Choosing the right container affects both your freight cost and how safely your goods travel. Here is how the three most common dry containers compare.
Approximate specifications
Exact figures vary by manufacturer and shipping line, so always confirm with your carrier.
| 20FT (20GP) | 40FT (40GP) | 40HQ (High Cube) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal length | ~5.90 m | ~12.03 m | ~12.03 m |
| Internal width | ~2.35 m | ~2.35 m | ~2.35 m |
| Internal height | ~2.39 m | ~2.39 m | ~2.69 m |
| Nominal volume | ~33 CBM | ~67 CBM | ~76 CBM |
| Realistic loadable volume | ~25–28 CBM | ~55–58 CBM | ~65–68 CBM |
| Typical max payload | ~25,000–28,000 kg | ~26,000–27,000 kg | ~26,000–28,000 kg |
Why you can't use the full volume
The nominal volume assumes perfectly shaped cargo filling every corner. In practice:
- cartons rarely match the container dimensions exactly;
- pallets leave gaps and need forklift space;
- fragile goods cannot be stacked to the roof;
- door clearance and lashing take space.
Planning for 80–90% utilization is realistic for well-packed cartons; less for pallets or irregular goods.
Which container should you choose?
- 20FT: heavy, dense cargo (tiles, metal parts, liquids in drums) that reaches the weight limit before the volume limit, or shipments of roughly 15–28 CBM.
- 40FT: large volumes of normal-density goods, roughly 30–58 CBM.
- 40HQ: light, bulky goods such as furniture, textiles, toys and foam products. The extra 30 cm of height adds about 9 CBM for a similar price to a 40FT on many routes.
Weight limits matter too
A 20FT container can often carry nearly as much weight as a 40FT. Road weight limits in your country may also restrict how heavily a container can be loaded for delivery, so check local rules before planning a heavy load.
Estimate the fill before you book
MYCBM estimates how full a 20FT, 40FT, 40HQ and 45HQ container would be for your shipment, using approximate usable capacities of 33, 67, 76 and 86 CBM — so you can see at a glance which size fits. Learn more in How many CBM fit in a shipping container?
Try the calculator from this guide
Calculate CBM, freight costs and container fill in seconds with MYCBM.
