Container Types & Shipping Equipment
Choosing the right container or equipment for your cargo — standard boxes, high cubes, reefers, flat racks, open tops, and tanks.
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FCL vs LCL Shipping: Which Container Option Is Right for Your Cargo?
FCL and LCL are the two main ocean freight options. Understanding the trade-offs between them can save you significant money and prevent frustrating delays.
Read guideContainers & Equipment FAQ
What are the standard shipping container sizes?
The two standards are 20ft and 40ft. A 20ft container holds roughly 33 cubic metres and a 40ft around 67, with the 40ft high cube offering about 76. Payload is typically around 28 tonnes for a 20ft and 26 tonnes for a 40ft, though limits vary by carrier and by road weight rules at each end.
Should I use a 40ft or a 40ft high cube?
Use a high cube unless there is a height constraint, since it offers about 13 percent more volume for little or no extra cost on most lanes and is the default 40ft equipment on many routes. The constraint is inland rather than at sea — road height limits, low bridges, and older warehouse docks can make a high cube undeliverable even where it ships without issue.
What container do I need for oversized cargo?
Use an open top if the cargo is too tall to load through the doors but stays within the container profile, and a flat rack if it exceeds the width or height envelope. Anything protruding beyond the container envelope is rated out of gauge, which means paying for the vessel slots the overhang blocks as well as the cargo itself.
Why can't I load a container to its maximum payload?
Because road weight limits usually bite before the container's rated payload does. The legal limit for the loaded truck combination at either end is frequently lower than the container's maximum, so the practical payload is set by the strictest road regulation on the route. Always plan against the actual tare weight stencilled on the door rather than a generic figure.
What is the difference between CY and CFS?
The container yard is where containers are stacked awaiting loading, collection, or return; the container freight station is where LCL cargo is consolidated into containers and stripped out again. A CY-to-CY booking means you deliver and collect full containers yourself, while CFS handling applies when your cargo shares a container with other shippers.
What is a tare weight and why does it matter?
Tare weight is the weight of the empty container, stencilled on its door. It matters because it is added to your cargo weight to produce the gross weight used for the mandatory VGM declaration and for road weight compliance. Reefers and tanks have a much higher tare than dry boxes, which meaningfully reduces the payload available.