Container Types & Sizes: Your Guide to the 10 Most Common Shipping Containers

Today, shipping containers are the standard method for moving cargo. However, that wasn’t always the case.

Containerized cargo is a relatively recent invention. In fact, the first voyage of a ship holding containerized cargo traveled from Port Newark, New Jersey to Houston, Texas in 1956. By the end of the 20th century, 90% of the world’s trade cargo was moving in containers.

The transportation industry owes this massive transformation to innovators like Malcolm P. McLean, who started his career as a truck driver and ended it as a shipping magnate, and Keith Tantlinger, who helped McLean standardize these containers and invented the features that helped them flourish.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the fruits of all that labor—the 10 most common shipping containers you’ll encounter. We’ll give you the dimensions and capacity details on each different container, as well as what they’re best suited for.

Before we dive in, a few definitions you’ll want to know:

Dry Cargo 20′ Container
20′ x 8′ x 8’6″

When you don’t have enough cargo to justify a 40′ container, a 20′ container might seem like just the right thing. However, there are a couple of reasons why you might want to consider these alternatives to the 20-foot container. In brief:

20-foot containers are becoming less and less common, so yours might end up sitting for a while—especially if it’s traveling by rail.

20-foot containers aren’t the most cost-effective choice. Choosing an LCL solution/consolidation to send that same freight might actually be cheaper.

Get the whole story in our article, Think You Need a 20′ Shipping Container? 3 Reasons to Reconsider.

Dry Cargo 40′ Container
40′ x 8′ x 8’6″

When you think of a shipping container, this is probably the one that comes to mind—a 40-foot dry cargo container. Along with the 20-foot container above, these two are the most common types you’ll see. In recent years, the 40-foot container has gained an edge as some carriers phase out the 20-footer.

Did you know? More than 96% of the world’s dry cargo containers and 100% of the world’s refrigerated containers (also called reefers) are built by just three factories, all located in China.

Dry Cargo 40′ High Cube Container
40′ x 8′ x 9’6″

A high-cube container has the same footprint as your standard 40-foot container, but it’s a full foot taller. As a result of this extra 12 inches, a 40-foot high cube offers ~300 additional cubic feet of capacity.

If you have cargo that’s just a little bit taller than the standard 94″ of height you’ll get with a 40-foot container, a high cube is a smart pick.

Dry Cargo 45′ High Cube Container
45′ x 8′ x 9’6″

The 45-foot high cube container offers the best of both worlds—extra room both vertically and horizontally. If you’re shipping palletized freight, this might translate to an extra 2-4 pallets, depending on the pallet size you’re using.

Did you know? Today’s biggest container ships can carry as many as 2,500+ TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). Pasha Hawaii’s new LNG-powered ship, the M/V George III, a container ship can handle:

• 500 45-foot containers
• 300 40-foot containers
• 400 40-foot reefer containers

That’s a lot of cargo headed to Hawaii!

Open Top 20′ Container
20′ x 8′ x 8’6″

As the name implies, a 20-foot open top container doesn’t have the same steel roof that a 20-foot container does. Instead, the roof is made of a sturdy, removable tarp. With the tarp removed, oversized cargo can be loaded in through the top, usually using a crane or a rolling bridge.

Open Top 40′ Container
40′ x 8′ x 8’6″

Like its 20-foot cousin, the 40-foot open top container features a removable tarpaulin roof that allows for top-loading of oversized cargo. Construction projects, for example, may require specialty equipment that’s perfectly suited for an open top container.

Note: Because open top containers aren’t as common as standard containers, they may need to be specially sourced for each freight project.

Flatrack 20′ Container
20′ x 8′ x 8’6″

Flatrack containers have no walls along their length and no roof, which makes them ideal for bulky or oversized cargo like machinery and equipment. Some flat racks are also collapsible. Their ends fold in neatly for easy storage.

Flatrack 40′ Container
40′ x 8′ x 8’6″

Like the 20-foot flatrack container, the 40-foot flatrack container is ideal for heavy and bulky cargo, especially oversized machinery or equipment. Additionally, flatracks can handle a pretty significant payload, making them a good choice for heavy cargo.

20′ Reefer Container
20′ x 8′ x 8’6″

Refrigerated containers, also known as reefers, are used to transport perishable loads. Each reefer has a refrigeration unit that keeps the internal container temperature steady—as long as it’s connected to a power source.

Perishable products ship in reefers, including plants, fresh food, frozen food, and wine. Pharmaceuticals may also travel in reefers to ensure their temperatures stay within manufacturers’ guidelines.

40′ Reefer Container
40′ x 8′ x 8’6″

40-foot reefer containers offer the same temperature control of the 20-foot reefer, with a little more than twice the internal capacity. Reefers are also available in a 40-foot high cube, which adds another foot to the height and about another 300 cubic feet of internal space.

Picking the Right Container for Your Freight Project

When you’re deciding what size or type of container you’ll need for your next project, these descriptions and dimensions will give you a good head start.

However, we highly recommend you talk to an expert before you get your heart set on a piece of equipment. Depending on the lanes your cargo will move in, certain types of containers may be harder to come by—or slower to move. Additionally, an experienced freight forwarder may also be able to help uncover some unexpected efficiencies—if you’re willing to stay flexible about the equipment you’re using.

Want some help moving freight for your next project? Reach out to talk with one of our experts. They’d be happy to take a holistic look at your project and match you with the right equipment for your goals—and your budget.