— Container Dimensions

Container Dimensions

Every spec you need to size up a container against the load it has to carry. External and internal dimensions, door opening, cubic capacity, tare, max gross, payload, and pallet count — for every common ISO size from 10ʹ to 45ʹ, in both metric and imperial.

Why the numbers matter

External dimensions are what fits on a chassis or in a port slot. Internal dimensions are what fits inside the box. The door opening is what fits through the box, and it’s smaller than the internal width and height — corner posts and the door header eat real space, and oversized loads need to be measured against the opening, not the interior. The cubic capacity tells you whether you’ll run out of volume before you run out of payload weight (or vice versa).

ISO containers come in a small set of standardized lengths and two standardized heights. The reason a 40-foot is exactly 40 feet and not 39ʹ 11½ʺ is ISO 1496 — the structural standard that defines the corner-casting positions every gantry crane and twist-lock in the world is built around. See the ISO 6346 guide for the marking and identification side; this page is the dimensional reference.

At a glance — common sizes

The most commonly traded sizes on the US wholesale market. Standard height (8ʹ6ʺ) and high cube (9ʹ6ʺ) are the same dimensions on the floor; high cube just adds 12 inches of interior height.

Code	Size	Cubic	Tare	Max payload	Door opening (W × H)
10MM	10ʹ MiniMAX	565 ft³	2,870 lb	19,530 lb	7ʹ 8″ × 7ʹ 6″
22G1	20ʹ GP	1,172 ft³	4,914 lb	62,286 lb	7ʹ 8″ × 7ʹ 6″
25G1	20ʹ HC	1,322 ft³	5,290 lb	61,910 lb	7ʹ 8″ × 8ʹ 5″
22G3	20ʹ DD	1,172 ft³	4,914 lb	62,286 lb	7ʹ 8″ × 7ʹ 6″
20DU	20ʹ Duo-Con	1,172 ft³	4,914 lb	62,286 lb	7ʹ 8″ × 7ʹ 6″
22S1	20ʹ OS	1,172 ft³	4,914 lb	62,286 lb	7ʹ 8″ × 7ʹ 6″
22U6	20ʹ HT/OT	1,172 ft³	4,914 lb	62,286 lb	7ʹ 8″ × 7ʹ 6″
22G1	20ʹ GP + 4ʹ side door	1,172 ft³	4,914 lb	62,286 lb	7ʹ 8″ × 7ʹ 6″
22G1	20ʹ GP + 8ʹ side door	1,172 ft³	4,914 lb	62,286 lb	7ʹ 8″ × 7ʹ 6″
42G1	40ʹ GP	2,389 ft³	8,265 lb	58,935 lb	7ʹ 8″ × 7ʹ 6″
45G1	40ʹ HC	2,694 ft³	8,600 lb	58,600 lb	7ʹ 8″ × 8ʹ 5″
45G3	40ʹ HC DD	2,694 ft³	8,600 lb	58,600 lb	7ʹ 8″ × 8ʹ 5″
45S1	40ʹ OS HC	2,694 ft³	8,600 lb	58,600 lb	7ʹ 8″ × 8ʹ 5″
L5G1	45ʹ HC	3,026 ft³	10,580 lb	56,620 lb	7ʹ 8″ × 8ʹ 5″

Will it fit?

Interactive · Will it fit?

Enter your load's dimensions — crate, machine, pallet stack — and every type below answers instantly: through the door, inside the box, under the payload limit. Assumes the load enters lengthwise and stays upright.

Length

Width

Height

Unit

Weight (optional)

Unit

Enter length, width, and height to check all 14 types.

Full specs by type

MMXU 10ʹ MiniMAX container, front view — MMXU 10ʹ MiniMAX · NEW (one-trip)

10MM

10-foot MiniMAX

Standard height · 8ʹ6″

External: 9ʹ 11″ × 8ʹ 0″ × 8ʹ 6″; 3.025 m × 2.438 m × 2.591 m
Internal: 9ʹ 4″ × 7ʹ 8″ × 7ʹ 10″; 2.840 m × 2.352 m × 2.385 m
Door opening (W × H): 7ʹ 8″ × 7ʹ 6″; 2.343 m × 2.280 m
Cubic capacity: 565 ft³; 16.0 m³
Tare weight: 2,870 lb; 1,300 kg
Max gross: 22,400 lb; 10,160 kg
Max payload: 19,530 lb; 8,860 kg

OWLU 20ʹ GP container, front view — OWLU® 20ʹ GP · NEW (one-trip)

22G1

20-foot General Purpose

Standard height · 8ʹ6″

External: 20ʹ 0″ × 8ʹ 0″ × 8ʹ 6″; 6.058 m × 2.438 m × 2.591 m
Internal: 19ʹ 4″ × 7ʹ 8″ × 7ʹ 10″; 5.898 m × 2.352 m × 2.385 m
Door opening (W × H): 7ʹ 8″ × 7ʹ 6″; 2.343 m × 2.280 m
Cubic capacity: 1,172 ft³; 33.2 m³
Tare weight: 4,914 lb; 2,230 kg
Max gross: 67,200 lb; 30,480 kg
Max payload: 62,286 lb; 28,250 kg

OWLU 20ʹ HC container, front view — OWLU® 20ʹ HC · NEW (one-trip)

25G1

20-foot High Cube

High cube · 9ʹ6″

External: 20ʹ 0″ × 8ʹ 0″ × 9ʹ 6″; 6.058 m × 2.438 m × 2.896 m
Internal: 19ʹ 4″ × 7ʹ 8″ × 8ʹ 10″; 5.898 m × 2.352 m × 2.690 m
Door opening (W × H): 7ʹ 8″ × 8ʹ 5″; 2.343 m × 2.585 m
Cubic capacity: 1,322 ft³; 37.4 m³
Tare weight: 5,290 lb; 2,400 kg
Max gross: 67,200 lb; 30,480 kg
Max payload: 61,910 lb; 28,080 kg

OWLU 20ʹ DD container, front view — OWLU® 20ʹ DD · NEW (one-trip)

22G3

20-foot Double Door

Standard height · 8ʹ6″

External: 20ʹ 0″ × 8ʹ 0″ × 8ʹ 6″; 6.058 m × 2.438 m × 2.591 m
Internal: 19ʹ 4″ × 7ʹ 8″ × 7ʹ 10″; 5.898 m × 2.352 m × 2.385 m
Door opening (W × H): 7ʹ 8″ × 7ʹ 6″; 2.343 m × 2.280 m
Cubic capacity: 1,172 ft³; 33.2 m³
Tare weight: 4,914 lb; 2,230 kg
Max gross: 67,200 lb; 30,480 kg
Max payload: 62,286 lb; 28,250 kg

OWLU 20ʹ Duo-Con container, front view — OWLU® 20ʹ Duo-Con · NEW (one-trip)

20DU

20-foot Duo-Con

Standard height · 8ʹ6″

External: 20ʹ 0″ × 8ʹ 0″ × 8ʹ 6″; 6.058 m × 2.438 m × 2.591 m
Internal: 19ʹ 4″ × 7ʹ 8″ × 7ʹ 10″; 5.898 m × 2.352 m × 2.385 m
Door opening (W × H): 7ʹ 8″ × 7ʹ 6″; 2.343 m × 2.280 m
Cubic capacity: 1,172 ft³; 33.2 m³
Tare weight: 4,914 lb; 2,230 kg
Max gross: 67,200 lb; 30,480 kg
Max payload: 62,286 lb; 28,250 kg

OWLU 20ʹ OS container, front view — OWLU® 20ʹ OS · NEW (one-trip)

22S1

20-foot Open Side

Standard height · 8ʹ6″

External: 20ʹ 0″ × 8ʹ 0″ × 8ʹ 6″; 6.058 m × 2.438 m × 2.591 m
Internal: 19ʹ 4″ × 7ʹ 8″ × 7ʹ 10″; 5.898 m × 2.352 m × 2.385 m
Door opening (W × H): 7ʹ 8″ × 7ʹ 6″; 2.343 m × 2.280 m
Cubic capacity: 1,172 ft³; 33.2 m³
Tare weight: 4,914 lb; 2,230 kg
Max gross: 67,200 lb; 30,480 kg
Max payload: 62,286 lb; 28,250 kg

OWLU 20ʹ HT/OT container, front view — OWLU® 20ʹ HT/OT · NEW (one-trip)

22U6

20-foot Hard Open Top

Standard height · 8ʹ6″

External: 20ʹ 0″ × 8ʹ 0″ × 8ʹ 6″; 6.058 m × 2.438 m × 2.591 m
Internal: 19ʹ 4″ × 7ʹ 8″ × 7ʹ 10″; 5.898 m × 2.352 m × 2.385 m
Door opening (W × H): 7ʹ 8″ × 7ʹ 6″; 2.343 m × 2.280 m
Cubic capacity: 1,172 ft³; 33.2 m³
Tare weight: 4,914 lb; 2,230 kg
Max gross: 67,200 lb; 30,480 kg
Max payload: 62,286 lb; 28,250 kg

OWLU 20ʹ GP + 4ʹ side door container, front view — OWLU® 20ʹ GP + 4ʹ side door · NEW (one-trip)

22G1

20-foot GP with 4-Foot Side Door

Standard height · 8ʹ6″

External: 20ʹ 0″ × 8ʹ 0″ × 8ʹ 6″; 6.058 m × 2.438 m × 2.591 m
Internal: 19ʹ 4″ × 7ʹ 8″ × 7ʹ 10″; 5.898 m × 2.352 m × 2.385 m
Door opening (W × H): 7ʹ 8″ × 7ʹ 6″; 2.343 m × 2.280 m
Cubic capacity: 1,172 ft³; 33.2 m³
Tare weight: 4,914 lb; 2,230 kg
Max gross: 67,200 lb; 30,480 kg
Max payload: 62,286 lb; 28,250 kg

OWLU 20ʹ GP + 8ʹ side door container, front view — OWLU® 20ʹ GP + 8ʹ side door · NEW (one-trip)

22G1

20-foot GP with 8-Foot Side Door

Standard height · 8ʹ6″

External: 20ʹ 0″ × 8ʹ 0″ × 8ʹ 6″; 6.058 m × 2.438 m × 2.591 m
Internal: 19ʹ 4″ × 7ʹ 8″ × 7ʹ 10″; 5.898 m × 2.352 m × 2.385 m
Door opening (W × H): 7ʹ 8″ × 7ʹ 6″; 2.343 m × 2.280 m
Cubic capacity: 1,172 ft³; 33.2 m³
Tare weight: 4,914 lb; 2,230 kg
Max gross: 67,200 lb; 30,480 kg
Max payload: 62,286 lb; 28,250 kg

OWLU 40ʹ GP container, front view — OWLU® 40ʹ GP · NEW (one-trip)

42G1

40-foot General Purpose

Standard height · 8ʹ6″

External: 40ʹ 0″ × 8ʹ 0″ × 8ʹ 6″; 12.192 m × 2.438 m × 2.591 m
Internal: 39ʹ 5″ × 7ʹ 8″ × 7ʹ 10″; 12.032 m × 2.352 m × 2.385 m
Door opening (W × H): 7ʹ 8″ × 7ʹ 6″; 2.343 m × 2.280 m
Cubic capacity: 2,389 ft³; 67.7 m³
Tare weight: 8,265 lb; 3,750 kg
Max gross: 67,200 lb; 30,480 kg
Max payload: 58,935 lb; 26,730 kg

OWLU 40ʹ HC container, front view — OWLU® 40ʹ HC · NEW (one-trip)

45G1

40-foot High Cube

High cube · 9ʹ6″

External: 40ʹ 0″ × 8ʹ 0″ × 9ʹ 6″; 12.192 m × 2.438 m × 2.896 m
Internal: 39ʹ 5″ × 7ʹ 8″ × 8ʹ 10″; 12.032 m × 2.352 m × 2.690 m
Door opening (W × H): 7ʹ 8″ × 8ʹ 5″; 2.343 m × 2.585 m
Cubic capacity: 2,694 ft³; 76.3 m³
Tare weight: 8,600 lb; 3,900 kg
Max gross: 67,200 lb; 30,480 kg
Max payload: 58,600 lb; 26,580 kg

OWLU 40ʹ HC DD container, front view — OWLU® 40ʹ HC DD · NEW (one-trip)

45G3

40-foot HC Double Door

High cube · 9ʹ6″

External: 40ʹ 0″ × 8ʹ 0″ × 9ʹ 6″; 12.192 m × 2.438 m × 2.896 m
Internal: 39ʹ 5″ × 7ʹ 8″ × 8ʹ 10″; 12.032 m × 2.352 m × 2.690 m
Door opening (W × H): 7ʹ 8″ × 8ʹ 5″; 2.343 m × 2.585 m
Cubic capacity: 2,694 ft³; 76.3 m³
Tare weight: 8,600 lb; 3,900 kg
Max gross: 67,200 lb; 30,480 kg
Max payload: 58,600 lb; 26,580 kg

OWLU 40ʹ OS HC container, front view — OWLU® 40ʹ OS HC · NEW (one-trip)

45S1

40-foot Open Side HC

High cube · 9ʹ6″

External: 40ʹ 0″ × 8ʹ 0″ × 9ʹ 6″; 12.192 m × 2.438 m × 2.896 m
Internal: 39ʹ 5″ × 7ʹ 8″ × 8ʹ 10″; 12.032 m × 2.352 m × 2.690 m
Door opening (W × H): 7ʹ 8″ × 8ʹ 5″; 2.343 m × 2.585 m
Cubic capacity: 2,694 ft³; 76.3 m³
Tare weight: 8,600 lb; 3,900 kg
Max gross: 67,200 lb; 30,480 kg
Max payload: 58,600 lb; 26,580 kg

OWLU 45ʹ HC container, front view — OWLU® 45ʹ HC · NEW (one-trip)

L5G1

45-foot High Cube

High cube · 9ʹ6″

External: 45ʹ 0″ × 8ʹ 0″ × 9ʹ 6″; 13.716 m × 2.438 m × 2.896 m
Internal: 44ʹ 4″ × 7ʹ 8″ × 8ʹ 10″; 13.508 m × 2.352 m × 2.690 m
Door opening (W × H): 7ʹ 8″ × 8ʹ 5″; 2.343 m × 2.585 m
Cubic capacity: 3,026 ft³; 85.7 m³
Tare weight: 10,580 lb; 4,800 kg
Max gross: 67,200 lb; 30,480 kg
Max payload: 56,620 lb; 25,680 kg

Reefer, open top, flat rack, and tank containers share the same ISO 1496 external envelope as their GP counterparts — the corner castings, twist-lock fittings, and chassis interfaces are all standardized. But their internal dimensions are smaller, sometimes substantially so, because of the equipment they carry:

Reefer (R1) — internal width and length lose ~150–200 mm to the evaporator unit at the front and the insulated wall panels. A 40ʹ reefer’s usable interior is closer to 11.5 m than 12.0 m. Cubic capacity drops to about 67 m³ for a 40ʹ HC reefer vs 76 m³ for a 40ʹ HC GP.
Open top (U1) — same internal floor and door dimensions as GP, but the top is a removable tarpaulin over a steel bow frame. Useful for top-loaded cargo (machinery, lumber). Cubic capacity is nominally the same as GP but loading from above adds 100–150 mm of usable height.
Flat rack (P1, P3) — no walls, no roof. Just a floor and two end walls (fixed on P1, collapsible on P3). For oversized cargo that wouldn’t fit through a GP door. Payload capacity is higher than GP because the structural frame is heavier.
Tank (T0–T6) — a cylindrical tank suspended inside a 20ʹ ISO frame. Internal capacity is typically 21,000–26,000 liters depending on rating. T0 is non-pressurized; T1 through T6 carry increasing pressure ratings for hazardous liquids and gases.

Tolerance reality

The numbers above are nominal. Actual containers vary by ±25 mm on length, ±15 mm on width and height, and tare weight varies by ±100 kg between manufacturers. For close-tolerance projects (in-factory customization, custom container homes, interlocking sets), measure the specific units you’re working with — don’t trust the nominal spec.

Door opening — the one that catches people

Across every standard size, the door opening is roughly 2,340 mm wide and either 2,280 mm (standard height) or 2,585 mm (high cube) tall. That’s the maximum profile that fits through the door — not the maximum that fits inside. Pallet jacks, forklifts, and oversized crates routinely catch on the gasket-and-frame combination that takes up the difference.

For lift-truck loading: a standard 7-foot mast clears the standard 7ʹ 5ʺ door opening but not by much. A 7ʹ 6ʺ mast won’t fit; you need a low-profile mast or a high cube. This is the single most frequent surprise on first-time container loading.