20ft and 40ft container: How to choose the right size [+Dimensions & prices]

Debating between a 20ft and 40ft container for your shipments? This blog will help you choose the right size for your cargo. Plus, learn how to source the containers you need safely, at a price that fits your budget in just a few easy steps.

When transporting cargo, choosing the right container makes all the difference. The two most popular choices for moving dry goods are the humble 20ft and 40ft containers.

The correct size ensures your goods fit perfectly, optimizes space, and keeps the cost down.

Read on to understand the dimensions, capacity, and cost of each container size in detail. This will help you make an informed choice for your shipments and your budget.

For seasoned professionals looking to find the best deals, you’re in the right place too. Container xChange, the largest global container marketplace, houses over 100,000 containers in 2,500+ locations worldwide enabling you to connect with 1,700+ vetted, suppliers in one convenient place.

Use our public search below to explore unbeatable container offers in your preferred locations today.

Why are 20ft and 40ft containers popular?

20ft and 40ft containers (also known as standard shipping containers) are popular because of their versatility.  

You can transport a wide variety of dry cargo in this container type, including:

• Machinery
• Barrels
• Pallets
• Electronics
• Clothing

Because of their standard size, simple design, and strong steel frame, standard containers are compatible with various transport modes without the need to repack. They’re also easily stackable on ships and can be stored efficiently at ports.

The 20ft shipping container is also called a Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU). It’s used as the standard unit of measurement in the shipping industry. The 40ft container is known as the Forty-foot Equivalent Unit—abbreviated to FEU.

Cargo volumes, as well as the capacity of vessels and ports, are usually measured in terms of how many TEUs they can hold. 

20ft and 40ft container dimensions and capacity

A standard 20ft shipping container is 5.9m (length) x 2.35m (width) x 2.39m (height), and a 40ft is 12.03m (length) x 2.4m (width) x 2.39m (height).

In the below table, you can compare the dimensions of the 20ft and 40ft side by side:

20ft container internal dimensions	40ft container internal dimensions
Length: 19.3 ft/5.9 m	Length: 39.4 ft/12.03 m
Width: 7.7 ft/2.3 m	Width: 7.8 ft/2.4 m
Height: 7.8 ft/2.3 m	Height: 7.8 ft/2.3 m

Next, we’ll look at the weight and payload capacity of these two container sizes.

20ft vs 40ft: Container weights and payload capacity

It’s important to note that a 20ft container can carry slightly more weight than a 40ft, due to its lighter structure. 

While both types have the same maximum gross weight (30,480 kg/67,200 lbs), the 20ft container has a higher payload capacity due to its lower tare weight. Read more about container weight here.

Now, let’s compare the 20ft vs 40ft in terms of container weight and payload for better understanding.

20ft container weight and payload	40ft container weight and payload
Tare weight: 5,071 lbs/2,300 kg	Tare weight: 8,268 lbs/3,750 kg
Payload capacity: 55,126 lbs/25,000 kg	Payload capacity: 61,200 lbs/27,600 kg
Cubic capacity: 1,172 cu ft/33.2 m³	Cubic capacity: 2,389 cu ft/67.7 m³

If neither of these sizes suits your cargo requirements, don’t worry. You can always opt for the 40ft high cube shipping container. 

High cube containers have the same dimensions as their 40ft counterpart but with an extra foot of height. Perfect for packing in more cargo or moving taller shipments. 

Want to know about other container options? Get a detailed overview of different shipping container sizes.

Now that you’ve got the basic measurements, it’s time to find out how much you can fit into 20ft and 40ft dry van containers.

How much can you fit in a 20ft vs 40ft container?

In a 20ft container, you can fit:

• The contents of a 3-bedroom house
• 50 to 60 fridges
• 400 flat-screen TVs
• 10 pallets (each carrying 60 boxes)

In a 40-foot container, you can fit:

• The contents of a 5-bedroom house
• 2 to 4 cars (depending on the size of the cars)
• Large farm machinery
• 20 pallets (each carrying 120 boxes)

Please note that these are estimated cargo amounts and not exact figures. 

If you’re ready to buy a 20ft or 40ft container for your next shipment, you can browse and compare container offers on the xChange marketplace right now. Choose from 100,000+ units available from vetted suppliers. Click the banner below to learn more.

3 things to keep in mind when choosing between 20ft and 40ft containers

Before you make your choice and start searching for units, here are three important things to keep in mind:

Size of the shipment

Make sure you know the exact dimensions and weight of your shipment before deciding the container size. You don’t want a situation where you buy containers only to discover that all of your cargo doesn’t quite fit or there’s too much space left in the container.

Shipping container insurance

Unfortunately, containers are damaged, dropped, and even fall off ships due to unforeseen circumstances. To cover yourself in these situations, it’s best to get container insurance.

Luckily, with the xChange Insurance Manager, it’s quick and easy to get insurance on all of your units. Covering your bases will protect you from the unexpected financial difficulties that may come with container damage or total loss. 

Other shipping costs

Besides the size of the shipment, insurance price, and the cost of shipping container itself, you’ll also have to keep in mind the following charges, among others: 

Ocean freight costs: These are charged per container and are calculated from loading at the port until discharge at the destination port.

Terminal handling charges: THCs are charged by both the load port and discharge port to cover the cost of handling containers, including storage.

WharfageWhat is Wharfage? A wharf is a man-made, fixed structure where the vessels can dock for safe loading and unloading of cargo. Wharfage refers to the fee for using the wharf (also called quay) to store ... More: This is charged by a port for the use of their facilities and space.

The agreement between you and the carrier, shipping line, or freight forwarder will determine who pays each charge. 

With these essential factors in mind, let’s take a look at the average prices for 20ft and 40ft containers to guide your decision.

How much do 20ft and 40ft shipping containers cost?

Let’s take a look at the average prices for these two container sizes below.

Region	Buy 20ft container	Buy 40ft container
North America	$1,434	$1,582
China	$1,543	$1,795
India	$1,998	$1,666
Northern Europe	$1,150	$943

Generally speaking, the 40 ft container is only around 30% more expensive than the 20ft—for almost double the capacity! 

As you can see from the above prices, in some areas, such as India and Northern Europe, you can even buy the 40 feet container size for less than a 20 ft container—now that’s good value for money!

If you need to transport larger loads, opting for one 40ft instead of two 20fts will also save you a lot of cash, so keep this in mind when deciding between these two sizes.

Get 20ft and 40ft containers in 4 easy steps

Now that you know all about the 20ft and 40ft dry containers, how to choose the right size for your shipment, and the average prices in different regions, it’s time to find out how to get containers for yourself. 

Decide on the container size and condition

Once you’ve decided between the 20ft and 40ft shipping containers, you’ll also need to choose the condition you prefer. This will depend on your budget as well as what you’re shipping. Read this blog to learn all about container conditions.

Browse container offers to find the best deal

Next, hop onto Container xChange to start browsing available offers that fit your criteria. You’ll be able to compare multiple deals all in one place to select the one that best suits your needs.

Negotiate the price with the supplier

When you’ve found the container offer that works for you, it’s time to negotiate the price and discuss the finer details of the sale directly with the supplier. You heard right—no fuss, no middleman!

Make safe payments with the xChange Wallet

Now it’s time to pay for your containers. If this part leaves you feeling anxious, you can finally put those concerns to rest. With the xChange Wallet, all payments are encrypted with an extra layer of security. 

What’s more, we offer all of our customers a 7-day money-back guarantee. So if you’re unhappy with the quality of the units you’ve received, we’ll assist with the mediation process, and you can choose to either swap the containers or get your money back. 

Get the best deals from 1,700+ vetted suppliers

Sounds easy, right? Then it’s time to become a member of Container xChange. You’ll get to enjoy the following benefits:  

• Choose from 100,000+ container offers
• Over 11 container types are available on one platform
• Work with 1,700+ vetted partners in one place
• Negotiate a price that suits you directly with suppliers
• Encrypted and secured payment for every transaction

Want a personalized tour of our trading marketplace? Then click the banner below now to set up a free demo with one of our experts. You’ll be buying 20ft and 40ft shipping containers at the best prices for your budget in no time at all. 

20ft and 40ft container: Common FAQs

How big is a 40ft shipping container?

A standard 40ft shipping container has an internal height of 7.9ft (2.3m), an internal width of 7.8ft (2.3m) and an internal length of 19.4ft (5.9m).

How much does a 40ft container cost?

A 40ft container in cargo-worthy condition costs anywhere between USD $1,300 to $2,500. The price depends on a variety of factors such as location, supply and demand and the market situation.

How much does a 20ft container cost?

A 20ft container in cargo-worthy condition costs between $800 and $1,600. The price depends on the location, supply and demand, and age of the container.