The Three Sizes That Matter
Shipping containers come in a variety of sizes, but in the real-world resale and storage market, three sizes dominate: 20ft Standard, 40ft Standard, and 40ft High Cube. These are the sizes that shipping lines produce in volume, which means they're the most available and competitively priced. Specialty sizes like 10ft, 45ft, or 53ft exist but are harder to find and usually cost more per square foot.
Interior dimensions are roughly 19'4" long × 7'8" wide × 7'10" tall, giving you about 1,170 cubic feet of volume. A 20ft container can hold the contents of a typical one to two-bedroom apartment. Empty weight is around 4,900 lbs with a max payload of about 47,900 lbs — far more than you'll ever put in it for storage.
Best for:
Interior dimensions are roughly 39'5" long × 7'8" wide × 7'10" tall, giving you about 2,390 cubic feet of volume. That's enough to hold the contents of a three to four-bedroom house. Empty weight is around 8,160 lbs. The 40ft Standard is the backbone of global shipping and the most commonly available used container size.
Best for:
The High Cube has the same 40' × 8' footprint as a standard 40ft, but adds a full extra foot of interior height — bringing the ceiling to about 8'10" inside. That extra foot matters more than you'd think. You can walk around comfortably, stack shelving higher, and fit taller equipment or machinery. It also makes all the difference if you're converting the container into a workspace, shop, or office.
The price difference between a 40ft Standard and a 40ft High Cube is typically only a few hundred dollars, making the HC the better value in nearly every scenario where you have the clearance for the extra foot of height.
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Quick Comparison
| Spec | 20' Standard | 40' Standard | 40' High Cube |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior L × W × H | 20' × 8' × 8'6" | 40' × 8' × 8'6" | 40' × 8' × 9'6" |
| Interior height | 7'10" | 7'10" | 8'10" |
| Floor space | 160 ft² | 320 ft² | 320 ft² |
| Volume | 1,170 ft³ | 2,390 ft³ | 2,700 ft³ |
| Empty weight | ~4,900 lbs | ~8,160 lbs | ~8,750 lbs |
| Max payload | ~47,900 lbs | ~59,040 lbs | ~58,450 lbs |
| Door opening | 7'8" × 7'5" | 7'8" × 7'5" | 7'8" × 8'5" |
Which Size Should You Buy?
Here's the honest breakdown. If you have the space for a 40ft and you don't have a specific reason to go smaller, get the 40ft High Cube. You're getting double the floor space of a 20ft for roughly 30–40% more money, plus the extra foot of headroom makes it dramatically more comfortable to work in. It's the size we sell the most of, and the size customers are happiest with.
Go with a 20ft if your space is genuinely limited — narrow lots, residential driveways, or locations where a 40ft simply won't fit or would look out of place. A 20ft is also the right call if you're storing a modest amount and don't want to pay for space you won't use.
The standard-height 40ft makes sense if you're getting a deal on one or if overhead clearance is tight (low barn doors, carports, or tree branches). Otherwise, the High Cube is worth the small premium every time.
What About 10ft and 53ft Containers?
We can source specialty sizes including 10ft mini containers and 53ft domestic containers. These are less common in the used market and typically cost more per square foot than standard sizes. If you need one, contact us and we'll check availability from our supplier network.