40' Dry Van
Typical ISO code: 42G1
Practical reference values
- length
- ~12.0 m
- width
- ~2.35 m
- height
- ~2.39 m
- volume
- ~67 m³
- EUR pallets
- 25 EUR pallets
- payload
- ~23 t on the road (40 t)
The standard 40-foot container (dry) is the usual choice for general palletised cargo in sea freight. The door opening limits the height of the goods, so tall pallets call for the high cube version.
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
- through the end doors (forklift, pallet truck)
- Loaded through the end doors; the door opening height limits the goods.
- At sea the limit is the container’s maximum mass; on the road, the vehicle’s permitted weight.
- Actual gross mass: the container’s CSC plate.
Suitable for
- General palletised cargo
- Consumer goods and packaging
- Packed furniture and equipment
- palletised general cargo
- 25 EUR pallets
Not suitable for
- cargo > 2.3 m high (the door is 2.28 m)
Comparison with related types
| Parameter | 40' Dry Van | 40' High Cube | 45' High Cube (ISO width) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal length | ~12.0 m | ~12.0 m | ~13.56 m |
| Internal width | ~2.35 m | ~2.35 m | ~2.35 m |
| Internal height | ~2.39 m | ~2.7 m | ~2.7 m |
| Volume | ~67 m³ | ~76 m³ | ~86 m³ |
| EUR pallets (120 × 80 cm) | 25 EUR pallets | 25 EUR pallets | 27 EUR pallets |
| Reference payload | ~23 t on the road (40 t) | ~22 t on the road (40 t) | ~22 t on the road (40 t) |
Detailed specifications
Detailed specifications
| Parameter | Value | Basis | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal length | ~12.0 m | shipping line | S-ONE-DRY, S-HL-SPEC |
| Internal width | ~2.35 m | shipping line | S-ONE-DRY, S-HL-SPEC |
| Internal height | ~2.39 m | shipping line | S-ONE-DRY, S-HL-SPEC |
| Volume | ~67 m³ | shipping line | S-ONE-DRY, S-HL-SPEC |
| Tare | ~3.7 t | shipping line | S-ONE-DRY, S-HL-SPEC |
| Container maximum payload | ~27 t | shipping line | S-ONE-DRY, S-HL-SPEC |
| Reference payload | ~23 t on the road (40 t) | Honexpres calculation | S-DAF-XFC410-FT, S-KRONE-BOX45 |
| EUR pallets (120 × 80 cm) | 25 EUR pallets | Honexpres calculation | |
| Industrial pallets (120 × 100 cm) | 22 industrial pallets (calculation) | Honexpres calculation | |
| Door (width × height) | 2.34 × 2.28 m | shipping line | S-ONE-DRY, S-HL-SPEC |
- Tare: ONE 3.64 t; Hapag-Lloyd 3.70–3.78 t.
- Container maximum payload: ONE 26.84 t (gross 30.48 t); Hapag-Lloyd 26.70 t (30.48 t) / 28.75–28.80 t (32.5 t).
- Reference payload: 40 − 7.3 − 4.76 (multi chassis) − 3.7 = 24.24 t; minus 1 t.
- EUR pallets (120 × 80 cm): Calculation: crosswise band 15 + lengthwise band 10.
- Industrial pallets (120 × 100 cm): Geometric calculation without tolerances; in practice it can be fewer.
Representative models (manufacturers and lines)
| Inside (mm) | 12,032 / 2,350 / 2,390 |
|---|---|
| Door (mm) | 2,340 / 2,280 |
| Volume (m³) | 67.6 |
| Tare (kg) | 3,640 |
| Payload (kg) | 26,840 |
| Max. gross (kg) | 30,480 |
Source: ONE — Dry containers: specifications · accessed 2026-09-26
| Inside (mm) | 12,029 / 12,032, 2,350 / 2,352, 2,392 / 2,395 |
|---|---|
| Door (mm) | 2,340 / 2,292 |
| Volume (m³) | 67.7 |
| Tare (kg) | 3,700 / 3,780 |
| Payload (kg) | 26,700 / 28,800 |
| Max. gross (kg) | 30,480 / 32,500 |
| Gooseneck tunnel | all 40' HL containers |
Source: Hapag-Lloyd — Container Specification (PDF) · 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
- Real gross mass: the CSC plate.
- 44 t intermodal: only on category R roads in Romania.
- At sea, the limit is that of the container (~27–28.8 t), not the road limit.
Sources and verification
Confidence level: high — ONE and Hapag-Lloyd agree on the dimensions.
- DAF XFC 410 FT 4x2 Tractor — specification sheet · DAF Trucks UK · accessed 2026-09-26
- 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 eL45 (multi chassis, extendable) — datasheet · Krone · accessed 2026-09-26
- OG 43/1997 republished, consolidated 17.09.2026 (hosted by CNAIR) · CNAIR · accessed 2026-09-23
- ONE — Dry containers: specifications · Ocean Network Express (ONE) · accessed 2026-09-26
- Wikipedia — Intermodal container (cites ISO 668) · Wikipedia · accessed 2026-09-23
Reference dataset 2026.09.27-1
Standard 40' or high cube?
If the goods or pallets are tall, the 40' high cube has more height. For low, heavy goods a standard 40' is enough.
Services using this type
Dangerous goods transport (ADR)
dangerous goods, with ADR-authorised carriers
Container haulage
containers from the port or terminal, by road
Sea freight (FCL / LCL)
full containers (FCL) or groupage (LCL)
Rail and intermodal transport
rail and rail–road combinations
Alternatives
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)