In international trade and logistics, 20ft containers are a standard specification and are widely used in global cargo transportation. As a professional aluminum product factory, our most commonly used shipping container is 20ft. This article will take you to learn all the secrets of 20ft container.
What Is 20ft
20ft standard container, usually referred to as 20ft, is an international standard transport container, mainly used for sea, land, and rail transportation. According to ISO regulations, the external dimensions of a 20ft container are 6.058 meters long, 2.438 meters wide, and 2.591 meters high (approximately 20 feet × 8 feet × 8.5 feet); its internal volume is about 33 cubic meters; and its maximum load-bearing capacity can reach 28 tons.
20ft can withstand the pressure of stacking and other containers. It can be operated by standardized lifting and transportation equipment. The door of the 20-foot container is on the long side, which is convenient for loading and unloading of goods.
20ft Container Structure
Container body
The container body is made of high-strength steel and can withstand harsh transportation environments and external pressure. Its surface is rust-proofed, has good corrosion resistance, and can be used in a variety of environments, such as the ocean and land.
Doors
Both ends of the container are equipped with openable doors for easy loading and unloading of goods. The door design usually adopts a sealed structure to ensure the safety and moisture-proofness of the goods during transportation.
Floor
The floor of the container is generally made of wood or composite materials with good load-bearing capacity and anti-slip performance, which can effectively protect the goods from damage.
Ventilation device
Some special-purpose containers are equipped with ventilation devices to keep the internal air circulating and prevent the goods from getting damp or moldy.
Standard Container 20ft Advantages
- Efficient space utilization
The standardized design of the 20-foot container makes the loading and stacking of goods more efficient, which can make full use of the space of the container and reduce transportation costs.
- High safety
The closed structure of the container effectively prevents damage and theft of goods during transportation, ensuring the safety of the goods. In addition, the design of the container can withstand the influence of bad weather and marine environment.
- Strong adaptability
20 ft container can be transported by multiple modes of transportation, such as ships, trains, and trucks, and has strong adaptability to meet different transportation needs.
- Easy to manage
Transportation companies can track and manage goods through technical means such as container numbers and barcodes.
20 ft Inner Dimensions, Volume And Weight
20 ft standard container is the most common small container. It is cheap and can meet the transportation needs of most goods. The following is the actual size information of the 20-foot container:
| Size Specifiations | 20 ft Container |
| Inner Length | 5.9m |
| Inner Width | 2.3m |
| Inner Height | 2.3m |
| Weight | 2300kg |
| Loading Capacity | 25000kg |
| Capacity | 33.2m³ |
Note: The above size information is for reference only, you need to consult the supplier for the actual size.
Take our company’s aluminum export as an example, a 20ft container can actually only load 24m³. You can calculate how many can be loaded according to the size of each box of your goods, but you also need to consider the weight of the goods.
How Much Cargo Can A 20 ft Container Hold
I will calculate for you how many cartons of full size deep foil pans can be packed into a 20ft container. Here are the relevant size details of the deep full size container in my factory:
| Product | Full Size Deep Pan |
| Top Out Size | 526*325*76mm |
| Bottom Size | 451*251mm |
| Capacity | 9700ml |
| Weight | 100g/pcs |
| Quantity Per Carton | 50pcs/carton |
| Carton Size | 54.5*34*35cm |
First of all, everyone should understand that no matter whether they are placed horizontally or vertically, the height of cartons and containers remains unchanged. If the height remains unchanged, the volume of the cartons will not change. We only need to divide the volume of the container by the volume of the cartons to get the number of cartons.
First, calculate the volume of each carton:
Volumn=54.5*34*35=64,855cm³=0.064855m³
Then, divide the container volume by the carton volume to get the number of cartons that can be loaded in 20ft.
Number of cartons = 24/0.064855≈370
Calculate the weight of full-size deep foil containers and cartons
Weight = 100g * 50 * 370 = 1,850,000g = 1850kg
20ft can carry 50×370=18500 pieces of full size deep foil pans.
In short, the number of horizontal and vertical placements is the same. However, because aluminum foil containers are fragile products, container suppliers will take protective measures, such as fillers, bubble films, or wooden frames for reinforcement, to prevent the goods from shifting or being damaged during transportation. The specific number needs to be calculated by a professional business manager for you.