Shipping Container Sizes Explained: 10ft, 20ft, 40ft, 45ft and 53ft

Choosing the right size is the most important decision when you buy a shipping container. Go too small and you outgrow it in a year; go too big and you pay for space and delivery clearance you don’t need. This guide covers every common size we sell, what fits inside, and how much room you need on site.

Quick size comparison

• Mini containers (6ft to 9ft): about 40 to 90 sq ft. Garden tools, bikes, small business stock.
• 10ft containers: about 70 sq ft and 560 cu ft. A single room of furniture or a small workshop.
• 15ft and 16ft containers: about 110 to 120 sq ft. A good middle ground for driveways.
• 20ft containers: about 150 sq ft and 1,170 cu ft. The contents of a two-bedroom home, or a small office conversion.
• 40ft containers: about 300 sq ft and 2,390 cu ft. Farms, contractors and business inventory.
• 45ft containers: about 3,000 cu ft. Extra length for pallets and long equipment.
• 53ft containers: up to about 3,900 cu ft. The largest standard size, popular for domestic freight and warehousing.

Standard height vs high cube

Standard containers are 8ft 6in tall outside, with about 7ft 10in of internal height. High cube containers are 9ft 6in tall, which adds about a foot of headroom and roughly 12% more space. That extra foot matters for tall machinery, stacked pallets and any conversion where people will stand inside, such as offices and homes.

Which size should you choose?

Home storage and renovations

A 20ft one-trip container suits most moves and renovations. If space is tight, a 10ft or 16ft unit fits on more driveways.

Farms, ranches and contractors

A 40ft holds twice as much as a 20ft for much less than twice the price, so it is usually the best value when you have the space. Choose a high cube if you store tall equipment.

Offices, shops and homes

Most conversions start with a 20ft or 40ft high cube. Browse ready-made container offices and container homes and modular buildings for ideas.

How much space do you need for delivery?

Containers are usually delivered on a tilt-bed truck that slides the box onto your prepared spot. Allow roughly 60ft of straight-line clearance for a 20ft and about 100ft for a 40ft, plus a firm, level base. See our shipping policy and our guide to preparing your site for delivery.

Still unsure? Tell us what you want to store and where it is going, and we will recommend a size. request a quote or read our shipping container FAQs.

Frequently asked questions