SPECIFICATIONS ISO Shipping Containers

Below are the specifications and dimensions for 40 of the most popular ISO shipping container models globally.

The term "ISO" means International Standards for Organization. This means that ISO Shipping Containers must conform to certain sizes and specifications globally and meet International standards ISO 668.

Shipping container dimensions may vary in length, height, and width. However, the corner dimensions must be standardized to align, stack, and lock to meet ISO standards for ocean shipping, stacking, trucking, and shipment by rail. Although some manufacturers vary slightly, they must be within 10 mm (3/8") tolerance to stack and connect properly to meet ISO standards.

Containers can vary in length (for example, 20', 40', 53') but must have a width of 8' or 8.5', and the height must be either 8.5' (GP version) or 9.5' (HC version). ​However, the PW (Pallet Wide) containers are and inch wider, and the 48HC, and 53HC are 8.5' wide, 6 inches wider than the standard containers.

The smaller 6GP, 8GP, and 10GP mini containers are built to be nested inside each other and will fit into the GP containers for shipping and transport.

See the table below for specifications and dimensions for specific models of shipping containers. 

We offer engineering drawings for all 40 of these models. 


 (​All dimensions are basic but can vary slightly from manufacturer to manufacturer, especially the 6', 8', and 10' mini's.)