Guide · Dimensions and units

Container Dimensions in Meters

Yuri Kan Updated 19 October 2026

In metres, a 20 ft container is 6.058 m (19′10½″) long and a 40 ft 12.192 m (40′); every ISO container is 2.438 m (8′) wide and 2.591 m (8′6″) or, as a high cube, 2.896 m (9′6″) high — per ISO 668. These outside figures are the standard’s own, not rounded conversions; the inside is what the published line and maker sheets print.

Container sizes are named in feet but built to millimetre specs, so the metric numbers are exact, not approximations: a “20-foot” container is precisely 6.058 m long, a “40-foot” 12.192 m. Width is always 2.438 m; height 2.591 m standard or 2.896 m high cube.

Scale elevation comparing a standard 8 ft 6 in container (2,591 mm) with a high cube 9 ft 6 in container (2,896 mm). — Container heights to scaleScale elevation comparing a standard 8 ft 6 in container (2,591 mm) with a high cube 9 ft 6 in container (2,896 mm), against a 1.75 m person for reference.Drawn to scaleOpen image: Container heights to scale

Container heights to scale
	Height, m	Height, ft in
Standard 8′6″	2.591	8′6″
High cube 9′6″	2.896	9′6″
1.75 m person	1.75	5′9″

Bar chart of internal volume and maximum payload for the 10, 20, 40, 40 HC, 45 HC, 48 and 53 ft containers. — Volume and payload of every shipping container sizeBar chart of internal volume and maximum payload for the 10, 20, 40, 40 HC, 45 HC, 48 and 53 ft containers: a 40 ft holds 2.04 times the volume of a 20 ft and may carry 550 kg more.Open image: Volume and payload of every shipping container size

Volume and payload of every shipping container size
Size	Volume	Max payload
10 ft container	15.9 m³ · 562 ft³	8,860 kg · 19,533 lb
20 ft container	33.2 m³ · 1,172 ft³	28,250 kg · 62,281 lb
40 ft container	67.7 m³ · 2,391 ft³	28,800 kg · 63,493 lb
40 ft high cube container	76.4 m³ · 2,698 ft³	28,670 kg · 63,207 lb
45 ft high cube container	86.0 m³ · 3,037 ft³	27,850 kg · 61,399 lb
48 ft container	97.6 m³ · 3,447 ft³	25,530 kg · 56,284 lb
53 ft container	111.8 m³ · 3,948 ft³	25,250 kg · 55,667 lb

All sizes in metres

The full fleet, external and internal, in metres:

Beside each figure, its evidence: ISO set by the standard · ✓ 16 sheets that agree, counted · range the sheets disagree · 1 sheet one source. A mark opens the sheets behind the figure.

Container size chart (all 17)
Specification	ISO	External dimensions, m	Internal dimensions, m	m³	Max payload, kg	EUR pallets
10 ft container	12G1	2.991 × 2.438 × 2.591 10 ft container · Outside height 2,591 mm Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	2.831 × 2.350 × 2.393 10 ft container · Inside length 2,831 mm Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	15.9 10 ft container · Volume 15.9 m³ Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	8,860 10 ft container · Payload 8,860 kg Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	5
20 ft container	22G1	6.058 × 2.438 × 2.591 20 ft container · Outside length 6,058 mm Set by the standard Every reading and where it is printed	5.898 × 2.352 × 2.393 20 ft container · Inside length 5,898 mm Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	33.2 20 ft container · Volume 33.2 m³ Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	28,250 20 ft container · Payload 28,250 kg Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	11
40 ft container	42G1	12.192 × 2.438 × 2.591 40 ft container · Outside length 12,192 mm Set by the standard Every reading and where it is printed	12.032 × 2.352 × 2.393 40 ft container · Inside length 12,032 mm Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	67.7 40 ft container · Volume 67.7 m³ Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	28,800 40 ft container · Payload 28,800 kg Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	25
40 ft high cube container	45G1	12.192 × 2.438 × 2.896 40 ft high cube container · Outside length 12,192 mm Set by the standard Every reading and where it is printed	12.032 × 2.352 × 2.698 40 ft high cube container · Inside length 12,032 mm Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	76.4 40 ft high cube container · Volume 76.4 m³ Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	28,670 40 ft high cube container · Payload 28,670 kg Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	25
45 ft high cube container	L5G1	13.716 × 2.438 × 2.896 45 ft high cube container · Outside length 13,716 mm Set by the standard Every reading and where it is printed	13.556 × 2.352 × 2.698 45 ft high cube container · Inside length 13,556 mm Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	86.0 45 ft high cube container · Volume 86.0 m³ Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	27,850 45 ft high cube container · Payload 27,850 kg Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	27
48 ft container	—	14.630 × 2.591 × 2.896 48 ft container · Outside length 14,630 mm One sheet Every reading and where it is printed	14.472 × 2.502 × 2.694 48 ft container · Inside length 14,472 mm One sheet Every reading and where it is printed	97.6 48 ft container · Volume 97.6 m³ One sheet Every reading and where it is printed	25,530 48 ft container · Payload 25,530 kg One sheet Every reading and where it is printed	36
53 ft container	—	16.154 × 2.591 × 2.896 53 ft container · Outside height 2,896 mm Sheets disagree Every reading and where it is printed	16.017 × 2.515 × 2.781 53 ft container · Inside length 16,017 mm Sheets disagree Every reading and where it is printed	111.8 53 ft container · Volume 111.8 m³ Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	25,250 53 ft container · Payload 25,250 kg Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	40
20 ft reefer	22R1	6.058 × 2.438 × 2.591 20 ft reefer · Outside length 6,058 mm Set by the standard Every reading and where it is printed	5.454 × 2.290 × 2.267 20 ft reefer · Inside length 5,454 mm Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	28.3 20 ft reefer · Volume 28.3 m³ Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	27,500 20 ft reefer · Payload 27,500 kg Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	10
40 ft high cube reefer	45R1	12.192 × 2.438 × 2.896 40 ft high cube reefer · Outside length 12,192 mm Set by the standard Every reading and where it is printed	11.583 × 2.290 × 2.545 40 ft high cube reefer · Inside length 11,583 mm Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	67.5 40 ft high cube reefer · Volume 67.5 m³ Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	29,380 40 ft high cube reefer · Payload 29,380 kg Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	23
20 ft open top	22U1	6.058 × 2.438 × 2.591 20 ft open top · Outside length 6,058 mm Set by the standard Every reading and where it is printed	5.898 × 2.352 × 2.348 20 ft open top · Inside length 5,898 mm Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	32.5 20 ft open top · Volume 32.5 m³ Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	28,230 20 ft open top · Payload 28,230 kg Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	11
40 ft open top	42U1	12.192 × 2.438 × 2.591 40 ft open top · Outside length 12,192 mm Set by the standard Every reading and where it is printed	12.032 × 2.352 × 2.348 40 ft open top · Inside length 12,032 mm Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	66.4 40 ft open top · Volume 66.4 m³ Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	26,630 40 ft open top · Payload 26,630 kg Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	25
20 ft flat rack	22P3	6.058 × 2.438 × 2.591 20 ft flat rack · Outside length 6,058 mm Set by the standard Every reading and where it is printed	5.636 × 2.194 × 2.233 20 ft flat rack · Inside length 5,636 mm Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	—	31,060 20 ft flat rack · Payload 31,060 kg Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	—
40 ft flat rack	42P3	12.192 × 2.438 × 2.591 40 ft flat rack · Outside length 12,192 mm Set by the standard Every reading and where it is printed	11.652 × 2.374 × 1.955 40 ft flat rack · Inside width 2,374 mm Sheets disagree Every reading and where it is printed	—	40,000 40 ft flat rack · Payload 40,000 kg Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	—
20 ft tank container	22T1	6.058 × 2.438 × 2.591 20 ft tank container · Outside length 6,058 mm Set by the standard Every reading and where it is printed	—	25.0 20 ft tank container · Volume 25.0 m³ Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed tank capacity	32,360 20 ft tank container · Payload 32,360 kg Confirmed Every reading and where it is printed	—

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; the US domestic boxes, which no ISO standard covers, and every other figure against 80 published sheets of 30 lines, lessors, makers and rail and road operators. 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

Data: ISO 668 (1995 text, read in IS 6566:2001)

The container pack

Sizes, doors, pallets, weights and codes of every container, set out by the job: a PDF to print, an A3 wall chart and an Excel workbook. Free, by email.

17 containers, by the job
17 container sheets
85 owner prefixes

See every page

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The conversions worth memorising

8 ft = 2.438 m (every container’s width). 8′6″ = 2.591 m and 9′6″ = 2.896 m (the two heights). 20 ft nominal = 6.058 m external, 5.898 m internal. 40 ft nominal = 12.192 m external, 12.032 m internal. For anything else, use the unit converter.

Floor area and volume in metric

The internal floor is what you plan on: a 20 ft gives 13.9 m² and 33.2 m³; a 40 ft 28.3 m² and 67.7 m³; a 40 ft high cube the same 28.3 m² but 76.4 m³; a 45 ft high cube 31.9 m² and 86.0 m³. Same floor, different height — that is the whole high-cube story in metric.

Frequently asked questions

What are container dimensions in mm?

A 20 ft container is 6,058 × 2,438 × 2,591 mm outside (19′10½″ × 8′ × 8′6″) and 5,898 × 2,352 × 2,393 mm inside — per ISO 668; inside, per 15 of 18 sheets. A 40 ft is 12,192 × 2,438 × 2,591 mm outside (40′ × 8′ × 8′6″) and 12,032 × 2,352 × 2,393 mm inside. A 40 ft high cube is 2,896 mm (9′6″) high outside, 2,698 mm inside.

What is a 40 ft container in metres?

A 40 ft container is 12.192 × 2.438 × 2.591 m outside (40′ × 8′ × 8′6″; 2.896 m high for a high cube) and 12.032 × 2.352 × 2.393 m inside (39′5½″ × 7′8½″ × 7′10″) — per ISO 668; inside, per 13 of 16 sheets.

What is a 20 ft container in metres?

A 20 ft container is 6.058 × 2.438 × 2.591 m outside (19′10½″ × 8′ × 8′6″) and 5.898 × 2.352 × 2.393 m inside (19′4″ × 7′8½″ × 7′10″) — per ISO 668; inside, per 15 of 18 sheets.

How many square metres is a container floor?

About 13.9 m² (149 ft²) of inside floor in a 20 ft container and 28.3 m² (305 ft²) in a 40 ft — from the inside length and width the published sheets print (16 of 18 and 13 of 16 agree on the length). A high cube has the same floor as the standard box of its length.