ISO 22P1 · 42P1
Flat Rack Container Dimensions
Yuri Kan Checked against 17 of 88 published sheets
A 20 ft flat rack carries about 31,060 kg (68,476 lb) on a deck 5.636 m (18′6″) long between the corner posts and 2.194 m (7′2½″) wide over the side rails (the payload per 8 of 11 sheets; the deck per 4 of 6 sheets), with 2.233 m (7′4″) from the deck to the top of the end walls, per 6 of 11 sheets. The 40 ft carries about 40,000 kg (88,185 lb) on 11.652 m (38′2½″) between the corner posts, with 1.955 m (6′5″) to the top of the end walls (the payload per 7 of 11 sheets; the length per 4 of 5 sheets; the height per 10 of 12 sheets), and is 2.374 m (7′9½″) wide over the bottom side rails, sheets print 2,204–2,396 mm. A flat rack has no roof and no sides, so those three figures are not the inside of a box but a deck and its frame, and the sheets print the 40 ft’s width as 2.204–2.396 m depending on where they measure it: Yang Ming between the stanchion pockets (2.204 m), ONE between the side rails (2.208 m), Seaco and Triton over the bottom side rail (2.374 m), and Matson up to 2.396 m on a fixed-post unit. Cargo may overhang all of them as an out-of-gauge load.
| Metric | Imperial | |
|---|---|---|
| External dimensions | 6.058 × 2.438 × 2.591 m | 19′10½″ × 8′ × 8′6″ |
| Internal dimensions | 5.636 × 2.194 × 2.233 m | 18′6″ × 7′2½″ × 7′4″ |
| Tare weight | 2,940 kg | 6,482 lb |
| Max payload | 31,060 kg | 68,476 lb |
A flat rack is a container reduced to its floor and two end walls — no roof, no sides. Cargo loads from above or from the side and lashes to rings along the base rails. It is the workhorse for machinery, boats, vehicles, transformers and project cargo.
The numbers in this chart
| Figure | Value |
|---|---|
| Outside, L × W × H | 6.058 × 2.438 × 2.591 m |
| Payload | 31,060 kg |
Checked : outside sizes set by ISO 668, read in IS 6566:2001, GOST R 51876-2008 and GOST R 53350-2009; every other figure against 12 published sheets of 12 lines and lessors. 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
Because the frame is massively reinforced, a 20 ft carries about 31,060 kg and a 40 ft about 40,000 kg, 11,200 kg more than a dry forty, and heavy-duty versions go further.
The reinforcement costs weight: a 20 ft flat rack tares at about 2,940 kg (sheets range 2,740–3,100 kg) and a 40 ft at roughly 5,000 kg, against 45,000 kg max gross for the forty. The 40 ft platform also sits higher, leaving about 1.955 m from the deck to the top of the end walls versus 2.233 m on the 20 ft.
Point loads, not totals, are the number that bites in practice: 31 tonnes spread across the floor is fine, but the same weight on two machine skids will exceed the rated load per metre of floor. Heavy pieces ride on bedding timbers sized to spread the load — a detail carriers check before accepting the booking.
The numbers in this chart
| Container | kg | lb |
|---|---|---|
| 40 ft high cube container | 28,670 | 63,207 |
| 40 ft HC double door container | 26,730 | 58,930 |
| 40 ft high cube reefer | 29,380 | 64,772 |
| 40 ft open top | 26,630 | 58,709 |
| 40 ft flat rack | 40,000 | 88,185 |
| 20 ft flat rack | 31,060 | 68,476 |
| 20 ft tank container | 32,360 | 71,342 |
Checked : the figures in this chart against 44 of 88 published sheets from 20 lines, lessors and makers: 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
20 ft flat rack and 40 ft flat rack: dimensions and weight
| Metric | Imperial | |
|---|---|---|
| External dimensions | ||
| Length | 6.058 m | 19′10½″ |
| Width | 2.438 m | 8′ |
| Height | 2.591 m | 8′6″ |
| Internal dimensions | ||
| Length | 5.636 m | 18′6″ |
| Width | 2.194 m | 7′2½″ |
| Height | 2.233 m | 7′4″ |
| Specification | ||
| Tare weight | 2,940 kg | 6,482 lb |
| Max gross weight | 34,000 kg | 74,957 lb |
| Max payload | 31,060 kg | 68,476 lb |
| TEU | 1 | |
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.
Checked : outside sizes set by ISO 668, read in IS 6566:2001, GOST R 51876-2008 and GOST R 53350-2009; every other figure against 12 published sheets of 12 lines and lessors. 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) · CMA CGM Equipment Guide · Evergreen Container Specifications · Hapag-Lloyd Container Specifications · ONE Container Specifications · COSCO, Crowley, HMM, OOCL, Seaco, Triton, Yang Ming, ZIM
| Metric | Imperial | |
|---|---|---|
| External dimensions | ||
| Length | 12.192 m | 40′ |
| Width | 2.438 m | 8′ |
| Height | 2.591 m | 8′6″ |
| Internal dimensions | ||
| Length | 11.652 m | 38′2½″ |
| Width | 2.374 m | 7′9½″ |
| Height | 1.955 m | 6′5″ |
| Specification | ||
| Tare weight | 5,000 kg | 11,023 lb |
| Max gross weight | 45,000 kg | 99,208 lb |
| Max payload | 40,000 kg | 88,185 lb |
| TEU | 2 | |
Checked : outside sizes set by ISO 668, read in IS 6566:2001, GOST R 51876-2008 and GOST R 53350-2009; every other figure against 13 published sheets of 13 lines and lessors. 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) · CMA CGM Equipment Guide · Evergreen Container Specifications · ONE Container Specifications · COSCO, Crowley, HMM, Matson, OOCL, Seaco, TOTE, Triton, Yang Ming, ZIM
Over-width and over-height on a flat rack
Cargo wider or taller than the frame can ship on a flat rack as an out-of-gauge (OOG) load: the vessel simply leaves neighbouring slots empty. That flexibility is priced into the rate, so keep cargo within the platform envelope where possible.
Collapsible-end models fold flat for cheap repositioning: folded racks are bundled to the length and width of one container and no higher than 2.591 m (8′6″), per GOST R ISO 1496-5-2012, so several travel in one container slot.
The Flat rack container on one page, plus the whole pack
Every dimension in millimetres, metres and feet, the door opening, tare, payload and volume, and the floor drawn to scale with EUR and US pallets on it. In the same email, the container pack: all 17 containers by the job, 17 sheets like this one, the 85 owner prefixes, an A3 wall chart and an Excel workbook.
- 17 containers, by the job
- 17 container sheets
- 85 owner prefixes
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Flat rack vs open top
Both types exist for crane loading, so the choice comes down to what the cargo needs around it. An open top container keeps four full walls and a tarpaulin roof: the load stays weather-protected and sealable, but must fit within the standard internal width of about 2.352 m and the roof aperture.
A flat rack drops the walls entirely, so it takes over-width and extreme-weight pieces an open top never could — and lashing crews can work the cargo from all sides. The trade-off is exposure: flat-rack cargo needs its own weatherproofing (shrink-wrap, crates, marine coatings) and meticulous lashing. Rule of thumb: if it fits inside a box, use the open top and keep the protection; if it does not, the flat rack is the only container that works.
Frequently asked questions
How much weight can a flat rack carry?
A 20 ft flat rack carries about 31,060 kg (68,476 lb) on a 34,000 kg gross rating, per 8 of 11 sheets, and a 40 ft about 40,000 kg (88,185 lb) on 45,000 kg, per 7 of 11 sheets; heavy-duty 20 ft units go further, up to 45,000 kg gross and 42,100 kg payload on the sheets we read, so the weights marked on the unit itself are the figures that count.
What is the loading area of a 20 ft flat rack?
A 20 ft flat rack loads on 5.636 m (18′6″) between the corner posts by 2.194 m (7′2½″) over the side rails, per 4 of 6 sheets, with 2.233 m (7′4″) from the deck to the top of the end walls, per 6 of 11 sheets. Payload is about 31,060 kg on a 2,940 kg tare.
What is the loading area of a 40 ft flat rack?
A 40 ft flat rack loads on 11.652 m (38′2½″) between the corner posts, per 4 of 5 sheets, with 1.955 m (6′5″) from the deck to the top of the end walls, per 10 of 12 sheets, and is 2.374 m (7′9½″) wide over the bottom side rails, sheets print 2,204–2,396 mm. Yang Ming’s sheet, measuring between the stanchion pockets, prints the width as 2.204 m.
How much does a flat rack container cost?
In October 2026, a used cargo-worthy 40 ft flat rack runs $4,575–6,300 in the two US price sources we read, a dealer and a marketplace, with the middle of their ranges at $5,400–5,700; we found no two sources pricing a 20 ft one, so we quote none. Supply is thin compared with dry boxes, so prices vary sharply by market and location.
Can cargo overhang a flat rack?
Yes — over-width and over-height cargo ships as an out-of-gauge (OOG) load. The vessel blocks adjacent slots to make room, and the freight rate rises to cover the lost capacity, so keep within the platform envelope where possible.
How is cargo secured on a flat rack?
With chains, wire or webbing lashed to rings and stake pockets along the base rails and corner posts: a flat rack’s lashing point holds at least 30 kN, and in many cases 50 kN, per CTU Code (MSC.1/Circ.1497). Add bedding timbers under concentrated loads and shrink-wrap or crating for weather protection.
What is the difference between a flat rack and a flatbed?
A flat rack is an ISO container: a reinforced platform with corner castings that locks to twist-locks, stacks and loads onto ships and railcars like any other box. A flatbed is a road trailer — an open truck deck with no corner castings that never leaves the highway. Cargo often transfers between the two, but only the flat rack is shipping equipment.
Can flat rack containers go by rail?
Yes — the standard corner castings lock into container well cars and flat wagons exactly like a dry box. The caveat is out-of-gauge cargo: anything protruding beyond the container envelope needs a loading-gauge clearance check with the railway before booking, because rail gauges are tighter than road limits.