Shipping Container Dimensions and Specifications.
Inside measurements, door openings, cubic capacity and weight limits for the ten container types you meet on a sea freight quote, with the source for every figure.
A container's outside size is standardised; its inside is not. Wall corrugation, floor thickness and door frames differ from one manufacturer to the next, so a 20-foot box from one fleet can be a few millimetres narrower or a hundred kilograms heavier than another. Those millimetres matter when a pallet, a machine or a reefer load is planned close to the limit.
The tables below reproduce the specifications Hapag-Lloyd publishes for its fleet, checked on 13 October 2026. Hapag-Lloyd states that these figures serve as examples, because containers vary by manufacturer. The tare and maximum gross weight of the box you actually receive are marked on its door, and that marking, not a table, is the figure to load against.
Dry Containers
20ft, 40ft, 40ft High Cube and 45ft High Cube.
General-purpose steel boxes for cartons, pallets and most packed cargo. The high cube versions add about 30 cm of inside height.
| Specification | 20' Standard | 40' Standard | 40' High Cube | 45' High Cube |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISO size type | 22G1 | 42G1 | 45G1 | L5G1 |
| Inside length (mm) | 5,900 | 12,032 | 12,032 | 13,556 |
| Inside width (mm) | 2,352 | 2,352 | 2,350 | 2,352 |
| Inside height (mm) | 2,395 | 2,395 | 2,700 | 2,700 |
| Door opening width (mm) | 2,340 | 2,340 | 2,340 | 2,340 |
| Door opening height (mm) | 2,292 | 2,292 | 2,597 | 2,597 |
| Capacity (m³) | 33.2 | 67.7 | 76.3 | 86.0 |
| Tare weight (kg) | 2,350 | 3,750 | 3,900 | 4,800 |
| Max payload (kg) | 28,130 | 28,750 | 28,600 | 27,700 |
| Max gross weight (kg) | 30,480 | 32,500 | 32,500 | 32,500 |
Max gross ratings differ between boxes of the same size. CMA CGM, for example, lists its 40' standard at either 30,480 kg or 32,500 kg max gross, with a max payload of 26,760 kg or 28,780 kg. The rating of your box is marked on its door.
Source: Hapag-Lloyd container specifications, checked 13 October 2026 — 20' Standard · 40' Standard · 40' High Cube · 45' High Cube
Source: CMA CGM container specifications, checked 13 October 2026 — Containers
Refrigerated Containers
20ft Reefer and 40ft High Cube Reefer.
Insulated boxes with an integrated refrigeration unit. The machinery and insulation take space, so a reefer is shorter and narrower inside than a dry container of the same size. Hapag-Lloyd states its reefers can hold constant temperatures between −35 °C and +30 °C.
| Specification | 20' Reefer | 40' High Cube Reefer |
|---|---|---|
| ISO size type | 22R1 | 45R1 |
| Inside length (mm) | 5,450 | 11,599 |
| Inside width (mm) | 2,280 | 2,290 |
| Inside height (mm) | 2,159 | 2,425 |
| Door opening width (mm) | 2,290 | 2,290 |
| Door opening height (mm) | 2,264 | 2,557 |
| Capacity (m³) | 28.1 | 67.7 |
| Tare weight (kg) | 2,860 | 4,420 |
| Max payload (kg) | 29,140 | 29,580 |
| Max gross weight (kg) | 32,000 | 34,000 |
Reefer cargo is stowed below the load line marked inside the container so that cold air can circulate over it. Plan the stack height against that line, not against the door opening.
Source: Hapag-Lloyd container specifications, checked 13 October 2026 — 20' Reefer · 40' Reefer High Cube · Reefer overview
Special Equipment
Open Top and Flat Rack Containers.
For cargo that cannot go through a door: open tops are loaded from above by crane, and flat racks have no roof or side walls, for over-height and over-width loads.
| Specification | 20' Open Top | 40' Open Top |
|---|---|---|
| ISO size type | 22U1 | 42U1 |
| Inside length (mm) | 5,895 | 12,029 |
| Inside width (mm) | 2,350 | 2,350 |
| Inside height (mm) | 2,340 | 2,344 |
| Door opening width (mm) | 2,338 | 2,340 |
| Door opening height (mm) | 2,280 | 2,276 |
| Roof opening width (mm) | 2,230 | 2,230 |
| Roof opening length (mm) | 5,338 | 11,552 |
| Capacity (m³) | 32.5 | 66.8 |
| Tare weight (kg) | 2,450 | 4,050 |
| Max payload (kg) | 30,050 | 28,450 |
| Max gross weight (kg) | 32,500 | 32,500 |
| Specification | 20' Flat Rack | 40' Flat Rack High Cube |
|---|---|---|
| ISO size type | 22P3 | 45P3 |
| Minimum length (mm) | 5,638 | 11,652 |
| Floor width (mm) | 2,438 | 2,347 |
| Minimum width (mm) | 2,194 | 2,245 |
| Inside height (mm) | 2,233 | 2,265 |
| Base height (mm) | 370 | 648 |
| Tare weight (kg) | 2,900 | 5,900 |
| Max payload (kg) | 42,100 | 49,100 |
| Max gross weight (kg) | 45,000 | 55,000 |
Hapag-Lloyd lists an inside height of 2,420 mm for the 40' open top with the roof bars removed.
Source: Hapag-Lloyd container specifications, checked 13 October 2026 — 20' Open Top · 40' Open Top · 20' Flatrack · 40' Flatrack High Cube
Planning a Load
Published Capacity vs What You Can Actually Load.
Capacity is the volume of the empty box. Cartons, pallets and the gaps between them never fill it completely.
| Container | Published capacity (Hapag-Lloyd, m³) | Practical usable space used on our CBM calculator (m³) |
|---|---|---|
| 20' Standard | 33.2 | 26–28 |
| 40' Standard | 67.7 | 55–58 |
| 40' High Cube | 76.3 | 65–68 |
For dense cargo the weight limit arrives before the volume limit: the max payload of a 20' standard (28,130 kg) works out at about 850 kg for every cubic metre of its capacity.
On the road leg, axle-load rules in the country of origin or destination can set a lower limit than the container's max payload. Confirm the route limit before the container is loaded.
FAQ
Container Size Questions.
What are the inside dimensions of a 20ft container?
Hapag-Lloyd's 20' standard measures 5,900 mm long, 2,352 mm wide and 2,395 mm high inside, with a door opening of 2,340 × 2,292 mm and a capacity of 33.2 m³. Containers in other fleets differ by a few millimetres.
How many CBM fit in a 40ft container?
The published capacity of a 40' standard is 67.7 m³ and of a 40' high cube 76.3 m³ (Hapag-Lloyd). In practice cartons and pallets leave gaps, which is why our CBM calculator plans with about 55–58 m³ and 65–68 m³ of usable space.
What is the difference between a 40ft and a 40ft high cube container?
Length and width are the same; the high cube is about 30 cm taller inside (2,700 mm against 2,395 mm in Hapag-Lloyd's fleet), which raises capacity from 67.7 m³ to 76.3 m³. The door opening is taller too: 2,597 mm against 2,292 mm.
How much weight can a 20ft container carry?
Hapag-Lloyd's 20' standard has a max payload of 28,130 kg: a max gross weight of 30,480 kg minus a tare of 2,350 kg. The limit marked on the container door applies to that specific box, and road rules on the inland leg can be lower.
What temperatures can a reefer container hold?
Hapag-Lloyd states that its reefers maintain constant temperatures between −35 °C and +30 °C. The setpoint for your cargo is agreed when the reefer is booked.
Which container do I need for machinery or oversized cargo?
If the cargo is too tall for the door but fits the floor, an open top loaded by crane through the roof is usually the answer. If it is wider or taller than the container itself, a flat rack is used. Send us the dimensions and weight and we will confirm the equipment.
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