Containers and shipping
40 ft container dimensions and capacity
Independent site, not a government service. General information, not customs advice.
A 40 foot box has twice the volume of a 20 foot one, but not twice the payload. Enter your cargo and compare it with both limits.
Will my cargo fit this container?
Tightest limit used
81.2%
| Volume used | 81.2% |
| Payload used | 62.5% |
| Space left | 12.7 m³ |
Nominal figures from one carrier brochure of 2016. Check the plate on your own container.
The 40 foot general purpose container is 12,192 millimetres long on the outside, with the same 2,438 width and 2,591 height as a 20 foot box. The carrier sheet we read gives an inside of 12,032 by 2,352 by 2,395 millimetres, a door of 2,340 by 2,292, and a capacity of 67.7 cubic metres. Its tare is 3,700 kilograms, and the listed payload is 28,800 kilograms in that first series, with a gross of 32,500. Other series on the same sheet show 30,480 kilograms gross and 26,700 of payload. The point to remember is that payload falls slightly as the box grows, so this size is for goods that run out of space before weight. Divide your weight by your volume to see which case is yours.
Cartons in a container, as an upper limit
Cartons, geometry and weight
500
| Per layer | 100 |
| Layers | 5 |
| Weight at that count | 7,500 kg |
| Limit that binds | Space |
One orientation, no gaps. Payload 28,800 kg, one carrier's nominal figure; road limits are often lower.
Tariff and rules read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
Against the 20 foot box
| Measure | 20' general purpose | 40' general purpose | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 33.2 m³ | 67.7 m³ | 2.04 |
| Inside length | 5,900 mm | 12,032 mm | 2.04 |
| Tare | 2,300 kg | 3,700 kg | 1.61 |
| Payload | 30,200 kg | 28,800 kg | 0.95 |
Goods that suit it
A simple test: divide your cargo's weight by its volume. If it is well under 425 kilograms per cubic metre, space will run out first, and that is worth testing for goods such as clothing or furniture. If it's over, weight runs out first and part of the box stays empty. This ratio is our arithmetic from the table, not a rule from anybody.
Before you book
We read no Indian rule on trucks or warehouse access for this size, so check with your haulier and your warehouse that the box can be received. Time spent unpacking may count against your contract's free days: see detention charges. If you are close to the volume limit but light on weight, compare it with the high cube version. Use the second tool on this page to test your carton in this box, then see all three in the dimensions table. The source figures are from a carrier brochure with stated tolerances, and we name it only as a source.