Standard container sizes

The regularly shipped container sizes are 20 and 40 feet, as well as 40-foot High-Cube containers. The 20-foot High-Cube containers fit individually onto a container chassis and create slightly more logistical complexity on ships. The 45-foot container size is gradually making its way into Europe. Larger containers, such as 53 feet, are not approved for use in European traffic and are mostly found in Australia.

The dimensions of shipping containers are standardized and follow the regulations of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The measure of the 20-foot standard container, TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit), is internationally recognized as the standardized unit for counting ISO containers.

The 8 and 10-foot containers are not commonly used in maritime shipping as they do not fit into the 20-foot grid. 8-foot shipping containers are usually not equipped with a CSC and are therefore only suitable for limited maritime or offshore use (e.g., on oil platforms). 10-foot containers typically need to be assembled end-to-end with another 10-foot container for shipping, using Quick-Tie locks.

STANDARD CONTAINER SIZE