January 16, 2025
Containers
Dimensions of shipping containers

Containers play a pivotal role in modern logistics, facilitating the efficient transportation of goods worldwide. Standardization of dimensions has led to their widespread use in rail, road, and sea transportation. What are the most common dimensions of shipping containers, and how do they differ from each other?
Sea containers are available in a variety of sizes to accommodate specific shipping needs. The most common are 20-foot (TEU) and 40-foot (FEU) containers, which have become the global standard for international shipping. There are also larger or specialized models, such as High Cube, Open Top, and Reefer containers. These containers are designed to carry cargo requiring special conditions.
Dimensions of shipping containers

Check also: Types of shipping containers.
Loading of a shipping container
The type of a container generally defines the type of goods it carries. Most of the time goods in containers are transported on euro or industrial pallets, just like in road transport. Depending on the arrangement, a 20ft container can accommodate 11 euro pallets, while a 40ft container can accommodate 24 or 25 euro pallets. In comparison, a standard semi-trailer holds 33 to 34 pallets.
Loading of a container, like any other cargo space, must be done in such a way as not to damage goods or the space. Goods in containers must be distributed in such a way that the amount of empty space is kept to a minimum. The filler should be placed in the empty spaces to prevent the goods from moving in the container.
When planning the loading, the internal dimensions of the container as well as the size of the doors are taken into account. These are key parameters for determining the maximum quantity and size of cargo that can be loaded into a container.
When a container is loaded, particular attention is paid to the weight of the cargo so as not to exceed the permissible total weight. The goods should be evenly distributed over the entire floor area. It should not press against the container door. If the unit is also to be used for road transport, it must be checked that its weight does not exceed the permitted standards for the roads on which the truck will be travelling.

Container loading software
It is worth planning the loading of the container in advance so that all the necessary parameters are considered. This is made possible by Goodloading, an application in which a detailed loading plan can be prepared. Above all, you can quickly see how best to distribute the loads on the containers, taking capacity or loading sequence into account.
The first thing to do in the application is choosing a loading area. When adding a container to the application, in addition to indicating its dimensions, the loading method is set – from the back, from the right, from the left or from above. It is possible to set the center of gravity, so that the cargo is stable during transport. For refrigerated containers, it is possible to indicate the dimensions of the aggregate, which allows you to plan the loading of the container with this element in mind. The last point is the doors, it is possible to indicate their length and width which allows you to take them into account when loading, avoiding costly mistakes.
If you do not know which container is best for you, you can first add loads and then use the space recommended by the application’s algorithm. Then, add the loads manually by entering their dimensions, or by importing a csv file from the Excel application. The prepared arrangement is shown on a 3D visualisation with the possibility of manual reallocation of selected loads.
Goodloading acts as a calculator for loading containers, because under the visualisation there is a loading summary with all the necessary information such as: the number of loaded and unloaded goods, total weight, volume and surface area in square metres. This provides the planner with all the data in one place, without the need to make traditional calculations.
The finished project can be sent to the person responsible for loading in the form of a link or PDF file including the loading sequence, or exported as a csv file that can be opened in a spreadsheet.