What are the interior dimensions of a 20-foot shipping container?

A standard 20 ft dry container measures about 19 ft 4 in long × 7 ft 8 in wide × 7 ft 10 in high inside, giving roughly 1,170 cubic feet and about 150 square feet of floor. The door opening is 7 ft 8 in wide × 7 ft 6 in high.

How much can a 20 ft container hold?

About 1,170 cubic feet — the contents of a 2–3 bedroom house, or roughly 10–11 standard pallets in a single layer. Payload is typically up to about 47,900 lb, set by the container rating and road limits.

Why is the container door opening shorter than the inside?

A header beam runs across the top of the doors, so the opening (7 ft 6 in) is about 4 inches lower than the 7 ft 10 in interior ceiling. Always check tall items against the door height, not the interior height.

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Will a 20-Foot Shipping Container Load Fit in a Shipping Container?

Enter the 20-foot shipping container load dimensions and the available space to check clearances, orientation, and tight-fit risks.

Trusted across thousands of fit checks · updated daily

Scan items/space

Language: English

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400 questions answered

Room Preview·Visual Results·Simulations

Fit summaryFIG. FIT

A 20 ft container has nearly 1,170 cubic feet inside — but the 7 ft 6 in door opening, not the interior, decides whether a tall item gets in.

The space20 ft interior: 19 ft 4 in × 7 ft 8 in × 7 ft 10 in (~1,170 cu ft, ~150 sq ft floor). Door opening 7 ft 8 in W × 7 ft 6 in H.

What decides itYour tallest and widest item vs. the 7 ft 8 in wide × 7 ft 6 in high door opening — which is 4 in lower than the 7 ft 10 in interior ceiling.

What to measureMeasure each item L × W × H, including pallets, crating, and protruding hardware.

Real openings run about 1 to 2 inches under the labeled size, and a single inch can flip the result. Check your own measurements before you buy or move.

20 ft vs 40 ft shipping container

Spec	20 ft container	40 ft container
Interior length	19 ft 4 in	39 ft 5 in
Interior width	7 ft 8 in	7 ft 8 in
Interior height	7 ft 10 in	7 ft 10 in
Door opening	7 ft 8 in W × 7 ft 6 in H	7 ft 8 in W × 7 ft 6 in H
Floor area	~150 sq ft	~300 sq ft
Volume	~1,170 cu ft	~2,350 cu ft

ISO standard dry containers. The door opening is ~4 in shorter than the interior ceiling because of the header beam above the doors — measure tall items against the door height.

ReferenceFurniture Dimensions Container Dimensions

About 10 seconds · no signup

Verdicts compare all six item orientations against the space using verified building standards. See our methodology

10,000+ fit checks run·Last check: a few minutes ago

“Checked my carry-on against 3 airlines before a trip. Saved me a gate-check fee.” — Frequent flyer

Measure smart

What to measure.

Four numbers decide nearly every fit check. Get these right and the rest follows.

01Measure the 20-foot shipping container load length, width, height, and any protruding hardware or packaging.
02Measure the usable in a shipping container dimensions at the narrowest point, not the nominal size.
03Check the opening, turn, or access path that the item must pass through before it reaches the final position.
04Leave practical clearance for hands, padding, door swing, walking paths, or packing material.

Don't make these

Common mistakes.

Most “it didn't fit” stories trace back to one of these oversights.

⚠Using catalog dimensions without measuring the actual item, frame, handles, legs, or packaging.
⚠Checking only volume or floor area while ignoring the opening and turn required to place the item.
⚠Forgetting that padding, blankets, boxes, and dollies add thickness during a real move.

Frequently asked

Questions we keep getting.

What are the interior dimensions of a 20-foot shipping container?
A standard 20 ft dry container measures about 19 ft 4 in long × 7 ft 8 in wide × 7 ft 10 in high inside, giving roughly 1,170 cubic feet and about 150 square feet of floor. The door opening is 7 ft 8 in wide × 7 ft 6 in high.
01
How much can a 20 ft container hold?
About 1,170 cubic feet — the contents of a 2–3 bedroom house, or roughly 10–11 standard pallets in a single layer. Payload is typically up to about 47,900 lb, set by the container rating and road limits.
02
Why is the container door opening shorter than the inside?
A header beam runs across the top of the doors, so the opening (7 ft 6 in) is about 4 inches lower than the 7 ft 10 in interior ceiling. Always check tall items against the door height, not the interior height.
03

Related fit checks.

Will a 40-Foot Shipping Container Load Fit in a Shipping Container?Check if a 40-foot shipping container load will fit in a shipping container. Compare item dimensions with clearances, openings, and practical movement space before you buy or move it.Will a Furniture Fit in a Shipping Container?Check if a furniture will fit in a shipping container. Compare item dimensions with clearances, openings, and practical movement space before you buy or move it.Will a Pallet Fit in a Shipping Container?Check if a pallet will fit in a shipping container. Compare item dimensions with clearances, openings, and practical movement space before you buy or move it.Will a Car Fit in a Shipping Container?Check if a car will fit in a shipping container. Compare item dimensions with clearances, openings, and practical movement space before you buy or move it.

All container fit checks →

Unlock stair simulation, AR visualization, and more.

Will it fit? Know before you buy.

Open the calculator and check any item against any space.

Open the fit calculator

ItemFits

About Blog FAQ Features Pricing Work with us

Home / Container & Packing Fit

Will a 20-Foot Shipping Container Load Fit in a Shipping Container?

Enter the 20-foot shipping container load dimensions and the available space to check clearances, orientation, and tight-fit risks.

Trusted across thousands of fit checks · updated daily

Scan items/space

Language: English

Voice input

400 questions answered

Room Preview·Visual Results·Simulations

Fit summaryFIG. FIT

A 20 ft container has nearly 1,170 cubic feet inside — but the 7 ft 6 in door opening, not the interior, decides whether a tall item gets in.

The space20 ft interior: 19 ft 4 in × 7 ft 8 in × 7 ft 10 in (~1,170 cu ft, ~150 sq ft floor). Door opening 7 ft 8 in W × 7 ft 6 in H.

What decides itYour tallest and widest item vs. the 7 ft 8 in wide × 7 ft 6 in high door opening — which is 4 in lower than the 7 ft 10 in interior ceiling.

What to measureMeasure each item L × W × H, including pallets, crating, and protruding hardware.

Real openings run about 1 to 2 inches under the labeled size, and a single inch can flip the result. Check your own measurements before you buy or move.

20 ft vs 40 ft shipping container

Spec	20 ft container	40 ft container
Interior length	19 ft 4 in	39 ft 5 in
Interior width	7 ft 8 in	7 ft 8 in
Interior height	7 ft 10 in	7 ft 10 in
Door opening	7 ft 8 in W × 7 ft 6 in H	7 ft 8 in W × 7 ft 6 in H
Floor area	~150 sq ft	~300 sq ft
Volume	~1,170 cu ft	~2,350 cu ft

ISO standard dry containers. The door opening is ~4 in shorter than the interior ceiling because of the header beam above the doors — measure tall items against the door height.

ReferenceFurniture Dimensions Container Dimensions

About 10 seconds · no signup

Verdicts compare all six item orientations against the space using verified building standards. See our methodology

10,000+ fit checks run·Last check: a few minutes ago

“Checked my carry-on against 3 airlines before a trip. Saved me a gate-check fee.” — Frequent flyer

Measure smart

What to measure.

Four numbers decide nearly every fit check. Get these right and the rest follows.

01Measure the 20-foot shipping container load length, width, height, and any protruding hardware or packaging.
02Measure the usable in a shipping container dimensions at the narrowest point, not the nominal size.
03Check the opening, turn, or access path that the item must pass through before it reaches the final position.
04Leave practical clearance for hands, padding, door swing, walking paths, or packing material.

Don't make these

Common mistakes.

Most “it didn't fit” stories trace back to one of these oversights.

⚠Using catalog dimensions without measuring the actual item, frame, handles, legs, or packaging.
⚠Checking only volume or floor area while ignoring the opening and turn required to place the item.
⚠Forgetting that padding, blankets, boxes, and dollies add thickness during a real move.

Frequently asked

Questions we keep getting.

What are the interior dimensions of a 20-foot shipping container?
A standard 20 ft dry container measures about 19 ft 4 in long × 7 ft 8 in wide × 7 ft 10 in high inside, giving roughly 1,170 cubic feet and about 150 square feet of floor. The door opening is 7 ft 8 in wide × 7 ft 6 in high.
01
How much can a 20 ft container hold?
About 1,170 cubic feet — the contents of a 2–3 bedroom house, or roughly 10–11 standard pallets in a single layer. Payload is typically up to about 47,900 lb, set by the container rating and road limits.
02
Why is the container door opening shorter than the inside?
A header beam runs across the top of the doors, so the opening (7 ft 6 in) is about 4 inches lower than the 7 ft 10 in interior ceiling. Always check tall items against the door height, not the interior height.
03

Related fit checks.

All container fit checks →

Unlock stair simulation, AR visualization, and more.

Will it fit? Know before you buy.

Open the calculator and check any item against any space.

Open the fit calculator