20 Foot Shipping Containers
Below we have provided the standard shipping container dimensions of a typical 20 foot general purpose, dry freight container.
These internationally recognised containers are extremely popular and standardized in ISO 6346 (see ISO shipping containers).
There are many freight and container companies specialising in the sale or hire of new and used 20 foot shipping containers worldwide.
There are no smaller containers recognised in the ISO 6346 standard but there exists a smaller, more cost effective version for those with lower capacity requirements.
The 10 foot sea container is approximately half the length (but not the width) and capacity of the 20 foot reefer container below.
The next largest sea container recognized by the ISO standard is 40 feet in length. A 30 foot container does exist, however, and is offered by some container companies.
20 Foot Shipping Containers – Dimensions
The 20 foot shipping container dimensions are categorised as follows:
- 20 foot external container sizes (imperial)
- 20 foot internal container sizes (imperial)
External Dimensions (Imperial)
| Intermodal Length (feet) | Intermodal Width (feet) | Intermodal Height (feet) | Inside Capacity (cubic feet) | Floor Area (sq feet) | Container Weight (tonnes) | Door Width (feet) | Door Height (feet) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19’10″ | 8’0″ | 8’6″ | 1,160 | 150 | 2.4 | 7’6″ | 7’5″ |
Internal Dimensions (Imperial)
| Intermodal Length (feet) | Intermodal Width (feet) | Intermodal Height (feet) | Inside Capacity (cubic feet) | Floor Area (sq feet) | Container Weight (tonnes) | Door Width (feet) | Door Height (feet) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19’3″ | 7’7″ | 7’9″ | 1,160 | 150 | 2.4 | 7’6″ | 7’5″ |
20 Foot Intermodal Container Sizes
The following tables are summarized as follows:
- 20 foot external container dimensions (metric)
- 20 foot internal container dimensions (metric)
Standard External Sizes (Metric)
| Container Length (metres) | Container Width (metres) | Container Height (metres) | Inside Capacity (cubic metres) | Floor Area (sq metres) | Container Weight (tonnes) | Door Width (metres) | Door Height (metres) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.06 | 2.44 | 2.59 | 32.85 | 13.93 | 2.44 | 2.28 | 2.26 |
Standard Internal Sizes (Metric)
| Container Length (metres) | Container Width (metres) | Container Height (metres) | Inside Capacity (cubic metres) | Floor Area (sq metres) | Container Weight (tonnes) | Door Width (metres) | Door Height (metres) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.87 | 2.33 | 2.35 | 32.85 | 13.93 | 2.44 | 2.28 | 2.26 |
20′ Open Top Containers
Open top containers are similar in characteristics and dimensions to standard general purpose intermodal containers above, but without a fixed roof.
These containers are covered and secured with heavy duty canvas or tarpaulins fixed using lashing bars and rings.
Open tops are therefore, suited to over-height cargo where side loading is difficult or challenging. Large machinery, for example, can be hoisted with a crane and top loaded into the container easily and efficiently.
20 foot open top containers are extremely common and defined in ISO 6346 container codes.
We have provided a separate page for 20 open top container dimensions.
20′ Foot Reefers
Special containers, known as reefers, as commonly used to transport goods under controlled temperatures. The 20 and 40 reefer container can be found in most container ports.
External reefer container dimensions for the 20 foot box are the same as those above.
The internal sizes and cubic capacity quoted, however, will be less to allow for insulation, cooling or heating technologies within the reefer.
20′ Flat Rack Containers
Flat rack containers have no superstructure and come with fixed and collapsible ends.
They are used in the transport or shipping of bulky or heavy goods such as logs or building materias.
We have supplied 20 flat rack dimensions on another page.
20′ Platform Containers
Platform containers are flat-rack containers with no ends.
We have supplied 20 platform container dimensions on another page.
20′ High Cube Containers
A 20 high cube container has exactly the same dimensions below except for an additional height of 1 foot which in turn increases the cubic capacity.
20′ Tank Containers
Tank containers are quite different in specification and characteristics than any of the other shipping containers above.
Used for safely transporting bulk liquids, hazardous chemicals, oils and gases, they are demonstrably more efficient than the transportation of multiple, smaller drums.
We have provided ISO tank container specifications as well as 20′ tank container dimensions and capacities on another page.
20 Foot Containers & Container Homes
Shipping container architects tend towards the use of 20 foot containers in their container home plans and designs.
They are, therefore, the mainstay in shipping container homes and housing projects. The Ecopod from Canada as well as The Music Box concept from Australia are excellent examples.
Miscellaneous Data
- Note that because tare weights vary considerably according to manufacturing characteristics, we have not provided this data.
- The maximum permissible intermodal container weight according to ISO 6346 container standards is 24,000kg for a 20 shipping container. This figure must include the tare weight.
- Individual ISO container codes apply depending on the intermodal container type.
- Interior dimensions on specialist 20 foot shipping containers such as refrigerated or insulated boxes will be smaller.
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