The standard container sizes available for shipping are 20 and 40 feet, as well as 40-foot high-cube containers. 20-foot high-cube containers generally only fit onto a container chassis individually, using the appropriate twist-lock fasteners, and also require slightly more logistical effort when loaded onto the ship. The 45-foot container size is slowly gaining ground in Europe. Larger containers, such as 53-foot ones, are not approved for transport in Europe and are therefore mostly only found in Australia.
The dimensions of shipping containers are standardised and comply with the regulations of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). The 20-foot standard container measurement, TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit), is used internationally as a standardised unit for counting standardised ISO containers.
The 8-foot and 10-foot containers are not commonly used in maritime transport, as they do not fit into the 20-foot grid. 8-foot shipping containers are not usually fitted with a CSC and are therefore only of limited use in maritime transport or offshore (e.g. on oil platforms). 10-foot containers are usually joined end-to-end with a second 10-foot container using Quick-Tie locks for shipping.
Specialised containers are also based on the Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit. These are used whenever the cargo requires specialised solutions
Open Top (OT): Instead of a fixed roof, this container has a removable tarpaulin (tarpaulin/frame). Ideal for cargo that is too tall or can only be loaded from above using a crane (e.g. heavy machinery).
Side Door / Open Side / Full Side Door: In addition to the standard doors at the front, this container has a side panel that can be opened fully along its entire length, like a folding door.
Refrigerated container (Reefer): Equipped with its own refrigeration unit to maintain a constant internal temperature (from approx. -30 °C to +30 °C) . Perfect for food, flowers or medicines. As the insulation takes up space, the internal volume is slightly smaller than in standard containers.
You can view further container types under the Sea Container Types Overview.
STANDARD CONTAINER SIZE
