20' Open Top
Typical ISO code: 22U1
Practical reference values
- length
- ~5.9 m
- width
- ~2.35 m
- height
- ~2.35 m
- volume
- ~32.5 m³
- EUR pallets
- 11 EUR pallets
- payload
- ~25 t on the road (40 t)
The 20-foot open top container has no rigid roof: it is covered with a tarpaulin and can be loaded from above by crane. It suits machinery, heavy goods that will not pass through the doors, and over-height cargo.
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 the pallets fit
Indicative Honexpres drawing generated from the reference dimensions. Not a manufacturer drawing.
How it is loaded
- top (crane, tarpaulin roof)
- through the door (the door header swings away)
- Top loading by crane; the roof opening is smaller than the interior.
- The tarpaulin must be well secured; water-sensitive goods need extra protection.
- Cargo higher than the container needs the line’s approval and a special rate at sea; on the road the legal height limit still applies.
Suitable for
- Machinery and parts loaded by crane
- Over-height cargo
- Heavy bulk: stone, scrap metal
- machinery and cargo loaded from the top by crane
- over-height cargo
- heavy bulk (stone, scrap iron)
Not suitable for
- water-sensitive cargo without a well-secured tarpaulin
Comparison with related types
| Parameter | 20' Open Top | 40' Flat Rack | 20' Flat Rack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal length | ~5.9 m | ~11.7 m (between the corner posts) | ~5.6 m (between the corner posts) |
| Internal width | ~2.35 m | ~2.2 m (between the posts) | ~2.2 m (between the posts) |
| Internal height | ~2.35 m | ~2.2 m (end walls; ~2.4 m on HC) | ~2.2 m (height of the end walls) |
| Volume | ~32.5 m³ | n/a | n/a (no side walls or roof) |
| EUR pallets (120 × 80 cm) | 11 EUR pallets | not relevant (OOG cargo) | not relevant (OOG cargo) |
| Reference payload | ~25 t on the road (40 t) | ~21 t on the road (40 t) | ~25 t on the road (40 t) |
Detailed specifications
Detailed specifications
| Parameter | Value | Basis | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal length | ~5.9 m | shipping line | S-HL-SPEC, S-DSV-OT |
| Internal width | ~2.35 m | shipping line | S-HL-SPEC, S-DSV-OT |
| Internal height | ~2.35 m | shipping line | S-HL-SPEC, S-DSV-OT |
| Volume | ~32.5 m³ | shipping line | S-HL-SPEC, S-DSV-OT |
| Tare | ~2.4 t | shipping line | S-HL-SPEC, S-DSV-OT |
| Container maximum payload | ~28–30 t | shipping line | S-HL-SPEC, S-DSV-OT |
| Reference payload | ~25 t on the road (40 t) | Honexpres calculation | S-DAF-XFC410-FT, S-KRONE-BOX20 |
| EUR pallets (120 × 80 cm) | 11 EUR pallets | Honexpres calculation | |
| Industrial pallets (120 × 100 cm) | 9 industrial pallets | Honexpres calculation | |
| Door (width × height) | 2.34 × 2.28 m | shipping line | S-HL-SPEC |
- Internal height: Hapag-Lloyd: 2.38 m in the middle, 2.34 m at the sides.
- Tare: Hapag-Lloyd 2.30–2.50 t; DSV 2.35 t.
- Container maximum payload: Hapag-Lloyd 30.0–30.2 t (gross 32.5 t); DSV 28.13 t (30.48 t). Band kept: it depends on the CSC gross mass.
- Reference payload: 40 − 7.3 − 3.4 − 2.4 = 26.9 t; minus 1 t.
Representative models (manufacturers and lines)
| Inside (mm) | 5,895, 2,350 / 2,352, middle: 2,376 / 2,380; side: 2,340 / 2,346 |
|---|---|
| Roof opening (mm) | 5,338 / 5,418, 2,230 / 2,232 |
| Door to header (mm) | 2,338 / 2,280 |
| Volume (m³) | 32.5 / 32.7 |
| Tare (kg) | 2,300 / 2,500 |
| Payload (kg) | 30,000 / 30,200 |
| Max. gross (kg) | 32,500 |
Source: Hapag-Lloyd — Container Specification (PDF) · accessed 2026-09-26
| Inside (m) | 5.9 / 2.35 / 2.38 |
|---|---|
| Roof opening (m) | 5.44 / 2.23 |
| Tare (kg) | 2,350 |
| Payload (kg) | 28,130 |
| Volume (m³) | 32.5 |
Source: DSV — open top · accessed 2026-09-23
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
- Over-height cargo at sea: special rate and space on board; on the road the limit stays 4.00 m in total.
- The tarpaulin is secured; the dimensions of the roof opening are smaller than the interior.
Sources and verification
Confidence level: medium — One line (Hapag-Lloyd 2016) and DSV; other lines UNVERIFIED.
- DAF XFC 410 FT 4x2 Tractor — specification sheet · DAF Trucks UK · accessed 2026-09-26
- DSV — open top · 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
- Wikipedia — Intermodal container (cites ISO 668) · Wikipedia · accessed 2026-09-23
Reference dataset 2026.09.27-1
Open top or flat rack?
Open top for goods that load from above but fit within the width. For goods wider than the container, a flat rack.
Services using this type
Sea freight (FCL / LCL)
full containers (FCL) or groupage (LCL)
Alternatives
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)
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)