Internal dimensions, doors, payload and volume of sea containers, plus how many euro and industrial pallets fit inside each one.
Planning a container loading? Below you will find the internal dimensions of shipping containers - 20-foot, 40-foot and High Cube - plus door dimensions, payload and practical conversions to euro and industrial pallets.
In this article
| Parameter | 20' DV | 40' DV | 40' HC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal length | 5898 mm | 12032 mm | 12032 mm |
| Internal width | 2352 mm | 2352 mm | 2352 mm |
| Internal height | 2395 mm | 2395 mm | 2698 mm |
| Door width | 2340 mm | 2340 mm | 2340 mm |
| Door height | 2280 mm | 2280 mm | 2585 mm |
| Volume | 33.2 m³ | 67.7 m³ | 76.4 m³ |
| Max. cargo weight | approx. 28 200 kg | approx. 26 700 kg | approx. 26 500 kg |
Values may differ slightly between container manufacturers - for tight loads always leave a few centimetres of margin, especially at the door height.
Before booking freight, compare pallet layouts in the container loading calculator. For further worked examples, see the guide How many pallets fit in a container?.
| Container | EUR pallets (1200×800) | Industrial pallets (1200×1000) |
|---|---|---|
| 20' DV | 11 | 9-10 |
| 40' DV / 40' HC | 23-24 | 20-21 |
The key to maximum utilization is a mixed layout: one row of pallets placed lengthwise and another placed across the container. You will find the details in the guide how to optimally load a trailer and container.
Pallet3D arranges pallets and boxes in 20', 40' and HC containers, shows the fill rate and what will not fit - 5 days free.
Run calculator →11 euro pallets in a 20', 23-25 in a 40', and why a High Cube changes the height but not the floor plan.
Calculate cargo volume with the formula length × width × height and see why volume alone is not enough for planning.
Learn the difference between intermodal and multimodal transport. Find out how to choose a container, arrange pallets and prepare handover at the terminal.
