Sea container dimensions
What are the dimensions of a sea container?
Goods are often shipped in sea containers on large container ships. These containers are designed to transport large cargo loads. The more sea containers you need to transport your products, the higher the shipping costs will be. It’s often difficult to determine how many containers you need, as there are various container sizes and types. Additionally, these sea containers are filled with pallets. But how many pallets actually fit in a sea container? And what are the exact dimensions of such a sea container?
Types and sizes of sea containers
Every day, cargo ships transport hundreds of thousands of sea containers filled with a wide range of goods. If you want to ship your goods by cargo ship and place them in a sea container, it’s good to know which types of sea containers are available and what their exact dimensions are. The standard size of a sea container is referred to as TEU (Twenty Feet Equivalent Unit). One TEU is 20 feet, or about 6 meters long. The majority of sea containers are either 1 TEU (20 feet) or 2 TEU (40 feet) long. In the table, you will find the exact dimensions of the various sea containers.
Container overview: types & sizes
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Cargo transport by container
If you don’t need a full container (FCL) to ship your goods, you can opt for shared (LCL) containers. In this case, you share the container with other shipments going to the same port. This is not only better for your wallet, but also for the environment.
How many pallets fit in a sea container?
When you want to ship goods, it is often done by pallet. Every day, millions of pallets are shipped, which are then loaded into (sea) containers and transported all over the world. But how many pallets fit in a sea container? There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. To answer it, it’s important to know that pallets come in all shapes and sizes. The most commonly used types of pallets are:
- Europallet (80 x 120 cm);
- Block pallet (100 x 120 cm);
- CP pallets, or chemical pallets. These are nine standardized pallets, commonly used in the chemical industry.
In a 20-foot container, 11 Europallets and 9 or 10 block pallets fit, while in a 40-foot container, 23 or 24 Europallets and 20 or 21 block pallets can fit.
Need help determining the container dimensions?
Unsure which pallet is used for shipping your goods? Or do you need more information about the dimensions of the sea container and the exact costs involved in shipping your goods in a sea container? We are happy to help you obtain this information. At TFF, we have specialized knowledge, years of experience, and a global network. Additionally, we don’t own cargo ships, so we are not tied to fixed shipping lines, which makes us flexible! Get in touch with us or create an account in the TFF Xpress Portal, and we will find the answer to your question!
Testimonials
“It’s just great that we can handle everything through one provider who completely takes care of the shipping of our parts. If we have any questions or, in the rare case, if a package or pallet is delayed, we are immediately assisted and the issue is resolved.”
“We send goods, for example, during new construction for processing, such as polishing or gilding. We started with these types of parcel shipments with TFF, and it went really well. Then, we once had one of their team members assist in receiving a computer screen at the airport in Japan and delivering it elsewhere in the world. Today, TFF handles not only our parcel shipments but also 80% of our air freight shipments worldwide.”
We chose TFF as a partner because we no longer wanted to rely on large companies. Our experiences with these kinds of companies have been poor, as a phone call often leads to the following: the person at the call center has no idea what they’re talking about and doesn’t know anything about Polem. This feels very inefficient and impersonal.
“What I find so valuable about TFF is that they really take the burden off your shoulders. All I have to do is provide the details of what needs to be transported, to which address, and when it needs to arrive. They take care of the rest, including all the necessary permits and paperwork, which can be quite complex.”
“TFF has truly become a partner for us over the years. They don’t just look at what needs to be transported, but also consider how it can be done the fastest and at the best price. They’ve been transporting for us for many years—mostly sea freight and road transport, but occasionally air freight as well.”
“What makes TFF unique is their online shipping portal. Here, I can compare different carriers in terms of both speed and price. This ensures that I always get the right transport at a competitive price. We’re also very pleased with the short lines of communication with the team. Niels and Hans truly collaborate with us and always monitor our shipments. This way, we can quickly intervene if there’s an issue. It’s a very reassuring feeling,” says Jannes from UMCG.
“The collaboration with TFF makes a huge difference for us. They understand our business inside and out and are always ready to help. It has helped us not only strengthen our local market but also grow internationally.”
“With TFF, we have a partner who saves us from logistical headaches. We pack our shipments, hand them over to the courier, and can then let go with full confidence. This may sound simple, but it’s not. Our TFF colleague monitors everything for us and solves issues before we even think of them.”
