How Big is a Shipping Container?

How big is a shipping container graphic

The answer to this question depends on how you define a shipping container. International shipping companies refer to standard intermodal freight containers nearly always when using the common term “shipping container”, although shipping containers can refer to a broad range of containers that are durable enough to remain intact and secure during transit and handling.

These characteristics of shipping containers are critical to the shipping industry and ensure that manufacturers, businesses and consumers receive the goods they need intact and on time. Since much of how goods are moved around the world happens behind the scenes for most people, it can be easy to take for granted just how much shipping containers matter.



In particular, the intermodal shipping container has dramatically changed all our lives, as has the shipping industry. For example, the global shipping industry, over the past 15 years, has helped a billion people escape poverty. Global shipping feeds half the world, and has improved the quality of life for many by the way it allows efficient and reliable transit of raw materials, products and necessities from areas of high production to areas where demand is highest.

Hyundai shipping containers

This results in a net benefit for exporters and importers. In addition to their household effects being shipped by containers, diplomats receive American goods overseas in their Embassy commissary. Companies can ship everything from food to car tires and even a vehicle to those serving abroad. Many people today believe the intermodal shipping container boosted globalization, and the shipping industry has been instrumental in supporting world trade, world finance and the health of the global economy.

Modern shipping as we know it started during WWII when the U.S. government began using small standard-sized containers, which allowed fast and efficient unloading and distribution of supplies.

In 1955, a North Carolina trucking entrepreneur, Malcolm P. McLean, acquired a steamship company. He had the unique idea to transport entire truck trailers with their cargo still inside. He developed the concept of “intermodalism,” the idea that efficiency can be increased with no interruption when goods are transported in the same container across different transport modes from origin to destination, whether by rail, sea, road or any combination of the three.

McLean’s improvement to goods transport means containers have become the standard for the shipping industry.

The intermodal shipping container is crucial, but so are many other types of containers that are used to transport and store goods. Gaining a better understanding of the applications and standard sizes of some of the most popular shipping containers will help you plan your own transportation needs better. From the large intermodal container to corrugated boxes to drums, each item has a prominent place and purpose in the shipping industry.

intermodal container divider

An intermodal container is a standardized re-sealable transportation box for unitized freight handling with standardized equipment. Intermodal Containers get their name from the concept of intermodalism, which involves more than one form of transport carrier.

Basically, intermodal containers can be moved across different modes of transport without unloading their cargo. They can move from a ship to a train to a truck seamlessly, saving time and money. The large size makes handling bulk cargo easy, and due to their construction, the containers move, handle and stack easily.

Intermodal containers quote

The two most commonly used sizes today are the 20-foot and 40-foot lengths. Given how they need to be carried in various kinds of transport, it’s quite important that the dimensions and types of the containers be strictly defined.

For this reason, the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) have established the specifications for the manufacture of containers worldwide. Standardized container sizes allow the containers to be easily stacked for easy loading and offloading.

Intermodal containers exist in many types and numbers of standardized sizes. Dry freight or general purpose containers comprise approximately 90% of the entire global container fleet. Other kinds include refrigerated containers and special equipment containers.

While the length is standardized for TEUs and FEUs, they have varying heights and widths, as well as design and functioning. They can be designed to hold liquid bulk (tank containers), have different opening mechanisms (open end, open top and open side), height (half height), or be flat-rack or modular. They are designed specifically for diverse types of cargo, such as odd-sized goods, produce, meat and liquids.

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Dry freight containers, or general purpose containers, are used to transport most goods. They are built to either 20 standard, 40 standard, 40 high or 45 high specifications. Volume capacity, in cubic feet, is as follows:

general purpose container specs

Much of the specifications used in the design of containers is standard, as per its format, like 20 standard or 45 high, but there is considerable variation in terms of major characteristics like height but also regarding details like the opening mechanism or the internal layout. These differ depending on the category of the container, but also on the company who made or operates the container.

These variations are not always visible from the outside. So, there could be a container designed to be quickly loaded with pallets, while another aims to allow speedy offloading of clothes on racks to be stocked directly into a department store floor. The interior layout of each would be very different, but from the outside, they would be nearly identical.

corrugated boxes containers divider

corrugated shipping container being lifted

You can use corrugated boxes for a variety of purposes, including shipping, storage, display, transporting and moving. Available in multiple sizes and strengths, there is the perfect corrugated box to fit your needs.

Large, bulk-size corrugated boxes, also known as Gaylord boxes, allow you to ship products in one large container or on one pallet. Gaylord boxes offer several benefits to manufacturers, retailers and consumers. For one, they are sturdy, heavy boxes that can handle just about anything placed within them.

However, Gaylord boxes are not meant to be used and reused repeatedly. They are designed for single-use. The good news is they are completely recyclable. The corrugated material not only makes the boxes inexpensive to manufacture and to use, but they also present an eco-friendly solution.

They all fit onto a pallet, making them perfect to use for shipping and storage. The two most common sizes are D Containers and E Containers.

d container divider

D Container bulk cargo boxes are heavy-duty double wall fiberboard containers with a lid. The internal dimensions measure 58”x 42”x 45” and they have an approximate weight capacity of 1,200 lbs. To reduce shipping costs, the boxes are shipped flat and come disassembled in four parts.

They are incredibly easy to assemble and do not require glue or staples. Just simply connect the four parts, and they’re ready to use.

The D Container boxes are also available with a pallet, making them even easier to use and ship. The heat-treated stamped pallet has dimensions of 60” x 44” x 95” and an estimated weight of 765 pounds. Each pallet can hold a maximum of 15 Gaylord boxes.

e container divider

An E Container bulk cargo box is a large corrugated box, with internal dimensions of 41.25” x 28.25” x 24.25”. They are constructed of Heavy-Duty #275 bursting-strength double wall fiberboard/cardboard.

intermediate bulk containers divider

An Intermediate Bulk Container, (IBC), are used for moving materials that are viscous or fluid, like sand and other granulated material or liquids like oil. Foodstuffs, commodities, and chemicals are commonly transported in IBCs. They have other uses, like collecting rainwater and storing liquid goods.

IBC’s find a good middle ground between cardboard boxes and shipping containers in terms of capacity and function. IBC’s are more secure and have greater durability compared to corrugated boxes and pallets, and while they have less capacity than the larger containers, they are easier to handle due to their compactness.

Cube-shaped IBCs are constructed from High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), which is extremely sturdy and durable for its weight. With the caging around the container and the tap opening at the bottom, they resemble small cooling towers.

The caging adds to their durability, which is important since ship and truck transport can occasionally cause damage to containers, and often they contain harmful or dangerous chemicals. And the tap opening allows easy transferal of the contents to other containers.

They are easy to move and load with forklifts and pallet jacks, thanks to their durability, low weight and modular design (where they can be stacked on top of each other).

IBCs are sold in a variety of shapes and sizes, but the two most popular volumes are 275 gallons and 330 gallons. This volume range lies between tanks and drums.

The most common outer dimensions are 48” x 40” x 46, making them ideal for shipping on a pallet. They are an option for drums and tanks in size and function, which is why they are referred to as intermediate.

drums divider

Drums are another item used for bulk shipping. They are cylinder in shape and are ideal for transporting liquids, dry goods and powders. They are often certified for shipment of hazardous materials, but these regulations are based on location, so it is important to ensure the requirements are being met locally.

There are International Standard Size specifications for drums. The most common used internationally is the 200-liter drum. In the U.S., this is called a 55-gallon drum, while in the UK it is a 44-gallon drum.

stacks of shipping cargo drums

The American 55-gallon capacity is generally standard. The inside of the standard drum is 22.5 inches in diameter, while the outside diameter is usually half an inch wider. The same is the case for the height, with the outside being one inch higher than the internal 33.5 inches. But in terms of design, volume and capacity, different operators and industries have distinctive designs.

Shippers generally place drums on pallets, as this allows easy transport and handling by forklifts during the shipping process. The most common size is U.S. 55-gallons, but a variety of sizes are available, from .6 gallons to 85 gallons.

Each U.N.-Certified Drum has been tested to meet all regulations: IATA, ICAO, IMO and D.O.T. CFR-49 protocols, which are suitable for Hazmat shipping. When planning to use steel drums, it’s important to ensure the U.N. Number (commodity) you're shipping meets all regulations. Non-U.N. Drums for the Non-Hazmat Shippers are available, as well.

The type of material used in the manufacture usually categorizes the drums. The most popular types of drums include:

barells

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Hazardous materials and dangerous goods can be shipped via the methods mentioned above, if they meet regulations. However, there are also specific hazmat and dangerous goods shipping materials, like 4GV Boxes, Lithium Battery Kits and Hazardous Waste Packaging.

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With the variation in the number of products available in the marketplace today, different solutions exist to ship, store and display those goods. Whatever your needs are, there is a shipping container solution available to move your cargo from one place to another. Most solutions are available in a vast range of sizes, materials and colors, providing a large selection of products to aid your shipping needs.

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