Shipping containers have become increasingly popular in recent years, both for their practicality and versatility. They can be used for storage, shipping, and even as building materials for homes and offices. However, there are a few things you should know about shipping containers, particularly when it comes to their dimensions.
The most common shipping container sizes are the 20ft and 40ft containers. The 20ft container is typically used for smaller shipments, while the 40ft container is used for larger shipments. However, there are other sizes available as well, including 10ft, 30ft, 45ft, and 53ft.
The dimensions of a standard 20ft shipping container are 20ft long, 8ft wide, and 8ft 6 inches tall. Its internal dimensions are slightly smaller, measuring 19ft 4 inches long, 7ft 8 inches wide, and 7ft 9 inches tall. The maximum weight capacity of a 20ft container is approximately 28,000 pounds.
Meanwhile, a standard 40ft shipping container measures 40ft long, 8ft wide, and 8ft 6 inches tall. Its internal dimensions are 39ft 5 inches long, 7ft 8 inches wide, and 7ft 9 inches tall. The maximum weight capacity of a 40ft container is approximately 60,000 pounds.
Other shipping container dimensions can vary depending on the specific type of container. For example, a high cube container is slightly taller, measuring 9ft 6 inches in height, while a refrigerated container may have different dimensions altogether.
Understanding shipping container dimensions is important if you are planning on using them for storage or shipping. It can also be helpful if you are considering using them as a building material for a home or office. The exact dimensions of the container will determine what you can use it for and how much space you will have inside.
shipping container dimensions vary depending on the specific type of container, but the 20ft and 40ft sizes are the most common. Knowing the exact measurements of each type of container can help you determine its potential uses and ensure that you choose the right container for your needs.You can contact us for more information
Table of Contents
- The 11 Most Common Types of Shipping Containers!
The 11 Most Common Types of Shipping Containers!
Dry Containers
General containers are also called “dry containers”, which is the most common type of transport tank. They are used to send dry materials and deliver at a speed of 20 feet, 40 feet and 10 feet. These transport containers are protected and exempted from elements. And windproof, rigid roofs, side walls and floors.
20 feet container
20 feet container: the inner volume is 5.69m x 2.13m x 2.18m, the gross weight is 17.5 tons, the volume is 24-26 cubic meters.
40ft container
40ft container: the inner volume is 11.8m long, 2.13m wide and 2.18m high, the gross weight is about 22 tons and the volume is 54 cubic meters.
40ft high container
40ft high container: 11.8m long, 2.13m wide and 2.72m high, with a gross weight of 22 tonnes and a volume of 68 cubic metres.
These three kinds of containers can basically transport most of the commodities in the current foreign trade transactions. In addition to the above three kinds of containers, there are other containers called special containers; this kind of container is generally designed to meet some special shipping requirements. And when booking, you need to book with the shipowner company separately, because not all ports can provide special container services
Flat Rack Shipping Containers
With collapsible sides, these are like simple storage shipping containers. The sides can be folded, so about making a flat rack for shipping a wide variety of goods. So they are ideal for shipping goods that are oversized, such as heavy machinery, vehicles on tracks, big reels, and construction materials. Some 40′ flat rack shipping containers are suitable to carry as much as 45 metric tons of cargo!
This kind of container has no roof and side walls, and even the end walls are removed, leaving only the bottom plate and four pillars. This kind of container can be loaded and unloaded from left and right, up and down and front and back.
Suitable for loading long and heavy pieces, such as heavy machinery, steel, wood, steel ingots, etc. The frame container is not waterproof. If you want to pack the goods that are afraid of water, you need to cover it with waterproof canvas and seal it well.
Open Top Shipping Containers
It has a convertible top that can be removed entirely to make an open top. So that materials of any height can be shipped. Such as tall machinery or other heavy/bulky finished products. Whose handling and loading can only be performed with a crane or rolling bridge. Open top containers have lashing rings installed to the upper and lower side rails. And corner posts to secure cargo are available in 20′ and 40′.
The characteristic of this container is that the roof can be easily removed and installed, and the goods can be easily loaded and unloaded by a crane. This kind of container is convenient to carry larger machinery, steel, glass, wood and large sheet materials, etc.
The roof of this container has two kinds of soft top and hard top. The hard top is made of sheet steel and can be easily removed and installed with a crane. Soft tops are generally made of canvas, plastic cloth or painted cloth. When opening the top, it only needs to be rolled up to one end. There are the following types in terms of size:
20-foot open-top cabinet: inner dimensions 5.89m X 2.32m X 2.31m / distribution gross weight 20 tons / volume 31.5 cubic meters
40 feet open top cabinet: inner size 12.01m X 2.33m X 2.15m / distribution gross weight 30.4 tons / volume 65 cubic meters
20-foot flat-bottomed container: inner dimensions 5.85m X 2.23m X 2.15m / distribution gross weight 23 tons / volume 28 cubic meters
40-foot flat-bottomed container: inner dimensions 12.05m X 2.12m X 1.96m / distribution gross weight 36 tons / volume 50 cubic meters
Tunnel Shipping Container
Also Called double door containers- storage units have doors on both ends of the container. They are helpful in the quick loading and unloading of materials. In addition, they make an even wider room for goods such as steel and iron. Both sets of doors have the same locking assembling and weather-tight seals to keep cargo protected from the elements.
Side Open Shipping Container
Side door containers are very similar to normal containers. They have the same features as regular shipping containers, the only difference is that they also open on the side.
Side-by-side containers also come in tall boxes, which are an extra foot taller than regular-sized sea containers. For example, they have an interior height of 9 feet 6 inches instead of 8 feet 6 inches. The extra space comes in handy if you need to load or store particularly tall items.
Advantages of side door containers:
- Easy loading and unloading – especially when using a forklift or pallet truck. A forklift or truck can drive in, place and stack the load without too much effort.
- Access to Oversized Items – Side-opening sea containers have larger doors to provide enough room for oversized items that cannot fit through regular containers.
- Better access to stored items – Due to the way normal containers are loaded from the back to the front, access to the pre-packed items requires moving the front items out of the way to access them. With side-opening containers, the cargo loaded first does not have to come out last, making retrieving items quick and efficient.
- Better utilization of containers – side doors also help to improve the utilization of shipping containers, as the container can be split into two or more parts to serve as multiple cafes, shops or offices.
Use of side open container:
- Storage – Side-opening containers are perfect for on-site storage because they provide a larger opening for storing bulky cargo, while easy access to cargo makes organizing, storing, and retrieving items a quick and easy task. This, combined with the sturdy and secure construction of shipping containers, make them the perfect storage facility.
- Shipping – With all the features of a regular container and the added benefit of a side-opening door, a side-opening sea container is ideal for transporting both general and oversized cargo. Side doors provide better options for loading and unloading.
- Retrofitting – These containers are also ideal for retrofitting. Some popular modifications include turning them into homes, sheds, offices, cafes, pop-up stores, and more. For retrofits where sturdiness is not a priority, more aesthetically pleasing doors such as sliding glass doors or even roll-up doors are available
Reefer Container
Also called reefer containers- they are used for the shipment of temperature-sensitive, perishable cargo. Such as meats, fruits, and vegetables. Refrigerated shipping containers are equipped with a system. It helps to maintain an internal temperature of between -25º and + 25º. Contrary to popular belief, these refrigerated containers do not regulate temperatures. They can only hold them. This container type relies on external power to keep the temperature controlled. Reefers generally come in 20′ and 40 and are made from weathering steel known as Cor-ten steel.
20-foot freezer: inner size 5.42m X 2.26m X 2.24m / distribution gross weight is generally 17 tons / volume 26 cubic meters
40-foot freezer: inner size 11.20mX2.24mX2.18m / distribution gross weight is generally 22 tons / volume 54 cubic meters
40 high freezer: inner size 11.62m X 2.29m X 2.50m / distribution gross weight is generally 22 tons / volume 67 cubic meters
45-foot freezer: inner size 13.10m X 2.29m X 2.50m / gross weight of distribution is generally 29 tons / volume 75 cubic meters
Insulated Shipping Containers
An insulated container refers to a container in which all walls are insulated with materials with low thermal conductivity and used to transport goods that need to be refrigerated and insulated. There is a heat insulation layer inside the box, and the air inlet and outlet on the top of the box can adjust the angle. The outside air and wind direction can be used to adjust the temperature inside the box. When it is closed tightly, it can not be affected by the outside temperature for a certain period of time. Suitable for shipment of goods sensitive to temperature and humidity
Insulated containers include refrigerated containers with refrigeration units and insulated containers without refrigeration units. The essence of the characteristics of the heat insulation box is its heat insulation layer, air tightness and heat leakage index. One-piece refrigerated containers are often used at present. In fact, the newly manufactured refrigerators have now been replaced by the taller 1AAA type 1AA boxes. They are basically the same structure, differing only in height
Cargo Storage Roll Shipping Containers
A foldable container is one of the specialized container units that transport sets or stacks of materials. They are made of thick and robust wire mesh along with rollers that allow their easy movement. Availability in a range of coloured wire meshes makes these shipping container units a little more cheerful.
Half Height Shipping Containers
Another kind of shipping container includes half-height containers made mostly of steel. These containers are half the height of full-sized containers. Half-height containers have a low centre of gravity. So they can better handle heavier loads than taller containers, making them versatile. And they’re robust enough to withstand the harsh industrial environment. They are used primarily for coal, stones, etc., which need easy loading and unloading.
Car Carrier Shipping Containers
Car carriers are container storage units made especially for the shipment of cars over long distances. They come with collapsible sides. That helps a car fit inside the containers without the risk of being damaged or moving from the spot.
Tank Containers
Tank containers, or tankers, are made of solid steel or other anti-corrosive materials for the transportation and long-life protection of liquid materials. A tank container must be at least 80% complete to prevent the dangerous surging of liquids in transit. But it must also not be over 95% full, or there would not be enough room for thermal expansion.
Containers for liquid goods such as wine, oil, liquid food, and chemicals. It is mainly composed of a liquid tank and a frame. The liquid tank is elliptical or approximately spherical, and adopts a double-layer structure. The inner wall is made of stainless steel; or made of other rigid materials, but it needs to be coated with a layer of epoxy resin to prevent corrosion of liquid cargo.
The outer wall adopts thermal insulation material. Generally, the top of the tank has a round loading port, and the bottom of the tank has a discharge valve. There are several types of high-pressure liquid tanks, low-pressure liquid tanks, thermal insulation liquid tanks, and liquid tanks with heating devices. The frame is made of high-strength steel, and the liquid tank is placed in the middle of the frame.
The handling, loading, unloading, and storage of tank containers require a certain special place and equipped with special fire safety equipment
Leave a Reply