Shipping Container Sizes, Field Guide, Van Blanc Ent. Inc., Brantford ON
FIELD GUIDE · ISSUE 506 · SIZES HUB

in Canada

Last updated: June 29, 2026

Quick answer. Series 1 containers are dimensionally defined by ISO 668:2020 with capacity ratings per ISO 1496-1:2013. Canadian shipping containers come in five standard lengths: 10ft, 20ft, 40ft, 45ft, and 53ft. Each can be Standard (8ft 6in tall) or High Cube (9ft 6in tall, one foot taller). External width is 8ft. The 20ft and 40ft are by far the most common Ontario purchases for storage, working operations, and conversions. Our page on buying a 20 ft container in Ontario lists each grade we stock and the road distance to 12 delivery points. Family-run Ontario shipping container supplier since 1995. 4.9 stars across 140+ Google reviews, 1-3 day delivery.

Know your size? Every length in this guide, from the 10ft to the 53ft high cube, is listed on our shipping containers for sale page with the four grades we sell, new (one-trip) through as-is. Our 4 Brantford yards deliver across Ontario in 1 to 3 days, and you pay once it lands. East of Toronto, new and used containers trucked east to Ajax cover the same sizes about 143 km from the yards. The fastest answer is a call.

Shipping container sizes from 10ft to 53ft

Shipping container sizes look like a simple decision until you start specifying. The five standard lengths each have Standard and High Cube height variants, plus specialty configurations (open-top, flat-rack, double-door, side-opening, pallet-wide) that change usable interior dimensions in ways the basic spec sheets do not capture.

This guide covers what each container size actually is, what fits inside, what its real-world working dimensions are after accounting for door thresholds and corner posts, and which container size is right for which use case. Linked deep-dives go into specific size details (10ft, 20ft, 40ft, 45ft, 53ft) with current pricing for the Canadian market.

Shipping container sizes at a glance: 10ft, 20ft, 40ft, 45ft High Cube and 53ft High Cube external footprints to scale, from Van Blanc in Brantford
The five standard container lengths to scale. High Cube adds one foot of height (9ft 6in).

Here are the five standard Canadian container sizes side by side. The internal figures are real usable dimensions after the corner posts and door threshold, not the headline external numbers. Every one of these lengths comes through our Brantford yards, and the full list of boxes currently in stock shows what is on the ground this week. For Peel Region, our page on container sizes delivered to Brampton sets inside dimensions and pallet counts beside road distances to nine Brampton areas.

“The spec sheet is where every size conversation starts, and the door opening is where half of them end. The paper says 7 foot 8 across the door. The real question is what you are driving through it: a skid steer with forks is wider than the brochure thinks. We measure the machine, then pick the box.”

Paul LeBlanc, owner. Nineteen years in the container industry, operating Van Blanc since 1995.

Container sizeExternal (L x W x H)Internal usable (L x W x H)CapacityBest for
10 ft Standard10ft x 8ft x 8ft 6in~9ft 4in x 7ft 8in x 7ft 10in560 cu ftTight urban lots, small loads
20 ft Standard20ft x 8ft x 8ft 6in~19ft 4in x 7ft 8in x 7ft 10in1,170 cu ftResidential, hobby-farm, first-time buyers
40 ft Standard40ft x 8ft x 8ft 6in~39ft 6in x 7ft 8in x 7ft 10in2,395 cu ftFarms, contractors, best cost per cubic foot
40 ft High Cube40ft x 8ft x 9ft 6in~39ft 6in x 7ft 8in x 8ft 10in2,689 cu ftConversions, occupied space, tall items
45 ft High Cube45ft x 8ft x 9ft 6in~44ft 5in x 7ft 8in x 8ft 10in3,040 cu ftMobile depots, longest secure span
53 ft High Cube53ft x 8ft 6in x 9ft 6inwidest domestic standard3,901 cu ftIndustrial-scale domestic storage

How Big Is a Shipping Container?

A standard shipping container is 20 or 40 feet long, 8 feet wide and 8 feet 6 inches tall on the outside. High Cube containers stand 9 feet 6 inches tall, and the biggest shipping container size sold in Canada is the 53 ft High Cube, which is also 6 inches wider than the rest at 8 feet 6 inches. How tall are shipping containers inside? About 7 feet 10 inches in a standard box and 8 feet 10 inches in a High Cube, with the door opening a few inches lower. The smallest common size is the 10 ft, which keeps the width and height of a 20 ft at half the length.

20ft standard container dimensions

External: 20ft long x 8ft wide x 8ft 6in tall. Internal usable: roughly 19ft 4in long x 7ft 8in wide x 7ft 10in tall. Cubic capacity 1,170 cu ft. Tare weight 4,800-5,200 lbs depending on age. The most-versatile size for residential, hobby-farm, and small-business buyers. Fits on tight driveways with reasonable access. The default starting recommendation for first-time buyers without a clear use case for something larger. Where the decision narrows to this box or its taller sibling, our 20ft High Cube versus Standard comparison for Canadian buyers walks through the headroom and availability trade-offs.

40ft standard container dimensions

External: 40ft long x 8ft wide x 8ft 6in tall. Internal usable: roughly 39ft 6in long x 7ft 8in wide x 7ft 10in tall. Cubic capacity 2,395 cu ft. Tare weight 8,500-9,200 lbs. The default for working operations – farms, contractors, light manufacturing, small commercial. Best cost-per-cubic-foot of any size. The 40ft is what most buyers should pick once they have considered their actual storage volume needs. Size is also the biggest lever on what you pay, which we break down in how each size and grade is priced in 2026.

40ft High Cube container dimensions

External: 40ft long x 8ft wide x 9ft 6in tall (one foot taller than the Standard 40ft). Internal usable: roughly 39ft 6in long x 7ft 8in wide x 8ft 10in tall. Cubic capacity 2,689 cu ft. Tare weight slightly higher than Standard 40ft. The right answer for any conversion that involves human occupancy (offices, cabins, livable space) because the extra foot of height accommodates ceiling finish and insulation. Also the right answer for any storage with tall items (vertical machinery, racked palletized goods, tall equipment).

45ft and 53ft High Cube dimensions

External: 45ft long x 8ft wide x 9ft 6in tall. Internal usable: roughly 44ft 5in long x 7ft 8in wide x 8ft 10in tall. Cubic capacity 3,040 cu ft. The size for contractor mobile depots, large-equipment storage, and operations needing the longest secure span available in standard container format. Requires longer placement access than 40ft.

External: 53ft long x 8ft 6in wide x 9ft 6in tall. Note the 8ft 6in width is wider than other sizes (vs the standard 8ft). North American domestic intermodal standard. Internal cubic 3,901 cu ft. Used for high-volume domestic storage and freight. Not common in residential or hobby contexts; the right answer for industrial-scale operations.

10ft container dimensions

External: 10ft long x 8ft wide x 8ft 6in tall. Internal usable: roughly 9ft 4in long x 7ft 8in wide x 7ft 10in tall. Cubic capacity 560 cu ft. The size for limited-space residential, urban backlot, or specific small-load applications. Less common in the Canadian market than 20ft and 40ft because the cost-per-cubic-foot is higher and most buyers find a 20ft a better value.

Container door opening dimensions

Interior length tells you what fits once it is inside. The door opening tells you whether it can get in at all, and on every container ever built the doorway is both narrower and shorter than the space behind it. This is the single most common sizing mistake we see: a buyer measures the interior, orders the box, and then discovers the machine will not pass the frame.

ContainerDoor opening widthDoor opening height
10ft standard2,337 mm (7 ft 8 in)about 2,260 mm (7 ft 5 in)
20ft standard2,340 mm (7 ft 8 in)2,292 mm (7 ft 6 in)
20ft high cube2,340 mm (7 ft 8 in)2,597 mm (8 ft 6 in)
40ft standard2,340 mm (7 ft 8 in)2,292 mm (7 ft 6 in)
40ft high cube2,340 mm (7 ft 8 in)2,597 mm (8 ft 6 in)

Two practical readings. Width is effectively constant at 7 ft 8 in across the fleet, so a standard 48 by 40 inch pallet passes comfortably either way round, and width is almost never the problem. Height is the problem, and it is why the high cube matters more at the doorway than it does in the ceiling: an extra foot of opening is the difference between a forklift mast clearing the frame and not. Note also that door height varies a little between builders, roughly 7 ft 5 in to 7 ft 6 in on standards, so if a machine is within an inch of the limit, measure the actual unit rather than trusting any chart including this one.

Tare weight, payload and the CSC plate

Weight is where published spec sheets openly disagree, and understanding why is what separates a confident buyer from a guessing one. Tare is the empty weight of the box. Maximum gross is what the unit is rated to weigh fully loaded. Payload is simply the difference.

ContainerTare (empty)Common max gross ratingResulting payload
20ft standardabout 2,230 kg (4,900 lb)30,480 kgabout 28,250 kg
40ft standardabout 3,700 kg (8,160 lb)30,480 kgabout 26,780 kg
40ft high cubeabout 3,970 kg (8,750 lb)30,480 kgabout 26,510 kg

Now the honest part. Compare supplier charts and you will find a 20ft payload quoted anywhere from roughly 21,770 kg to 28,250 kg. That is not one of them being wrong. It reflects two genuinely different plate ratings in circulation: some units are rated to a 30,480 kg maximum gross under the ISO series, and others are plated at 24,000 kg. Subtract the same tare from each and you get two very different payloads, both correct for their own box.

Which means the only figure that governs your container is the one stamped on its own CSC safety approval plate, on the right-hand door. Not this table, not a competitor’s table. If payload matters to your project, read the plate on the actual unit before you load it, and our guide to reading a CSC plate walks through every line on it. The dimensional and rating framework behind all of this is set by ISO 668, with the structural and testing requirements in ISO 1496-1.

Ontario road weight limits for loaded containers

Here is the part that dimensions guides written for a general audience leave out entirely, and it catches Ontario buyers who plan to move a loaded box. A container plated to carry 28 tonnes does not give you permission to haul 28 tonnes down a provincial highway. Those are two separate limits, and the road one is stricter in practice: highway weight regulation governs the total loaded vehicle, axle by axle, and the truck and chassis are already using a large share of the allowance before your cargo is counted. If that loaded box is crossing into another province, the road distances and driver-hour limits for a cross-Canada haul set the timeline as well.

For most of what leaves our yard this never comes up, because a storage container is loaded after it is placed and it does not move again. It matters a great deal in two cases: if you intend to have a loaded container relocated later, and if you are loading heavy material like stone, steel, or dense equipment and assuming the plate figure is your budget. In both cases the haul, not the box, sets the ceiling. Talk to us about the load before the move rather than after, and we will tell you honestly what can be shifted in one trip. If a hired crew is loading the box, budget the hours a moving crew bills in Ontario as well. Delivery mechanics are covered in how container delivery actually works across Ontario.

Does your project need a High Cube?

The Standard versus High Cube choice on a 40ft container looks like a small difference – one foot of extra exterior height and a modest premium in price. Both heights sit side by side on our page of 40 foot shipping containers for sale in Ontario. The practical impact is much bigger than the numbers suggest.

For pure storage with items under six feet tall, the Standard 40ft is fine. For ANY conversion involving human occupancy, the High Cube is essentially mandatory. After four to six inches of ceiling finish, six inches of floor insulation, and an inch or two of subfloor, the Standard 40ft interior is uncomfortably low for most adults. The High Cube gives you a useable finished ceiling height. The cost differential is small. The difference in livability is enormous. The inside floor area of each container size for a home, before and after insulation, is worked out in our layouts guide.

For racked palletized storage where stacking matters, the High Cube allows an extra layer of stacked pallets versus a Standard 40ft. The volume return on the one-foot height is meaningful when stacking is part of the use case.

Open-top, flat-rack and other specialty containers

Beyond Standard and High Cube, several specialty container configurations exist for specific use cases.

Open-Top containers replace the steel roof with a tarp-and-bow system, allowing crane loading of oversize cargo. Used for shipping over-height equipment, machinery that cannot fit through standard doors. Storage-use is limited because the tarp roof is less weathertight.

Flat-Rack containers are essentially a base and two end walls with no sides or roof. For oversize machinery and equipment that exceeds standard container dimensions. Niche use, occasionally appears in Canadian inventory.

Double-Door (tunnel) containers have cargo doors on both ends. Useful for through-loading applications, drive-through workshops, and conversions where access from both ends is preferred.

Side-Opening containers have full-length doors along one side, allowing forklift access to the entire interior. We sell them as factory-built open side units in 20ft, 40ft and 40HC; the 20ft and 40HC are kept in stock. Used for high-frequency loading where opening only the end doors creates a bottleneck.

Pallet-Wide containers are slightly wider than standard (internal width close to 8 feet, accommodating Euro pallets). Niche use in European-imported freight.

48ft domestic units sit between the ISO 45ft and the 53ft. Like the 53, they are North American domestic boxes: 8ft 6in wide, rail-and-highway workhorses with no CSC ocean certification. They surface occasionally on the resale market, and buyers who want the extra length usually land on the 53ft domestic High Cube instead because current supply runs deeper there.

Storage container sizes: which box size fits each job

Storage container sizes are the same five ISO lengths; the difference is that a storage buyer measures the pile, not the pallet. A container box, a conex box, a sea can and a storage container are one product with four names, and every one of them is 8 feet wide outside and about 7 feet 8 inches wide inside, so the decision is length and height only. The table pairs each size with the storage jobs it actually gets bought for in Ontario, and what actually fits in each length goes room by room.

Storage container sizeUsable floorHolds, roughlyBought for
10ftAbout 71 sq ftA garden shed’s worth: mower, bikes, patio set, toolsSide yards, urban lots, gate houses; a 20ft usually costs little more
20ft standardAbout 148 sq ftA one-bedroom apartment, or a two-car garage’s overflowBackyards, driveways, jobsite tool cribs, seasonal retail stock
40ft standardAbout 302 sq ftA three-bedroom house, or a contractor’s full equipment setFarms, contractor yards, warehouse overflow, vehicle storage
40ft High CubeAbout 302 sq ft with a foot more headroomThe same footprint plus a third pallet layer or tall equipmentRacked inventory, machinery, anything that will be insulated
45ft and 53ft High Cube340 to 430 sq ftA warehouse bay on wheelsIndustrial overflow, long equipment, domestic freight staging

Two rules of thumb settle most storage sizing calls. If the pile would fill a two-car garage, buy the 20ft; if it would fill a bungalow, buy the 40ft, and take the High Cube if anything in it stands taller than a fridge. Sizes do not change by grade, so a used 20ft holds exactly what a one-trip 20ft holds; the storage jobs Ontario buyers put each size to is the long version, and the storage container page, by size and grade is where the current units are listed.

Shipping container sizes and prices in Canada

Most buyers research shipping container sizes and prices in Canada as a single question, and the connection between the two is simpler than the listings make it look. Size sets the baseline: a 40ft costs more than a 20ft, but never twice as much, because the steel is not where most of the cost lives. A High Cube carries a modest premium over standard height. The 45ft and 53ft lengths price above the mainstream sizes because supply is thinner. And the oddball is the 10ft, which is custom-cut from a 20ft and ends up costing more per linear foot than its parent.

From that baseline, four inputs move the number more than size does: the grade (One-Trip down through As-Is), delivery distance from the yard, the state of the steel and freight markets that month, and any modifications. Our price list shows the listed 20ft and 40ft units before HST, and delivery is quoted for your address. If a build is part of the plan, the modification menu with door widths and R-values shows what each add-on involves. The full breakdown of what moves a Canadian container quote up or down covers each input; for your own number, tell us the size and your postal code and we will send back an honest all-in figure, usually the same day. For what is on the ground right now, used and new shipping containers for sale shows each size with its specs and grades.

Sizes and dimensions guides by length and type

How do first-time buyers choose a size?

“Not knowing exactly what size or shape we wanted Paul was extremely helpful and knowledgeable showing us all the different sizes and variations available down to colour choice. Delivery was quick and on time. Chris made sure we were happy with the placement, being fit in a tight spot he was more than happy to adjust it (a few times) to its final position.”

– Andrew B., May 2020, Google review

The “not knowing exactly what size” pattern is what most first-time container buyers face. Size is the first step in how to buy a shipping container, followed by grade, payment, the seller and delivery. The size decision is upstream of every other decision (grade, price, delivery access, conversion potential) – get it wrong and the rest of the purchase compounds the mistake. Get it right by having the size conversation at the yard before committing.

Frequently asked questions about shipping container sizes in Canada

What sizes do shipping containers come in?

Five standard lengths in the Canadian market: 10ft, 20ft, 40ft, 45ft, and 53ft. Each can be Standard height (8ft 6in tall) or High Cube (9ft 6in tall). External width is 8ft for most sizes; the 53ft is wider at 8ft 6in. The 20ft and 40ft are by far the most common purchases.

What is the difference between Standard and High Cube?

One foot of exterior height. Standard is 8ft 6in tall; High Cube is 9ft 6in tall. The interior gain is about one foot after accounting for floor and ceiling. The cost difference is modest, usually a small percentage on top of the Standard price and driven mostly by how much High Cube stock is available when you buy. For any conversion involving human occupancy (office, cabin, livable space), the High Cube is essentially mandatory because after ceiling finish and insulation, the Standard interior is uncomfortably low.

What size container is best for residential storage?

For most residential buyers, a 20ft Cargo-Worthy container is the right starting point. Roughly 1,170 cubic feet of secure dry interior – enough for ATV, snowblower, lawn tractor, garden equipment, seasonal recreational gear, and most household overflow storage. Fits on tight driveways with reasonable access.

What size container is best for working farms or businesses?

For most working operations, a 40ft Standard Dry or 40ft High Cube is the right answer. About 2,400-2,700 cubic feet of secure dry interior – enough for equipment storage, parts inventory, feed supply, and the working volume that supports a business. Best cost-per-cubic-foot of any container size.

What is the interior dimensions of a 20ft shipping container?

Usable interior of a 20ft Standard: approximately 19ft 4in long x 7ft 8in wide x 7ft 10in tall. Door opening is roughly 7ft 8in wide x 7ft 6in tall. Cubic capacity 1,170 cu ft. These are working dimensions accounting for corner posts and door thresholds – the marketed external dimensions (20 x 8 x 8.5) do not reflect what actually fits inside.

What is the interior dimensions of a 40ft shipping container?

Usable interior of a 40ft Standard: approximately 39ft 6in long x 7ft 8in wide x 7ft 10in tall. Cubic capacity 2,395 cu ft. For 40ft High Cube, add roughly one foot of internal height (8ft 10in interior). Door opening is roughly 7ft 8in wide x 7ft 6in tall on Standard, 8ft 6in on High Cube.

Can I get a container in a non-standard size?

Sort of. The five standard lengths above are what gets manufactured. Custom dimensions are rare in the Canadian market and significantly more expensive. For most buyers needing a non-standard size, the right answer is either combining two containers (two 20ft side-by-side = 320 sq ft) or modifying a standard container with additional structure (extensions are technically possible but rarely worth the cost).

How much does each container size weigh empty?

Approximate empty tare weights: 10ft 2,400-2,800 lbs, 20ft Standard 4,800-5,200 lbs, 40ft Standard 8,500-9,200 lbs, 40ft High Cube 9,000-9,700 lbs, 45ft High Cube 10,000-10,800 lbs, 53ft High Cube about 11,070 lbs. These matter for delivery truck capacity and any subsequent moves.

Which container size is hardest to deliver?

The 45ft and 53ft. They need longer straight-line approach for tilt-deck delivery (closer to 110-120 feet versus the 90 feet a 20ft or 40ft needs). Most tight residential properties cannot accept a 53ft. The 20ft is by far the easiest to deliver to constrained sites.

Do all the size variants come in all grades?

Mostly. One-Trip, Cargo Worthy, and Wind-and-Watertight are available in all five standard lengths and both heights. For As-Is grade in 45ft and 53ft, call the yard at 519-754-6844. Refrigerated containers (reefers) are typically only in 20ft and 40ft High Cube.

What size do storage containers come in?

The same sizes as shipping containers, because they are the same box: 10ft, 20ft, 40ft, 45ft and 53ft long, all 8 feet wide (the 53ft is 8 feet 6 inches), in standard 8 foot 6 inch height or High Cube 9 foot 6 inch height. In Ontario the 20ft and the 40ft cover nine storage orders out of ten; the 10ft is a niche cut-down or factory unit for tight lots, and the 45ft and 53ft are industrial.

What is the typical size of a 20ft storage container?

Outside, 20 feet long by 8 feet wide by 8 feet 6 inches tall. Inside, roughly 19 feet 4 inches by 7 feet 8 inches by 7 feet 10 inches, about 148 square feet of floor and 1,170 cubic feet of volume, through a door opening 7 feet 8 inches wide by roughly 7 feet 6 inches tall. That is the contents of a one-bedroom apartment or a full contractor’s tool set with room to walk down the middle.

What size is a 40ft and 20ft container, side by side?

Both are 8 feet wide and 8 feet 6 inches tall outside; the 40ft is exactly twice the length and a little more than twice the volume, about 2,395 cubic feet against 1,170, because the end walls and door frame take the same bite out of each. Empty, a 20ft weighs about 5,000 pounds and a 40ft about 8,500 to 9,200. The 40ft needs a much longer straight approach for a tilt-deck delivery, which is the practical reason a 20ft wins on residential lots.

Current container inventory and Ontario delivery

The size decision is the first commitment and the hardest to undo. Most buyers benefit from walking through the actual sizes at our Brantford yard before committing – the difference between a 20ft and 40ft is more obvious in person than from a spec sheet. Browse current inventory or jump directly to the size you have in mind: 20-foot dry container, 40-foot dry container, 40-foot high cube, 45-foot high cube, 53-foot high cube, 20ft Reefer, or 40ft HC Reefer.

Or call to talk through the size decision before committing: 519-754-6844 or 1-888-509-6658. Paul and Christian are usually both on site at the Brantford yard.

Whatever size fits your site, we deliver it across Ontario. We deliver from our four Brantford yards to communities right across the province, including Hamilton, Ontario, London, Ontario, Kitchener, Oshawa, St. Catharines and Guelph. See the full the full Ontario delivery map to find your town.

Price a container by size and postal code

Tell us the size and your postal code and we’ll send back an honest, all-in number, container, delivery, and placement, usually within 1-3 days. No pressure, no mystery fees.

Family-run in Brantford since 1995 · 200+ containers in stock · 4.9★ across 140+ Google reviews · every box graded by a person, walk it before it lands.

Metric shipping container dimensions

Buyers comparing sizes usually need three numbers per box, not thirty: external footprint, internal usable space, and tare weight. A 20ft standard runs 6.06 m long externally with roughly 33 cubic metres inside and a tare around 2,300 kg; a 40ft doubles the length at 12.19 m with about 67 cubic metres and a tare near 3,800 kg; high-cubes add the extra foot of height, which shows up as roughly nine more cubic metres on a 40HC. Internal width is the constant that surprises people: every standard ISO box gives you about 2.35 m of usable width regardless of length, so capacity planning is really a length-and-height question. When the placement is in Ontario, remember the practical pairing: the box rides legally on a normal float, but your site needs the swing room to land it.

New: How much actually fits in a container (pallets, furniture, capacity).

Sources & References

Authoritative external sources cited or referenced in this guide:

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