A 20ft shipping container is a steel box 6.06 m long, 2.44 m wide and 2.59 m tall (or 2.90 m for a high cube), with about 33.2 m³ of space inside, or 37.4 m³ in a high cube. We sell the 20ft shipping container new, one trip and used, standard and high cube, starting at $1,000 for a used 20ft shipping container, and we deliver worldwide.
It is the size most first-time buyers end up with, and for good reason. It fits on a driveway, beside a barn or in the corner of a yard. It goes on smaller trucks. It holds the contents of a two or three bedroom home, or a builder’s full kit of tools and materials. This guide covers what you actually get inside one, what each grade costs on our current listings, how the 20ft compares with a 40ft for the money, and what your site needs before the truck arrives.
Table of Contents
Quick answers
- Cheapest 20ft shipping container: the used 20ft standard at $1,000.
- Best value near-new: the one trip 20ft shipping container at $1,550.
- Factory new: the new 20ft standard at $2,400.
- Need more height: the used 20ft high cube at $1,650, the one trip 20ft high cube at $2,950 or the new 20ft high cube at $4,250.
- Space inside: about 5.90 x 2.35 x 2.39 m, or 13.9 m² of floor.
- Delivery: worldwide, quoted to your address.
What is a 20ft shipping container?
It is the original “twenty-foot equivalent unit” that the whole shipping industry measures itself in. When you read that a ship carries 20,000 TEU, that means room for 20,000 boxes of this size. The outside dimensions are set by ISO 668, the international standard for freight container sizes and ratings, so a 20ft shipping container built anywhere fits the same trucks, cranes and twist locks as every other one.
The build is the same as any dry container. Corrugated Corten steel walls and roof, a steel frame with corner castings at the eight corners, a marine plywood floor laid on steel cross members, and double cargo doors at one end with four locking bars. Boxes that are fit to go to sea carry a safety approval plate under the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC). The plate records the maximum gross weight, the tare and the stacking rating.
In paperwork you will see the standard height written as 20′ GP or 20DV, and the high cube as 20′ HC. The ISO type code for a standard 20ft dry box is 22G1.
Why buy a 20ft rather than a 40ft?
Price per cubic metre, a used 40ft is slightly cheaper. We worked that out further down. But a forty needs about 12.5 m of level ground plus a lot of room for the truck, and plenty of sites simply do not have that. A 20ft shipping container needs about half the length, goes on a smaller vehicle and can be placed in tight spots a 40ft would never reach. If your space is limited, or you only need around 30 m³, the 20ft is the right box. If you have the room, our 20ft vs 40ft shipping container guide and our 40ft shipping container guide go through the other side.
20ft shipping container dimensions and specifications
These are the figures from our own listings. Weights vary a little by factory, and carriers publish similar numbers. For example, the Hapag-Lloyd 20ft standard container data lists a tare of 2,350 kg and a maximum gross of 30,480 kg. We confirm the plate data of your exact unit on the quote.
| Specification | 20ft standard (20′ GP) | 20ft high cube (20′ HC) |
|---|---|---|
| External size | 6.06 x 2.44 x 2.59 m (20 x 8 x 8 ft 6 in) | 6.06 x 2.44 x 2.90 m (20 x 8 x 9 ft 6 in) |
| Internal length | approx. 5.90 m | approx. 5.90 m |
| Internal width | approx. 2.35 m | approx. 2.35 m |
| Internal height | approx. 2.39 m | approx. 2.69 m |
| Door opening | approx. 2.34 m wide x 2.28 m high | approx. 2.34 m wide x 2.58 m high |
| Floor area | approx. 13.9 m² | approx. 13.9 m² |
| Cubic capacity | approx. 33.2 m³ (1,170 cu ft) | approx. 37.4 m³ (1,320 cu ft) |
| Tare weight | approx. 2,200 to 2,400 kg | approx. 2,200 to 2,400 kg |
| Max gross weight | typically 30,480 kg | typically 30,480 kg |
| Payload | approx. 28,100 kg | approx. 28,100 kg |
| Floor | marine plywood on steel cross members | marine plywood on steel cross members |
What those numbers mean in practice
13.9 m² of floor is about the size of a single garage. That is a useful way to picture it. If your stuff would fit in a single garage stacked to just over head height, it fits in a 20ft shipping container.
The payload is huge for the size. At around 28 tonnes, a 20ft can carry almost as much weight as a 40ft. That is why shippers of heavy goods like tiles, stone, steel and machinery usually pick 20ft boxes. They run out of weight before they run out of space.
The door is the limit. Everything goes in through an opening about 2.34 m wide and 2.28 m high (2.58 m on a high cube). Measure your widest and tallest items against that before you buy.
How many pallets fit?
On the floor, a 20ft shipping container usually takes 10 standard pallets (1.2 x 1.0 m) or 11 euro pallets (1.2 x 0.8 m). In a high cube, light goods can be stacked two high. Exact numbers depend on overhang and how the pallets are turned.
How much household stuff fits?
As a rough guide, a 20ft holds the furniture and boxes from a two or three bedroom home, loaded carefully to the roof. A large family home usually needs a forty. These are estimates from typical moving loads, not a promise, because one piano or a lot of awkward furniture changes everything.
20ft shipping containers we sell right now
Prices are in US dollars before freight and delivery. They change as stock moves, so each product page shows the live figure. Every unit is wind and watertight with lockable doors.
Used 20ft shipping container: $1,000
The used 20ft shipping container is our lowest priced box and the most popular one for storage. It has worked at sea for years, so you will see dents, faded paint, old logos and some surface rust. Underneath that, it has a sound floor, a straight frame, doors that lock and seal, and no holes.
Short spec: 20 x 8 x 8 ft 6 in (6.06 x 2.44 x 2.59 m); 20′ GP standard dry; approx. 33.2 m³; tare approx. 2,200 to 2,400 kg; used, wind and watertight; cargo worthy units on request.
One trip 20ft shipping container: $1,550
A one trip box has carried one load from the factory and then been sold. You get straight panels, factory paint, fresh door gaskets and a clean floor for $550 more than a used one. For a box that will sit beside a house or in front of customers, the one trip 20ft shipping container is the one we suggest most often.
Short spec: 20 x 8 x 8 ft 6 in; 20′ GP; approx. 33.2 m³; tare approx. 2,200 to 2,300 kg; max gross 30,480 kg; Corten steel; marine plywood floor; CSC plated; one loaded voyage only.
New 20ft standard shipping container: $2,400
Our new 20ft shipping container has never carried cargo. No old owner codes, no handling marks, door seals that have never been squashed. Buy new when the box is part of a project people will see every day, or when you want the longest life outside.
Short spec: 20 x 8 x 8 ft 6 in; internal 5.90 x 2.35 x 2.39 m; door opening 2.34 x 2.28 m; 33.2 m³; tare approx. 2,200 kg; max payload approx. 28,180 kg; max gross 30,480 kg; forklift pockets; CSC certified.
Used 20ft high cube container: $1,650
High cube twenties are less common than forties, which is why they cost a bit more. The used 20ft high cube container gives you an extra 30 cm of headroom and 4.2 m³ more space for $650 over the used standard. Worth it if you will stand inside, rack the walls or store tall equipment.
Short spec: 20 x 8 x 9 ft 6 in (6.06 x 2.44 x 2.90 m); 20′ HC; internal height approx. 2.69 m; approx. 37.4 m³; tare approx. 2,200 to 2,400 kg; used, wind and watertight.
One trip 20ft high cube container: $2,950
The one trip 20ft high cube container is the usual base for small offices, workshops and garden studios. You get near-new steel and the extra height you need for insulation and a ceiling.
Short spec: 20 x 8 x 9 ft 6 in; internal height approx. 2.69 m; approx. 37.4 m³; tare approx. 2,300 kg; max gross 30,480 kg; Corten steel; CSC plated.
New 20ft high cube container: $4,250
The new 20ft high cube container is the top of the 20ft range. It is brand new and full height. Buy it for conversions where finish matters from day one.
Short spec: 20 x 8 x 9 ft 6 in; internal height approx. 2.69 m; approx. 37.4 m³; tare approx. 2,300 kg; max gross 30,480 kg; Corten steel; CSC plated.
See all of them together in our 20ft shipping containers category, or browse standard shipping containers.
How much does a 20ft shipping container cost?
On our current listings, a standard or high cube 20ft shipping container costs $1,000 to $4,250 before delivery. Condition and height account for almost all of that gap. Every box in the range has the same footprint and the same steel shell.
A couple of things stand out in the chart. The used high cube ($1,650) costs only a little more than the one trip standard ($1,550). And the new standard ($2,400) is cheaper than the one trip high cube ($2,950). So on a budget, you are usually choosing between near-new condition and extra height. You rarely get both cheaply in a 20ft.
Cost per cubic metre
Divide the price by the space inside and you see what you are really paying for.
| Container | Price | Volume | Cost per m³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Used 40ft standard (for comparison) | $1,900 | 67.7 m³ | about $28 |
| Used 20ft standard | $1,000 | 33.2 m³ | about $30 |
| Used 20ft high cube | $1,650 | 37.4 m³ | about $44 |
| One trip 20ft standard | $1,550 | 33.2 m³ | about $47 |
| New 20ft standard | $2,400 | 33.2 m³ | about $72 |
| One trip 20ft high cube | $2,950 | 37.4 m³ | about $79 |
| New 20ft high cube | $4,250 | 37.4 m³ | about $114 |
The used 20ft standard is almost as cheap per cubic metre as a used forty. That makes it the obvious choice if you only need around 30 m³. In a twenty, the high cube premium is much steeper than in a forty. Only pay it if you really need the height.
One 40ft or two 20ft?
People ask this a lot. Two used 20ft boxes cost $2,000 against $1,900 for one used 40ft, for about the same space. Two twenties mean two deliveries, two bases and two sets of locks, but you can put them in different places or keep two lots of stock apart. One forty is simpler if you have one site with room for it. If you are short of length, two twenties side by side often fit where one forty cannot.
What else to budget for
- Delivery. Depends on distance, the truck your site needs and, for export, freight and import charges. Our shipping container prices guide explains the full cost.
- Base. Concrete blocks, sleepers, compacted gravel or a pad.
- Locks. A lock box and a closed-shackle padlock.
- Extras. Vents, shelving, a side door, windows or power. See our custom container modifications page.
If price matters most, our cheap shipping containers guide shows where the real savings are.
New, one trip or used 20ft shipping container?
| Grade | What you get | Our 20ft price range | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| New | Never used, no marks, full paint | $2,400 to $4,250 | Customer-facing projects, conversions, longest life |
| One trip | One voyage, near new, factory paint | $1,550 to $2,950 | Homes, gardens, tidy sites, most buyers |
| Used | Years in service, dents and faded paint, sound and sealed | $1,000 to $1,650 | Farms, yards, building sites, pure storage |
On a 20ft, the step from used to one trip is only $550. For a box that sits beside a house, on a shop forecourt or anywhere neighbours will see it, that is money well spent. For a yard, a farm or a site compound, used is fine.
Our one trip vs used shipping container guide explains the grades in more detail, and you can browse all our used shipping containers and new shipping containers.
Wind and watertight or cargo worthy?
Wind and watertight means the box keeps out rain and wind. That is all you need for storage. Cargo worthy means the box is also fit to carry goods by sea, which is a higher grade. Only ask for cargo worthy if you plan to ship goods in it.
Standard or high cube 20ft?
Buy the standard if you are storing things on the floor, if the box must sit under a low roof or tree, or if you want the lowest price. Buy the high cube if you will stand and work inside, add insulation and a ceiling, rack the walls to the top, or store tall machinery.
For a 20ft the high cube premium is fairly large, so it pays to be honest about whether you need the height. Our high cube vs standard container guide has more on the trade-off.
Specialist 20ft containers
Sometimes a plain 20ft shipping container is not quite right. We sell 20ft units with different door layouts, a removable roof or refrigeration.
Double door (tunnel)
Doors at both ends, so nothing is more than about 3 m from a door. The used 20ft double door container is $1,950, the one trip is $2,500 and the new is $3,700. More in our double door container guide.
Open side
Bi-fold doors along almost the whole side, about 5.8 m of access, for daily picking and shop fronts. The used 20ft open side is $2,950, the one trip is $5,200 and the new is $5,700. See our open side container guide.
Open top
A removable tarpaulin roof so a crane can lower heavy loads in from above. The used 20ft open top is $2,600 and the one trip is $3,150. Our open top container guide covers how to load one.
Refrigerated
An insulated box with a built-in refrigeration unit for chilled or frozen goods. The used 20ft reefer container is $5,800 and the one trip 20ft reefer is $6,200. Before you choose, read our guide to buying a reefer container.
What people use a 20ft shipping container for
Home and garden storage
Garden tools, bikes, mowers, camping gear, seasonal decorations and everything that no longer fits in the garage. A 20ft shipping container is more secure than a timber shed and does not rot. Paint it to suit the garden and it blends in better than most people expect.
Moving and renovation
Load it at the old house, store it during the gap, or keep furniture safe and dry while a house is being renovated. With a 20ft parked on the drive, everything stays on site and you are not paying a storage company by the month.
Building sites
Contractors keep tools, small plant and materials in a twenty because it fits on tight urban plots. Our construction storage container guide covers site use and security.
Farms
Feed, seed, fertiliser, fencing and tools stay dry and away from rodents. A twenty can sit beside a barn or at the edge of a field. See our farm storage containers guide.
Business stock
Shops, online sellers and small importers use a 20ft as cheap extra stock space behind the premises. At about 13.9 m² of floor, it is a small warehouse that costs nothing in rent once paid for.
Shipping heavy goods
Because the payload is close to 28 tonnes, the 20ft is the standard box for dense cargo. If you export your own goods, every packed container must have its verified gross mass declared before loading, under the IMO rules on verifying the gross mass of a packed container. You will need the tare from the CSC plate for that.
Small offices, workshops and studios
A 20ft high cube makes a compact site office, a workshop, a garden studio or a pop-up shop. With insulation, lining, a window and power, it is a usable room of about 13 m². Our modifications team can do this work before delivery.
Will it fit? Three worked examples
These use the internal sizes from the spec table. They are examples to help you plan, not quotes, so measure your own things before deciding.
A family move
A two bedroom flat with a sofa, a double bed, a wardrobe, a table and chairs, a washing machine, a fridge and around 40 boxes. Most of that is under 2 m tall and under 2 m wide. In a standard 20ft shipping container, load the heavy white goods and the bed against the front wall, stand the sofa on end if it will take it, and fill the gaps with boxes up to about 2.3 m. It fits, with a little room to spare. A three bedroom house with a garage full of tools usually does not. That is forty territory.
A builder’s site kit
A small building firm needs a lockable store for power tools, a mixer, a generator, scaffold fittings, timber offcuts and bags of cement. Shelving along one long wall takes the tools and fittings. The mixer and generator sit near the doors so they come out first. Cement goes on a pallet off the floor. A standard 20ft shipping container handles this easily, and it fits on a small urban plot where a forty would block the road.
An online seller’s stock
A seller has 9 pallets of stock on standard 1.2 x 1.0 m pallets, each about 1.2 m high and fairly light. On the floor of a 20ft shipping container they take up 9 of the 10 pallet spaces. In a 20ft high cube, with a pallet racking frame, they could go two high and free up half the floor for packing. This is where the extra $650 for a used high cube pays for itself.
Planning the inside of a 20ft shipping container
A twenty is small enough that layout really matters. A few things make the space work much harder.
- Shelves down one side, open floor down the other. Shelving about 60 cm deep along one long wall still leaves about 1.75 m of floor. That is enough for a wheelbarrow, a bike or a pallet truck.
- Heavy and frequent at the front. Put things you use every week by the doors and things you use once a year at the back.
- Get things off the floor. A pallet or a couple of timber bearers under boxes keeps them out of any condensation or spills.
- Use the walls. The corrugated steel takes magnetic hooks and strips, so tools, cables and hoses can hang without drilling.
- Add light. A battery LED strip or a solar light makes a dark box far easier to use, and it costs very little.
- Leave an air gap. A few centimetres between goods and the walls lets air move and cuts condensation.
Preparing your site for a 20ft shipping container
The good news with a 20ft is that most sites can take one. You still need to plan a few things.
Space for the box
Allow a level area of about 6.5 x 2.6 m. Add about 2.5 m clear in front of the doors so they open fully and you can walk in with a trolley.
Space for the truck
A 20ft shipping container usually comes on a tilt-bed truck, a side-lifter or a truck with a crane. A tilt-bed needs a straight run behind the drop spot so the box can slide off, and room for the truck to pull forward. A side-lifter needs width beside the box. All of them need firm ground, a clear overhead path free of wires and branches, and a gate wide enough to get through. Our shipping container delivery guide lists the clearances and a checklist.
The base
Containers sit on their four corner castings. Put a solid block, sleeper or pad under each corner and check it with a level. A slight fall towards the doors helps rain run out rather than in. A twisted base is the most common reason doors stick after delivery.
Forklift pockets
Many 20ft containers, including our new standard, have forklift pockets in the bottom side rails. They make it easier to move an empty box around a yard with a big enough forklift. Do not try to lift a loaded box by them unless the markings and your forklift rating allow it.
Permission
Some areas need permission for a container on a property, especially at the front of a house. Check with your local authority first. It is usually quick.
Our shipping and delivery policy explains how we plan delivery for customers around the world.
Checking your 20ft shipping container on delivery
- Open and close both doors fully. They should move without forcing and all four locking bars should engage.
- Close yourself inside on a bright day and look for daylight through the roof, walls or seals.
- Walk the whole floor and feel for soft spots.
- Check the corner castings and bottom rails for fresh damage from lifting.
- Find the CSC plate on the door and note the tare and gross weight.
- Check the container number matches your paperwork. Owner codes are registered with the Bureau International des Containers (BIC).
If anything is wrong, send us photos. Our refund and returns policy explains what happens next.
Security for a 20ft shipping container
- Lock box. A steel shroud over the padlock so bolt croppers cannot reach the shackle.
- Closed-shackle padlock. Very little exposed steel to cut.
- Placement. Doors facing a house, a road or a light, not hidden behind a hedge.
- Second lock. A bar lock across both doors slows anyone down.
- Level base. A level box closes tight with no gaps at the seals.
If the box holds tools or stock, tell your insurer it is a locked steel container. Many insurers see that as lower risk than a timber shed.
Making a 20ft shipping container last
Containers are made of weathering steel (Corten), which forms a tight rust layer that slows further corrosion. That gives you a long life, as long as you do the basics.
- Keep the roof clear of standing water and leaves. Pooling water is the main cause of rust holes.
- Grease the door hinges and locking bar cams a couple of times a year.
- Touch up scratches with zinc primer and paint.
- Keep soil and gravel away from the bottom rails.
- Fit vents, or leave a gap between your goods and the walls, to cut condensation.
- Recheck the base is level after a wet season.
In shipping service a container usually works for something like 10 to 15 years before it is sold off. On land, looked after, it can last a lot longer. Climate makes a big difference, so a box near the sea needs more care than one inland.
How to judge a used 20ft shipping container
Cosmetic, and fine for storage
- Faded paint and old logos.
- Small dents in the corrugated walls.
- Light surface rust on the walls.
Worth worrying about
- Rust holes, especially on the roof and bottom rails.
- Soft or broken floorboards.
- Doors that will not close or lock without a fight.
- Torn door gaskets.
- Damaged corner castings.
We check every used box for the second list before we sell it. If you buy elsewhere from photos, ask to see the roof, the floor, the door seals, all four corners and the CSC plate.
Buying a 20ft shipping container for export
If the box will carry goods by sea, ask for these.
- Cargo worthy grade for a used box, or a one trip or new box with a recent CSC plate.
- The tare and gross weight from the plate, which you need for the shipping weight declaration.
- The container number for the booking.
- Clear paperwork showing you own the box, if you are shipping it as a shipper-owned container.
For heavy goods the 20ft shipping container is usually the right size anyway, because shipping lines and road rules limit total weight more than space. Tell us the destination and the cargo, and we will quote the right grade.
Mistakes to avoid when buying a 20ft shipping container
- Not measuring the gate and driveway. The truck has to get in as well as the box.
- Paying for a high cube you do not need. On a 20ft the premium is large.
- Paying for cargo worthy when you only want storage. Wind and watertight is enough.
- Putting it straight on soil. It sinks, twists and the doors jam.
- Pushing the doors against a fence. Leave room to open them fully.
- Buying without the container number and plate data. We include both on every quote.
How to buy a 20ft shipping container from Prime Cargo Box
Pick the grade and height from the product pages above. Add it to your cart or ask for a quote, and give us your delivery address. We confirm the unit, its plate data and a delivered price. For orders going abroad, we arrange export paperwork and show local duties separately.
New to containers? Our step-by-step guide on how to buy a shipping container covers payment, inspection and delivery. You can also read our conex box for sale guide, compare all the types of shipping containers, check every size on our shipping container dimensions page, or look at our storage containers for sale guide.
20ft shipping container FAQ
How big is a 20ft shipping container?
Outside, 6.06 m long, 2.44 m wide and 2.59 m tall (2.90 m for a high cube). Inside, about 5.90 x 2.35 m, with 2.39 m of height (about 2.69 m in a high cube).
How much does a 20ft shipping container cost?
On our current listings, $1,000 used to $2,400 new for a standard, and $1,650 to $4,250 for a high cube, before delivery.
How much does a 20ft shipping container weigh?
About 2,200 to 2,400 kg empty. The exact tare is on the CSC plate.
How much can a 20ft shipping container hold?
About 33.2 m³ in a standard or 37.4 m³ in a high cube, with a payload of around 28 tonnes.
Will a car fit in a 20ft shipping container?
Most cars, yes. The inside is about 5.9 m long and the door about 2.34 m wide. Check your car’s width with the mirrors folded, and leave room to open a door and climb out.
Is a used 20ft shipping container good enough?
For storage, yes, as long as it is wind and watertight with a sound floor and working doors. Every used box we sell meets that standard.
Can I put a 20ft shipping container in my garden?
Usually, if a truck can reach the spot and the ground is firm and level. Check local rules first. Some areas need permission.
One trip or new?
A new box has never carried cargo. A one trip box has made a single loaded voyage. Both are near new. One trip costs less.
Can you stack a 20ft shipping container?
Yes. Containers stack by their corner castings, and the stacking rating is on the CSC plate. For storage on land, two high is common. Tie them together with twist locks or bridge clamps, and always stack on a firm, level base.
Is a 20ft high cube worth the extra money?
Only if you need the height. In a twenty the high cube costs quite a lot more per cubic metre. It makes sense for offices, workshops, tall equipment or stacked pallets.
Do you deliver 20ft shipping containers worldwide?
Yes. We quote freight, export documents and local delivery for your address. Use our contact page and tell us where it is going.
Ready to order your 20ft shipping container?
For storage at the lowest price, the used 20ft shipping container at $1,000 is hard to beat. For a tidy, near-new box beside a home or business, the one trip 20ft at $1,550 is the best value in the range. If you need extra height, start with the used 20ft high cube at $1,650. If you want everything brand new, the new 20ft at $2,400 is ready to order.
Browse the full 20ft shipping containers range, see everything on our products page, or contact our team with your site and destination and we will send a delivered price.
Sources and References
- ISO 668: Series 1 freight containers, classification, dimensions and ratings
- IMO: International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC)
- IMO: Verification of the gross mass of a packed container
- Hapag-Lloyd: 20ft standard container data
- Bureau International des Containers (BIC)
- Weathering steel (Corten) overview
Photos: Gazouya-japan (CC BY-SA 4.0), IPLManagement (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikideas1 (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons.
