Shipping Container Door Height and Dimensions Compared

Author

Reads 471

Closed Brown Wooden Door
Credit: pexels.com, Closed Brown Wooden Door

Shipping containers come in different sizes, but have you ever stopped to think about the door height and dimensions that come with each one?

The standard door height for a 20-foot shipping container is 7 feet 9 inches, which is a common height for most containers.

The door width for a 20-foot container is typically 7 feet 6 inches, providing ample space to load and unload goods.

In contrast, a 40-foot container has a door height of 7 feet 9 inches, just like the 20-foot container, but with a door width of 7 feet 8 inches.

Broaden your view: How Tall Are Semi Trucks

Container Types

Container Types offer a range of door heights to suit different shipping needs.

Standard containers have a door height of 2.1 meters.

High-cube containers have a door height of 2.4 meters, making them ideal for transporting oversized cargo.

Open-top containers have a door height of 2.1 meters, but their open-top design allows for easier loading and unloading of heavy or bulky items.

Flat rack containers have a door height of 2.1 meters, but their flat design allows for the transportation of large or heavy items that can't be stacked.

Refrigerated containers have a door height of 2.1 meters and are designed for the transportation of perishable goods.

Container Sizes

Container ships docked at Hamburg port with large cranes and shipping containers.
Credit: pexels.com, Container ships docked at Hamburg port with large cranes and shipping containers.

Container sizes vary, but most common ones are 20 and 40 feet long. A standard 20 foot container has a length of 20 feet, a height of 8'6", and a width of 8 feet, with an internal length of 19'5", width of 7'8", and height of 7'9".

The square footage of a 20 foot standard container is 160 sq ft on the outside and around 150 sq ft on the inside. You can fit more stuff inside a 20 foot container than a 40 foot one, since the 40 foot container has a gross weight of 8,500 lbs, compared to the 20 foot's 4,500 lbs.

Here are some key dimensions for 20 and 40 foot containers:

40 Ft Standard

A 40 Ft Standard container is the most commonly used shipping container for businesses trading overseas. It's 40 ft long and 8'6" high. The internal dimensions are 39" long, 7'8" wide, and 7'9" high.

Credit: youtube.com, Sizes and Dimensions of Shipping Container || Dry-Van Commonly used Containers.

These containers have a gross weight of 8,500 lbs. The door opening is 7'8" wide and 7'5" tall.

The square footage of a 40 Ft Standard container is 320 sq ft on the outside and 300 sq ft on the inside. The cubic footage of storage space is approximately 2,720 cubic feet on the exterior.

20 Foot Standard

The 20 foot standard shipping container is a popular choice for many businesses and individuals. Its dimensions are quite straightforward.

The exterior dimensions of a 20 foot standard shipping container are 20 feet in length, 8 feet in width, and 8'6" in height.

The interior space is slightly smaller, measuring 19'5" in length, 7'8" in width, and 7'9" high.

A 20 foot standard shipping container has a gross weight of 4,500 lbs.

The door opening is 7'8" wide and 7'5" tall.

You can fit about 160 square feet of goods on the outside and around 150 square feet on the inside.

Colorful shipping container sculpture against blue sky, symbolizing modern art in Le Havre.
Credit: pexels.com, Colorful shipping container sculpture against blue sky, symbolizing modern art in Le Havre.

The cubic footage of storage space in a 20 foot standard container is approximately 1,360 cubic feet on the exterior.

Here are the key dimensions at a glance:

  • Container exterior width: 8 feet
  • Container exterior height: 8'6" (2.5908 m)
  • Container exterior length: 20 feet
  • Container interior width: 7'8''
  • Container interior height: 7'10''
  • Container interior length: 19'4''

40 Ft High Cube Container

The 40 Ft High Cube Container is a popular choice for those who need extra storage space. It stands 9'6" high, which is a foot taller than standard shipping containers.

These containers are 40 feet long and 8 feet wide, making them ideal for large storage needs. The internal dimensions are slightly smaller, measuring 39'5" long, 7'8" wide, and 8'10" high.

A 40 Ft High Cube Container has a gross weight of 8,750 lbs and a payload capacity of 58,450 lbs. The door opening is 7'8" wide and 8'5" tall.

Here are the key dimensions of a 40 Ft High Cube Container at a glance:

  • Container exterior width: 8’ (2.4384 m)
  • Container exterior height: 9’6” (2.8956 m)
  • Container exterior length: 40’ (12.192 m)
  • Container interior width: 7’8’’ (2.337 m)
  • Container interior height: 8’10’’ (2.692 m)
  • Container interior length: 39’5’’ (12.014 m)
  • Container interior volume: 2669.4 cu. ft. (75.59 m)
  • Container door width: 7’8’’ (2.337 m)
  • Container door height: 8’5’’ (2.565 m)

If you're considering a 40 Ft High Cube Container, you'll find that it offers more cubic footage of storage than standard 40 footers.

Door Types

Abandoned shipping container surrounded by greenery and water in a lush field.
Credit: pexels.com, Abandoned shipping container surrounded by greenery and water in a lush field.

There are several types of doors commonly used on shipping containers, each with its own unique characteristics and benefits.

The most common type of door is the swinging door, which can be either single or double-leafed.

Swinging doors are often preferred for their ease of use and space-saving design.

Roll-up doors, on the other hand, are a popular choice for shipping containers due to their durability and security features.

These doors are ideal for containers that need to be used in harsh environments or for applications where security is a top priority.

Sliding doors are another option, often used for containers that require a wider opening to accommodate large equipment or cargo.

20ft Side Door

The 20ft Side Door container is a popular choice for its versatility and efficiency. It has a maximum gross weight (MGW) of 34,000 kg.

This container is designed for safe and efficient loading and unloading from both sides, making it ideal for businesses that need to move large quantities of goods. The external dimensions of a 20ft Side Door container are 6,058 mm in length, 2,500 mm in width, and 2,896 mm in height.

Here are the internal dimensions of a 20ft Side Door container:

The payload capacity of a 20ft Side Door container is 30,330 kg, which is a significant amount of space for goods.

40ft Side Door

Aerial view of shipping containers at Bremerhaven port, Germany. Seaport with container storage and cranes.
Credit: pexels.com, Aerial view of shipping containers at Bremerhaven port, Germany. Seaport with container storage and cranes.

The 40ft Side Door is a versatile option for container loading. It's perfect for fragile pallets that can't be stacked.

This type of door is designed for easy loading from both sides, making it a convenient choice for many users.

The external dimensions of a 40ft Half Height Side Door are 12,192mm in length and 2,500mm in width.

You can easily load and unload goods through the 2,050mm high door, giving you plenty of space to work with.

The internal dimensions of the door are slightly smaller, measuring 12,086mm in length and 1,197mm in width.

Here are the key dimensions of a 40ft Half Height Side Door:

The maximum gross weight (MGW) of a 40ft Half Height Side Door is 30,480kg, making it a sturdy option for heavy loads.

Internal Dimensions

The internal dimensions of a shipping container are crucial to consider when thinking about door height. The sides of a shipping container are corrugated, losing 2 inches (50mm) from the external width dimension.

Large cargo ship loaded with colorful containers on a calm sea under a clear sky.
Credit: pexels.com, Large cargo ship loaded with colorful containers on a calm sea under a clear sky.

The main reduction from external to internal dimensions is with height, with the floor of a standard shipping container having an underside clearance of approximately six inches (150mm). The floor has a thickness of 27mm (just over one inch).

The roof is also corrugated, losing another one inch (25mm) resulting in an internal dimension of around 8 inches less than external. The internal dimension is around 7ft 10 inches.

The through the door height is further reduced because of the steel top rail above the door, which is a part of the structural integrity of the container, reducing the entrance height to 7ft 6ins (2.28m).

Elmer Kassulke

Lead Assigning Editor

Here is a 100-word author bio for Elmer Kassulke: Elmer Kassulke is an accomplished Assigning Editor with a keen interest in storytelling. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for research, Elmer has covered a wide range of topics, from the Port of Bristol to the works of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Their expertise spans various categories, including geography, history, culture, and transportation, making them a versatile and reliable voice in the world of journalism.

Love What You Read? Stay Updated!

Join our community for insights, tips, and more.