Al MadinaShipping Group
Container reference

Pick the right box.
We book the right slot.

ISO container specs — dimensions, payload, cubic capacity — for every type we book. If your cargo doesn't obviously fit, send a coordinator the dimensions and we'll match it to the right container or the right break-bulk slot.

Which container fits?

Six common scenarios. Six straight answers.

You're shipping 1–4 cars
20' Dry or RoRo

A 20' fits 1–2 sedans tip-to-tail or 3–4 small cars with strapping. Below 4 cars, RoRo is usually cheaper than a dedicated container.

You're shipping 4–6 cars
40' High Cube

The 75.6m³ interior plus 9'6" height accommodates 4 sedans on a custom rack, or up to 6 with proper bracing.

You have palletized cargo
40' Dry or 40' HC

Standard 40' fits 21 EUR pallets / 24 US pallets on the floor. HC adds ~12% volume without extra width — useful for stackable goods.

You have over-width or over-height cargo
Flat Rack or Open Top

Flat Rack handles up to ~12m × 2.37m × 2m bare; Open Top takes over-height loads under a tarp. Both need lift-on/lift-off rather than drive-on.

You're moving frozen, chilled, or temperature-sensitive goods
Reefer (20' or 40') or HC Reefer

Power supply at port + plug-in slot on vessel. Tighter internal dimensions because of the refrigeration unit and insulated walls.

You need maximum volume per slot
45' High Cube

85.6m³ — about 13% more than a 40' HC. Availability varies by lane; we book based on what's actually sailing your route.

Full specification table

Every container we book, with the numbers shippers actually need.

Internal dimensions, tare weight, max payload, and cubic capacity for 14 ISO container types. Two variants are listed where a heavy-payload build exists alongside the standard. Tolerances vary slightly between owners — use these as planning specs and confirm with us before booking.

20-foot

ContainerExt heightTare (kg)Max cargo (kg)Int L × W × H (mm)Cube (m³)
20' Dry — standard
8'6"1,63018,6905,933 × 2,336 × 2,39933.2
20' Dry — heavy payload
8'6"2,30021,7005,905 × 2,350 × 2,39233.2
20' Bulk
Loose cargo (grain, plastics, powders)
8'6"2,55021,4505,896 × 2,350 × 2,34932.6
20' Flat Rack
Over-width, project cargo
8'6"2,60021,4005,954 × 2,374 × 2,25531.9
20' Open Top
Top-loaded cargo, over-height when tarped
8'0"2,45021,5505,891 × 2,350 × 2,33032.2
20' Reefer
Temperature-controlled
8'6"2,82021,1805,545 × 2,252 × 2,25928.2

40-foot

ContainerExt heightTare (kg)Max cargo (kg)Int L × W × H (mm)Cube (m³)
40' Dry — standard
8'6"2,64027,84012,058 × 2,343 × 2,38367.3
40' Dry — heavy payload
8'6"3,86026,62012,039 × 2,350 × 2,39267.7
40' Flat Rack
Over-width, project cargo
8'6"5,10025,38012,072 × 2,374 × 1,99557.1
40' High Cube — standard
9'6" external height — common for volumetric cargo
9'6"3,01027,47012,060 × 2,340 × 2,67975.6
40' High Cube — heavy payload
9'6"3,99026,49012,035 × 2,350 × 2,69676.3
40' Reefer
Temperature-controlled
8'6"4,10026,38011,679 × 2,286 × 2,21159.0
40' HC Reefer
Temperature-controlled, 9'6" height
9'6"4,55025,93011,672 × 2,286 × 2,50566.8

45-foot

ContainerExt heightTare (kg)Max cargo (kg)Int L × W × H (mm)Cube (m³)
45' High Cube
Maximum volume for road-legal length
9'6"3,93029,09013,582 × 2,345 × 2,68785.6
Dimensions reference standard ISO 1496-1 builds. Door openings are typically 20–40mm narrower than the internal width. Reefer capacities reflect the post-insulation interior. Real-world tolerances vary by container owner and age — confirm critical dimensions with us before commitment.
Not sure which container?

Send us the dimensions.
We'll match it to a slot.

For over-dimension, over-weight, or oddly shaped cargo, a coordinator will walk through container vs. break-bulk vs. flat-rack with you on a call.