Freight glossaryContainersInternational ShippingEquipment
Shipping Container
Definition
A shipping container is a standardized steel box, most often 20 or 40 feet long and 8 feet wide, built to move freight by ship, rail and truck without unloading the cargo between modes.
In simple English
It is the big steel box you see stacked at ports. It goes from ship to train to truck without anyone touching the freight inside.
What it means
The FHWA glossary describes it as a "box" typically ten to forty feet long, used mainly for ocean freight and carried on truck chassis or rail flatcars for travel to and from ports.[1] The international standard ISO 668 classifies series 1 freight containers by external dimensions and sets their ratings.[2]
- 20-ft standard: 20 ft long, 8 ft 6 in tall (1 TEU)
- 40-ft standard: 40 ft long, 8 ft 6 in tall (2 TEU)
- 40-ft high cube: 40 ft long, 9 ft 6 in tall (2 TEU)
| Container | Inside L x W x H | Volume | Tare | Max payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20-ft standard | 5,896 x 2,350 x 2,393 mm | 33 m³ (1,165 cu ft) | 2,280 kg | 28,200 kg (62,170 lb) |
| 40-ft standard | 12,032 x 2,350 x 2,393 mm | 67 m³ (2,366 cu ft) | 3,700 kg | 28,800 kg (63,493 lb) |
| 40-ft high cube | 12,032 x 2,350 x 2,697 mm | 76 m³ (2,684 cu ft) | 3,880 kg | 28,620 kg (63,100 lb) |
Source: Maersk dry container specifications.[3] Other carriers and container series differ slightly, and the same carrier publishes slightly different payloads in its FAQ,[4] so check the plate on the actual box.
Every intermodal container has to be marked with its empty weight, the maximum cargo weight it is designed to carry and the sum of the two.[5] Specialized types include reefers for temperature-controlled cargo, and open tops and flat racks for out-of-gauge cargo.
Related
Related terms
- 20-ft ContainerA 20-ft container is a standard shipping container about 20 feet long and 8 feet wide, equal to one TEU, and...Glossary
- 40-ft ContainerA 40-ft container is a standard shipping container about 40 feet long, 8 feet wide and 8 feet 6 inches tall...Glossary
- 40-ft High Cube ContainerA 40-ft high cube container is a 40-ft shipping container that is 9 feet 6 inches tall, one foot taller than...Glossary
- TEUA TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) is the standard unit for counting containers: one 20-ft container is 1...Glossary
- ReeferA reefer is a refrigerated container or trailer with its own cooling unit, used to move freight that must...Glossary
- Out-of-Gauge CargoOut-of-gauge (OOG) cargo is freight too long, wide or tall to fit inside a standard container, so it travels...Glossary
- Verified Gross MassThe verified gross mass (VGM) is the total weight of a packed container, cargo plus packaging plus the...Glossary
- Container SealA container seal is a numbered, tamper-evident device locked through a container's door hardware after...Glossary
- ChassisA chassis is a wheeled trailer frame built to carry a shipping container over the road; the container is...Glossary
Related questions
- How Much Weight Can a 40-ft Container Carry?On one major carrier's published specs, a 40-ft standard dry container is rated for a maximum payload of...Answer
- How Many Cartons Fit in a 40-ft Container?It depends on the carton size, which way up the cartons may go, how high they can be stacked and what they...Answer
- What Is the Difference Between Gross, Net and Tare Weight?Net weight is the goods alone. Tare weight is the weight of the empty container, packaging or vehicle. Gross...Answer
- How Is Freight Loaded into a Container for Export?Plan the load before the container arrives: stay within the container's payload and the road limits, spread...Answer
Related tools
Related guides
Sources
- Federal Highway Administration, Office of Freight Management and Operations, “Freight Glossary,” Government glossary. Accessed September 30, 2026.
- International Organization for Standardization, “ISO 668:2020, Series 1 freight containers: classification, dimensions and ratings (abstract),” International standard (abstract). Published January 2020. Accessed September 30, 2026.
- Maersk, “Our fleet: equipment specifications, dry containers (PDF),” Carrier equipment specification. Accessed September 30, 2026.
- Maersk, “What is the cargo weight limit for a container?,” Carrier FAQ. Accessed September 30, 2026.
- Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School, “29 CFR § 1918.85, Containerized cargo operations,” Federal regulation. Accessed September 30, 2026.
General operational information, not legal, customs or regulatory advice. Rules and rates change; confirm current requirements with the agency, carrier or contract that governs your shipment.