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How much stuff can you fit in a 40ft shipping container? In this post, you’ll find out the 40ft shipping container dimensions. Read on!

A 40’ metal cargo container is one of the largest storage sizes available. It’s also one of the most common types of cargo containers, next to a 20ft container.

So what’s the size of a 40-foot shipping container? Usually, a 40’ shipping container can hold the amount of two to three bedrooms in an apartment or 2 standard passenger cars. Take a good look below.

40-Foot Shipping Container Dimensions:

  • A 40ft shipping container has the following dimensions: length – 40ft, width – 8ft, height – 8.5 ft.
  • The container’s weight is approximately 3,500 kg and can hold up to 26,000 kg of cargo.
  • The interior volume of the container is 1,360 cubic feet (38 m3) and the exterior volume is 2,350 cubic feet (66 m3).
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Standard 40-foot Shipping Container Dimensions

See the tables below for your reference:

40-Foot Shipping Container External Dimensions

Type of Container

Height

Height

(Metric)

Width

Width

(Metric)

Length

Length

(Metric)

Standard 40’ Shipping Container

8ft. 6in.

2.59m

8ft.

2.44m

40 ft.

12.19m

High Cube 40’ Shipping Container

9ft. 6in.

2.89m

8ft.

2.44m

40ft.

12.19m

40 Foot Shipping Container Internal Dimensions

Type of Container

Height

Height

(Metric)

Width

Width

(Metric)

Length

Length

(Metric)

Standard 40’ Shipping Container

7ft. 10in.

2.38m.

7ft. 8.5in.

2.35m.

39ft. 6in.

12.02m.

High Cube 40’ Shipping Container

8ft. 9in.

2.69m.

7ft. 8.5in.

2.35m.

39ft. 6in.

12.02m

Volume of 40 ft. Containers

Type of Container

Volume

(provides 2300 ft.³ of storage)

Volume

(Metric)

Standard 40’ Shipping Container

2,350 cubic ft.

33 cubic meters

High Cube 40’ Shipping Container

2,694 cubic ft.

76.3 cubic meters

Weight of 40 ft. Containers

Type of Container

Tare Weight

(lbs)

Tare Weight

(kg)

Max Cargo

Weight (lbs)

Max Cargo

Weight (kg)

Standard 40’ Shipping Container

8333.5 lbs

3,780 kgs

58,863.4 lbs

26,700 kgs

High Cube 40’ Shipping Container

8862.6 lbs

4,020 kgs

58,334.3 lbs

26,460 kgs

Why go anywhere else? We’re the best 40ft shipping container dealer in California! Don’t hesitate to contact us at Shipping Container Depot if you need quality cargo containers from high-quality manufactures for your business or home.

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40 FT High Cube Container Dimensions

The only difference between high cube and standard shipping containers is height–high cubes are one foot taller. Here are the interior and exterior dimensions for a 40HC shipping container.

EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS

  • External dimensions (meters): 12.2m long x 2.90 m high x 2.44m wide
  • External dimensions (feet): 40ft long x 9 ft 6 in high x 8 ft wide

INTERIOR DIMENSIONS

  • Internal dimensions (meters): 12.03m length x 2.69m height x 2.35m width
  • Internal dimensions (feet): 39 ft 5 in length x 8 ft 9 in height x 7 ft 9 in width
  • Door width (meters): 2.34m
  • Door width (feet): 7 ft 8 in
  • Door height (feet): 8 ft 6 in

VOLUME/WEIGHT

  • Volume: 33 cubic meters (2,694 cubic feet) – Gives an additional 344 cu ft of storage space.
  • Tare Weight: 8,554 lbs
  • Maximum gross weight: 67,196 lbs
  • Maximum payload weight (max cargo weight): 58,642 lbs.

40-Foot Shipping Container Dimensions Imperial

A standard height 40-foot long container’s exterior dimensions are:

  • 40’ long x 8’ wide x 8’6” high, with mild variations depending on the shipping container manufacturer
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40-Foot Shipping Container Dimensions Metric

  • A 40-foot shipping container dimension in meters is 12.192 m long x 2.438 m wide x 2.591 m high.
  • Doors are between 7’8″ tall and 7’5″ wide for 40-foot shipping containers.

Depending on the thickness of the doors and container steel, interior dimensions will change. As a rule of thumb, though, they are:

  • 39’6” long x 7’6” wide x 7’10” high
  • 12.19m long x 2.44m wide x 2.59m high

How Much Does a 40-foot Shipping Container Hold?

A 40-foot shipping container can hold up to 2,300 cubic feet or 67.7 cubic meters of goods and materials. This is the equivalent of 10 standard pallets in a single stack, with each pallet being 4 feet by 4 feet.

A 40-foot shipping container can generally shelter the belongings of a three to four-bedroom home. Depending on the type of goods that are being shipped, this could amount to thousands of pounds of goods, depending on their weight.

Nevertheless, atypically shaped items or specific kinds of furniture may occupy more space than other similar-sized boxes.

To give you an idea of what can fit a 40ft shipping container, you can maximize the space with the following:

  • 3 to 4 cars depending on the size
  • 400 mattresses
  • Up to 30,000 pounds of goods
  • Belongings for 3 to 4 bedroom home

In addition to its ability to hold large amounts of products and materials, a 40-foot shipping container is also incredibly secure.

Considerations for Loading

The interior capacity estimation of 2300 cubic feet will likely not be possible due to the need for accessibility lanes, the inclusion of anti-humidity tools, or wasted overhead space.

Considerations for Stacking

By stacking your lighter materials on top of your heavier items, you can avoid crushing them. Additionally, if you need to move the container, later on, this will help keep the base stable during transportation.

How many pallets can fit into a 40-foot container?

The answer depends on the size and weight of each pallet. Generally, this type of container can fit up to 21 standard US pallets and 25 Euro pallet stacks.

However, these numbers may vary depending on the type and weight of the pallets being loaded. For example, if the pallets are unusually heavy or large, that number may be lower.

The capacity of a 40-foot container depends on the type of pallets used. For European pallets, with dimensions measuring 1.2m x 0.8m, it can fit 25 stacks in a row along the length and width so long as no part of the load hangs over the sides.

On the other hand, for standard American pallets measuring 1.016m x 1.219m, the same container can fit 21 pallets as long as there is nothing hanging over the sides.

What’s the maximum load for a 40-foot container?

A 40-foot shipping container is relatively lightweight, weighing 3,750 kg when empty. However, it can be loaded with up to 29 tons (26,300 kg) of cargo. The exact amount of cargo that can be loaded into the container depends on various factors such as restrictions and/or limitations set by the shipping line, nature of the cargo, and other details of the shipment.

Maximizing a 40’ shipping container dimension and space

In order to maximize the space inside a shipping container, it is generally best to fit the pallets in rows along the length and width of the container. This allows for the most efficient use of space, as well as providing stability for the pallets. It is also important to ensure that the pallets are properly secured and that there is adequate ventilation to prevent damage to the goods.

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