Shipping containers: types and capacities
Containers for sea and intermodal freight: what fits, how much can be loaded and which type suits your goods.
Practical reference values. We confirm the exact dimensions in the quote. Honexpres organises transport with this vehicle, on request.
How many EUR pallets fit?
| Type | EUR pallets (120 × 80 cm) | Industrial pallets (120 × 100 cm) | Volume | Reference payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20' Dry Van | 11 EUR pallets | 9 industrial pallets | ~33 m³ | ~26 t on the road (40 t) |
| 40' Dry Van | 25 EUR pallets | 22 industrial pallets (calculation) | ~67 m³ | ~23 t on the road (40 t) |
| 40' High Cube | 25 EUR pallets | 22 industrial pallets (calculation) | ~76 m³ | ~22 t on the road (40 t) |
| 45' High Cube (ISO width) | 27 EUR pallets | 24 industrial pallets (calculation) | ~86 m³ | ~22 t on the road (40 t) |
| 45' Pallet-Wide High Cube | 33 EUR pallets | 26 industrial pallets | ~89 m³ | ~22 t on the road (40 t) |
| 20' Reefer | 10 EUR pallets | 9 industrial pallets | ~28 m³ (~27 m³ usable) | ~25 t on the road (40 t, without genset) |
| 40' Reefer High Cube | 23 EUR pallets | 20 industrial pallets | ~67 m³ (~65 m³ usable) | ~22 t on the road (40 t, without genset) |
| 20' Open Top | 11 EUR pallets | 9 industrial pallets | ~32.5 m³ | ~25 t on the road (40 t) |
| 40' Open Top | 25 EUR pallets | 22 industrial pallets (calculation) | ~66 m³ | ~22 t on the road (40 t) |
| 20' Flat Rack | not relevant (OOG cargo) | not relevant | n/a (no side walls or roof) | ~25 t on the road (40 t) |
| 40' Flat Rack | not relevant (OOG cargo) | not relevant | n/a | ~21 t on the road (40 t) |
Reference dataset 2026.09.27-1
Search and compare
Does my cargo fit?
Fill in what you know; we check against the conservative reference values.
11 types
20' Dry Van
~5.9 m · ~2.35 m · ~2.39 m · ~33 m³ · 11 EUR pallets · ~26 t on the road (40 t)
40' Dry Van
~12.0 m · ~2.35 m · ~2.39 m · ~67 m³ · 25 EUR pallets · ~23 t on the road (40 t)
40' High Cube
~12.0 m · ~2.35 m · ~2.7 m · ~76 m³ · 25 EUR pallets · ~22 t on the road (40 t)
45' High Cube (ISO width)
~13.56 m · ~2.35 m · ~2.7 m · ~86 m³ · 27 EUR pallets · ~22 t on the road (40 t)
45' Pallet-Wide High Cube
~13.56 m · ~2.44 m · ~2.7 m · ~89 m³ · 33 EUR pallets · ~22 t on the road (40 t)
20' Reefer
~5.45 m · ~2.29 m · ~2.15 m usable (up to the load line) · ~28 m³ (~27 m³ usable) · 10 EUR pallets · ~25 t on the road (40 t, without genset)
40' Reefer High Cube
~11.6 m · ~2.29 m · ~2.4 m usable (up to the load line) · ~67 m³ (~65 m³ usable) · 23 EUR pallets · ~22 t on the road (40 t, without genset)
20' Open Top
~5.9 m · ~2.35 m · ~2.35 m · ~32.5 m³ · 11 EUR pallets · ~25 t on the road (40 t)
40' Open Top
~12.0 m · ~2.35 m · ~2.35 m · ~66 m³ · 25 EUR pallets · ~22 t on the road (40 t)
20' Flat Rack
~5.6 m (between the corner posts) · ~2.2 m (between the posts) · ~2.2 m (height of the end walls) · n/a (no side walls or roof) · not relevant (OOG cargo) · ~25 t on the road (40 t)
40' Flat Rack
~11.7 m (between the corner posts) · ~2.2 m (between the posts) · ~2.2 m (end walls; ~2.4 m on HC) · n/a · not relevant (OOG cargo) · ~21 t on the road (40 t)
Comparison
Tick “Compare” on up to 3 types.
The sheets show the internal dimensions, volume, maximum cargo weight, door opening and reference pallet count for each container type. Shipping lines publish slightly different values, and the exact figure is the one on the container’s plate; we confirm it at booking.
Which type to choose
- Heavy, dense goods: 20' dry.
- General palletised goods: 40' dry; for taller goods, 40' high cube.
- Many EUR pallets on European routes: 45' pallet-wide.
- Temperature control: 20' reefer and 40' reefer high cube.
- Top-loaded or over-height goods: 20' open top and 40' open top.
- Machinery and out-of-gauge cargo: 20' flat rack and 40' flat rack.
Worth remembering
- On the road, the vehicle’s permitted weight can limit loading below the container’s capacity.
- Before loading on board, the shipper declares the container’s verified gross mass (VGM).
- For a few cubic metres you do not need a whole container: see LCL on the sea freight page.
We also organise container haulage from the port to your site.