Container specs are easy to find; what trips importers up is the gap between theoretical capacity and what loads in practice. Here are the standard boxes with both numbers.
Standard dry containers
Type
Internal (L×W×H, m)
Volume
Loads in practice
Max payload*
20' GP
5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39
~33 m³
25–28 m³
~28,200 kg
40' GP
12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39
~67 m³
54–58 m³
~26,700 kg
40' HC
12.03 × 2.35 × 2.69
~76 m³
65–68 m³
~26,500 kg
45' HC
13.55 × 2.35 × 2.69
~86 m³
72–78 m³
~25,600 kg
*Container max payload is rarely your real limit in Canada — road weight rules usually cap loaded containers lower, and the legal maximum depends on the truck configuration and province. Heavy, dense cargo (tiles, steel, machinery) often "weighs out" a 20' before it "cubes out". Tell us your commodity and lane and we'll confirm the loadable weight before your supplier stuffs the box.
Special equipment
Reefer (RF) — temperature-controlled; usable volume is smaller than a dry box of the same length
Open top (OT) — for cargo loaded by crane or taller than door height
Flat rack (FR) — machinery and out-of-gauge pieces; lashing and permits matter
FCL or LCL?
LCL is priced per cubic metre and makes sense for small shipments. Above roughly 13–15 m³, a 20' FCL usually wins: flat cost, no shared-container handling, less damage exposure, faster at destination. Run your cartons through our CBM calculator to see where you land.
Dimensions and payloads vary slightly by container manufacturer and carrier. Verify critical specs against your carrier's equipment guide, or ask us.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How many pallets fit in a 40-foot container?▼
With standard North American 48"×40" pallets, a 40' container typically takes around 20–21 single-stacked; a 20' takes roughly half that. Actual counts move with pallet overhang, stacking, and how the load is turned, so confirm against your real pallet dimensions before booking. Cube isn't the only limit either — heavy pallets can hit weight caps first.
What is the maximum legal weight for a loaded container in Canada?▼
Less than the container's rated payload, in most cases — the binding limit on Canadian roads is set by provincial weight regulations and the truck/chassis configuration, not by the box. Dense cargo like tile, steel, or machinery frequently maxes out legally allowable weight well before the container is full. Confirm the loadable weight for your lane before your supplier stuffs the container; we can check this for a specific commodity and destination.
What's the difference between a 40' standard and a 40' high cube?▼
Height — the high cube runs about a foot taller inside, which adds roughly nine cubic metres of capacity for light, bulky freight. High cubes dominate the trans-Pacific fleet and are often priced the same or close to a standard 40', so for volume-driven cargo they're usually the default ask. For weight-driven cargo the extra cube buys you nothing.
What happens if my container is overweight in Canada?▼
An over-legal-weight container either needs special permits (where the route allows them) or has to be transloaded — de-stuffed into lighter road loads — before it can travel, both of which add cost and days. The fix is upstream: verify the legal loadable weight for your delivery lane at booking and hold the supplier to it. Catching it at the port is the expensive version.
Is LCL slower than FCL from China to Canada?▼
Usually somewhat — LCL rides the same vessels but adds consolidation at origin and de-consolidation at a destination CFS, each with its own cutoffs and handling queue. It also passes through more hands, which raises damage exposure. That's why the FCL-versus-LCL decision is about total cost and risk, not just the per-cubic-metre rate.
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