb

3,800 kg

10,580 lb

4,800 kg
   net load

48,060 lb

21,600 kg

58,820 lb

26,500 kg

56,620 lb

25,680 kg

20-ft, « heavy tested » containers are available for heavy goods (e.g. heavy machinery). These containers allow a maximum weight of 67,200 lb (30,480 kg), an empty weight of 5,290 lb (2,400 kg), and a net load of 61,910 lb (28,080 kg).

 

Types
Various container types are available for different needs:

  • General purpose dry van for boxes, cartons, cases, sacks, bales, pallets, drums in standard, high or half height
  • High cube palletwide containers for europallet compatibility
  • Temperature controlled from −25 °C to +25 °C reefer
  • Open top bulktainers for bulk minerals, heavy machinery
  • Open side for loading oversize pallet
  • Flushfolding flat-rack containers for heavy and bulky semi-finished goods, out of gauge cargo
  • Platform or bolster for barrels and drums, crates, cable drums, out of gauge cargo, machinery, and processed timber
  • Ventilated containers for organic products requiring ventilation
  • Tank containers for bulk liquids and dangerous goods
  • Rolling floor for difficult to handle cargo
  • Gas bottle
  • Generator
  • Collapsible ISO
  • Swapbody


AIR FREIGHT CONTAINERS

A number of LD-designation Unit Load Device containers.
While major airlines use containers that are custom designed for their aircraft and associated ground handling equipment the IATA has created a set of standard container sizes, the LD-designation sizes are shown below:

Volume indicated is internal volume:

Container type

Volume

Linear dimensions
(base width / overall width × depth × height)

Remarks

LD2

120 cu ft (3.40 m3)

47 / 62 × 60.4 × 64 in
(120 / 158 × 153 × 163 cm)

contoured, half width

LD3

153 cu ft (4.33 m3)

64.5 / 79 × 60.4 × 64 in
(164 / 201 × 153 × 163 cm)

contoured, half width

LD6

316 cu ft (8.95 m3)

125 / 160 × 60.4 × 64 in
(318 / 407 × 153 × 163 cm)

contoured, full width, equivalent to 2 LD3s

LD8

243 cu ft (6.88 m3)

96 / 125 × 60.4 × 64 in
(244 / 318 × 153 × 163 cm)

contoured, full width, equivalent to 2 LD2s; DQF-prefix

LD11

253 cu ft (7.16 m3)

125 × 60 × 64 in
(318 × 153 × 163 cm)

same as LD6 but without contours; rectangular

Pallet type

Volume

Linear dimensions

Remarks

LD8

243 cu ft (6.88 m3)

60 × 96 in (153 × 244 cm)

same floor dimensions as container variant; FQA-prefix

LD11

253 cu ft (7.16 m3)

60 × 125 in (153 × 318 cm)

same floor dimensions as container variant; FLA- and PLA-prefixes

LD7
(2 pallet variants)

380 cu ft (10.8 m3)
415 cu ft (11.8 m3)

88 × 125 in (224 × 318 cm)
96 × 125 in (244 × 318 cm)

PAG- and P1P-prefixes
PMC- and P6P-prefixes

Pallet volumes shown are built 64 in tall for lower deck loading. Height limit for main deck depends on aircraft type. LD-1, -2, -3, -4, and -8 are those most widely used, together with the rectangular M3 containers.