20ft Container Dimensions: Internal, External, Door Opening and What Fits Inside
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Quick answer: a standard 20ft shipping container is 6.06m long, 2.44m wide and 2.59m high on the outside, and 5.90m x 2.35m x 2.39m on the inside. That gives 33.2 cubic metres of space on a 13.9 square metre floor, through a door opening 2.34m wide and 2.28m high. In plain terms: the furniture of a 3-4 bedroom home, or up to 10 Australian standard pallets. At Storage Land in Archerfield a 20ft container is $349 a month, drive-up, no lock-in.
Below are the exact figures in metres, millimetres and feet, what the numbers mean when you are standing in front of the box with a couch, and the honest answer to "will my stuff fit".
20ft container dimensions (standard general purpose)
| Measurement | Metres | Millimetres | Feet and inches |
|---|---|---|---|
| External length | 6.06m | 6,058mm | 19' 10.5" |
| External width | 2.44m | 2,438mm | 8' 0" |
| External height | 2.59m | 2,591mm | 8' 6" |
| Internal length | 5.90m | 5,898mm | 19' 4" |
| Internal width | 2.35m | 2,352mm | 7' 8.5" |
| Internal height | 2.39m | 2,393mm | 7' 10" |
| Door opening width | 2.34m | 2,343mm | 7' 8" |
| Door opening height | 2.28m | 2,280mm | 7' 6" |
| Floor area | 13.9m2 (about a single-car garage) | ||
| Internal volume | 33.2m3 | ||
| Tare weight (empty) | About 2,200-2,300kg | ||
| Max gross weight | 30,480kg (ISO rating - far more than any storage load) | ||
These are the ISO figures for a standard "general purpose" 20ft dry container. Individual boxes vary by a few millimetres depending on the maker and the floor thickness, so if you are planning something that is within 50mm of a limit, measure the actual container before you commit.
20ft high cube dimensions
A 20ft high cube is the same length and width but 300mm taller: 2.90m external height, 2.70m internal height, which lifts the volume to about 37.4m3. High cubes are common in the 40ft size and less common in 20ft. Storage Land's standard 20ft containers are general purpose height, so plan on 2.39m of internal headroom.
What the door opening means for your furniture
The door is the measurement people forget. Both doors open to give a clear opening of about 2.34m wide by 2.28m high, which is wider than a standard house doorway (820mm) and taller than most ceilings' worth of furniture. In practice:
- A three-seat couch (around 2.2m long) goes in on its end or on its side without a problem.
- A queen mattress (2.03m x 1.52m) goes in upright, flat against the wall, with room to spare. A king (2.03m x 1.83m) does too.
- A two-door fridge (around 1.8m tall, 0.9m wide) rolls straight through on a trolley.
- A dining table that is 2.2m long fits lengthways, legs on or off. Anything over 5.8m, which is almost nothing in a house, needs the 40ft.
- Wardrobes, bookcases and tall cabinets (up to 2.2m) stand upright inside, because the internal height is 2.39m.
Because the container is at ground level in a drive-up yard, you back the ute or trailer to the door and carry in. No lifts, no corridors, no trolley through a car park.
How many pallets fit in a 20ft container?
On the floor, single stacked:
- Australian standard pallets (1,165 x 1,165mm): 8 with forklift clearance, 10 packed tight. Two across the 2.35m width uses 2,330mm, which leaves only 22mm, so 10 is a hand-pallet-jack job, not a forklift job.
- Euro pallets (1,200 x 800mm): 11.
- Standard 1,200 x 1,000mm pallets: 10.
Stacked two high (light goods, 1.1m per pallet) you can roughly double that. For stock and business use see our guide to pallet storage in a 20ft container versus a 3PL warehouse.
What fits in a 20ft storage container
The figure that matters to most people is houses, not cubic metres. A 20ft container holds the contents of a typical 3-4 bedroom home: lounge suite, dining setting, beds and mattresses for every room, fridge, washing machine, wardrobes and around 30-40 moving boxes on top. Boxes only, with no furniture, you would fit roughly 200-250 medium moving boxes.
A rough guide by situation:
| Situation | Fits in a 20ft? |
|---|---|
| Studio or 1 bedroom unit | Yes, with about half the container spare (consider the 10ft at $299 when it is free) |
| 2 bedroom unit or townhouse | Yes, comfortably |
| 3-4 bedroom house | Yes, packed properly - this is what the size is made for |
| 5 bedroom house with garage and outdoor furniture | Usually needs two 20ft or a 40ft at $650 |
| Tradie's tools, ladders and materials | Yes, with room to walk in and work from it |
| Small business stock on pallets | 8-10 pallets on the floor |
| A car | Yes, most cars and utes - see storing a car in a storage unit |
If you are between sizes, read how to choose the right storage unit size, or just call and describe the house - we do this every day.
20ft vs 40ft container dimensions
| 20ft | 40ft | |
|---|---|---|
| External (L x W x H) | 6.06 x 2.44 x 2.59m | 12.19 x 2.44 x 2.59m |
| Internal (L x W x H) | 5.90 x 2.35 x 2.39m | 12.03 x 2.35 x 2.39m |
| Floor area | 13.9m2 | 28.3m2 |
| Volume | 33.2m3 | 67.7m3 |
| Holds | 3-4 bedroom home | Large home plus garage, or 20+ pallets |
| Storage Land price | $349/month | $650/month (by enquiry) |
Packing a 20ft container so the dimensions work for you
- Heavy and square things first, along the back wall and the sides: fridge, washing machine, filing cabinets, boxed books.
- Mattresses and tabletops stand upright against the long walls. They are 2.35m apart, so a mattress on each side still leaves a 1.2m aisle at the start.
- Leave a walkway down the middle if you will need things during the storage period. A 20ft is long enough that "it is at the back" means a 6m dig.
- Use the height. Stack boxes to 2m on top of flat furniture and you have used the third dimension most people waste.
- Keep anything you will want first (kettle, tools, kids' bikes) just inside the door.
Full method in how to pack a storage unit and storage unit layout tips.
20ft container dimensions FAQs
What are the internal dimensions of a 20ft container in metres?
5.90m long, 2.35m wide and 2.39m high. Volume about 33.2 cubic metres, floor about 13.9 square metres.
How wide is a 20ft shipping container?
2.44m (2,438mm) outside and 2.35m (2,352mm) inside. Every ISO container is 8 feet wide externally, whatever its length.
How tall is a 20ft container?
2.59m outside and 2.39m inside for a standard container. A 20ft high cube is 2.90m outside and 2.70m inside.
How big is the door on a 20ft container?
About 2.34m wide and 2.28m high with both doors open.
How many cubic metres is a 20ft container?
33.2m3 for a standard 20ft, about 37.4m3 for a 20ft high cube.
How much floor space is a 20ft container?
About 13.9m2, close to a single-car garage (a typical single garage is around 3 x 5.5m, or 16m2).
Can a 20ft container fit the contents of a house?
Yes. A 20ft container holds the furniture and boxes of a typical 3-4 bedroom home when it is packed properly. Bigger homes with a full garage usually need a 40ft or two 20fts.
How much does a 20ft storage container cost to rent?
At Storage Land Archerfield it is $349 a month including GST, about $80.54 a week, with 24/7 access and no lock-in. Full pricing here.
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Related size guides: How much storage space do I need? and How to choose the right storage unit size.