40ft Dry Container (40GP)

What Is a 40ft Dry Container?

The 40-foot dry container (40GP or FEU — Forty-foot Equivalent Unit) is the standard workhorse for high-volume cargo. It is twice the length of the 20ft container, providing around 67 CBM of internal space while still fitting on standard container ships, rail cars, and 40-foot chassis trucks.

The 40ft GP is slightly disadvantaged weight-wise versus the 20ft (lower max payload despite double the volume), meaning it is better suited to lighter, bulkier cargo. It is the most commonly quoted unit in LCL/FCL pricing for consumer goods, retail products, and manufactured items.

Full Dimensions & Specifications

What Can You Ship in a 40ft Container?

Advantages of a 40ft Dry Container

• Double the volume vs a 20ft at roughly 1.5× the freight cost — better value per CBM for most cargo.
• Lower freight cost per CBM — consolidating into a 40ft is typically cheaper than two 20ft bookings.
• Fewer customs documents — one container, one set of documents, one examination risk.
• Widely available — stocked at all major ports and most secondary ports globally.
• Versatile — accepted by all major shipping lines and intermodal infrastructure.

40ft GP vs 40ft High Cube

The 40ft GP and 40ft High Cube (HC) have the same footprint but the HC is 1 foot taller (9'6" vs 8'6"), adding approximately 9 CBM of volume. Today, most carriers prefer to book 40ft High Cube for standard cargo since the cost difference is minimal and the extra height is useful.

Explore Other Container Types