Shipping containers are a crucial component of global trade and commerce. They are made of sturdy corten steel and are designed to be loaded onto cargo ships, trains, and trucks to transport goods around the world. The standard sizes of shipping containers like 20ft and 40ft are the most common and are used for general cargo, such as furniture, clothing, and electronics. There are also the 45ft, 48ft, and 53ft sizes.
There are many other sizes and types of containers that are used for specific purposes which are available in both new and used conditions and can be modified to meet specific needs. In this article, we’ll discuss 12 different types of shipping containers, including their size, usage, and benefits.
Varieties of Shipping Containers and Their Uses
Shipping containers come in a variety of types and sizes to accommodate different needs and requirements for the transport of goods. The most common types of containers include standard dry containers, refrigerated containers, open-top containers, flat-rack containers, and others. These containers can also come in different heights, such as high cube containers, which are taller than the standard containers, providing additional storage space.
Understanding the different types of containers and their dimensions is essential for selecting the right container for a particular shipment and ensuring efficient and effective transportation of goods.
Let’s take a look at the various container types and understand which type of cargo they’re most suitable for.
Standard Container Types and Dimensions
Shipping containers are widely used for international trade and are an essential component of global supply chains. They provide a secure and standardized method for transporting goods and can be easily loaded and unloaded with cranes or other cargo-handling equipment. Additionally, shipping containers can be easily modified to suit a variety of purposes, including temporary housing, storage, and even retail spaces.
One of the popular kinds of containers on the market is a standard container. The two most common sizes are 20ft and 40ft containers. This type of container is available in both new and used conditions and can be modified to meet specific needs.
| Measurements | 20ft | 40ft |
| Internal length | 5.9m / 19.4ft | 12.03m / 39.5ft |
| Internal width | 2.35m / 7.8ft | 2.4m / 7.9ft |
| Internal height | 2.39m / 7.9ft | 2.39m / 7.9ft |
| Tare weight | 2,300kg / 5,071.5 lbs | 3,750kg / 8,268.8 lbs |
| Payload capacity | 25,000 kg / 55,126.9 lbs | 27,600kg / 61,200 lbs |
| Cubic capacity | 33.2 m3 / 1,172 cu ft | 67.7 m3 / 2,389 cu ft |
High Cube Containers
The high cube shipping container is a foot taller than the standard ones, with the same width and length. This extra height provides additional storage space and is often used to transport oversized items or to create extra storage space. This enables them to meet more cargo demands.
High cube containers are available in 20’, 40’, and 45’. High cube containers are ideal for the transportation of bulky goods and items that require more vertical space. Typical loads that are transported using high cubes are for instance, electrical and electronic equipment, textiles, machinery, or even raw materials for production and bulk commodities.
20’ HC Dimensions
| External dimensions | L 20’ x W 8’ x H 9.6’ | L 6 m x W 2,4 m x H 2,9 m |
| Volume | 1.320 cu ft | 37.4 m³ |
| Tare weight | 4.740 lbs | 2.150 kgs |
| Max payload | 62.460 lbs | 28.330 kgs |
| Max cargo | 67.200 lbs | 30.480 kgs |
40’ HC Dimensions
| External dimensions | L 40’ x W 8’ x H 9.6’ | L 12 m x W 2,4 m x H 2,9 m |
| Volume | 2.694 cu ft | 76.3 m³ |
| Tare weight | 7.760 lbs | 3.520 kgs |
| Max payload | 59.440 lbs | 26.960 kgs |
| Max cargo | 67.200 lbs | 30.480 kgs |
45’ HC Dimensions
| External dimensions | L 45’ x W 8’ x H 9.6’ | L 13,7 m x W 2,4 m x H 2,9 m |
| Volume | 3.040 cu ft | 86.0 m³ |
| Tare weight | 10.470 lbs | 4.750 kgs |
| Max payload | 61.180 lbs | 27.750 kgs |
| Max cargo | 71.650 lbs | 32.500 kgs |
Special Container Types
Open-Top Shipping Container
An open-top container is similar to a standard container but has an open top instead of a solid roof. This makes it easier to load and unload items that are too tall to fit in a standard container. Open-top containers come in various sizes, with the most common being 20 feet and 40 feet-long types. They are made of corten steel and are designed to be durable, stackable, and secure, with features such as corner casting, locking devices, and secure lashing points to secure the load.
This type of container is commonly used for the transportation of heavy machinery, building materials, and oversized items that cannot be loaded through the doors of a standard shipping container, such as pipes, steel plates, logs, cranes, and so on. They can also be used for temporary storage on construction sites, mining operations, or other industries where large equipment needs to be stored temporarily.
Flat Rack Shipping Container
Flat rack containers are the type of containers that have two end walls and a flat deck, with no side walls or roof. Flat rack containers only have walls on the short ends of the container. This type of container is intended to deliver oversized and bulky cargo that is too large to fit in a standard container, such as vehicles, pipes, or heavy machinery.
Flat rack containers are available in 20ft and 40ft lengths. They can be equipped with collapsible ends, which can be raised when necessary to provide additional stability and containment for the cargo. The flat deck design also makes it possible to load cargo from the top, bottom, or sides, which provides greater flexibility in how the container is used. Numerous lashing rings are available to provide more security to the cargo.
Reefer Shipping Container
The reefer container is a refrigerated shipping container that is used to transport perishable goods. The container is equipped with a refrigeration unit that can be set to a specific temperature to keep the goods inside at a specific temperature, typically between 25°C to -40°C. A reefer container is ideal for the transportation of items such as fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy products, and other temperature-sensitive goods.
Reefer containers come in 20ft and 40ft lengths. The refrigeration unit in a reefer container can be powered by plugging it into an electrical socket. Or by a diesel generator during transit on a train or truck. Because reefer containers can be connected to an electrical socket, this allows them to be used as temporary cold storage facilities.
Reefer containers provide a safe and efficient way to transport perishable goods, ensuring that they remain at the correct temperature throughout the journey and arrive at their destination in a fresh and saleable condition.
Offshore DNV Container
An offshore DNV container is a shipping container that is used in the offshore industry, ensuring that they meet certain standards and specifications for use in harsh, offshore environments. Offshore DNV containers are certified by the DNV GL, a leading classification society for the maritime industry. The DNV certification marks on the containers indicate that they have undergone rigorous testing and inspection processes to ensure that they are fit for use in harsh offshore conditions.
Offshore DNV containers come in various sizes, but the most common dimensions are 10 feet, 20 feet, and 40 feet. These containers are typically used for storage, transport, and accommodation of personnel and equipment on offshore oil rigs and platforms. Additionally, DNV also certifies non-standard types of containers for specific applications in the offshore industry, such as half-height containers and open-top containers.
The use of offshore DNV containers is beneficial because they provide a safe, secure, and weather-resistant environment for personnel and equipment in harsh offshore environments, and are easy to transport and install on offshore platforms and rigs.
Dangerous Goods Shipping Container
A dangerous goods shipping container is a type of shipping container specifically designed for the safe storage of hazardous materials. Dangerous goods are substances that pose a significant risk if not handled and transported properly. Hazardous materials include chemicals, flammable liquids and gasses, and toxic substances.
Dangerous goods shipping containers are designed to meet strict international regulations and standards. And they must be used in accordance with these regulations to ensure the safety of people, property, and the environment. These containers must be made of strong and durable materials, and feature secure closures, ventilation systems, and safety markings to ensure that the hazardous materials are not leaking out. They come in 10ft, 20ft, and 40ft.
Tank Shipping Container
The tank shipping container is a specialized container that is used to transport liquids, such as chemicals, fuel, and other types of liquids. These containers are made of steel and are designed to be safe and secure, preventing the unwanted release of liquids during transportation.
Tank containers can also be used to transport food-grade materials, which are designed and built specifically to meet the strict hygiene and safety standards required for the transportation of food products, such as fruit juice, milk, wine, vegetable oil, and other food-grade liquids. These containers are made from food-grade stainless steel and are designed to be easy to clean and sanitize. They may also feature insulation, heating, or cooling systems to maintain the desired temperature of the food product being transported.
The most common size of tank containers is 20 feet and 40 feet. They can be transported by various modes of transportation, such as ships, trucks, and trains. Tank shipping containers provide a safe, secure, and cost-effective way to transport liquids or gasses, ensuring that they arrive at their destination in good condition and without causing harm to the environment or people.
| External dimensions | L 20 x W 8 ‘x H 8’ 6 ‘ | L 6 m x W 2.4 m x H 2.6 m |
| Tare weight | 79.365 lbs | 36.000 kgs |
| Max payload | 8.070 lbs | 3.660 kgs |
| Max cargo | 71.295 lbs | 32.340 kgs |
Half-Height Shipping Container
A half-height shipping container is a specialized type of container that is half the height of a standard shipping container, typically 20 feet in length. The height of a standard 20ft container is 8ft 6 inches (2.59 meters), while a half-height container is around 4ft 3 inches (1.29 meters) in height.
Half-height containers are often used for the transportation of heavy or dense cargo that requires a lower center of gravity for stability and safety during transport. These types of heavy low volume items, such as metal rods, pipes and many other things
Due to their smaller size, half-height containers may also be used for storage purposes, particularly in situations where vertical space is limited. They can be stacked on top of each other for efficient use of space, and they are often designed with features such as reinforced corner castings and lashing rings for secure stacking and transportation.
Double-Door Shipping Container (Duocon)
The double-door shipping container is a standard container with two sets of doors on opposite ends. This provides greater flexibility for loading and unloading cargo while offering additional access points for workers. Double-door containers are particularly useful for shipping and storing bulky items that cannot be easily loaded through a single door. They are also used for applications where cargo needs to be loaded and unloaded quickly and efficiently, such as in the case of perishable goods.
The dimensions of a double-door container are similar to those of a standard shipping container, typically 20ft in length, and 8 feet 6 inches (2.59 meters) in height. The doors on each end are usually about half the width of the container, which allows forklifts and other equipment to access the interior of the container from either end.
Double-door shipping containers provide a flexible and convenient solution for transporting and storing a wide range of cargo, and they are often used in a variety of industries, including shipping, logistics, construction, and agriculture.
| External dimensions | L 20’ x W 8’ x H 8.6’ | L 6 m x W 2,4 m x H 2,6 m |
| Volume | 1.159 cu ft | 32.8 m³ |
| Tare weight | 6.065 lbs | 2.750 kgs |
| Max payload | 61.135 lbs | 27.730 kgs |
| Max cargo | 67.200 lbs | 30.480 kgs |
Custom Shipping Container
The custom shipping container is a container that has been modified to meet specific needs. This can include adding additional doors, windows, insulation, and electrical systems or into specific purposes such as site office or cafe containers.
Purchasing a Conex Box
Tradecorp has a wide range of types of shipping containers for sale. We will help you find the perfect container solution for your business or project needs. Find a variety of types and sizes of shipping containers, from standard ones to tanks, and customizable ones. We will have them ready for you at a reasonable price. Fill out the contact form on our page and we will respond to your inquiry promptly.