20' Flat Rack
Typical ISO code: 22P3 (collapsible) / 22P1
Practical reference values
- length
- ~5.6 m (between the corner posts)
- width
- ~2.2 m (between the posts)
- height
- ~2.2 m (height of the end walls)
- volume
- n/a (no side walls or roof)
- EUR pallets
- not relevant (OOG cargo)
- payload
- ~25 t on the road (40 t)
The 20-foot flat rack container has only a floor and end walls (often collapsible), with no side walls and no roof. It is used for heavy machinery and cargo wider or taller than an ordinary container.
Practical reference values. We confirm the exact dimensions in the quote. Honexpres organises transport with this vehicle, on request.
Shipping lines publish slightly different values; per-line values are in the detailed specifications. On the road, the cargo weight may be limited by the total combination mass (40 t).
Request a sea freight quote with this container Road haulage of the container from the port
How it is loaded
- top (crane)
- side (forklift)
- Loaded from above or from the side, by crane.
- Cargo outside the container’s gauge needs the line’s approval, extra charges and specialist lashing.
- The maximum load can be used only if the weight is spread across the whole floor.
- On the road, exceeding the legal dimensions requires a special permit.
Suitable for
- Heavy machinery
- Over-width or over-height cargo
- Pipes, coils and structures
- heavy machinery
- over-width / over-height cargo
- pipes, coils, structures
Not suitable for
- ordinary palletised cargo
- weather-sensitive cargo
Comparison with related types
| Parameter | 20' Flat Rack | 40' Open Top | 40' Flat Rack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal length | ~5.6 m (between the corner posts) | ~12.0 m | ~11.7 m (between the corner posts) |
| Internal width | ~2.2 m (between the posts) | ~2.35 m | ~2.2 m (between the posts) |
| Internal height | ~2.2 m (height of the end walls) | ~2.35 m | ~2.2 m (end walls; ~2.4 m on HC) |
| Volume | n/a (no side walls or roof) | ~66 m³ | n/a |
| EUR pallets (120 × 80 cm) | not relevant (OOG cargo) | 25 EUR pallets | not relevant (OOG cargo) |
| Reference payload | ~25 t on the road (40 t) | ~22 t on the road (40 t) | ~21 t on the road (40 t) |
Detailed specifications
Detailed specifications
| Parameter | Value | Basis | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal length | ~5.6 m (between the corner posts) | shipping line | S-HL-SPEC, S-SAMSKIP-EQUIP, S-DSV-FR |
| Internal width | ~2.2 m (between the posts) | shipping line | S-HL-SPEC, S-SAMSKIP-EQUIP |
| Internal height | ~2.2 m (height of the end walls) | shipping line | S-HL-SPEC, S-SAMSKIP-EQUIP |
| Volume | n/a (no side walls or roof) | shipping line | |
| Tare | ~2.8 t | shipping line | S-HL-SPEC, S-SAMSKIP-EQUIP |
| Container maximum payload | ~31 t (up to ~42 t on some series) | shipping line | S-HL-SPEC |
| Reference payload | ~25 t on the road (40 t) | Honexpres calculation | S-DAF-XFC410-FT, S-KRONE-BOX20 |
| EUR pallets (120 × 80 cm) | not relevant (OOG cargo) | Honexpres calculation | |
| Industrial pallets (120 × 100 cm) | not relevant | Honexpres calculation |
- Internal length: Hapag-Lloyd 5.61–5.64 m; Samskip 5.62 m (5.94 m when loaded from the top).
- Internal width: Samskip 2.20 m; Hapag-Lloyd 2.19–2.23 m.
- Internal height: Hapag-Lloyd ~2.22–2.24 m; Samskip 2.29 m; the cargo may exceed it (OOG).
- Tare: Hapag-Lloyd 2.74–2.94 t; Samskip 2.70 t.
- Container maximum payload: Hapag-Lloyd 31.26 t (gross 34 t) / 37.06 t (40 t) / 42.1 t (45 t); Samskip gross 34 t.
- Reference payload: 40 − 7.3 − 3.4 − 2.8 = 26.5 t; minus 1 t. Heavy / wide cargo usually travels on a low loader with an AST permit.
- EUR pallets (120 × 80 cm): Geometric calculation 11 EP, but the flat rack is not used for pallets.
Representative models (manufacturers and lines)
| Length between corner posts (mm) | 5,612 / 5,638 |
|---|---|
| Width between corner posts (mm) | 2,194 / 2,227 |
| Bottom height (mm) | 370 |
| Tare (kg) | 2,740 / 2,940 |
| Payload (kg) | 31,260 / 42,100 |
| Max. gross (kg) | 34,000 / 45,000 |
| Lashing point (kg) | 5,000 |
| Note | the columns of the PDF table are shifted on extraction; width and height have MEDIUM confidence |
Source: Hapag-Lloyd — Container Specification (PDF) · accessed 2026-09-26
| Length side loading (m) | 5.62 |
|---|---|
| Length top loading (m) | 5.94 |
| Width (m) | 2.44 |
| Width inside stanchions (m) | 2.2 |
| Height (m) | 2.29 |
| Tare (t) | 2.7 |
| Max. gross (t) | 34 |
Source: Samskip — Equipment: details and internal dimensions · accessed 2026-09-26
Legal limits Requires legal validation
Requires legal validation
- Maximum mass on the road: 40 t combination; 44 t intermodal (in Romania only on category R roads)
- Maximum height: 4.00 m on the road (container + chassis)
- Maximum gross mass (ISO): 36,000 kg ISO 668 (Amd. 2016); the real value is on the CSC plate
- VGM (verified gross mass): VGM mandatory for sea export (SOLAS VI/2, from 1 July 2016)
09 §1.1–1.2 (96/53, 2015/719) · 09 §1.4 (OG 43) · 09 §3.1 (ISO 668, CSC plate) · 09 §3.4 (VGM, SOLAS) · 09 §3.5 (road weights)
Exceptions and limitations
- Wide or tall cargo (OOG) needs the approval of the shipping line, surcharges and specialised lashing.
- On the road, exceeding the gauge needs an AST permit (09 §1.4).
- The maximum payload can be used only if the weight is spread over the whole floor (Hapag-Lloyd).
Sources and verification
Confidence level: medium — Hapag-Lloyd and Samskip agree on length and width; the gross mass differs a lot between series (34–45 t).
- DAF XFC 410 FT 4x2 Tractor — specification sheet · DAF Trucks UK · accessed 2026-09-26
- DSV — flat rack · DSV · accessed 2026-09-23
- Directive (EU) 2015/719 · Publications Office UE · accessed 2026-09-23
- Directive 96/53/EC, consolidated 14.08.2019 · Publications Office UE · accessed 2026-09-23
- Hapag-Lloyd — Container Specification (PDF) · Hapag-Lloyd · accessed 2026-09-26
- IMO — Verification of the gross mass · IMO · accessed 2026-09-23
- Krone Box Liner SDC 27 eL20 (3 axles, 20') — datasheet · Krone · accessed 2026-09-23
- OG 43/1997 republished, consolidated 17.09.2026 (hosted by CNAIR) · CNAIR · accessed 2026-09-23
- Samskip — Equipment: details and internal dimensions · Samskip (multimodal / short-sea operator) · accessed 2026-09-26
- Wikipedia — Intermodal container (cites ISO 668) · Wikipedia · accessed 2026-09-23
Reference dataset 2026.09.27-1
My cargo is wider than the container. Can it go by sea?
Yes, on a flat rack, with the shipping line’s approval and charges for the extra space used on board. See oversized transport.
Services using this type
Oversized / abnormal load transport
very large or heavy cargo, with permits
Sea freight (FCL / LCL)
full containers (FCL) or groupage (LCL)
Alternatives
40' Open Top
~12.0 m · ~2.35 m · ~2.35 m · ~66 m³ · 25 EUR pallets · ~22 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)