Standard container sizes and payloads
Container dimensions matter when you are planning how cargo will be loaded, whether the cargo will fit through the doors, and whether the shipment may run into payload or overweight limits. This guide gives typical dimensions, tare weights, and payload references for the standard container types most often used in drayage.
Use this article as a planning reference for 20GP, 40GP, 40HC, 20RF, 40RF, 20NOR, and 40NOR containers.
The exact container door plate, carrier equipment record, or manufacturer specification should control when cargo is close to any dimension, tare, payload, or gross weight limit.
Quick answer
The most important checks are:
- Outside dimensions: Used for equipment compatibility and road movement.
- Inside dimensions: Used to check whether the cargo fits inside the box.
- Door opening: Used to check whether cargo can physically enter through the doors.
- Tare: The empty container weight.
- Payload: The net cargo weight the container can carry.
- Gross weight: Cargo plus container tare.
For Portmate quote requests, provide the net cargo weight. Do not include container tare, chassis tare, tractor tare, Verified Gross Mass, or loaded-container gross weight unless support asks for it.
Dry container dimensions
Dry containers are used for general cargo that does not need temperature control. The values below are typical manufacturer examples for common ISO dry containers.
20GP dimensions
20GP means 20-foot general purpose dry container.
| Field | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Outside dimensions | 6,058 x 2,438 x 2,591 mm |
| Inside dimensions | 5,898 x 2,352 x 2,391 mm |
| Door opening | 2,340 x 2,280 mm |
| Internal volume | about 33 m³ |
| Portmate planning tare | about 5,200 lb |
| Portmate payload ceiling | 30,500 kg |
40GP dimensions
40GP means 40-foot general purpose dry container.
| Field | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Outside dimensions | 12,192 x 2,438 x 2,591 mm |
| Inside dimensions | 12,032 x 2,352 x 2,393 mm |
| Door opening | 2,340 x 2,280 mm |
| Internal volume | about 67 m³ |
| Portmate planning tare | about 8,600 lb |
| Portmate payload ceiling | 29,000 kg |
40HC dimensions
40HC means 40-foot high cube dry container. It is usually the same length and width as a 40GP, but about one foot taller.
| Field | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Outside dimensions | 12,192 x 2,438 x 2,896 mm |
| Inside dimensions | 12,031 x 2,352 x 2,698 mm |
| Door opening | 2,340 x 2,585 mm |
| Internal volume | about 76 m³ |
| Portmate planning tare | about 8,600 lb |
| Portmate payload ceiling | 29,000 kg |
In feet and inches, a standard dry container is about 8 ft wide and 8 ft 6 in tall outside. A high cube is about 9 ft 6 in tall outside.
Reefer and NOR dimensions
Reefer containers have refrigeration machinery, so the internal cargo space is usually smaller than a dry container of the same nominal size. A non-operating reefer, or NOR, uses the same physical reefer box even when the refrigeration unit is not running.
Reefer dimensions vary more than dry dimensions because evaporator, machinery, airflow channels, floor design, and manufacturer details can change usable cargo space.
20RF and 20NOR dimensions
20RF means 20-foot refrigerated container. 20NOR means 20-foot non-operating reefer.
| Field | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Outside dimensions | 6,058 x 2,438 x 2,591 mm |
| Inside dimensions | about 5,446-5,492 x 2,288-2,295 x 2,276-2,292 mm |
| Door opening | about 2,294 x 2,264-2,278 mm |
| Internal volume | about 28 m³ |
| Portmate planning tare | about 7,000 lb |
| Portmate payload ceiling | 27,500 kg |
40RF and 40NOR dimensions
40RF means 40-foot refrigerated container. 40NOR means 40-foot non-operating reefer.
| Field | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Outside dimensions | 12,192 x 2,438 x 2,896 mm |
| Inside dimensions | about 11,552-11,626 x 2,282-2,295 x 2,540-2,548 mm |
| Door opening | about 2,286-2,294 x 2,558-2,573 mm |
| Internal volume | about 67 m³ |
| Portmate planning tare | about 10,500 lb |
| Portmate payload ceiling | 29,500 kg |
For temperature-controlled cargo, leave enough airflow clearance according to the carrier's loading guidance. The cargo may physically fit inside the box but still be loaded incorrectly if airflow is blocked.
How to use these dimensions
Container dimensions are useful before loading, but they should not be treated as a substitute for the actual unit record.
Use the values in this guide to:
- Check whether cargo is likely to fit through the door opening.
- Compare standard dry, high cube, reefer, and NOR space.
- Estimate whether a high cube is needed for tall cargo.
- Understand why reefer and NOR containers have different usable space from dry containers.
- Separate cargo payload from container tare and loaded gross weight.
When cargo is close to a limit, confirm the actual container before loading. That is especially important for machinery, crated cargo, tall pallets, temperature-controlled freight, and shipper-owned containers.
Payload and overweight planning
Payload is the net cargo weight inside the container. This is the weight Portmate needs for instant quote pricing and overweight logic.
Do not include:
- Container tare
- Chassis tare
- Tractor tare
- Verified Gross Mass, or VGM
- Loaded container gross weight
If the net cargo weight exceeds the payload ceiling, the issue is not just a truck permit question. The container itself may be above its typical rated cargo capacity, so the load may need to be reduced, split, or manually reviewed.
What you can do next
If your cargo fits a supported standard container and you know the net cargo weight, you can request an instant quote using 20GP, 40GP, 40HC, 20RF, 40RF, 20NOR, or 40NOR.
If the cargo is close to the container payload limit, ask Portmate to check whether the container is overweight before you book. If the cargo needs open top, flat rack, tank, platform, 45-foot, 53-foot, or other special container equipment, request manual review instead.