Choosing the right type of shipping container protects your cargo and saves money. This guide breaks down the 15 container types in everyday use, from the standard dry box to reefer, flat rack and ISO tank units, with a comparison table and a simple matrix to help you pick.
What Is a Shipping Container?
A shipping container is a standardised steel box built to ISO specifications so it can be stacked, lifted and moved by ship, rail and truck without unpacking the cargo inside. Capacity is measured in TEU, the Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit, where one 20ft box equals 1 TEU. Around 90 percent of the world’s non-bulk cargo travels this way. For the standards behind these boxes, see our guide on what ISO containers are (/what-are-iso-containers/).
Shipping Container Types: Quick Comparison
|
Container type |
Common sizes |
Capacity / payload |
Best for |
|
Dry / General Purpose |
20ft, 40ft |
33-68 m3 |
General dry cargo, storage |
|
High Cube |
40ft, 45ft |
~76 m3 (40ft) |
Bulky, lightweight goods |
|
Reefer (refrigerated) |
20ft, 40ft HC |
-65 to +40 C |
Chilled and frozen cargo |
|
Open Top |
20ft, 40ft |
Crane / top load |
Tall or over-height cargo |
|
Flat Rack |
20ft, 40ft |
Up to ~45 t |
Machinery, vehicles, pipes |
|
Open Side |
20ft, 40ft |
Full-length side door |
Long items, easy access |
|
Double Door (tunnel) |
20ft, 40ft |
Doors both ends |
FIFO loading, fast turnaround |
|
ISO Tank |
20ft frame |
21,000-26,000 L |
Liquids, gases, chemicals |
|
Half-Height |
20ft |
~1.3 m tall |
Dense bulk (ore, stone) |
|
Insulated / Ventilated |
20ft, 40ft |
Passive control |
Condensation-sensitive goods |
Standard Container Types
These container types make up the bulk of the global fleet. At Infinex, we stock most of these in both new and used condition.
1. Dry Container (General Purpose)
The workhorse of international shipping, accounting for about 90% of the global fleet. Fully enclosed with swing doors at one end, a steel roof, and a plywood or bamboo floor rated for forklift traffic.
Available in 20 ft (1 TEU) and 40 ft (2 TEU). Use the 20 ft for heavy, dense cargo like machinery or metals. Use the 40 ft for lighter, bulkier goods like furniture or electronics.
ISO type code: 22G1 (20 ft), 42G1 (40 ft)
| Spec | 20 ft | 40 ft |
| External (L x W x H) | 6.058 x 2.438 x 2.591 m | 12.192 x 2.438 x 2.591 m |
| Internal volume | 33.2 m3 | 67.7 m3 |
| Tare weight | ~2,300 kg | ~3,750 kg |
| Max payload | ~25,000 kg | ~26,750 kg |
Common uses: General merchandise, boxed goods, electronics, garments, auto parts, building materials, and palletised freight.
INFINEX stocks both new and used GP containers. Browse the full range on our products page.
2. High Cube Container
Identical to a dry container in length and width but one foot (30.5 cm) taller, giving roughly 13% more internal volume. Most common in 40 ft and 45 ft lengths. The 20 ft high cube exists but is uncommon.
Keep in mind: the extra height may cause clearance issues under older bridges or rail tunnels, so check your inland route.
ISO type code: 45G1 (40 ft HC)
| Spec | 40 ft HC |
| External (L x W x H) | 12.192 x 2.438 x 2.896 m |
| Internal volume | 76.4 m3 |
| Tare weight | ~3,940 kg |
| Max payload | ~26,560 kg |
Common uses: Furniture, lightweight consumer goods, retail displays, and container conversions (offices, cafes, accommodation) where ceiling height matters.
For more on sizing, see our shipping container sizes guide.
3. Refrigerated Container (Reefer)
A thermally insulated container with an integrated refrigeration unit. Maintains temperatures from -65 to +40 degrees Celsius. Requires continuous external power (440V, 3-phase) from a vessel plug, genset, or shore connection. Modern reefers feature controlled atmosphere (CA) technology to extend produce shelf life.
About 6% of the global fleet are reefers.
ISO type code: 22R1 (20 ft), 42R1 (40 ft)
| Spec | 40 ft Reefer |
| External (L x W x H) | 12.192 x 2.438 x 2.591 m |
| Internal volume | 58.7 m3 |
| Tare weight | ~4,800 kg |
| Max payload | ~27,700 kg |
| Temp range | -65 to +40 C |
Common uses: Fresh fruit and vegetables, frozen meat, seafood, dairy, pharmaceuticals, cut flowers, and chocolate.
Need data loggers or power cables for your reefer? Check our accessories page.
4. Open Top Container
Replaces the rigid steel roof with a removable tarpaulin cover. Cargo can be loaded from above using a crane or gantry. When the tarp and roof bows are removed entirely, cargo can protrude above the walls (out-of-gauge/OOG), though this incurs surcharges since nothing can be stacked above.
ISO type code: 22U1 (20 ft), 42U1 (40 ft)
| Spec | 40 ft Open Top |
| External (L x W x H) | 12.192 x 2.438 x 2.591 m |
| Internal volume | 67.3 m3 |
| Tare weight | ~3,810 kg |
| Max payload | ~26,630 kg |
Common uses: Heavy machinery, marble slabs, timber logs, steel coils, glass panels, and any cargo requiring top-loading.
5. Flat Rack Container
A container floor with two end walls (fixed or collapsible) but no side walls or roof. Collapsible flat racks fold down flat when empty, so four to five units fit in the footprint of one standard container. Equipped with heavy-duty lashing rings for securing cargo with chains and straps. Some models handle payloads up to 45 metric tons.
ISO type code: 22P1 (20 ft), 42P1 (40 ft)
| Spec | 40 ft Flat Rack |
| External (L x W x H) | 12.192 x 2.438 x 2.591 m |
| Tare weight | ~5,000 kg |
| Max payload | ~40,000 to 45,000 kg |
Common uses: Boats, heavy construction equipment, large pipes, wind turbine components, military vehicles, and oversized cargo.
Looking for project cargo solutions? Explore our customised container solutions.
6. Hard Top Container
Similar to an open top but with a detachable rigid steel roof instead of a tarp. The roof lifts off entirely for overhead loading, then reattaches for full weathertight protection and stacking capability. Combines the loading flexibility of an open top with the structural integrity of a standard dry container.
Common uses: Heavy machinery, transformers, generators, and project cargo requiring both top-loading and full enclosure.
7. ISO Tank Container
A cylindrical stainless steel tank (316L grade) mounted inside a standard ISO frame. Holds 21,000 to 26,000 litres. Critical safety rule: fill between 80% (prevents dangerous liquid surge) and 95% (allows thermal expansion).
ISO type code: 22T1 (20 ft)
| Spec | 20 ft ISO Tank |
| Tank capacity | 21,000 to 26,000 L |
| Tank material | 316L stainless steel |
| Tare weight | ~3,070 to 3,830 kg |
| Max payload | ~26,000 to 36,000 kg |
| Working pressure | 1.5 to 6.0 bar (up to 22 bar for gas) |
Common uses: Food-grade liquids (juice, wine, oil), industrial chemicals, liquid gases (LPG, LNG), pharmaceuticals, and bulk powders.
8. Open Side Container
Features a full-length door along one long side using a bi-fold or concertina mechanism. Provides unobstructed access to the entire container length, making it easy to load long items with a forklift from the side. Useful when the container sits flush against a wall.
Common uses: Timber, pipes, plasterboard, exhibition goods, mobile retail, and cargo requiring side-loaded forklift access.
9. Double Door Container (Tunnel)
Standard swing doors at both ends, enabling first-in-first-out (FIFO) flow. Load from one end, unload from the other. Structurally identical to a standard dry container with full ISO stacking capability.
Common uses: Warehousing with FIFO requirements, event setups, construction sites needing drive-through access.
10. Ventilated Container
A dry container with passive ventilation openings (louvres or mesh) in the side walls. Allows natural air circulation to prevent moisture buildup, condensation (“container rain”), and heat accumulation. Some models have up to 90 ventilation slots per side wall.
ISO type code: 22V1 (20 ft)
Common uses: Coffee beans, cocoa, tobacco, spices, onions, garlic, and cargo that emits moisture or is sensitive to condensation.
11. Insulated Container
Same polyurethane foam insulation as a reefer but without the refrigeration unit. Works like a thermos. Cost-effective for short transit legs where cargo needs temperature protection but not active cooling.
Common uses: Short-haul transport of chocolate, wax, wine, and goods pre-cooled before loading.
12. Half-Height Container
Stands at roughly half the height of a standard container (~1.3 m). Reinforced walls and floor for very dense, heavy cargo. Lower centre of gravity improves transport stability. Two half-height units stack to fill one standard vessel slot.
Common uses: Coal, ore, heavy aggregates, scrap metal, sand, and demolition debris.
Specialised Container Types
13. Garment-on-Hanger (GOH)
A standard dry or high cube container fitted with internal hanging rails. Clothes travel on hangers just like in a retail store, eliminating folding and re-ironing. A 40 ft GOH container holds 8,000 to 12,000 garments.
Common uses: Ready-to-wear clothing, suits, dresses, uniforms, and high-value fashion items.
14. Bulk Container
A modified dry container with roof hatches for top-loading and a discharge gate at one end for gravity unloading. Liners protect the walls and prevent cross-contamination.
Common uses: Grain, seeds, animal feed, fertiliser, sugar, salt, and plastic pellets.
15. Custom/Special Purpose Container
Containers can be purpose-built or modified for virtually any application: mobile labs, data centres, offshore modules, military command posts, or modular buildings.
Our team at INFINEX builds customised container solutions to your exact specs, from simple mods (extra doors, windows) to fully fitted-out modular buildings.
Container Conditions and Grades
|
Grade |
Condition |
Best for |
|
New / One-Trip |
Single voyage, near-new |
Conversions, long leases |
|
Cargo Worthy (CW) |
Certified for ocean freight, may show surface rust |
Export shipping |
|
Wind & Water Tight (WWT) |
Sealed against weather, budget grade |
Static storage |
|
As-Is / Used |
Ungraded, inspect before buying |
Lowest-cost projects |
Browse current stock on our used containers (/used-containers/) page, and read how to check structural integrity (/shipping-container-structural-integrity-guide/) before buying used.
Dimensions Comparison Chart
| Container Type | External (L x W x H) | Internal Volume | Max Payload |
| 20 ft Dry | 6.058 x 2.438 x 2.591 m | 33.2 m3 | 25,000 kg |
| 40 ft Dry | 12.192 x 2.438 x 2.591 m | 67.7 m3 | 26,750 kg |
| 40 ft High Cube | 12.192 x 2.438 x 2.896 m | 76.4 m3 | 26,560 kg |
| 40 ft Reefer | 12.192 x 2.438 x 2.591 m | 58.7 m3 | 27,700 kg |
| 40 ft Open Top | 12.192 x 2.438 x 2.591 m | 67.3 m3 | 26,630 kg |
| 40 ft Flat Rack | 12.192 x 2.438 x 2.591 m | N/A | 40,000 kg |
| 20 ft ISO Tank | 6.058 x 2.438 x 2.591 m | 21,000 to 26,000 L | 26,000 to 36,000 kg |
| 20 ft Half-Height | 6.058 x 2.438 x 1.300 m | 15.5 m3 | 27,400 kg |
How to Choose the Right Container
Work through five questions: What is the cargo? What size do you need? How heavy is it? Does it need temperature control? What is the budget?
|
If your cargo is… |
Choose |
|
General boxed or palletised goods |
Dry / GP container |
|
Light but bulky (furniture, foam) |
High Cube |
|
Chilled or frozen |
Reefer |
|
Over-height (machinery, timber) |
Open Top |
|
Oversized or heavy (vehicles, pipes) |
Flat Rack |
|
Long items, side access needed |
Open Side |
|
Liquids, gases, chemicals |
ISO Tank |
|
Dense bulk (ore, stone) |
Half-Height |
Still unsure? Our team can recommend a type and grade. Review shipping container sizes (/shipping-container-sizes/) for exact dimensions, or browse the full shipping container range (/products/).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common type of shipping container?
The dry or general purpose container, making up roughly 90 percent of the global fleet.
What is the difference between a standard and a high cube container?
A High Cube is one foot taller (9ft 6in vs 8ft 6in), giving about 305 mm more internal height and roughly 13 percent more volume.
How long does a shipping container last?
In active shipping service, typically 20 to 25 years. Retired from sea duty, a WWT box can serve much longer as static storage.
What does TEU mean?
Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit. One 20ft container is 1 TEU and a 40ft container is 2 TEU. It is the standard measure of ship and port capacity.
Which container type is best for storage?
A standard dry container in WWT or Cargo Worthy condition. A High Cube adds height for bulky items.