40ft Container: Dimensions, Weight, and Volume

External and Internal Dimensions, and Door

Externally, all 40-foot containers have the same length of 12,192 mm, as defined by ISO 668. Standard 40DC and high cube 40HC differ only in height, with the HC being 305 mm taller.

Internal length varies by up to 6 cm between series, listed in catalogues as 12,032–12,093 mm. For racking, metal profiles, and long machinery, these centimeters are crucial. In such cases, internal length should be measured with a tape measure on the specific container.

The door opening of a 40DC is the same as on a 20-foot container, 2,336 × 2,280 mm. Tall cargo hits the door frame rather than the ceiling. A 40HC opening is around 2,585 mm, which is usually sufficient for high-stacked pallets. High cube 40-foot containers are more common on shipping lines than standard ones because the extra foot of height provides an additional 8–9 m³ for the same length.

Sources for data on this page: ISO 668:2020 with amendment Amd 1:2022 — external dimensions and gross weight; GOST R 53350-2009 — standardized external dimensions and minimum internal dimensions; Shipping line and manufacturer catalogues — internal dimensions, tare weight, payload (ranges by series); RF Government Decree No. 2200 dated 21.12.2020 — road train weight, width, and height

How Much Cargo Fits

A 40-foot container has twice the volume of a 20-foot container, but its rated tonnage on the CSC plate is almost the same.

An empty 40DC weighs 3,620–4,000 kg, while a 40HC weighs 3,740–4,200 kg. Catalogue payload is 24,800–28,880 kg for standard and 26,280–28,740 kg for high cube. Some 40HC containers have a gross weight rating of 32,500 kg instead of the standard 30,480 kg. Calculate your cargo weight based on the CSC plate on your container door by subtracting tare weight from gross weight.

Heavy cargo hits the weight limit while half the 40-foot container is still empty. The density threshold for a 40DC is around 370–430 kg/m³, and even lower for a 40HC at 340–380 kg/m³. Anything denser is more cost-effective to ship in two 20-foot containers, as together they can carry nearly twice the tonnage.

Sea:

up to the gross weight on the CSC plate. Before loading onto a vessel, the shipping line requires VGM (Verified Gross Mass) of the packed container.

Road:

total road train weight up to 40 t on five axles and up to 44 t on six axles, with a maximum height of 4 m. A 40HC on a high-bed chassis comes very close to this height limit, so we select the chassis based on the route.

Floor:

heavy items are placed at the bottom and distributed along the entire length, while fragile cargo is placed on top and secured.

How Many Pallets Fit

In a single tier, up to 25 Euro-pallets (typically 23–24 in practice), or 20–21 standard pallets (1,200 × 1,000 mm).

Euro-pallets are arranged similarly to a 20-foot container: fifteen crosswise in one row and ten lengthwise beside them. The diagram shows 25 pallets, but the length margin is only 32 mm. With cargo overhang, edge protectors, or strapping, one or two pallets will no longer fit, so plan for 23–24.

A pallet-wide 40HCPW can hold thirty Euro-pallets in a single tier. Its internal width is 2,432–2,444 mm, allowing three pallets to fit crosswise. Externally, it is 2,500 mm wide, fitting within the 2.55 m road legal limit, while vehicle height is matched just like for a 40HC.

40DC, 40HC, or Two 20-Foot Containers

The choice depends on cargo density and the height of the tallest item.

When cargo does not transit via port and travels strictly within Russia, compare a 40-foot container with the dimensions and payload capacity of a Euro-trailer. It accommodates 33 Euro-pallets compared to 23–25.

What to Check Before Loading

Catalogue specifications are generic for all 40-foot containers, but actual loading takes place in a specific unit. Before calculating, we request four details from you and the shipping line.

1. Package dimensions — in millimeters for each package, including piece and pallet count.
2. Door and length — we compare the tallest package with the door opening, and the longest with the internal length measured on site.
3. CSC plate — a photo of the right-hand door showing gross weight, tare weight, and inspection date.
4. Route — weight on the trucking leg, plus total road train height with chassis for a 40HC.

Additionally, inquire about the container's wear category from the line. A Category 3 container is rated for storage only and may not support its rated payload, even if it looks acceptable on the outside.

Spare Parts from 12 Factories in Two 40ft Containers

A dealership network ordered spare parts for Haval, Chery, Geely, and Omoda across 12 factories throughout China. Shipping each batch separately as LCL cargo proved too costly.

Over three weeks, we consolidated the parts at our Shanghai terminal and packed them precisely into two 40-foot containers. Heavy brake discs were palletized at the bottom, while headlights and plastics were secured on top. Spark plugs and some filters required Chestny ZNAK mandatory digital labeling before crossing the border, so DataMatrix codes were applied directly in China.

Both containers were dispatched to Moscow as a single lot by rail. By using dedicated containers instead of LCL shipments, the client saved around 20% on their logistics budget. Learn more in our case study on auto parts delivery from multiple factories.