# Storage Container Sizes

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

The standard storage container is the 20 ft: 13.9 m² (149 ft²) of inside floor and 33.2 m³ (1,172 ft³), per 15 of 18 sheets; storage containers come in nine sizes in eight lengths. The ISO sizes: 10 ft (6.7 m² / 72 ft² of inside floor, 15.9 m³), 20 ft (13.9 m² / 149 ft², 33.2 m³), 40 ft (28.3 m² / 305 ft², 67.7 m³), 40 ft high cube (76.4 m³) and 45 ft (86.0 m³), all 2.438 m (8 ft) wide — the inside as most published line and maker sheets print it; US domestic 48 ft (97.6 m³, as the one published sheet, Sea Box’s, prints it) and 53 ft (111.8 m³) add length and width; non-ISO portable 8 ft and 16 ft units fill the gaps for tight sites. Sizing rule of thumb: a studio apartment fits a 10 ft, a one-to-two-bedroom home a 20 ft, a three-to-four-bedroom house a 40 ft. A used [cargo-worthy](https://contsize.com/glossary/cargo-worthy/) 20 ft costs $1,700–2,800 to buy ($1,300–2,300 [wind-and-water-tight](https://contsize.com/glossary/wwt/)) or $100–200 per month to rent, so buying breaks even in roughly 9–28 months.

For on-site storage the question is not TEU arithmetic but floor area, door clearance and what actually fits. This guide puts every length on one table — the ISO fleet, the US domestic sizes and the non-ISO portable units that rental firms cut for tight driveways — then works through prices and a five-question sizing framework.

The physical boxes are the same ISO containers documented across this site; “storage container” describes the job, not a different product. Where a size has a full specification page, it is linked.

**Buy and rental prices below are US-market figures as of mid-2026 — expect regional and seasonal variation.**

![Bar chart of usable floor area by container length, from 6.7 m² in a 10 ft to 40.3 m² in a 53 ft.](https://contsize.com/figures/shipping-container-floor-area-by-size-en.png)

**The numbers in this chart**

*Floor area inside each container size*

| Size | m² | ft² |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [10 ft container](https://contsize.com/10-ft-container/) | 6.7 | 72 |
| [20 ft container](https://contsize.com/20-ft-container/) | 13.9 | 149 |
| [40 ft container](https://contsize.com/40-ft-container/) | 28.3 | 305 |
| [40 ft high cube container](https://contsize.com/40-ft-high-cube-container/) | 28.3 | 305 |
| [45 ft high cube container](https://contsize.com/45-ft-container/) | 31.9 | 343 |
| [48 ft container](https://contsize.com/48-ft-container/) | 36.2 | 390 |
| [53 ft container](https://contsize.com/53-ft-container/) | 40.3 | 434 |

Checked 19 October 2026: the figures in this chart against 41 of 88 published sheets from 26 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/)

*Floor area inside each container size*

- [**10′**2.991 × 2.591 m9′10″ × 8′6″](https://contsize.com/10-ft-container/)
- [**20′**6.058 × 2.591 m19′10½″ × 8′6″](https://contsize.com/20-ft-container/)
- [**40′**12.192 × 2.591 m40′ × 8′6″](https://contsize.com/40-ft-container/)
- [**40′ HC**12.192 × 2.896 m40′ × 9′6″](https://contsize.com/40-ft-high-cube-container/)
- [**45′ HC**13.716 × 2.896 m45′ × 9′6″](https://contsize.com/45-ft-container/)
- [**48′** · US domestic14.630 × 2.896 m48′ × 9′6″](https://contsize.com/48-ft-container/)
- [**53′** · US domestic16.154 × 2.896 m53′ × 9′6″](https://contsize.com/53-ft-container/)

Every figure checked: ISO 668 + 44 published sheets · 19 October 2026 · [Every figure and its sources](https://contsize.com/container-data-sources/)

## Every storage container size at a glance

*Storage container sizes: dimensions (outside for ISO sizes, approximate for PODS), internal floor area, volume*

| Size | L × W × H (m) | Floor area | Volume | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 8 ft | ≈2.4 × 2.1 × 2.4 (PODS) | — | — | Non-ISO portable; one maker’s approximate size (PODS, in feet), others differ |
| [10 ft](https://contsize.com/10-ft-container/) | 2.991 × 2.438 × 2.591 | 6.7 m² | 15.9 m³ | ISO; usually cut down from 20 ft |
| 16 ft | ≈4.9 × 2.4 × 2.4 (PODS) | — | — | Non-ISO portable / cut-down; one maker’s approximate size (PODS, in feet) |
| [20 ft](https://contsize.com/20-ft-container/) | 6.058 × 2.438 × 2.591 | 13.9 m² | 33.2 m³ | ISO; the storage workhorse |
| [40 ft](https://contsize.com/40-ft-container/) | 12.192 × 2.438 × 2.591 | 28.3 m² | 67.7 m³ | ISO |
| [40 ft HC](https://contsize.com/40-ft-high-cube-container/) | 12.192 × 2.438 × 2.896 | 28.3 m² | 76.4 m³ | ISO; +305 mm height for racking |
| [45 ft HC](https://contsize.com/45-ft-container/) | 13.716 × 2.438 × 2.896 | 31.9 m² | 86.0 m³ | ISO; rare in storage service |
| [48 ft](https://contsize.com/48-ft-container/) | 14.630 × 2.591 × 2.896 | 36.2 m² | 97.6 m³ | US domestic, 2.591 m wide |
| [53 ft](https://contsize.com/53-ft-container/) | 16.154 × 2.591 × 2.896 | 40.3 m² | 111.8 m³ | US domestic; the largest |

Three patterns are worth noting:

- Every ISO length shares the same 2.438 m width and the same 2.340 × 2.280 m door opening (2.585 m tall on high cubes) — wide enough for a car, a sofa or a forklift with a pallet.
- The 8 ft and 16 ft rows are not ISO sizes. They are purpose-built or cut-down units sold into the portable-storage trade, with no standard size. So the table gives one maker’s (PODS’) approximate size, which PODS prints in whole feet without saying inside or outside, and no inside figure.
- Floor areas are internal: the external footprint runs 0.9 m² larger on a 20 ft.

Height is the quiet variable. Standard boxes give 2.393 m of internal clearance, high cubes 2.698 m, and that extra 305 mm (a foot) is a full additional shelf level on racking. That is why the 40 ft high cube has become the default for workshop and inventory storage, even when the floor area of a standard 40 ft would do.

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 44 published sheets of 28 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](https://contsize.com/container-data-sources/)

## ISO containers vs PODS: what each holds, how it moves, what it costs

The other branch of the storage market is the moving-and-storage pod. PODS runs 8, 12 and 16 ft containers — 8 × 7 × 8, 12 × 8 × 8 and 16 × 8 × 8 ft (about 2.4 × 2.1 × 2.4, 3.7 × 2.4 × 2.4 and 4.9 × 2.4 × 2.4 m), approximate sizes PODS gives in feet without saying whether they are inside or outside, from one sheet (PODS Enterprises). PODS publishes no volume, and other moving-and-storage firms run similar units.

By those nominal feet, the 16 ft pod, PODS’ largest, comes to about 29 m³ (1,024 ft³), less than the 33.2 m³ a 20 ft ISO container holds inside.

The differences are structural, not just size:

- **Pods** are built to be lifted loaded. PODS’ hydraulic “Podzilla” lift carries the packed unit to a warehouse or a new address, which is the product’s whole point.
- **ISO containers** move empty on a tilt-bed (loaded moves need a crane). But they are heavier steel, stackable, buyable outright and far cheaper per cubic metre over any period measured in years.

Rule of thumb: pod for a move with storage in the middle, ISO box for storage that stays on your property.

Note the vocabulary trap: “pods container size” searches usually want PODS-the-company figures, but sellers also use “pod” generically for any portable unit. Check the actual dimensions on the quote — one firm’s “8 ft pod” need not match another’s.

Price works the same way in both markets — a monthly fee plus delivery — but the curves diverge fast. A pod rents by the month plus a charge for every move. A 20 ft ISO container rents for $100–200 per month and can be bought outright for $1,300–2,800, after which the marginal month costs nothing.

Bought cargo-worthy, a 20 ft pays for itself against its own rent in 9–28 months, so for storage that lasts longer the ISO box wins the arithmetic.

## What fits in each size?

The reliable estimator is rooms, not square feet of home. As a planning estimate — ours, not a measured figure — allow 5–7 m³ of container space for each furnished room once boxed. From there the mapping is mechanical:

- **10 ft (15.9 m³) — a studio apartment.** Contents of one to two rooms: bed, sofa, wardrobe and their boxes. Also the right size for garden equipment, a motorcycle with shelving, or tool storage where a 20 ft will not fit.
- **20 ft (33.2 m³) — a one-to-two-bedroom home.** Four to five rooms’ worth: full furniture, appliances and boxes, or [a car](https://contsize.com/car-in-a-shipping-container/) plus a room of goods. For scale, PODS rates its 16 ft unit — about 29 m³ by its nominal feet, less than a 20 ft holds inside — for a home of about 1,200 ft² (111 m²).
- **40 ft (67.7 m³) — a three-to-four-bedroom house.** Seven to eight rooms including garage contents, or a 20 ft load plus workshop racking with a walking aisle. The 40 ft holds more than twice the nominal volume of that 16 ft pod (about 29 m³). For larger homes, or any business keeping palletised stock, this is the floor to start from, and the [high cube](https://contsize.com/40-ft-high-cube-container/) adds 305 mm of racking height for near-identical money.

If the estimate lands between sizes, size up. A 60 cm walking aisle down a box 2.352 m wide inside takes about a quarter (26%) of the floor, but saves unloading half the container to reach the back wall.

## What do storage containers cost?

Expect **$100–200 per month to rent a 20 ft** storage container or **$1,300–2,800 to buy one used**, with a 40 ft at $150–250 per month or $1,700–3,400 used. These are the two markets for the same box, in observed US ranges for October 2026:

*US storage container costs by size (USD)*

| Size | WWT | Cargo-worthy | One-trip |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [10 ft](https://contsize.com/10-ft-container/) | $1,900–2,900 | $2,500–3,700 | $3,500–5,000 |
| [20 ft](https://contsize.com/20-ft-container/) | $1,300–2,300 | $1,700–2,800 | $2,800–4,400 |
| [40 ft](https://contsize.com/40-ft-container/) | $1,700–2,900 | $2,100–3,400 | — |
| [40 ft high cube](https://contsize.com/40-ft-high-cube-container/) | $1,700–3,200 | $2,100–3,500 | $4,000–5,600 |

The arithmetic favours buying early. At $100–200 per month against a $1,700–2,800 cargo-worthy purchase, a 20 ft pays for itself in roughly 9–28 months and then holds resale value. Delivery is extra either way — typically $400–800 within 50 miles of the depot.

The full price picture, including why the same box costs more inland than at a port, is in the [container prices guide](https://contsize.com/shipping-container-prices/).

## Which size do I need? Five questions

1. **How much volume, honestly?** Count furnished rooms and multiply by the 5–7 m³ estimate above, or measure your boxed goods against container volumes: 15.9 / 33.2 / 67.7 m³ for 10 / 20 / 40 ft.
2. **Will you need to reach things?** Packed solid, plan on about 85% of the volume, the share this site’s calculators plan with. Regular access needs a walking aisle — about a quarter of the floor — so size up.
3. **What does the site take?** Footprint plus about 1.2 m in front for the door leaves (each half the box’s width), plus a straight tilt-bed approach. One dealer, Dry Box, asks for about 18.3 m (60 ft) for a 20 ft and 36.6 m (120 ft) for a 40 ft, with 4.9 m (16 ft) of height. A site that takes two 20s does not necessarily take one 40.
4. **How long?** At current prices a 20 ft bought cargo-worthy pays for itself in 9–28 months of rent: under 9 months, rent; past 28, buy; between, the prices you are quoted decide.
5. **Will it ever ship?** Static storage needs only wind-and-water-tight grade. If the box might ever move internationally, pay for cargo-worthy with a valid CSC plate.

## Delivery, ground and condition a storage container needs

A container bears its whole weight on the four [corner castings](https://contsize.com/glossary/corner-casting/), so it does not need a slab. Compacted gravel, paving flags or railway sleepers under the corners are all standard. Grass works short-term on firm ground: expect it to die underneath, and check the box stays level as corners settle.

What it does need is delivery access: a straight, level run for the tilt-bed. One dealer (Dry Box) prints about 18.3 m (60 ft) for a 20 ft or 36.6 m (120 ft) for a 40 ft, with 4.9 m (16 ft) clear overhead; other dealers ask for less, so ask yours. Methods and costs: [moving a shipping container](https://contsize.com/moving-a-shipping-container/).

Condition is graded, and for storage the cheap grades are the smart ones. Wind-and-water-tight (WWT) keeps rain out for hundreds of dollars less than cargo-worthy, and the difference is certification, not steel. What each grade certifies — and the fifteen-minute inspection that verifies it — is in the [container grades guide](https://contsize.com/container-grades/).

For long-term storage add ventilation against condensation: temperature swings otherwise rain onto your goods from the ceiling.

## Frequently asked questions

**What sizes do storage containers come in?**

Storage containers come mainly in 10, 20 and 40 ft lengths — 15.9 m³ (562 ft³), 33.2 m³ (1,172 ft³) and 67.7 m³ (2,391 ft³) inside, plus the 40 ft high cube at 76.4 m³ (2,698 ft³), per all 18 sheets for the 20 ft. Portable-storage firms add non-ISO 8, 12 and 16 ft units; 45, 48 and 53 ft containers exist but are rare in storage service. All ISO sizes are 2.438 m (8 ft) wide.

**What is the standard storage container size?**

The 20 ft container: 6.058 × 2.438 × 2.591 m outside (19′10½″ × 8′ × 8′6″), 13.9 m² (149 ft²) of inside floor and 33.2 m³ (1,172 ft³) of volume — outside per ISO 668, inside as most published sheets print it. It holds a one-to-two-bedroom home’s contents and fits on most driveways, which is why it dominates the storage trade.

**What are the dimensions of a 20 ft storage container?**

A 20 ft storage 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. The door opening is 2.340 m wide × 2.280 m high (7′8″ × 7′6″), the capacity 33.2 m³ (1,172 ft³) and the empty weight about 2,230 kg (4,916 lb), within 2 % of what 8 of 18 published sheets print (they range 2,080–2,570 kg).

**How much does a storage container cost?**

$1,300–3,400 buys a used unit in the common sizes — roughly $1,300–2,800 for a 20 ft and $1,700–3,400 for a 40 ft, rising to $2,800–5,600 for [one-trip](https://contsize.com/glossary/one-trip/) condition — while renting runs $100–250 per month depending on size. US figures, October 2026; delivery and regional spreads come on top.

**How much does a 20 ft storage container cost?**

To buy: $1,300–2,300 wind-and-water-tight, $1,700–2,800 used cargo-worthy, $2,800–4,400 one-trip. To rent: $100–200 per month. Delivery adds $400–800 within 50 miles of the depot.

**What is the smallest and largest storage container?**

The smallest ISO storage container is the 10 ft at 15.9 m³ (562 ft³) and the largest box is the US domestic 53 ft at 111.8 m³ (3,948 ft³), per 5 of 8 sheets. Below the 10 ft, non-ISO 8 ft portable units are made to each maker’s own size (PODS gives 8 × 7 × 8 ft, about 2.4 × 2.1 × 2.4 m); for on-site storage the practical ceiling is usually the 40 ft high cube at 76.4 m³ (2,698 ft³).

**What is the difference between PODS and a shipping container?**

A 20 ft shipping container holds 33.2 m³ (1,172 ft³), per all 18 sheets, more than the largest PODS unit, the 16 ft, comes to by its nominal 16 × 8 × 8 ft (about 4.9 × 2.4 × 2.4 m): about 29 m³ (1,024 ft³), from one sheet (PODS Enterprises). PODS are proprietary rental units in 8, 12 and 16 ft lengths, built to be lifted and trucked while loaded; a shipping container is a heavier ISO steel box that moves empty on a tilt-bed and can be bought outright. Pods suit moves; ISO boxes win for storage that stays put.

**Can a storage container be put on grass or gravel?**

Yes — the load bears on the four corners, so firm, level support there is what counts. Compacted gravel is the standard base; on grass, put sleepers or paving flags under the corners and re-check level after the first months as the ground settles.

**Do I need a permit for a storage container?**

Often, for permanent placement — many municipalities regulate containers as accessory structures with setback and duration rules, while temporary jobsite or moving use is commonly exempt. Rules are local: check zoning before delivery day, not after.

**What are the 7 types of shipping containers?**

The usual list: dry (general purpose), high cube, reefer, open top, flat rack, tank and double door / open side. For storage duty a plain dry box or high cube is almost always the answer; the full nineteen-type taxonomy is in our [types of shipping containers guide](https://contsize.com/types-of-shipping-containers/).

## Related pages

- [10 ft container2.991 × 2.438 × 2.591 m · 15.9 m³](https://contsize.com/10-ft-container/)
- [20 ft container6.058 × 2.438 × 2.591 m · 33.2 m³](https://contsize.com/20-ft-container/)
- [40 ft container12.192 × 2.438 × 2.591 m · 67.7 m³](https://contsize.com/40-ft-container/)
- [Shipping container pricesUSD · US market · 28 named sources · read 2026-10-05 and 2026-10-09](https://contsize.com/shipping-container-prices/)
- [Moving a shipping containerTilt-bed · HIAB · Crane · Side-loader](https://contsize.com/moving-a-shipping-container/)
- [Container grades & conditionOne-trip → IICL → CW → WWT → as-is](https://contsize.com/container-grades/)