Choosing a shipping container starts with three questions: will your goods fit inside, will they pass through the doors, and can the container be delivered to its intended position?
A 20ft container is a useful starting point when space is limited. A 40ft container gives you more length, while a high cube adds height. The right choice depends on which measurement matters most for your job.
Here’s how to compare shipping container dimensions and turn a size chart into a practical shortlist.
Shipping container sizes at a glance
The measurements below show the approximate external dimensions published on Melbourne Container Park’s product pages. Use them for initial planning, then confirm the specific unit before ordering.
| Container | External length | External width | External height |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft general purpose | 6.10 m | 2.44 m | 2.59 m |
| 40ft general purpose | 12.20 m | 2.44 m | 2.59 m |
| 40ft high cube | 12.20 m | 2.44 m | 2.89 m |
Check internal space and door openings separately
External dimensions help you plan where the container will sit. Internal dimensions help you work out what will fit inside. Door openings determine whether you can load it in the first place.
For comparison, the following are examples from Hapag-Lloyd’s container fleet, rounded to two decimal places. They illustrate the differences between measurements; they are not specifications for MCP’s available stock.
| Example container | Internal length × width × height | Door opening width × height |
|---|---|---|
| 20ft standard | 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.40 m | 2.34 × 2.29 m |
| 40ft standard | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.40 m | 2.34 × 2.29 m |
| 40ft high cube | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.70 m | 2.34 × 2.60 m |
When should you choose a 20ft container?
Start with a 20ft shipping container when you need storage but have limited room for placement. Tools, materials or a smaller stock holding may suit this size, provided your measurements and access checks stack up.
Sketch a simple floor plan before deciding. Mark the largest items first, then allow for shelving and the route you will use to reach stored goods. If you expect to retrieve something every day, plan where it will sit rather than packing solely for maximum capacity.
Treat the smaller footprint as one part of the decision. The delivery vehicle still needs its own access and unloading space.
When is a 40ft container the better fit?
Consider a 40ft shipping container when the layout needs more length: for example, longer items or a larger quantity of stock. Check each item against the internal measurements rather than relying on the “40ft” name.
Standard 20ft and 40ft containers in the comparison above have the same external width. Moving to a longer container therefore does not solve a width problem. If your widest item is the concern, start with its loading requirements before choosing the container length.
On your site sketch, include the container doors and the working area in front of them. Decide which way the doors should face before arranging delivery.
When does the extra height of a high cube help?
A high cube is worth considering when vertical clearance is the limiting factor. The 40ft examples above show how it adds height while keeping the same external length and width as a standard 40ft container.
For tall equipment, compare the door opening first. For a planned fit-out, ask for the finished internal dimensions after lining, flooring or other additions. The empty container’s measurements should not be your final design dimensions.
Choose extra height because your layout needs it. If all your goods will remain at floor level, check whether length and access are more useful priorities.
Leave room for delivery, not just the container
A space large enough to hold a container may still be unsuitable for unloading it. Gates, overhead obstacles, turning room and ground conditions all need attention.
MCP’s published tilt-tray guidance lists 4.3 m of access height and 6.5 m when tilting to unload. It also describes clear manoeuvring and exit lengths of 12–14 m for 20ft containers and 18–20 m for 40ft containers in most cases. These are planning figures from the guide, not confirmation that a particular delivery will be possible.
Read the Transport Instructions and Site Access Guide and confirm the requirements for your vehicle, container and site. Provide site photos and explain any access restrictions early. Include the proposed position and door direction, with a firm, dry and level area for placement.
Your container sizing checklist
Before making an enquiry, pull together:
- Your largest item: its length, width and height in the form it will be loaded.
- Your storage layout: quantities, shelving and any access space you want to retain.
- Your loading method: how goods will pass through the entrance and move into position.
- Your site details: placement area, gate measurements, overhead obstacles and delivery access.
- Your planned changes: any lining, doors or fit-out that needs to be included in the sizing discussion.
Keep weight as a separate check. A dimensions table does not establish how much a particular container can carry; confirm the selected unit’s payload and loading requirements as well.
Talk through the measurements before you choose
Melbourne Container Park supplies new and used containers and can discuss sizing, current availability and delivery access. Bring your item measurements and site details to the conversation so the options can be assessed against how you will use the container.