40ft Standard Dry Container Guide: Dimensions, Capacity & Best Uses

When you have too much cargo for a 20ft box, but it isn't heavy enough to justify two separate shipments, the 40ft Standard Dry Container is your solution.

Known in the industry as the FEU (Forty-foot Equivalent Unit), this container offers double the length of the standard 20ft unit.

At TraceContainer.com, we see these units constantly moving consumer goods from electronics to clothing across the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

This guide breaks down the dimensions, the specific "volume vs. weight" rules, and when to choose a Standard 40ft over a High Cube.

What is a 40ft Standard Container?

The 40ft Standard Dry (often listed as 40GP, 40DV, or 40 Standard) is a general-purpose steel container.

• Length: Approx. 40 feet (12 meters).

• Height: Standard 8ft 6in (2.6 meters).

• Purpose: designed to carry voluminous cargo that takes up space but isn't exceptionally heavy.

The Golden Rule: Volume vs. Weight

This is the most common mistake new shippers make: "A 40ft container is twice as big as a 20ft, so it can carry twice the weight, right?" Wrong.

• Volume: Yes, a 40ft has roughly double the cubic capacity (67 m³) of a 20ft (33 m³).

• Weight: It has roughly the same maximum payload (approx. 26-27 tons) as a 20ft.

The Takeaway: Use a 40ft container for "Light & Fluffy" goods (Textiles, Plastic Toys, Furniture). Use a 20ft container for "Dense & Heavy" goods (Metals, Tiles, Paper Reels).

40ft Standard Dimensions

Measurements based on ISO standards.

40ft Standard vs. 40ft High Cube

In your booking menu, you will see both 40 Standard and 40 High Cube.

• 40 Standard: 8'6" tall.

• 40 High Cube: 9'6" tall (1 foot taller).

20ft Standard Dry Container

Why choose the Standard (Shorter) version? While High Cubes offer more space, the 40ft Standard is still used because:

1. Lower Cost: Sometimes slightly cheaper to book on surplus routes.

2. Road Restrictions: Some inland destinations (older tunnels or bridges) cannot accommodate the extra height of a High Cube trailer.

3. Density: If you are shipping dense goods (like tires or animal feed), you will hit the weight limit before you fill the height, so the extra foot of a High Cube is wasted air.

How Many Pallets Fit?

• Euro Pallets (800 x 1200mm): You can fit 23-24 pallets in a single tier.

• Standard Pallets (1000 x 1200mm): You can fit 20-21 pallets in a single tier.

Track Your 40ft Shipment

Moving a 40ft box from Shenzhen to Long Beach? Or Hamburg to Dubai? The journey is long, but your visibility should be instant. Track your 40ft Standard Container now with TraceContainer.com.

Track 40ft Container