Will it fit in a shipping container?
Container space is easy to get wrong, and booking the wrong size is expensive either way. Here are the real internal dimensions of 20ft and 40ft containers, how much you can actually load, and how to check your goods fit before you pay for freight.
Internal dimensions, side by side
Container sizes are quoted by their outside length, but what matters for loading is the space inside and the size of the door opening. These are the standard approximate internal figures. Always confirm the exact numbers with your shipping line, as they vary a little by build.
| Type | Internal L x W x H | Usable volume |
|---|---|---|
| 20ft standard | 5.90 x 2.35 x 2.39 m (19'4" x 7'8" x 7'10") | ~33 m³ / 1,170 ft³ |
| 40ft standard | 12.03 x 2.35 x 2.39 m (39'5" x 7'8" x 7'10") | ~67 m³ / 2,390 ft³ |
| 40ft high cube | 12.03 x 2.35 x 2.70 m (39'5" x 7'8" x 8'10") | ~76 m³ / 2,690 ft³ |
| 20ft door opening | 2.34 m wide x 2.28 m high (7'8" x 7'6") | the real limit for big items |
Usable space is less than the total
The cubic figures above are the full interior. In practice you will not fill every corner, because furniture is not brick shaped and you need gaps to load and unload. A sensible working assumption is that you will use roughly 80 to 90 percent of the total, less if you have many odd shapes. Plan around your large items and let the small boxes fill the spaces they leave.
The door opening decides the big items
The most common mistake is measuring only the interior. A wide wardrobe, a sofa or a machine has to pass through the door first, and the door is smaller than the inside. Measure your largest and most awkward pieces, then check them against the door opening, not just the internal width.
How much fits, as a rough guide
- 20ft container: roughly the contents of a one to two bedroom home, or a small vehicle plus boxes.
- 40ft container: roughly a three to four bedroom home, or a large vehicle plus household goods.
- 40ft high cube: the same floor space as a 40ft, with extra height for tall items or an extra layer of boxes.
These are starting points, not promises. Two homes with the same number of bedrooms can need very different space depending on the furniture.
The reliable way to be sure
Guessing from a bedroom count is how people end up with a half empty 40ft or a 20ft that will not close. The dependable method is simple: measure your biggest items, draw the container to scale, drop those items in, and arrange them. If the large pieces fit with room to move, the rest packs around them.
Check it before you book
Draw a 20ft or 40ft container to scale in Plan, drop your items in, and see what fits.
Common questions
What are the internal dimensions of a 20ft shipping container?
A standard 20ft container is roughly 5.90m long, 2.35m wide and 2.39m high inside, which is about 33 cubic metres or 1,170 cubic feet. The door opening is a little smaller than the interior, around 2.34m wide and 2.28m high, so measure your largest item against the door, not just the inside.
What are the internal dimensions of a 40ft shipping container?
A standard 40ft container is roughly 12.03m long, 2.35m wide and 2.39m high inside, about 67 cubic metres or 2,390 cubic feet. A 40ft high cube adds around 30cm of height at roughly 2.70m inside, for about 76 cubic metres. Confirm exact figures with your shipping line, as they vary slightly by build.
Will a house fit in a shipping container?
As a rough rule, a 20ft container suits the contents of a one to two bedroom home and a 40ft suits a three to four bedroom home, but it depends entirely on how much furniture you have and how it packs. The reliable way to know is to measure your largest items and lay them out to scale before you book.
How do I know my furniture will fit before I book?
Measure your biggest and most awkward items first, since those decide the load. Then draw the container to scale, drop those items in, and arrange them. If the large pieces fit with sensible gaps, the smaller boxes will fill in around them.