40ft Open Top Container dimensions
A 40ft Open Top Container measures 12.03 m (39′6″) long, 2.35 m (7′9″) wide and 2.35 m (7′8″) high inside — about 66.4 m³ (2,346 ft³) of usable space, with a payload up to 26,600 kg (58,643 lb).
ISO 40ft open top (tarpaulin roof) for top-loaded or over-height cargo. Height shown is to the roof rail.
Internal dimensions and capacity
| Specification | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Internal length | 12.03 m | 39′6″ (39.5 ft) |
| Internal width | 2.35 m | 7′9″ |
| Internal height | 2.35 m | 7′8″ |
| Capacity | 66.4 m³ | 2,346 ft³ |
| Floor area | 28.3 m² | 305 ft² |
| Max payload | 26,600 kg | 58,643 lb |
| TEU equivalent | 2 | |
Internal (usable) figures, not external. Capacity is the geometric interior volume — real cargo never fills 100% of it, because pallets, dunnage and irregular shapes leave void space.
Max payload is what the equipment itself is rated for. What you may legally load is often lower once the road leg's gross and per-axle limits apply — see container weight limits and max payload.
How many pallets fit in a 40ft Open Top Container?
| Pallet | On the floor | Double-stacked | Max load height for 2 tiers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Euro pallet (1200 × 800 mm) | 25 | 50 | 1.17 m |
| Standard pallet (1200 × 1000 mm) | 22 | 44 | 1.17 m |
| US GMA pallet (48 × 40 in) | 20 | 40 | 1.17 m |
Maximum floor fit with pallets turned to their best orientation — the same basis as the widely quoted 11-in-a-20ft and 25-in-a-40ft figures. It is a geometric maximum: it assumes pallets touch, so allow a pallet or two fewer where a crew needs handling clearance, and check the door opening for the last row.
Double-stacking is a condition, not a promise: two tiers only fit if each loaded pallet stays under the height in the last column. Weight usually bites first — at a mid-range 700 kg per loaded pallet, this vessel's 26,600 kg payload allows about 38 of them.
How much of this sea container will your cargo fill?
The table above is the box. What matters is how your cargo sits in it — how many units fit, where the weight lands, and whether you run out of floor or payload first. Enter your cargo and get the answer, free and without signing up.
Working out pallet counts? See how many pallets fit in a 40ft container and how many boxes fit in a container.
Other sea containers
- 20ft Standard Shipping Container
- 40ft Standard Shipping Container
- 40ft High Cube Shipping Container
- 20ft Refrigerated Container
- 45ft High Cube Shipping Container
- 55ft Domestic Car Container
- 10ft Standard Shipping Container
- 20ft High Cube Shipping Container
- 40ft Refrigerated (High Cube)
- 20ft Open Top Container
- 20ft Flat Rack
- 40ft Flat Rack
- 53ft Intermodal Container
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