Shipping Container Dimensions: 20 ft, 40 ft and High Cube in Feet
Shipping Container Sizes
A standard shipping container is 8 ft wide and 8 ft 6 in tall on the outside, and we sell them 20 ft and 40 ft long. A high cube is 9 ft 6 in tall, which gives you about a foot more headroom inside. Here are the full shipping container dimensions in feet: outside, inside and at the door.
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Shipping container sizes at a glance
| 20 ft standard | 40 ft standard | 40 ft high cube | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outside length | 20 ft | 40 ft | 40 ft |
| Outside width | 8 ft | 8 ft | 8 ft |
| Outside height | 8 ft 6 in | 8 ft 6 in | 9 ft 6 in |
| Inside length | about 19 ft 4 in | about 39 ft 5 in | about 39 ft 5 in |
| Inside width | about 7 ft 8 in | about 7 ft 8 in | about 7 ft 8 in |
| Inside height | about 7 ft 10 in | about 7 ft 10 in | about 8 ft 10 in |
| Door opening | about 7 ft 8 in wide, 7 ft 5 in tall | about 7 ft 8 in wide, 7 ft 5 in tall | about 7 ft 8 in wide, 8 ft 5 in tall |
Outside sizes are standard. Inside and door figures are approximate and vary slightly by manufacturer, so measure tight fits against the door opening.
Which size fits what
20 ft standard. The 20 ft shipping container dimensions suit smaller spaces: a backyard, a shop lot, a corner of the farm. It holds household overflow, lawn equipment, tools or seasonal stock, and it is the easier size to deliver.
40 ft standard. Twice the length, for larger equipment, building materials or a business’s back stock.
Want one as a workspace? Our office containers are built to order in 20 ft and 40 ft.
20 ft or 40 ft on a small lot
On a small lot, the truck usually decides it, not the box. The container needs a spot as long as it is, plus room in front to swing the doors open. The truck needs a straight shot in, and a 40 ft needs much more room than a 20 ft. When the way in is tight, a 20 ft is often the size that fits.
Not sure? Send photos of the spot and the way in, and we will tell you.
What the extra foot of a high cube is good for
High cube container dimensions match a 40 ft standard on the ground, but it stands 9 ft 6 in tall instead of 8 ft 6 in. Inside you get about 8 ft 10 in of headroom, and the door opening is about 8 ft 5 in tall. That extra foot helps with:
- Tall equipment that will not clear a standard door
- Stacking boxes or shelving higher
- Builds and offices, where insulation and a ceiling take some height back
Conex box dimensions are the same
Conex, conex box, connex: around here these all mean a shipping container, so conex box dimensions match the table above.
Delivery: the space a tilt-bed truck needs
We deliver with a tilt-bed truck that sets the container on the ground, so no forklift is needed on site. Besides the straight shot in, the driver needs firm, fairly level ground. The driver sets the container where you ask when the site allows, often within a few days of ordering once it is scheduled. Delivery is included within 75 miles of the nearest yard; see what container delivery costs.
Starting-at prices by size
- Used 20 ft standard: starting at $2,350
- New (one-trip) 20 ft standard: starting at $3,050
- Used 40 ft standard: starting at $2,650
- Used 40 ft high cube: starting at $2,750
- New (one-trip) 40 ft high cube: starting at $4,050
Prices vary by yard, so call for today’s price; the team confirms it for your ZIP. Deciding on condition too? Read one-trip vs used containers. More on pricing: shipping container cost, or browse what we sell.
Common Questions
How tall is a 20 ft shipping container inside?
About 7 ft 10 in, against 8 ft 6 in outside. The door opening is about 7 ft 5 in tall, so measure tall items against the door.
Will a 40 ft container fit on my lot?
The box needs a spot 40 ft by 8 ft plus room to open the doors, and the truck needs a straight shot in and much more room than for a 20 ft. Send us photos and we will tell you.
Are conex boxes the same size as shipping containers?
Yes. Conex box is another name for a shipping container.
What are 40 ft container dimensions in feet?
Outside, 40 ft long, 8 ft wide and 8 ft 6 in tall (9 ft 6 in for a high cube). Inside, about 39 ft 5 in long, 7 ft 8 in wide and 7 ft 10 in tall.
Not sure which size fits?
Send us your ZIP code and a couple of photos of the spot. We will tell you which size fits and quote the container and the delivery together. Call or text us, or use the quote form at the top of this page.