Reefer cargo
- Home
- Reefer cargo
Container dimensions by type
Internal dimensions
The sides of a container in nearly all cases, is corrugated. The depth of the corrugation is usually 1 inch (25mm), which means that 2 inches (50mm) is lost from the external width dimension (1 inch each side). The back (blank end) is also corrugated and the doors are around 2 inches (50mm) thick meaning that approximately 3 inches (75mm) is lost from the length.
The main reduction from external to internal dimensions is with height. The floor of a standard container has an underside clearance of approximately 6 inches (150mm) and the floor has a thickness of 27mm (1.1 inches). As the roof is corrugated another 1 inch (25mm) is lost resulting in an internal dimension of around 8 inches less than external – 7ft 10 inches (2.39m), though this can vary slightly either way depending on the floor thickness and construction method used.
Though the door height is additionally reduced because of the steel top rail above the door, this is a part of the structural integrity of the container, typically it’s 4 inches (100mm) thus reducing the entrance height to 7ft 6ins (2.28m), though this can vary slightly either way.
Container weights
There are three relevant weights, the Tare weight, the Gross weight, and the Payload. These are painted onto the outside of the container doors when it is in service or before it has been repainted for another application.
The container Tare weight is the weight of the container without cargo or contents.
The container Gross weight is the weight of the container plus the maximum Payload it can hold i.e. the maximum total weight of the container.
The Payload (or Net weight) is the weight of the cargo or contents that a container can hold.
20ft and 40ft Containers
20ft
20ft High Cube
40ft
40ft High Cube
Internal
(L x W x H)
Door opening
(W x H)
New Build Containers / Smaller Containers
6ft
8ft
10ft
2070mm x 1945mm
