Standard Shipping Container Dimensions

Posted on November 10, 2016

Shipping container dimensions have been standardized, so they do not vary from one market to another, or from country to country. This is because they are made to international standards, making cross-border trade much easier. Containers can also be interchanged by shipping, rail and truck companies easily without having to make any adjustments whatsoever. The following are standard shipping container dimensions.

External Container Dimensions

The standard lengths of shipping containers are 10 feet, 20 feet, 30 feet and 40 feet. These containers have a standard external width of 8 feet. The height for standard containers is 8’6″ while High Cube containers have a height of 9’6″.

Internal Container Dimensions

Since containers are made from thick metal, the internal measurements are normally a little bit smaller than external measurements. The internal dimensions for the 10, 20, 30 and 40 feet containers are reduced to 9’2″, 19’3″, 29’4″ and 39’4″ respectively. The internal widths are also reduced to 7’7″. The internal height for standard containers is also reduced to 7’9″, while that of High Cube containers is reduced to 8’9″.

Carrying Capacity

Standard containers can carry 560, 1160,1760 and 2360 cubic feet of goods respectively in the 10, 20, 30 and 40 foot containers.

Companies that manufacture shipping containers have to adhere to these standards regardless of the type of materials they are using. Containers are designed to offer maximum carrying capacity while ensuring maximum stability of the road, bearing in mind the fact that traffic and trucking rules differ from country to another. Standard dimensions also make it easier for shipping companies to stack up the containers in their ships and shipping yards. After making a container, manufacturers are required to give each container a unique identification number.

It is important to note that refrigerated and insulated shipping containers have smaller internal measurements. They are also much heavier.

Types of Shipping Containers

The following is a list of standard shipping containers commonly used in the trucking industry.

– Flat rack
– Half height
– Open side
– Open end
– Standard
– Modular
– Liquid build (tank), and
– Refrigerated containers

Container shipping services are very important in the global trade. They must be used whenever individuals or corporations need to import items into the country. Using standardized containers makes loading, transportation, unloading and storage very easy. When you want to transport something, it is important that you consult a shipping company to come up with the best shipping solution.

Understanding Shipping Container Dimensions

Posted on June 15, 2016

Shipping is one of the oldest methods used to transport goods from one location to another. For centuries, port cities have been some of the most vibrant cities in the world. This is because they are centers of trade and because they are gateways to other cities, countries and markets. The shipping industry, however, has grown in leaps and bounds throughout the last century and a half. New forms of power such as steam, coal, electricity and petroleum have made the ships themselves more efficient than ever. Trains, trucks and airplanes have made it far easier to disperse goods once they have arrived at a port. Shipping containers have changed with the industry, adapting to new demands. Shipping container dimensions have been forced to adapt as well.

The dimensions of a shipping container depend on a number of factors. It must be built to fit its contents and it must be built to fit its mode of transportation. While the term “shipping container” once implied transportation by boat, it has come to refer to any container being transported over a long distance. The smallest shipping containers are simple padded envelopes, not much bigger than a sheet of paper. These are used by individuals who want to send small packages through the mail. In general, shipping containers bought for personal use tend to be on the small side. Envelopes and boxes can be shipped cross country and delivered to private addresses in a matter of days.

Shipping container dimensions become more standardized when used for larger, professional shipments. The economies of the world have become increasingly intertwined and the transportation industry is, in many ways, the backbone of the global economy. It takes a complex network of ships, trucks and airplanes to send merchandise around the world. Most industrial shipping containers must stack easily inside a ship and must also fit on a train car or a truck bed. In order to ensure that the containers can easily move from one mode of transportation to another, the containers come in a number of standardized sizes and styles.

Standard shipping containers come in either a twenty foot or a forty foot length. The inside length of the twenty foot model is 19’4″, the inside width is 7’8″ and the inside height is 7’10” for a total capacity of 1172 cubic feet and a maximum cargo weight of 47,900 lbs. The inside width of the forty foot model is 39’5″, the inside width is 7’8″ and the inside height is 7’10” for a total capacity of 2390 cubic feet and a maximum cargo weight of 59,040 lbs.

Opentop shipping containers also come in twenty and forty foot lengths, but their tops can be easily removed and their dimensions are slightly different. The twenty food model has an inside length of 19’4″, an inside width of of 7’7″ and an inside height of 7’8″ for a total capacity of 1136 cubic feet and a maximum cargo weight of 47,620 lbs. The forty food model has an inside length of 39’5″, an inside width of 7’8″ and an inside height of 7’8″, for a total capacity of 2350 cubic feet and a maximum cargo weight of 58,710 lbs. No matter what is being shipped, it should fit within the confines of these shipping container dimensions.