Shipping Container Dimensions: Container, Pallet and Box Sizes

Lost in the mess of TEUs, LD1s, and pallets?

See definitions and dimensions for freight containers, pallets, and boxes below.

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Ocean Container Sizes

Ocean containers come in a variety of sizes, from the standard to the more specialized.

20ft Container Capacity

Also known as a TEU (20-foot equivalent unit), a 20ft container is the smallest shipping container.

Mode	Container	Description
Ocean Containers	Full 20′ container (TEU FCL)	Standard twenty-foot container that is loaded and unloaded under the risk and account of the shipper or consignee.
Ocean Containers	20′ flat rack	Twenty-foot open-topped and open-sided unit that fits into an existing below-deck container and is used for oversized cargo and wheeled or tracked vehicles.
Ocean Containers	20′ refrigerated	Twenty-foot refrigerated shipping container for transporting perishables having its own stand-alone (self-powered) cooling system.
Ocean Containers	20′ non operative reefer (NOR)	Twenty-foot refrigerated shipping container having its own stand-alone (self-powered) cooling system that is non operative.
Ocean Containers	20′ ISO tank container	Twenty-foot container or tanktainer that is an intermodal container for the transport of liquids gases and powders as bulk cargo.
Ocean Containers	20′ open top	Twenty-foot container fitted with a solid removable roof or with a tarpaulin roof that can be loaded or unloaded from the top.

How Many Pallets & Boxes Fit In A 20 Foot Container?

The average number of pallets that fit in a standard 20ft container is 10.

A standard pallet can fit 60 boxes, so if a container fits 10 pallets of 60 boxes on average, the number of boxes in a 20ft container is 600.

40ft Container Dimensions

Also known as an FEU (40-foot equivalent unit), a 40ft container is the equivalent of two TEUs.

Mode	Container	Description
Ocean Containers	Full 40′ container (FEU FCL)	Standard forty-foot container that is loaded and unloaded under the risk and account of the shipper or consignee.
Ocean Containers	Full 40’HC container (FCL)	Hi-cube forty-foot container that is loaded and unloaded under the risk and account of the shipper or consignee.
Ocean Containers	40′ flat rack	Forty-foot open-topped and open-sided unit that fits into an existing below-deck container and is used for oversized cargo and wheeled or tracked vehicles.
Ocean Containers	40′ refrigerated	Forty-foot refrigerated shipping container for transporting perishables having its own stand-alone (self-powered) cooling system.
Ocean Containers	40’HC refrigerated	Hi-cube forty-foot refrigerated container that is used for transporting perishables having its own stand-alone (self-powered) cooling system.
Ocean Containers	40′ non operative reefer (NOR)	Forty-foot refrigerated shipping container having its own stand-alone (self-powered) cooling system that is non operative.
Ocean Containers	40’HC non operative reefer (NOR)	Hi-cube forty-foot refrigerated shipping container having its own stand-alone (self-powered) cooling system that is non operative.
Ocean Containers	40′ ISO tank container	Forty-foot container or tanktainer that is an intermodal container for the transport of liquids gases and powders as bulk cargo.
Ocean Containers	40′ open top	Forty-foot container fitted with a solid removable roof or with a tarpaulin roof that can be loaded or unloaded from the top.
Ocean Containers	40’HC open top	Hi-cube forty-foot container fitted with a solid removable roof or with a tarpaulin roof that can be loaded or unloaded from the top.

How Many Pallets & Boxes Fit In A 40 Foot Container?

The average number of pallets that fit in a standard 40ft container is 20.

A standard pallet can fit 60 boxes, so if a container fits 20 pallets of 60 boxes on average, the number of boxes in a 40ft container is 1200.

Other Ocean Container Sizes

Mode	Container	Description
Ocean Containers	Full 45’HC container (FCL)	Hi-cube forty five-foot container that is loaded and unloaded under the risk and account of the shipper or consignee.
Ocean Containers	Drum	(Barrels) Cylindrical container used for shipping liquids and powders and is often certified for shipment of dangerous goods.
Ocean Containers	Ro ro	Roll-on/roll-off ships are vessels designed to carry wheeled cargo such as automobiles and trucks.
Ocean Containers	Container48	Forty eight-foot hi-cube container.
Ocean Containers	Container53	Fifty three-foot hi-cube container.

Air Freight Container Types

Air containers come in standard sizes that make air freight more efficient and secure.

Mode	Container	Description
Air Shipping	LD1	92″ wide contoured half width container used for a wide-body aircraft.
Air Shipping	LD2	61.5″ wide contoured half width container used for a wide-body aircraft.”
Air Shipping	LD3	79″ wide contoured half width container used for a wide-body aircraft. Dimension are according to IATA.
Air Shipping	LD7	88″/96″ wide contoured full width container used for a wide-body aircraft.
Air Shipping	LD6	160″ wide contoured full width container used for a wide-body aircraft. (equivalent to 2 LD3s)
Air Shipping	LD8	125″ wide contoured full width container used for a wide-body aircraft. (equivalent to 2 LD2s)
Air Shipping	LD11	125″ wide full width container used for a wide-body aircraft. (same as LD6 but without contours; rectangular)

Pallet Sizes

Portable platform on which goods can be moved, stacked, and stored. See the pallet sizes for containers available below.

Mode	Container	Description
Pallets	EUR1/ISO1 pallet (80×120cm)	Standard pallet with the dimensions 80 X 120 cm.
Pallets	EUR2/ISO2 pallet (120×100cm)	Standard pallet with the dimensions 100 X 120 cm.
Pallets	48″x40″ pallet	48″ Long x 40″ Wide wood pallet is the most common size stringer pallet.

Other Shipping Containers

Mode	Container	Description
Other	Box	Container with a flat base and sides typically square or rectangular and having a lid.
Other	Envelope	Flat paper container with a sealable flap used to enclose a letter or document.
Other	Break bulk	System of transporting cargo as separate pieces rather than in containers.
Other	Roll	Container that can be carried by trucks and can be pushed to ground level by help of a hook and level arm with the container possibly sliding on roller wheels.

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