Container Volume Quick Reference
- • 10ft: 560 ft³ (15.9 m³)
- • 20ft: 1,172 ft³ (33.2 m³)
- • 40ft: 2,390 ft³ (67.7 m³)
- • 40ft HC: 2,694 ft³ (76.3 m³)
- • 45ft HC: 3,040 ft³ (86.1 m³)
- • 20ft Reefer: 969 ft³ (27.4 m³)
Container Volume Calculator — ft³ · m³ · yd³ · Load Planning
Shipping Container Cubic Feet
How Many Cubic Feet in a Shipping Container? — 20ft, 40ft & 40ft HC Volume Guide
Find out exactly how many cubic feet are in any shipping container size. Our free shipping container volume calculator covers all standard ISO container sizes — 10ft, 20ft, 40ft, 40ft High Cube, 45ft and refrigerated containers. Get internal dimensions, volume in cubic feet, cubic meters and cubic yards, plus a load planning tool.
20ft
1,172 ft³
40ft
2,390 ft³
40ft HC
2,694 ft³
1 ft³
0.0283 m³
Shipping Container Volume Calculator
Calculate ft³, CBM, cubic yards and load rate for standard or custom containers.
Select Container Size
%
85% accounts for door space, bracing and irregular cargo shapes.
Shipping Container Cubic Feet — Complete Specifications
All standard ISO container sizes with internal dimensions, volume and payload.
| Spec | 10ft Std | 20ft Std | 40ft Std | 40ft HC | 45ft HC | 20ft RF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cubic Feet (ft³) | 560 ft³ | 1,172 ft³ | 2,390 ft³ | 2,694 ft³ | 3,040 ft³ | 969 ft³ |
| Cubic Meters (m³) | 15.9 m³ | 33.2 m³ | 67.7 m³ | 76.3 m³ | 86.1 m³ | 27.4 m³ |
| Cubic Yards (yd³) | 20.7 yd³ | 43.4 yd³ | 88.5 yd³ | 99.8 yd³ | 112.6 yd³ | 35.9 yd³ |
| Int. Length | 9'4" | 19'4" | 39'5" | 39'5" | 44'5" | 17'10" |
| Int. Width | 7'8" | 7'8" | 7'8" | 7'8" | 7'8" | 7'4" |
| Int. Height | 7'10" | 7'10" | 7'10" | 8'10" | 8'10" | 7'5" |
| Ext. Length | 10'0" | 20'0" | 40'0" | 40'0" | 45'0" | 20'0" |
| Ext. Height | 8'6" | 8'6" | 8'6" | 9'6" | 9'6" | 8'6" |
| Door Width | 7'7" | 7'7" | 7'7" | 7'7" | 7'7" | 7'3" |
| Door Height | 7'5" | 7'5" | 7'5" | 8'5" | 8'5" | 7'3" |
| Max Payload | 22,046 lbs | 47,900 lbs | 59,040 lbs | 58,598 lbs | 57,320 lbs | 41,888 lbs |
| Tare Weight | 2,976 lbs | 4,850 lbs | 8,160 lbs | 8,598 lbs | 9,680 lbs | 6,614 lbs |
| Popularity | Less common | 🏆 Most common | 🏆 Most common | 🏆 Most common | Less common | Specialty |
📌 Important Notes: Use internal dimensions for shipping container volume cubic feet calculations. In practice, only 85-90% of internal volume is usable because of door mechanisms, bracing, cargo shape, and loading clearance. CBM is the standard freight unit: 1 ft³ = 0.0283 m³.
Volume Unit Conversions
- • 1 ft³ = 0.0283 m³ (CBM)
- • 1 m³ = 35.31 ft³
- • 1 yd³ = 27 ft³
- • 1 ft³ = 1,728 in³
- • 20ft = 33.2 CBM
- • 40ft HC = 76.3 CBM
Load Planning Reference
- • US pallet: 20ft fits 10-11 floor
- • US pallet: 40ft fits 20-21 floor
- • EUR pallet: 40ft fits 23-25 floor
- • Moving boxes: 20ft ~400-450
- • Moving boxes: 40ft ~800-900
- • Use 85% gross volume for planning
Shipping Container Size Visual Comparison
Scale comparison of all standard container sizes.
10ft Standard
Int: 9'4" × 7'8" × 7'10"
Ext: 10'0" × 8'0" × 8'6"
560 ft³ / 15.9 m³
20ft Standard
Int: 19'4" × 7'8" × 7'10"
Ext: 20'0" × 8'0" × 8'6"
1,172 ft³ / 33.2 m³
40ft Standard
Int: 39'5" × 7'8" × 7'10"
Ext: 40'0" × 8'0" × 8'6"
2,390 ft³ / 67.7 m³
40ft High Cube
Int: 39'5" × 7'8" × 8'10"
Ext: 40'0" × 8'0" × 9'6"
2,694 ft³ / 76.3 m³
45ft High Cube
Int: 44'5" × 7'8" × 8'10"
Ext: 45'0" × 8'0" × 9'6"
3,040 ft³ / 86.1 m³
20ft Reefer
Int: 17'10" × 7'4" × 7'5"
Ext: 20'0" × 8'0" × 8'6"
969 ft³ / 27.4 m³
Container Load Planning — Cubic Feet to CBM Guide
How to calculate how much fits in a shipping container.
Understanding Container Fill Rates
Gross volume equals internal length × width × height. Usable volume equals gross volume × fill rate. Palletized cargo often uses 75-85%, loose cartons 80-90%, furniture 60-75%, irregular shapes 50-70%, and drums or IBCs 85-90%.
International shipping uses CBM. 1 CBM = 35.31 ft³. LCL shipments charge by CBM or chargeable weight, while FCL shipments rent the full container.
How Many Pallets Fit?
US pallet 48×40 in: 20ft fits 10-11 floor pallets; 40ft fits 20-21; 40ft HC fits 20-21 and often supports double stacking.
EUR pallet 1200×800mm: 20ft fits about 11 floor pallets; 40ft and 40ft HC fit about 23-25.
Moving boxes 18×18×24 in: 10ft ~200 boxes, 20ft ~400-450, 40ft ~800-900, 40ft HC ~900-1,000.
💡 Pro Tip: CBM = ft³ × 0.0283168. Example: 500 ft³ of cargo equals 14.16 CBM. For LCL shipments, carriers often charge by the greater of actual volume or chargeable weight.
Shipping Container Types — Which One Do You Need?
Different container types for different cargo and use cases.
📦 Standard Dry Container
10ft, 20ft, 40ft
Best for general dry cargo, furniture, household goods, electronics, clothing, textiles and non-perishable freight. Most widely available and lowest cost.
📦 High Cube Container
40ft HC, 45ft HC
One foot taller than standard containers. Best for tall cargo, furniture, vehicles, machinery and container home conversions. 40ft HC adds 304 ft³ vs 40ft standard.
❄️ Refrigerated Container
20ft RF, 40ft RF
Temperature-controlled cold chain container for produce, seafood, dairy, pharmaceuticals and flowers. Internal space is lower due to insulation walls.
🔓 Open Top Container
20ft OT, 40ft OT
Removable roof for crane loading tall machinery, steel coils, timber, industrial equipment and oversized cargo that cannot fit through standard doors.
🚪 Flat Rack Container
20ft FR, 40ft FR
Open platform with no side walls or roof. Used for heavy machinery, boats, vehicles, steel structures, pipes and out-of-gauge cargo.
🏠 Storage & Conversion Use
20ft, 40ft, 40ft HC
20ft fits many two-bedroom apartment contents; 40ft fits larger homes; 40ft HC is preferred for container homes because of extra headroom.
Shipping Container Volume — Real-World Scenarios
Six detailed use cases with cubic feet calculations.
🏠 International Household Move
A typical 3-bedroom home may total about 930 ft³ before packing inefficiency. With 85% fill, it needs about 1,094 ft³. A 20ft container is tight; a 40ft container gives safer room for large furniture or extra items.
📦 E-commerce Inventory Import
1,000 cartons at 20×16×12 in each equals about 2,780 ft³ or 78.7 CBM. That exceeds one 40ft HC at 85% usable volume, so a 40ft HC plus a 20ft or LCL overflow may be needed.
🏗️ Construction Equipment Shipping
A compact excavator at 14×6×8 ft is 672 ft³. It may fail a standard 20ft height check, but fits a 40ft High Cube with 8'10" internal height and plenty of payload capacity.
🏠 Container Home Conversion
A single 40ft HC has 2,694 ft³ and about 302 ft² of internal floor before insulation. After interior walls, usable floor may be around 259 ft² with better headroom than a standard container.
❄️ Perishable Food Export
18 produce pallets at 48×40×60 in total about 1,200 ft³. A 20ft reefer is too small at 85% usable volume; a 40ft reefer is the better cold-chain choice.
📦 On-Site Storage Solution
A construction site with 700 ft³ of tools, dry materials and supplies fits comfortably in a 20ft standard container with room for access and organization.
Container Volume Quick Reference Cards
Click any card conceptually to load container specs into the calculator above.
10ft Standard
560 ft³
15.9 m³ · 20.7 yd³
Storage / freight
20ft Standard
1,172 ft³
33.2 m³ · 43.4 yd³
Most popular
40ft Standard
2,390 ft³
67.7 m³ · 88.5 yd³
Most popular
40ft High Cube
2,694 ft³
76.3 m³ · 99.8 yd³
Most popular
45ft High Cube
3,040 ft³
86.1 m³ · 112.6 yd³
Storage / freight
20ft Reefer
969 ft³
27.4 m³ · 35.9 yd³
Cold chain
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about shipping container cubic feet.
How many cubic feet is a 20ft shipping container?
A standard 20ft shipping container has an internal volume of approximately 1,172 cubic feet (33.2 cubic meters). Internal dimensions are approximately 19'4" long × 7'8" wide × 7'10" high. At an 85% fill rate, usable volume is about 996 cubic feet.
How many cubic feet is a 40ft shipping container?
A standard 40ft shipping container has an internal volume of approximately 2,390 cubic feet (67.7 cubic meters). Internal dimensions are approximately 39'5" long × 7'8" wide × 7'10" high. At an 85% fill rate, usable volume is about 2,032 cubic feet.
How many cubic feet is a 40ft High Cube container?
A 40ft High Cube shipping container has an internal volume of approximately 2,694 cubic feet (76.3 cubic meters). It is 1 foot taller than a standard 40ft container, with an internal height of approximately 8'10".
How many cubic feet in a shipping container?
It depends on the container size: 10ft standard = 560 ft³, 20ft standard = 1,172 ft³, 40ft standard = 2,390 ft³, 40ft High Cube = 2,694 ft³, 45ft High Cube = 3,040 ft³, and 20ft Reefer = 969 ft³.
How many cubic feet is a 10ft shipping container?
A 10ft shipping container has an internal volume of approximately 560 cubic feet (15.9 cubic meters). Internal dimensions are approximately 9'4" long × 7'8" wide × 7'10" high. It is most common for storage and small local moves.
What is the difference between a 20ft and 40ft container?
A 20ft standard container holds about 1,172 ft³ and a 40ft standard container holds about 2,390 ft³. The 40ft container has roughly double the volume and is more cost-efficient per cubic foot, while the 20ft container is easier to place and better for heavy dense cargo.
How do I calculate CBM for a shipping container?
CBM means cubic meters. Convert cubic feet to CBM with: CBM = ft³ × 0.0283168. You can also calculate cargo CBM directly with length × width × height in meters. A 20ft container is about 33.2 CBM, a 40ft is 67.7 CBM, and a 40ft High Cube is 76.3 CBM.