How much does a shipping container weigh?
An empty 20ft container weighs about 2,300 kg (5,071 lb) and an empty 40ft about 3,750 kg (8,267 lb); a 40ft high cube is slightly heavier, around 3,900 kg. Most modern containers are rated to 30,480 kg gross, which leaves roughly 28,000 kg of cargo in a 20ft and 26,700 kg in a 40ft.
Tare, payload and gross weight
- Tare weight: the container empty.
- Payload (net): the maximum weight of cargo, packaging, pallets and dunnage.
- Maximum gross mass: tare plus payload, the most the loaded container may weigh.
Container weights by type
| Container | Empty (tare) | Typical payload | Max gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft (20GP) | 2,300 kg / 5,071 lb | 28,000 kg / 61,729 lb | 30,480 kg / 67,197 lb |
| 40ft (40GP) | 3,750 kg / 8,267 lb | 26,700 kg / 58,863 lb | 30,480 kg / 67,197 lb |
| 40ft high cube (40HQ) | 3,900 kg / 8,598 lb | 26,500 kg / 58,422 lb | 30,480 kg / 67,197 lb |
| 45ft high cube (45HQ) | 4,800 kg / 10,582 lb | 25,600 kg / 56,438 lb | 30,480 kg / 67,197 lb |
These are typical figures for modern steel dry containers. Older 20ft boxes were often rated to 24,000 kg gross, some newer ones to 32,500 kg or more, and tare varies by maker, floor and age by a hundred kilograms or more either way.
Where to find the exact weight
Every container carries a CSC safety approval plate on the door with its maximum gross mass, and the tare and payload (net) are usually painted beside it. Those markings, not a typical table, are what counts when you plan a heavy load.
Weight limits beyond the container
A container can be within its rating and still too heavy for the road. Trucking limits depend on the country, the chassis and the number of axles, and they often cap a 20ft at well under its 28,000 kg payload. Dense cargo such as tiles, metal parts or liquids is usually limited by weight long before the box is full. The container loading calculator checks carton weight against the payload as you type.
Verified gross mass (VGM)
Under the SOLAS convention, the shipper must give the carrier a verified gross mass for every packed export container before it is loaded on a ship. It is either weighed whole on a calibrated scale, or the contents, packaging and the container's tare are weighed and added up by an approved method. No VGM, no loading.
Check a heavy load40 × 30 × 10 cm cartons at 25 kg each in a 20GP: weight runs out before space.Sources
Tools used in this guide
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Common questions
How much does a 20ft shipping container weigh?
About 2,300 kg (5,071 lb) empty, typically between 2,100 and 2,400 kg depending on maker and age. The exact tare is on the door.
How much does a 40ft shipping container weigh?
About 3,750 kg (8,267 lb) empty for a standard 40ft, and around 3,900 kg (8,598 lb) for a 40ft high cube.
How much weight can a 40ft container hold?
Typically about 26,700 kg of cargo, for a maximum gross of 30,480 kg. Road limits may allow less.
Does a 40ft container carry twice as much weight as a 20ft?
No. Both are usually rated to the same maximum gross mass, and the 40ft is heavier empty, so a 40ft carries slightly less cargo weight than a 20ft despite having twice the space.
What is VGM?
Verified gross mass: the weight of a packed container, cargo and tare included, which the shipper must declare before loading under SOLAS.