# 10 ft Container Dimensions

Source: https://contsize.com/10-ft-container/ · CC BY 4.0 · checked 2026-10-19

A 10 ft container measures 2.991 × 2.438 × 2.591 m outside (9′10″ × 8′ × 8′6″) and 2.831 × 2.350 × 2.393 m inside (9′3½″ × 7′8½″ × 7′10″) — length and width per ISO 668; the height and the inside width and height per all 4 sheets; the inside length per 3 of 4 sheets. That gives 15.9 m³ (562 ft³) on about 6.7 m² (72 ft²) of floor. Empty it weighs about 1,300 kg — sheets print 1,200–1,480 kg — with a [payload](https://contsize.com/glossary/payload/) near 8,860 kg (per 3 of 5 sheets); the weights rest on fewer sheets than the larger sizes’ and vary more between makers, so read them as approximate. It counts as 0.5 TEU and is used mainly for on-site storage rather than ocean freight — roughly the contents of a single room.

![Measured drawing of a 10 ft container: 2.991 × 2.438 × 2.591 m outside, 2.831 × 2.350 × 2.393 m inside, door 2.340 × 2.280 m.](https://contsize.com/figures/10ft-container-dimensions-drawing-en.png)

**The numbers in this chart**

*10 ft container dimensions drawing: outside, inside, door and floor*

| Measure | Metric | Imperial |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Length outside | 2,991 mm | 9′10″ |
| Width outside | 2,438 mm | 8′ |
| Height outside | 2,591 mm | 8′6″ |
| Length inside | 2,831 mm | 9′3½″ |
| Width inside | 2,350 mm | 7′8½″ |
| Height inside | 2,393 mm | 7′10″ |
| Door width | 2,340 mm | 7′8″ |
| Door height | 2,280 mm | 7′6″ |
| Floor area | 6.7 m² | 72 ft² |
| Volume | 15.9 m³ | 562 ft³ |
| Tare (empty) | 1,300 kg | 2,866 lb |
| Payload | 8,860 kg | 19,533 lb |
| Max gross | 10,160 kg | 22,399 lb |
| TEU | 0.5 | — |
| ISO type | 12G1 | — |
| EUR pallets, one tier (counted) | 5 | — |
| US pallets, one tier (counted) | 4 | — |

Checked 19 October 2026: outside length and width set by ISO 668, read in IS 6566:2001, GOST R 51876-2008 and GOST R 53350-2009; the outside height and every other figure against 6 published sheets of 6 lessors and makers. A sheet agrees within ±5 mm, or ±2 % for a mass and ±1 % for a volume; a maximum gross is a rating and must be the same. [Every figure and its sources](https://contsize.com/container-data-sources/#c-10ft)

*10 ft container dimensions drawing: outside, inside, door and floor*

## 10 ft container: dimensions and weight

*10 ft container12G1*

|  | Metric | Imperial |
| --- | --- | --- |
| External dimensions |  |  |
| Length | 2.991 m | 9′10″ |
| Width | 2.438 m | 8′ |
| Height | 2.591 m | 8′6″ |
| Internal dimensions |  |  |
| Length | 2.831 m | 9′3½″ |
| Width | 2.350 m | 7′8½″ |
| Height | 2.393 m | 7′10″ |
| Door opening |  |  |
| Width | 2.340 m | 7′8″ |
| Height | 2.280 m | 7′6″ |
| Specification |  |  |
| Tare weight | 1,300 kg | 2,866 lb |
| Max gross weight | 10,160 kg | 22,399 lb |
| Max payload | 8,860 kg | 19,533 lb |
| Capacity (volume) | 15.9 m³ | 562 ft³ |
| Pallets (one tier, counted on the floor) | 5 EUR · 4 US |  |
| TEU | 0.5 (by length) |  |

Checked 19 October 2026: outside length and width set by ISO 668, read in IS 6566:2001, GOST R 51876-2008 and GOST R 53350-2009; the outside height and every other figure against 6 published sheets of 6 lessors and makers. A sheet agrees within ±5 mm, or ±2 % for a mass and ±1 % for a volume; a maximum gross is a rating and must be the same. [Every figure and its sources](https://contsize.com/container-data-sources/#c-10ft)

Machine-readable: [/data/containers.json](https://contsize.com/data/containers.json) · closest published sheet: Triton, 9 of 12 figures

Data: [ISO 668 (1995 text, read in IS 6566:2001)](https://contsize.com/citations/#iso-668) · [Singamas 10 ft general purpose container](https://contsize.com/citations/#singamas-10ft) · Bullbox, Cargostore Worldwide, SCF, Sea Box, Triton

[Compare every size in one chart](https://contsize.com/shipping-container-dimensions-chart/)

![Scale plan view of a 10 ft container: 5 Euro pallets (1200 × 800 mm) in a single tier on a 2.831 × 2.350 m floor.](https://contsize.com/figures/10ft-container-pallet-layout-en.png)

*5 EUR pallets in one tier, counted on the floor — 10 ft container, top view Drawn to scale*

![Range chart of what a 10 ft container costs to buy in the US by condition: One-trip (new) $3,500–5,000.](https://contsize.com/figures/10ft-container-price-en.png)

**The numbers in this chart**

*10 ft container price by condition (USD, October 2026)*

| Size | One-trip (new) | Cargo-worthy | Wind & watertight |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 10 ft container | $3,500–5,000 | $2,500–3,700 | $1,900–2,900 |

*10 ft container price by condition (USD, October 2026) typical US asking prices*

![Bar chart placing the 10 ft container (15.9 m³, 8,860 kg payload) among the seven container lengths from 10 to 53 ft.](https://contsize.com/figures/10ft-container-volume-and-payload-en.png)

**The numbers in this chart**

*10 ft container: volume and payload against every other size*

| Size | Volume | Max payload |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 10 ft container | 15.9 m³ · 562 ft³ | 8,860 kg · 19,533 lb |
| [20 ft container](https://contsize.com/20-ft-container/) | 33.2 m³ · 1,172 ft³ | 28,250 kg · 62,281 lb |
| [40 ft container](https://contsize.com/40-ft-container/) | 67.7 m³ · 2,391 ft³ | 28,800 kg · 63,493 lb |
| [40 ft high cube container](https://contsize.com/40-ft-high-cube-container/) | 76.4 m³ · 2,698 ft³ | 28,670 kg · 63,207 lb |
| [45 ft high cube container](https://contsize.com/45-ft-container/) | 86.0 m³ · 3,037 ft³ | 27,850 kg · 61,399 lb |
| [48 ft container](https://contsize.com/48-ft-container/) | 97.6 m³ · 3,447 ft³ | 25,530 kg · 56,284 lb |
| [53 ft container](https://contsize.com/53-ft-container/) | 111.8 m³ · 3,948 ft³ | 25,250 kg · 55,667 lb |

Checked 19 October 2026: the figures in this chart against 42 of 88 published sheets from 27 lines, lessors, makers and rail and road operators: those that print these figures. A sheet agrees within ±5 mm, or ±2 % for a mass and ±1 % for a volume; a maximum gross is a rating and must be the same. [Every figure and its sources](https://contsize.com/container-data-sources/)

*10 ft container: volume and payload against every other size*

## What a 10 ft container is used for

The 10 ft container is the smallest box in regular use. At 2.991 m long, it occupies about half the footprint of a 20 ft unit (6.058 m) and counts as 0.5 TEU. Its length and width are those of ISO 668's 10 ft size, and it shares the same 8 ft (2.438 m) width and 8′6″ (2.591 m) height as its larger siblings, so it stacks and locks into the same [corner castings](https://contsize.com/glossary/corner-casting/).

The end doors open to 2.340 m wide × 2.280 m high — the same clear opening the data gives a 20 ft box — so pallet jacks, ride-on mowers and standard shelving all pass through without trouble. Inside, the usable envelope is 2.831 × 2.350 × 2.393 m.

In ocean freight, 10 ft boxes are rare — carriers price slots by TEU, so shipping one is seldom economical, and many lines will only carry them paired into a 20 ft slot. Where they shine is on land: site storage, tool cribs, market stalls, and tight urban plots where a 20 ft unit will not fit. Because production volumes are low, a new 10 ft unit often costs more than a 20 ft box twice its length — you pay for scarcity, not steel.

Many 10 ft containers on the market are not factory-built at all but cut-downs: a 20 ft or 40 ft unit sectioned and re-welded with a new end wall. Done well they are perfectly serviceable for storage; just check the [CSC plate](https://contsize.com/glossary/csc-plate/) if you ever intend to ship one, because a cut-down loses its certification. Weights differ from maker to maker too: the published sheets print an empty 10 ft at 1,200–1,480 kg.

## What fits in a 10 ft container

The interior gives you 15.9 m³ (562 ft³) of space on a 6.7 m² floor — roughly the contents of a studio apartment or a single room. Floor-loaded, it takes 5 EUR pallets or 4 US pallets in a single tier by our layout of the inside floor.

Maximum payload is about 8,860 kg, limited by the 10,160 kg [max gross](https://contsize.com/glossary/max-gross/) rating rather than floor space — for dense cargo like tiles or paper you will hit the weight ceiling long before the walls. Some makers rate theirs up to 12,000 kg gross, so check the plate on the box you are offered.

**Common uses.** The 10 ft size earns its keep where footprint is the constraint: secure site storage on urban builds, a lockable tool crib beside a workshop, a kiosk or ticket booth shell, a generator or pump enclosure, bicycle parking, and back-of-house storage for shops and restaurants. It fits a single parking bay, provided the bay is at least its 2.438 m (8′) wide.

Delivery is another quiet advantage: at 2.991 m long and about 1.3 t empty, a 10 ft box travels on a flatbed truck or trailer and can be placed by a HIAB crane arm in spots a 20 ft delivery vehicle cannot reach.

## 10 ft vs 20 ft container

*10 ft vs 20 ft container*

|  | 10 ft container | [20 ft container](https://contsize.com/20-ft-container/) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ISO type code | 12G1 | 22G1 |
| External dimensions — Length | 2.991 m9′10″ | 6.058 m19′10½″ |
| External dimensions — Width | 2.438 m8′ | 2.438 m8′ |
| External dimensions — Height | 2.591 m8′6″ | 2.591 m8′6″ |
| Internal dimensions — Length | 2.831 m9′3½″ | 5.898 m19′4″ |
| Internal dimensions — Width | 2.350 m7′8½″ | 2.352 m7′8½″ |
| Internal dimensions — Height | 2.393 m7′10″ | 2.393 m7′10″ |
| Tare weight | 1,300 kg2,866 lb | 2,230 kg4,916 lb |
| Max gross weight | 10,160 kg22,399 lb | 30,480 kg67,197 lb |
| Max payload | 8,860 kg19,533 lb | 28,250 kg62,281 lb |
| Capacity (volume) | 15.9 m³562 ft³ | 33.2 m³1,172 ft³ |
| EUR pallets | 5 | 11 |
| TEU | 0.5 | 1 |

Checked 19 October 2026: the outside sizes of the ISO boxes (of the 10 ft, its length and width) set by ISO 668, read in IS 6566:2001, GOST R 51876-2008 and GOST R 53350-2009; every other figure against 25 published sheets of 23 lines, lessors and makers. A sheet agrees within ±5 mm, or ±2 % for a mass and ±1 % for a volume; a maximum gross is a rating and must be the same. [Every figure and its sources](https://contsize.com/container-data-sources/)

Data: [ISO 668 (1995 text, read in IS 6566:2001)](https://contsize.com/citations/#iso-668) · [CMA CGM Equipment Guide](https://contsize.com/citations/#cma-specs) · [Evergreen Container Specifications](https://contsize.com/citations/#evergreen-specs) · [Hapag-Lloyd Container Specifications](https://contsize.com/citations/#hapag-specs) · [Maersk Container Specifications](https://contsize.com/citations/#maersk-specs) · [ONE Container Specifications](https://contsize.com/citations/#one-specs) · [Singamas 10 ft general purpose container](https://contsize.com/citations/#singamas-10ft) · [Singamas product range](https://contsize.com/citations/#singamas-products) · Bullbox, Cargostore Worldwide, COSCO, Crowley, HMM, Matson, MSC, OOCL, SCF, Sea Box, Seaco, SeaCube, Textainer, TOTE, Triton, Yang Ming, ZIM

## Frequently asked questions

**How big is a 10 ft shipping container?**

A 10 ft container is 2.991 × 2.438 × 2.591 m outside (9′10″ × 8′ × 8′6″) and 2.831 × 2.350 × 2.393 m inside (9′3½″ × 7′8½″ × 7′10″) — length and width per ISO 668; the height and the inside width and height per all 4 sheets; the inside length per 3 of 4 sheets. That gives 15.9 m³ (562 ft³) of capacity.

**How much does a 10 ft container weigh?**

An empty 10 ft container weighs about 1,300 kg (2,866 lb) — sheets print 1,200–1,480 kg. With a maximum gross of 10,160 kg that leaves a payload of roughly 8,860 kg (per 3 of 5 sheets); makers’ sheets differ for this size, so the weights marked on the door are the figures to trust.

**How much does a 10 ft container cost?**

In October 2026, used 10 ft containers typically sell for $2,500–3,700 and new ([one-trip](https://contsize.com/glossary/one-trip/) or factory-built) units for about $3,500–5,000. Because few are made, they cost more than a 20 ft box of the same grade. Prices vary significantly by market, location and condition.

**How many square meters (square feet) is a 10 ft container?**

The internal floor area is about 6.7 m² (72 ft²) — a floor of 2.831 × 2.350 m (9′3½″ × 7′8½″) — the length per 3 of 4 sheets, the width per all 4 sheets. That is roughly the size of a small garden shed or half a parking space.

**Can 10 ft containers be shipped by sea?**

Yes, but rarely — carriers price capacity per TEU, and a 10 ft box uses a slot inefficiently, so per-cubic-metre rates are high. Most 10 ft units are used for static storage on land.

**Will a 10 ft container fit in a parking space?**

Yes, if the bay is at least 2.438 m (8′) wide: the box is 2.991 × 2.438 m (9′10″ × 8′), per ISO 668. Bays are drawn to local rules, so measure yours; with both doors swung open the box needs about 4.210 m (13′9½″) of length, since each door leaf is about half the box’s width.

## Related pages

- [20 ft container6.058 × 2.438 × 2.591 m · 33.2 m³](https://contsize.com/20-ft-container/)
- [Storage container sizes8 · 10 · 16 · 20 · 40 · 45 · 48 · 53 ft](https://contsize.com/storage-container-sizes/)
- [Moving a shipping containerTilt-bed · HIAB · Crane · Side-loader](https://contsize.com/moving-a-shipping-container/)
- [Container size chart (all 17)17 containers · Metric and imperial · Prints on one sheet](https://contsize.com/shipping-container-dimensions-chart/)