If you live or work anywhere near a railway track, airport or seaport, you’ll have undoubtedly spotted the towers of shipping containers sitting around.
Maybe you didn’t know what they were at the time – you’re forgiven. These days we’re not all that connected with how we get the stuff we buy. And even if you’ve seen a container from afar, how big are they up close? How much stuff can they hold?
And why should you care?
Let’s strip it back.
What Is A Shipping Container?
Shipping containers are strong metal boxes used for importing and exporting goods and are perfect for the job. They are generally made of steel, making them extremely robust and able to protect their cargo from adverse weather conditions and long, bumpy journeys.
What Sizes Do Shipping Containers Come In?
Depending on what you’re planning to ship, container size definitely matters.
There are three standard container sizes available on the market; 20ft, 40ft and 40ft HC. Each is typically 8ft wide and 8ft 6 inches high, with the HC, or high cube option adding an extra foot onto the height to make those containers 9ft 6 inches tall.
20ft Containers
A standard 20ft container holds 33 cubic metres worth of goods and is the go-to container choice for shipping large machinery and raw materials. They are also useful for shipments heading to ports without new or sophisticated lifting equipment because they are light and small compared to their hefty counterparts.
Similarly, their smaller size makes them ideal for consignments journeying via more than one mode of transport on their way to their destination because they are the most manageable container to shift from one vehicle or vessel to another.
40ft Containers
The standard 40ft container is one of the most commonly used containers for transporting goods worldwide, and that’s because it’s typically a great investment. A 40ft container usually costs up to 30% more than the 20ft version but is double the size.
40ft containers hold 66 cubic metres worth of goods and are usually used to move consumer goods like clothing, electronics, toys and furnishings.
High Cube Versions
High cubes are used to ship all sorts of cargo in exactly the same way as standard containers. They’re just taller.
And that extra foot of height of high cube containers provides an extra 344 cubic feet of capacity. This makes them a highly functional option for getting light, large and tall cargo from A to B. The additional height also means high cube containers can be modified to include air-con, ventilation or additional layering.
How Does Container Size Affect Price?
Prices for these popular container sizes vary depending on where you are in the world, and they’re changing all the time.
For a standard 20ft container, you’re looking at forking out between £2,500 and £2,900. If you opt for the 40ft size, the cost will be somewhere between £3,000 and £5,000. And choosing a high cube version of either standard-sized container can add an extra grand or two on top.
Specialist Container Types
For many businesses shipping internationally, a regular dry shipping container does the job perfectly. But some cargo might benefit from more specialist units depending on its nature, or to make loading and unloading a whole lot easier.
Open-Top Freight Containers
Sometimes a shipment is too tall for a standard container but not big enough to justify a HC unit. In these situations, you might be able to get away with using an open-top container.
During transport, the top of the container is not left open but rather covered securely with a tarpaulin to protect it during transit. The container can then be unloaded at its destination either using the door typical of all shipping containers or from above using a crane.
Tunnel Containers
A tunnel container features a set of doors at either end, meaning loading and unloading shipments is much easier and faster. For that reason, tunnel containers are the number one choice for consignments that need unloading quickly.
As well as enabling swift packing of consignments, tunnel containers are fitted with an extra layer of strong metal and special locks. That’s because this container was originally invented for high-risk shipments like cash, precious metals and sensitive documents.
Open-Side Containers – Flat Racks
Instead of packing and unpacking a shipment through a set of doors, one entire side of open-side containers can fully open. Not only does this speed up time spent docked, but it can be extremely useful when shipping awkwardly shaped goods.
Tank Containers
A tank container is an intermodal container used for transporting both hazardous and non-hazardous liquids, gases and powders.
The container is made up of a cylindrical unit, or tank, that houses the goods themselves, and this tank is held firmly in place within a steel frame to keep the goods from knocking around during transport. The steel cage has the same spec as other standard dry containers meaning it can be stacked alongside them.
Refrigerated Containers
These specialist containers are the same as standard dry containers but are – you guessed it – refrigerated. They’re used to keep travelling perishable goods cool and fresh, and usually have a set of large sliding doors at one end.
How Do You Choose The Right Sized Container?
Choosing the right sized container very much depends on the goods you’re shipping.
Are your goods considered hazardous? You might need to opt for a tank container.
Will they perish if unrefrigerated? Consider a refrigerated container.
Does the shape or size of your goods mean you can’t fit them through the door of a standard 20ft or 40ft container? Think about open-top or open-side containers!
Deciding which container size to go for can feel overwhelming, but your freight forwarder can help. And that’s us! Millennium Cargo offers a vast range of containers because we know no two clients’ needs are the same.
Struggling To Work Out What Size Container To Get?
It’s confusing, isn’t it? But we’re here to help.
Millennium Cargo just loves to simplify all things freight-related, so give us a call, and we’ll happily talk you through your options.