Everything you need to know about 20ft standard shipping containers — internal dimensions, CBM, weight limits, and exactly how many pallets or cartons fit inside.
Calculate Your Load Free →Standard 20ft dry container (ISO 1CC), the most common size for full-container-load (FCL) shipping.
| Spec | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Internal Length | 589 cm | 19' 4" |
| Internal Width | 233 cm | 7' 8" |
| Internal Height | 240 cm | 7' 10" |
| Door Opening (W×H) | 230 × 228 cm | 7' 6" × 7' 5" |
| Internal Volume (CBM) | ~32.9 m³ | ~1,162 ft³ |
| Max Payload | 28,000 kg | 61,730 lb |
| Tare Weight (empty) | ~2,300 kg | ~5,070 lb |
Using industry-standard pinwheel (mixed-orientation) loading, a 20ft container fits 10 standard pallets (120×100cm), 11 Euro pallets (120×80cm), or 10 pallets at 110×110cm. Simple straight-grid loading only manages 8 standard pallets — pinwheel loading gets 25% more into the same space.
Pallet stacking is typically capped at 180cm height for stability, leaving roughly 230cm of usable stack height in a 20ft container (240cm minus floor clearance) before hitting the recommended safe limit.
This depends entirely on your carton dimensions and whether you're floor-loading or palletizing. As a rough guide, a 20ft container holds roughly 25–28 CBM of usable cargo volume after accounting for packing efficiency (the rest is lost to gaps and pallet structure). For an exact count based on your specific carton size, weight, and loading method, use the free calculator below — it accounts for weight limits, pallet type, and stacking height automatically.
Enter your carton dimensions and get a full pallet-by-pallet or floor-loading breakdown with a 3D diagram.
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