What are the interior dimensions of a 40-foot shipping container?

A standard 40 ft dry container is about 39 ft 5 in long × 7 ft 8 in wide × 7 ft 10 in high inside — roughly 2,350 cubic feet and about 300 square feet of floor. The door opening is 7 ft 8 in wide × 7 ft 6 in high.

How much more does a 40 ft container hold than a 20 ft?

About double the volume — ~2,350 cubic feet versus ~1,170 — for roughly twice the length. Width and height are identical, so a 40 ft holds about 20–21 pallets in a single layer versus 10–11.

Will my item fit through the container doors?

The door opening is 7 ft 8 in wide × 7 ft 6 in high on both 20 ft and 40 ft containers — 4 inches lower than the interior. Measure tall items against 7 ft 6 in, and use the fit calculator above for an exact check.

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Will a 40-Foot Shipping Container Load Fit in a Shipping Container?

Enter the 40-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 40 ft container doubles the length to about 39 ft 5 in (~2,350 cu ft) — but it shares the 20 ft container’s 7 ft 6 in door height, so tall loads are limited the same way.

The space40 ft interior: 39 ft 5 in × 7 ft 8 in × 7 ft 10 in (~2,350 cu ft, ~300 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 × 7 ft 6 in door opening; length is rarely the limit at 39 ft 5 in.

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 40-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 40-foot shipping container?
A standard 40 ft dry container is about 39 ft 5 in long × 7 ft 8 in wide × 7 ft 10 in high inside — roughly 2,350 cubic feet and about 300 square feet of floor. The door opening is 7 ft 8 in wide × 7 ft 6 in high.
01
How much more does a 40 ft container hold than a 20 ft?
About double the volume — ~2,350 cubic feet versus ~1,170 — for roughly twice the length. Width and height are identical, so a 40 ft holds about 20–21 pallets in a single layer versus 10–11.
02
Will my item fit through the container doors?
The door opening is 7 ft 8 in wide × 7 ft 6 in high on both 20 ft and 40 ft containers — 4 inches lower than the interior. Measure tall items against 7 ft 6 in, and use the fit calculator above for an exact check.
03

Related fit checks.

Will a 20-Foot Shipping Container Load Fit in a Shipping Container?Check if a 20-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 40-Foot Shipping Container Load Fit in a Shipping Container?

Enter the 40-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 40 ft container doubles the length to about 39 ft 5 in (~2,350 cu ft) — but it shares the 20 ft container’s 7 ft 6 in door height, so tall loads are limited the same way.

The space40 ft interior: 39 ft 5 in × 7 ft 8 in × 7 ft 10 in (~2,350 cu ft, ~300 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 × 7 ft 6 in door opening; length is rarely the limit at 39 ft 5 in.

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 40-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 40-foot shipping container?
A standard 40 ft dry container is about 39 ft 5 in long × 7 ft 8 in wide × 7 ft 10 in high inside — roughly 2,350 cubic feet and about 300 square feet of floor. The door opening is 7 ft 8 in wide × 7 ft 6 in high.
01
How much more does a 40 ft container hold than a 20 ft?
About double the volume — ~2,350 cubic feet versus ~1,170 — for roughly twice the length. Width and height are identical, so a 40 ft holds about 20–21 pallets in a single layer versus 10–11.
02
Will my item fit through the container doors?
The door opening is 7 ft 8 in wide × 7 ft 6 in high on both 20 ft and 40 ft containers — 4 inches lower than the interior. Measure tall items against 7 ft 6 in, and use the fit calculator above for an exact check.
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