Shipping container types can be classified according to the intended purpose of the container. Whether new or second-hand (see used shipping containers), they fall into one of two convenient categories:
• General cargo container
• Specific purpose container
ISO shipping container standards (see ISO 6346), set down in 1970, provides for standard shipping container dimensions. Homes made from containers are generally constructed using standard ISO containers of 20, 40 and 45 feet lengths.
High cube containers are slightly larger than those described below in that they provide an additional foot of height for bulkier cargo.
1. 20‘×8’6“ Dry Cargo ISO containers. Containers are watertight with good functional locking doors and gaskets.
Container Type |
Length |
Height |
Width |
Door Opening |
|||||
Exterior |
Interior |
Exterior |
Interior |
Exterior |
Interior |
Height |
Width |
||
20' DRY FREIGHT |
19'10 ½" |
19'4 ¼" |
8'6" |
7'9 7/8" |
8'0" |
7'8 ½" |
7'5 5/8" |
7'5 5/8" |
|
Container Type |
Tare Weight |
Payload |
Gross Weight |
Cubic Capacity |
|||||
in pounds |
in cubic feet |
||||||||
20' DRY FREIGHT |
5,015 |
47,895 |
52,910 |
1,166 |
2. 40‘×8’6“ Dry Cargo ISO containers. Containers are watertight with good functional locking doors and gaskets.
Container Type Length Height Width Door Opening Exterior Interior Exterior Interior Exterior Interior Height Width 40' DRY FREIGHT 40'0" 39'5 ½" 8'6" 7'9 7/8" 8'0" 7'8 ½" 7'5 5/8" 7'8 ½" Container Type Tare Weight Payload Gross Weight Cubic Capacity in pounds in cubic feet 40' DRY FREIGHT 8,377 58,823 67,200 2,377
3. 20' Flat Rack. Flat racks are scarce and a repositioning may take up to 10 days in some markets in USA.
Container Type |
Length |
Height |
Width |
Door Opening |
|||||
Exterior |
Interior |
Exterior |
Interior |
Exterior |
Interior |
Height |
|||
20' Flat Rack |
19'10 ½" |
19'6 5/8" |
8'6" |
7'5 d" |
8'0" |
7'8 ½" |
1 ½" |
||
Container Type |
Tare Weight |
Payload |
Gross Weight |
Cubic Capacity |
|||||
in pounds |
in cubic feet |
||||||||
20' Flat Rack |
6,060 |
68,890 |
74,950 |
1,166 |
4. 40' Flat Rack. Flat racks are scarce and a repositioning may take up to 10 days in some markets in USA.
Container Type |
Length |
Height |
Width |
Door Opening |
|||||
Exterior |
Interior |
Exterior |
Interior |
Exterior |
Interior |
Height |
|||
40' Flat Rack |
40' 0" |
38' 3" |
8'6" |
6' 5 d" |
8'0" |
7'8 ½" |
2' 1 ½" |
||
Container Type |
Tare Weight |
Payload |
Gross Weight |
Cubic Capacity |
|||||
in pounds |
in cubic feet |
||||||||
40' Flat Rack |
13,448 |
85,759 |
99,207 |
1,766 |
5. 20‘×8’6“ Open Top ISO containers. Open top containers are scarce in some markets and may take up to 10 days to reposition for loading.
Container Type Length Height Width Door Opening Exterior Interior Exterior Interior Exterior Interior Height Width 20' OPEN TOP 19'10 ½" 19'4 ¼" 8'6" 7'9 7/8" 8'0" 7'8 ½" 7'5 5/8" 7'8 ½" Container Type Tare Weight Payload Gross Weight Cubic Capacity in pounds in cubic feet 20' OPEN TOP 5,015 47,895 52,910 1,166
6. 40‘×8’6“ Open Top ISO containers. Open top containers are scarce in some markets and may take up to 10 days to reposition for loading.
Container Type Length Height Width Door Opening Exterior Interior Exterior Interior Exterior Interior Height Width 40' OPEN TOP 40'0" 39'5 ½" 8'6" 7'9 7/8" 8'0" 7'8 ½" 7'5 5/8" 7'8 ½" Container Type Tare Weight Payload Gross Weight Cubic Capacity in pounds in cubic feet 40' OPEN TOP 8,377 58,823 67,200 2,377
7. 20‘×8’6“ Refrigerated (Reefer) ISO containers. Bookings for refrigerated containers should be made at least 15 days in advance - we have done miracles in the past but no guarantees on immediate space. Container Type Length Height Width Door Opening Exterior Interior Exterior Interior Exterior Interior Height Width 20' REEFER 19'10 ½" 18' 0" 8'6" 7'4 ½" 8'0" 7'4" 7'4 ½" 7'4" Container Type Tare Weight Payload Gross Weight Cubic Capacity in pounds in cubic feet 20' REEFER 6,440 46,470 52,910 1,166 - 995
8. 40‘×8’6“ Refrigerated (Reefer) ISO containers. Bookings for refrigerated containers should be made at least 15 days in advance - we have done miracles in the past but no guarantees on immediate space.
Container Type |
Length |
Height |
Width |
Door Opening |
|||||
Exterior |
Interior |
Exterior |
Interior |
Exterior |
Interior |
Height |
Width |
||
40' REEFER |
40'0" |
37'11" |
8'6" |
7'2 ½" |
8'0" |
7'4" |
7'2 ½" |
7'4" |
|
Container Type |
Tare Weight |
Payload |
Gross Weight |
Cubic Capacity |
|||||
in pounds |
in cubic feet |
||||||||
40' REEFER |
9,590 |
60,960 |
70,550 |
1,965 - 2,059 |
9. 40‘×9’6“ Refrigerated (Reefer) ISO containers. Bookings for refrigerated containers should be made at least 15 days in advance - we have done miracles in the past but no guarantees on immediate space.
Container Type |
Length |
Height |
Width |
Door Opening |
|||||
Exterior |
Interior |
Exterior |
Interior |
Exterior |
Interior |
Height |
Width |
||
40' REEFER |
40'0" |
37'11" |
8'6" |
8'2 ½" |
8'0" |
7'4" |
8'2 ½" |
7'4" |
|
Container Type |
Tare Weight |
Payload |
Gross Weight |
Cubic Capacity |
|||||
in pounds |
in cubic feet |
||||||||
40' REEFER |
9,660 |
60,890 |
70,550 |
2,289 - 2,366 |