Containers & Pallets Guide

Quick Reference

Containers are standardized metal boxes (20-ft TEU or 40-ft FEU) for intermodal transport by sea, rail, and road. Pallets are portable platforms (wood, plastic, or metal) for handling and shipping goods within containers or as standalone freight.

Containers

Container Types

Type	Description	Best For
Standard Dry	Most common; 20-ft (TEU) or 40-ft (FEU)	General dry cargo
High Cube	Extra 1 ft height (9’6” vs 8’6”)	Light, bulky cargo
Reefer	Refrigeration units for temperature control	Perishables
Open Top	Removable top for overhead loading	Tall/heavy items
Flat Rack	Collapsible sides; flat platform	Machinery, oversized cargo
Tank	Cylindrical tank for liquids/gases	Chemicals, food-grade liquids
Ventilated	Ventilation holes for air circulation	Organic products
Insulated	Thermal protection without refrigeration	Temperature-sensitive goods
Double Door	Doors on both ends	Quick loading/unloading
Open Side	Full side access	Side-loading cargo
Half-Height	Shorter; easier to load heavy goods	Dense cargo (stones, coal)
Platform	Flatbed with no walls	Extremely heavy/large items

Open-Top Containers (OT)

Open Top Containers

Open-top containers have a removable canvas or tarpaulin cover instead of a fixed roof, allowing crane loading from above. Available in 20-ft and 40-ft sizes with lashing rings to secure cargo.

Best applications: Industrial equipment, tall cargo that protrudes above the container edge, heavy loads (metals, stones), irregularly shaped items that won’t fit through standard doors.

Flat-Rack Containers (FR)

Flat-rack Container

Flat rack containers have a reinforced steel base with open sides and collapsible end walls. Cargo can be loaded from any direction using cranes or forklifts. Multiple lashing points secure cargo during transit.

Best applications: Heavy machinery (tractors, bulldozers), oversized items (vehicles, boats), construction materials (steel beams, precast concrete, large pipes), project cargo for industrial installations.

High-Cube Containers

40-ft High Cube shipping containers at depot

High cube containers are 1 foot (30 cm) taller than standard containers-9’6” (2.90 m) vs 8’6” (2.59 m). Available in 20-ft and 40-ft lengths with the same construction and intermodal compatibility as standard containers.

Best applications: Volume-intensive cargo (furniture, textiles), tall machinery, construction materials, automotive parts, conversion projects (mobile offices, workshops).

Why Containers Work

Feature	Benefit
Standardization	TEU (20-ft) and FEU (40-ft) fit all handling equipment and infrastructure
Durability	Corrosion-resistant steel/aluminum; stackable; multi-year lifespan
Security	Sealed and lockable; protects from theft and weather
Versatility	Ship, rail, truck compatible; handles dry, liquid, refrigerated, oversized cargo
Cost-effectiveness	Automated handling reduces labor and loading time
Environmental	Multimodal transport reduces emissions per ton-mile

Container Dimensions and Weights

20-ft Containers

Spec	Standard	Open Top	Flat Rack
Inside L × W × H (m)	5.895 × 2.350 × 2.392	5.888 × 2.345 × 2.315	5.698 × 2.230 × 2.255
Door W × H (m)	2.340 × 2.292	2.286 × 2.184	-
Capacity (m³)	33	32	-
Tare Weight (kg)	2,230	2,250	2,500
Max Cargo (kg)	28,230	30,480	21,500

40-ft Containers

Spec	Standard	High Cube	Open Top	Flat Rack
Inside L × W × H (m)	12.029 × 2.350 × 2.392	12.024 × 2.350 × 2.697	12.029 × 2.342 × 2.326	11.832 × 2.228 × 1.981
Door W × H (m)	2.340 × 2.292	2.340 × 2.597	2.341 × 2.274	-
Capacity (m³)	67	76	65	-
Tare Weight (kg)	3,780	4,020	3,810	4,200
Max Cargo (kg)	26,700	26,460	26,670	40,800

FCL vs. LCL Shipping

Aspect	FCL (Full Container Load)	LCL (Less Than Container Load)
Definition	Single shipper books entire container	Multiple shippers share container (groupage)
Bill of Lading	One B/L for entire container	Separate B/L per shipper
Pricing	Fixed per container (regardless of fill)	Per weight/volume occupied
Cost per kg	Lower for large shipments	Higher due to handling
Transit time	Faster (no consolidation)	Slower (consolidation/deconsolidation)
Best for	Large shipments filling 50%+ of container	Smaller shipments under half container

Container selection depends on cargo type: standard dry containers handle general cargo, open-top containers allow crane loading of tall/heavy items, flat-rack containers accommodate oversized machinery, and high-cube containers provide extra height for volume-intensive loads. For piping materials, flat-rack containers are frequently the best choice for large pipes and heavy equipment.

Shipping Pallets

Pallets are portable platforms for handling, storing, and transporting goods. The standard GMA pallet (48 × 40 inches) is most common in North America; Euro pallets (800 × 1200 mm) dominate in Europe.

Pallet Materials

Material	Advantages	Disadvantages
Wood	Strongest, affordable, repairable, recyclable	Requires fumigation (ISPM 15) for export
Plastic	Durable, moisture/pest resistant, ISPM 15 compliant	Higher cost, not repairable
Metal	Strongest, longest life, fire resistant, hygienic	Most expensive
Paper/Presswood	Lightweight, ISPM 15 exempt, recyclable	Lower strength, moisture sensitive

Wood Pallet Grades

Grade	Construction	Use
#1A “Super”	Hardwood, 5 bottom boards	Heavy duty, rackable, one-way or return
Grade A	Hardwood/softwood mix, plate repairs	Rackable, one-way or return
Grade B	Mixed wood, stringer inserts	Rackable, one-way only

ISPM 15 Compliance

Wooden pallets for international shipping must be heat-treated (HT) or fumigated per ISPM 15. Paper, plastic, and metal pallets are exempt from these phytosanitary requirements.

Pallets Dimensions

American Sizes

Dimensions, in inches (W x L)	Dimensions, in mm (W x L)	Target Industry
48 × 40	1219 × 1016	Grocery and general goods
42 × 42	1067 × 1067	Telecommunications and Paint
48 × 48	1219 × 1219	Drums
40″× 48	1016 × 1219	Military and Cement
48 × 42	1219 × 1067	Chemicals and Beverage
40 × 40	1016 × 1016	Dairy
48 × 45	1219 × 1143	Automotive
44 × 44	1118 × 1118	Drums and Chemicals
36 × 36	914 × 914	Beverage
48 × 36	1219 × 914	Beverage, Shingles, and Packaged Paper
35 × 45.5	889 × 1156	Military 1/2 ISO Container
48 × 20	1219 × 508	Retail

Weight Capacity:

Type	Dimensions (L x W)	Weight Capacity (lbs)
Standard (GMA)	48 x 40	4,600
Half Pallet	48 x 20	2,500
Quarter Pallet	24 x 20	1,250
Euro Pallet	48 x 32	4,400
Automotive Pallet	48 x 45	4,000
Drum Pallet	48 x 48	4,800

European Sizes

Dimensions, in inches(W x L)	Dimensions, in mm(W x L)	EURO pallet
31.50 × 47.24	800 × 1,200	EUR 1
47.24 × 39.37	1,200 × 1,000	EUR 2
39.37 × 47.24	1,000 × 1,200	EUR 3
31.50 × 23.62	800 × 600	EUR 6

Weight Capacity:

Type	Dimensions (L x W) mm	Weight Capacity (kg)
Euro Pallet (EPAL)	1200 x 800	2,500
Industrial Pallet	1200 x 1000	3,000
Half Euro Pallet	800 x 600	1,500
Quarter Pallet	600 x 400	500
Mini Pallet	800 x 400	1,500

ISO Sizes

ISO Standard 6780 defines six types of Flat pallets, the following:

Dimensions, in inches (W × L)	Dimensions, in mm (W x L)	Most common in…
48.00 × 40.00	1219 x 1016	North America
39.37 × 47.24	1000 x 1200	Europe, Asia
44.88 × 44.88	1140 x 1140	Australia
42.00 × 42.00	1067 x 1067	North America, Europe, Asia
43.30 × 43.30	1100 x 1100	Asia
31.50 × 47.24	800 x 600	Europe