Decoding Shipping Container Types and Sizes: 3 Helpful Tips

If figuring out what size or type of shipping container to purchase has you stumped, don’t fret. The following basic tips can help you home in on the modifiable shipping container that best meets your industrial, construction, storage, mobile office, or living space needs.

Tip No. 1: Start by focusing on standard shipping container sizes.

Unless you have an unusual application,* a standard 20-foot or 40-foot shipping container will probably work for you. Curious about how tall, long, or wide a 20-foot or 40-foot shipping container is? Check out the dimensions for the two most common shipping container sizes below (and click the links for more details):

20-Foot Shipping Container Dimensions

Exterior: 20' (L) x 8' (W) x 8.6" (H)
Interior: 19' 4"' (L) x 7' 6" (W) x 7' 9" (H)
Square footage: Approx. 150 sq ft
Cubic footage: Approx. 1200 cu ft

40-Foot Shipping Container Dimensions

Exterior: 40' (L) x 8' (W) x 8.6" (H)
Interior: 39'5" (L) x 7'8" (W) x 7'9" (H)
Square footage: Approx. 300 sq ft
Cubic footage: Approx. 2400 cu ft

* If you DO have an unusual modified shipping container application, contact us as there are many other sizes available or we can even create a container in any size for you. We simplify the process for you.

Tip No. 2: Get to know common shipping container lingo.

ISO container, Connex container, seacan … the container industry uses a wide variety of terms to describe shipping containers. Common and interchangeable container terms include:

• Shipping container.
• Sea container or seacan.
• Intermodal container.
• Military van container or milvan.
• Ocean container.
• Conex or connex box.
• ISO container. 

For more container insight, visit our Shipping Container Basics page.

Tip No. 3: Dive deeper into uses for common shipping container types.

Shipping containers were designed to serve a variety of needs. So it’s important to find out the original, intended use of the shipping container you’re considering, where it’s been, and if it is suitable for your application.

We’ve included the most common shipping container types below and also explain how these terms apply to the containers Falcon modifies.

• Dry containers vs. refrigerated containers. Falcon only modifies dry containers, however climate control systems are a popular option our clients choose.
• One-trip containers. As the name implies, one-trip containers have only traveled from overseas (Asia or Europe) to the U.S. once. We recommend and sell one-trip containers for most customer applications, especially work and living spaces.
• Used containers. These containers have traveled back and forth overseas several times. Falcon doesn’t recommend used containers for most applications beyond storage.
• Cargo worthy containers. These containers have been certified to transport cargo on a ship. The term doesn’t apply to Falcon containers, since our clients’ modified containers won’t be traveling by ship.
• Wind and watertight containers. Because we purchase containers with modification in mind, Falcon guarantees all containers as wind and watertight for one year.

We Can Fill In the Blanks for You

If you’re ready to weigh your options, start by checking out our Modified Shipping Container Products page to review our standard products by category (Storage, Workspace, Living Space, Industrial, and Custom).

Then, feel free to reach out to us for insight or a quote. We would be happy to answer any questions you have regarding your shipping container application. To speak with one of our friendly Falcon representatives, give us a call at 877-704-0177 today.