Every measurement you need — external, internal, door openings, capacity and tare weight — in one table.
| Container | External (L×W×H) | Internal (L×W×H) | Door (W×H) | Capacity | Tare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10ft | 2.99m × 2.44m × 2.59m | 2.83m × 2.35m × 2.39m | 2.34m × 2.28m | 16.0m³ | 1,300kg |
| 20ft | 6.06m × 2.44m × 2.59m | 5.90m × 2.35m × 2.39m | 2.34m × 2.28m | 33.2m³ | 2,200kg |
| 40ft | 12.19m × 2.44m × 2.59m | 12.03m × 2.35m × 2.39m | 2.34m × 2.28m | 67.7m³ | 3,800kg |
| High Cube | 12.19m × 2.44m × 2.90m | 12.03m × 2.35m × 2.69m | 2.34m × 2.58m | 76.4m³ | 3,900kg |
Three numbers catch people out. Door height — the door opening is about 11cm lower than internal height, so tall gear must clear 2.28m, not 2.39m, on a standard container. Internal width — at 2.35m, a standard car fits but door-opening room is tight. Delivery footprint — the truck needs more room than the container; see our delivery page for access requirements.
Each container has three sets of measurements and each answers a different question. External dimensions tell you whether it fits on your site and what the truck is carrying — a 20ft is 6.06m long and a 40ft 12.19m, both 2.44m wide. Internal dimensions tell you what fits inside; the corrugated steel walls and the floor take up space, so the inside is a little smaller all round. Door dimensions decide what you can actually get in: the door opening is narrower and lower than the inside, so a 2.35m-wide or 2.39m-tall item will fit inside a standard container but will not go through its doors.
10ft (16 m³). About half a garage bay: a ride-on mower, garden and camping gear, tools and a set of shelves, or a one-bedroom unit packed tight.
20ft (33 m³). The contents of a typical three-bedroom home, a small car, or roughly nine or ten Australian standard pallets (1165mm square) on the floor.
40ft (67 m³). Twice the floor of a 20ft — around twenty standard pallets, long steel and pipe, or a larger household with room to walk.
40ft high cube (76 m³). The same floor as a 40ft with about 30cm more height inside, so pallets can be stacked higher and tall machinery clears the 2.58m door.
Pallet counts depend on how snugly they are loaded; two Australian pallets side by side leave very little clearance across a container's width, so plan on a little less than the arithmetic says.
Tare weight is the container's own weight: about 1,300kg for a 10ft, 2,200kg for a 20ft and 3,800–3,900kg for a 40ft or high cube. It matters twice. First, the ground under the truck has to carry the truck plus the container, which is why soft lawn and wet dirt stop deliveries. Second, the container's weight — plus whatever you load into it — rests on four corner castings, so each corner needs solid support. Sleepers or concrete blocks on firm ground do the job for storage; heavily loaded containers or permanent installations may justify footings.
The figures on this page are standard dimensions. Individual containers vary by a few millimetres between manufacturers, and refurbished 10ft units vary more. If a few centimetres will decide whether something fits — a vehicle, a machine, a racking system — ask us to measure the actual unit before delivery. For help choosing, see the size pages for the 10ft, 20ft, 40ft and high cube.
Most cars fit through a 2.34m door opening, but there is little room either side, so opening the car doors inside is difficult. Measure the car's width with mirrors folded and allow for getting out.
Enough to open both doors fully at the door end — roughly the container's width again — and a little room along the sides for maintenance. Delivery needs more room than the container itself; see our delivery page.
A standard container adds 2.59m to the height of the truck's tray, and a high cube 2.90m. That is why low bridges, awnings, branches and service lines along the route and at the drop spot are checked before delivery.
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