Shipping, Logistics Management - Container Dimensions, Container Capacity, Rating, Tare Mass and Payload of Containers

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Containers, Etc.

Production
Department

Administration
Department
Container Dimensions and Capacity
Product Coding
U.P.C. & EAN Containers intended for intercontinental use have external nominal dimensions of:

Export-Import
Maxims and Length ----- 9.8125 feet (2.991m) as 10 feet;
Notable Quotes 19.875 feet (6.058m) as 20 feet;
29.9375 feet (9.125m) as 30 feet; and
1,000+ A to Y
40 feet (12.192m)
Conversion
Width ----- 8 feet (2.438m)
Factors: Length,
Area, Volume,
Mass, Pressure, Height ----- 8.5 feet (2.591m) and
Flow, Power, 9.5 feet (2.896m)
Temperature, Etc.

General
References
-- Tool Steels, All above dimensions have permissible tolerances.
Plastics, Etc.

Miscellaneous The 20 feet (20') and 40 feet (40') containers are very popular in ocean freight. The 8.5 feet
Conversions & (8.5') high container---8 feet 6 inches (8' 6") high container---is often referred to as
Calculations standard container.

D+S Network The demand for the high cube container---hicube---is increasing. The popular high cube
-- Trade Offers: container has a normal height of 9.5 feet (9.5' or 9' 6").
Worldwide Buy
& Sell Postings
There are half height containers (4.25' or 4' 3" high) designed for heavy loads such as
CATS steel rods and ingots, which absorb the weight limit in half the normal space.
-- Global Trade
Forum: Q & A
The most widely used type of container is the general purpose (dry cargo) container
Online Shipping (please see Container Classifications) having a nominal length and height of 20' x 8.5', 40' x
Schedules and
Cargo Tracking
8.5', and 40' x 9.5'. Referring to the Dimension of General Purpose Containers below, the
dimensions shown in the table are not fixed, that is, the external and internal dimensions
may vary among containers of the same length and height.
World Clock
In Real Time
The container capacity is the total cube a container can accommodate. The term cube often
refers to the cubic measurement of cargo. The capacity (i.e., the internal volume) is

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Shipping, Logistics Management - Container Dimensions, Container Capacity, Rating, Tare Mass and Payload of Containers

World Time determined by multiplying the internal dimensions, that is, the product of internal length,
Zone Converter width and height. The capacity may vary among containers of the same length and height.
In Real Time

Number Set
Generator
For Trade Shows

Simulated
Slot Machine
Rating, Tare Mass and Payload of Containers
For Trade Shows

Mortgage
Calculator Rating
Time-Lapse
Calculator Rating is the maximum gross mass (or weight), that is, the maximum permissible
weight of a container plus its contents. The rating of a 20' dry cargo container is
Due Date
24,000 kgs. (52,900 lbs.), and a 40', including the high cube container, is 30,480
Calculator
kgs. (67,200 lbs.).
World Distance
Calculator
Using Latitudes
& Longitudes
Tare Mass
Protect
Environment Tare Mass---tare weight or tare---is the mass (or weight) of empty container,
-- Recycling including all fittings and appliances used in a particular type of container in its normal
Combo Search operating condition.
1-2-3 English

Combo Search The tare mass of containers may vary due to the different construction techniques and
1-2-3 Chinese materials used in the container. A 20' x 8.5' dry cargo container may weigh 1,800 kgs.
to 2,400 kgs., a 40' x 8.5' may weigh 2,800 kgs. to 4,000 kgs, and a 40' x 9.5' may
300 Years
weigh 3,900 kgs. to 4,200 kgs. Some dry cargo containers may fall outside the
Perpetual
indicated weight range. The reefer weighs more than a dry cargo container of the same
Calendar :
1800 to 2099
size.

Useful Links

Canada Info
Payload
Resources
Center/Centre
Governments, Payload is the maximum permitted mass (or weight) of payload, including the
Cities, Schools, dunnage and cargo securement arrangements that are not associated with the
Colleges, Etc.
container in its normal operating condition. Therefore, Payload = Rating - Tare Mass.

Contact Us If the tare mass of a 20' dry cargo container is 2,400 kgs. and a 40' is 3,900 kgs., the
Copyright, payload of 20' is 21,600 kgs. (i.e., 24,000 kgs. minus 2,400 kgs.) and 40' is 26,580
Trademarks & kgs. (i.e., 30,480 kgs. minus 3,900 kgs.). However, the exporter may be prohibited to
Disclaimer have that much payload in areas where there are legal limitations to the overall load of
a vehicle.
Feedbacks
From Viewers
In exporting, it is common to encounter a payload of 17,500 kgs. or less in the 20'
container, and 24,000 kgs. or less in the 40' container.

HOME

The Marking and Identification of Containers

EXPORT911.COM

The rating, tare mass and payload of a container is marked on its wall, usually on the end
(rear) door in the case of an end-loading dry cargo container.

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Shipping, Logistics Management - Container Dimensions, Container Capacity, Rating, Tare Mass and Payload of Containers

Unauthorized Each container has an identification code or container number---a combination of the 4-
Reproduction letter characters that identify the owner (the operator of container) and the 7-numeric
of Copyright characters that identify the container. The container number can be found on the outer and
Materials Here
is PROHIBITED
inner side walls.

The container number is entered on the bill of lading to facilitate the identification and
EDUCATION is
tracking of the container and the cargo.
a way out from
life's miseries
..... Morris Ng

Site best
viewing with
Microsoft
Internet Explorer

Table and Diagram:

Dimension of General Purpose Containers

Dimension of General Purpose Containers

Recommended
CONTAINER Capacity
Load Volume

Nominal Cubic Cubic Cubic Cubic

Length Width Height
Dimension Feet Meter Feet Meter

20' 8' 8' 6"

External
6.096 m 2.438 m 2.591 m

19' 4.25" 7' 8.625" 7' 10" 1170 cft 1000 cft
Internal
5.899 m 2.353 m 2.388 m 33.131 cbm 28 cbm

40' 8' 8' 6"

External
12.192 m 2.438 m 2.591 m

39' 5.375" 7' 8.625" 7' 10" 2385 cft 2050 cft
Internal
12.024 m 2.353 m 2.388 m 67.535 cbm 58 cbm

40' Hicube 8' 9' 6"

External
12.192 m 2.438 m 2.896 m

39' 5.375" 7' 8.625" 8' 10" 2690 cft 2350 cft
Internal
12.024 m 2.353 m 2.692 m 76.172 cbm 66 cbm

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Shipping, Logistics Management - Container Dimensions, Container Capacity, Rating, Tare Mass and Payload of Containers

NOTE: Containers with the same external length may not have exactly the same
internal length and width.
The Recommended Load Volume (RLV) refers to the suggested
maximum cube to use in calculating a full container load. The RLV can be
about 10-15% less than the container capacity, depending on the export
pack dimensions.

Rear view of 20' x 8.5' container

CAUTION:

Miscalculated capacity may result in a

large empty and unusable space or a
shortage in space. For example (see 20'
x 8.5' container diagram on the left),
the master cartons have a uniform
height of 20 inches, and the length and
width are greater than the height. If
1170 cubic feet is used to calculate a 20'
full container load, most likely some
cartons will not fit despite the empty
space of about 170 cubic feet. You
cannot stuff the remaining cartons into
the remaining 14" high empty space.

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