Will It Fit? Container Dimensions and a Fit Checker
Inside and door dimensions for 20', 40' high cube, 45' high cube, open top and flat rack containers, the side-load rule for boats, and a checker that tells you which method your cargo needs.
In this guide
Container sizes at a glance
Five container types cover almost every vehicle, boat and machine we ship. Closed boxes (20' standard, 40' and 45' high cube) load through end doors. Open tops load from above by crane, and flat racks have no sides or roof at all.
| Container | Inside (L × W × H) | Door (W × H) | Max payload | Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20' standard | 19′ 4″ × 7′ 8″ × 7′ 10″589 × 234 × 239 cm | 7′ 8″ × 7′ 5″234 × 226 cm | 61,000 lb27,670 kg | 1 |
| 40' high cube | 39′ 5″ × 7′ 8″ × 8′ 9″1,201 × 234 × 267 cm | 7′ 8″ × 8′ 6″234 × 259 cm | 58,000 lb26,310 kg | 3–4 |
| 45' high cube | 44′ 5″ × 7′ 8″ × 8′ 9″1,354 × 234 × 267 cm | 7′ 8″ × 8′ 6″234 × 259 cm | 61,000 lb27,670 kg | Up to 6 compact (selected lanes) |
| 40' open top | 39′ 5″ × 7′ 8″ × 7′ 8″1,201 × 234 × 234 cm | 7′ 8″ × 7′ 5″234 × 226 cm | 58,000 lb26,310 kg | — |
| 40' flat rack | 38′ × 7′ 3″ × 6′ 5″1,158 × 221 × 196 cm | No doors | 86,000 lb39,010 kg | — |
Typical ISO dimensions. Boxes vary by a fraction of an inch between manufacturers, and we confirm the equipment on every booking. Open top height is to the roof bows; flat rack figures are the deck and the end-wall height, and cargo may extend above and beside them as out-of-gauge.
The door decides, not the inside
Cargo has to pass through the door before it can use the space inside. A 40' high cube door is 7′ 8″ × 8′ 6″ (234 × 259 cm), a little lower than the ceiling behind it. A 20' standard door is 7′ 8″ × 7′ 5″. If your cargo clears the door, it fits the box.
- Measure the widest point, usually the mirrors, and the highest point, such as a roof rack, light bar or exhaust stack.
- Folding mirrors and removing racks, antennas or a boat's top hardware often buys the inches you need.
- Machinery is often partly dismantled, such as a bucket, cab guard or tracks, so the main unit goes in a 40' high cube.
Check your cargo
The checker compares your measurements with the table above and returns the first method that takes the cargo, in the order we would quote it.
Will it fit? Check your cargo
Enter the cargo's outside dimensions as it will sit, including mirrors, racks and attachments. The result uses the typical container sizes in the table above.
Boats ride on their side
A boat too wide for the door can still go in a 40' high cube on its side, on a cradle. The beam then stands against the door height and the boat's height passes across the door width. That works up to 30 ft long, 102 in of beam and 92 in of height with top hardware removed. Beyond that, boats go RoRo on a trailer where the lane accepts them, on a flat rack, or breakbulk.
When it needs an open top or a flat rack
If the footprint fits a 40' but the cargo is too tall for the door, an open top takes it from above, and over-height cargo travels under a tarp. If it is wider than 7′ 8″, a flat rack is the next step: the cargo is lashed to a 38′ deck and can extend beyond the sides and top as out-of-gauge cargo, confirmed with the carrier for each sailing.
When RoRo is the answer
Cargo longer than a 44′ 5″ high cube or a flat rack deck, or simply too big to box, can drive onto a RoRo vessel if it runs, steers and brakes. RoRo has no door to clear, so tall trucks, buses and machinery go as they are. If the cargo does not drive, it ships breakbulk instead.
Not every U.S. port loads RoRo
Georgia RoRo loads at Brunswick and Southern California RoRo at Port Hueneme. The RoRo shipping page lists every U.S. RoRo port and the destinations it reaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the 40' high cube matter for tall vehicles?
Its door is 1′ 1″ taller than a 20' standard door, so lifted trucks, vans and many machines that would not clear a 20' fit a high cube.
Does the checker look at weight?
No. It compares dimensions only. Maximum payloads are in the table, and we check weight, axle loads and lifting points when we quote.
My cargo is a few inches over. What are my options?
Remove what you can, such as mirrors, racks, antennas or a boat's top hardware, and measure again. If it still does not clear, an open top or flat rack takes over-height or over-width cargo, and a running vehicle can go RoRo.
Is the checker result a booking?
No. It is a planning check based on typical ISO sizes. Your quote confirms the container type and equipment available on your lane.
Popular shipping destinations
See country-specific costs, transit times, and customs rules for the markets covered in this guide.
Ready for an exact quote?
Tell us what you're shipping and where it's going — we respond with a locked-in rate within 1 business day.