---
title: The Definitive Shipping Container Capacity Chart
description: Gauge the amount of inventory or equipment you can keep in an onsite storage container, with our container capacity chart. We’ve crunched the numbers.
---

[Think Inside the Box Blog | Shipping Container News ](https://www.falconstructures.com/blog)

# [The Definitive Shipping Container Capacity Chart](https://www.falconstructures.com/blog/container-capacity-chart)

 Written by [Paige Welsh](https://www.falconstructures.com/blog/author/paige-welsh) | Jan 31, 2019

If you’re planning to use a shipping container for storage, you’re probably wondering how much stuff you can fit inside. To help you gauge the amount of inventory or equipment you can keep in an [onsite storage container](https://www.falconstructures.com/onsite-storage-containers), we’ve crunched the numbers and created the definitive container capacity chart.

-  
  
  Weight capacity
  
  Internal volume
  
  Volumetric shelf space
- 10-Foot Container
  
  
  
  ~22,000 lb   
  ~9,980 kg
  
  555.5 cubic-feet   
  15.7 cubic-meters
  
  135 cubic-feet   
  3.8 cubic-meters
- 10-Foot High Cube
  
  
  
  ~22,000 lb   
  ~9,980 kg
  
  626.4 cubic-feet   
  17.7 cubic-meters
  
  144 cubic-feet   
  4.1 cubic-meters
- 20-Foot Container
  
  
  
  ~55,000 lb   
  ~24,900 kg
  
  1156 cubic-feet   
  32.7 cubic-meters
  
  405 cubic-feet   
  11.5 cubic-meters
- 20-Foot High Cube
  
  
  
  ~55,000 lb   
  ~24,900 kg
  
  1303.7 cubic-feet   
  36.9 cubic-meters
  
  432 cubic-feet   
  12.2 cubic-meters
- 40-Foot Container
  
  
  
  ~61,000 lb   
  ~27,600 kg
  
  2367.2 cubic-feet   
  67 cubic-meters
  
  810 cubic-feet   
  22.9 cubic-meters
- 40-Foot High Cube
  
  
  
  ~61,000 lb   
  ~27,600 kg
  
  2619 cubic-feet   
  74 cubic-meters
  
  1620 cubic-feet   
  45.9 cubic-meters

*  
***Assumes 1.5-foot shelf depth with shelving along both long walls. While you can technically make a perfect shelving system that creates more space, these conservative calculations are based on designs that we have found to be cost-effective and practical for accommodating features like doors and climate control units. *

The numbers above are calculated using the [interior dimensions of shipping containers](https://www.falconstructures.com/falcon-box-plans). When using these numbers to determine what you can store in your container, we recommend using a packing efficiency modifier because it’s nearly impossible to use every square inch of space. For example, if you need to gauge the volume of dry goods you can fit in a [container with shelves](https://www.falconstructures.com/storage-container-with-shelving), multiply the volumetric shelf space by a packing efficiency modifier of .8 or .7 to create a realistic estimate.

## To give you a sense of scale here are some calculations we’ve made.

**How many oil drums can you fit inside a container?**

- 10-foot standard and high cube containers = 40 drums
- 20-foot standard and high cube containers = 80 drums
- 40-foot standard and high cube containers = 160 drums

**If you use every possible inch of space, how many banker’s boxes can you fit inside a container?**

- 10 foot standard container = 441 bankers boxes
- 10-foot high cube container = 490 bankers boxes
- 20-foot standard container = 912 bankers boxes
- 20-foot high cube container = 1026 bankers boxes
- 40-foot standard container = 1953 bankers boxes
- 40-foot high cube container = 2170 bankers boxes

**One twenty-foot container is 160 square feet - about the size of the [smallest legal apartment in San Francisco](https://sf.curbed.com/2012/3/6/10390876/californias-smallest-legal-apartment-is-right-here-in-s-f).**

****

**A 40-foot container could fit two Volkswagen Beetles with room to spare.**

[Storage containers can be modified](https://www.falconstructures.com/shipping-container-modifications) to provide proper storage for a wide range of products. For instance, [containers used for restaurant inventory storage](https://www.falconstructures.com/blog/restaurant-storeroom-conex-containers) usually include climate control features. Custom shelving and cabinetry also keep storage tidy. Whatever you plan to store, it will be secure inside a container, just review the chart above to make sure it will fit.

*To learn more, check out our other resources:*

- Blog: [Configuration Inspiration for Onsite Storage Containers](https://www.falconstructures.com/blog/configuration-onsite-storage-containers).
- Blog: [Insulating your Shipping Container Structure.](https://www.falconstructures.com/blog/how-to-insulate-a-shipping-container)
- Guide: [Examples and Explanations of Shipping Container Modifications](https://www.falconstructures.com/shipping-container-modifying-ebook).

Questions? Contact us at [sales@falconstructures.com](mailto:sales@falconstructures.com) or 512-231-1010.

Ready to talk to an expert about your next project? [Request a quote today](https://www.falconstructures.com/request-a-quote).

[View full post](https://www.falconstructures.com/blog/container-capacity-chart)

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