40ft Standard
Twice the floor of a 20ft for barely more money — the best dollars-per-square-foot box on the market.
| EXTERNAL L×W×H | 40' 0" × 8' 0" × 8' 6" | 12.192 × 2.438 × 2.591 m |
|---|---|---|
| INTERNAL L×W×H | 39' 6" × 7' 8" × 7' 10" | 12.032 × 2.352 × 2.393 m |
| DOOR OPENING W×H | 7' 8" × 7' 6" | 2.343 × 2.28 m |
| TARE WEIGHT | 8,000 lb | 3,630 kg |
| MAX PAYLOAD | 59,200 lb | 26,850 kg |
| MAX GROSS | 67,200 lb | 30,480 kg |
| CAPACITY | 2,390 cu ft | 67.7 cbm |
| FLOOR AREA | 300 sq ft | 27.9 m² |
| PALLETS (GMA / EURO) | 21 / 25 |
The numbers that matter
A 40ft standard gives you 300 sq ft of floor and 2,390 cubic feet (67.7 cbm) of space inside external dimensions of 40' 0" × 8' 0" × 8' 6". Empty it weighs 8,000 lb; loaded it may gross 67,200 lb. In cargo terms that is 21 US pallets or 25 Euro pallets in a single layer.
A 40ft container costs roughly 1.3× a 20ft to buy but gives 2× the space — shipping lines price the steel, not the volume.
What it costs
Used, cargo-worthy units currently trade at $2,000–4,500 in the US; new one-trip units at $3,500–6,500. Delivery adds 15–40% depending on distance — always compare delivered prices, not yard prices.
Quick answers
What are the exact dimensions of a 40ft standard container?
External: 40' 0" × 8' 0" × 8' 6" (12.192 × 2.438 × 2.591 m). Internal: 39' 6" × 7' 8" × 7' 10".
How much does a 40ft standard weigh?
Empty (tare) it weighs 8,000 lb (3,630 kg) and is rated to a max gross of 67,200 lb, leaving 59,200 lb of payload.
How much does a 40ft standard cost?
In the US in 2026, used units run $2,000–4,500 and new (one-trip) units $3,500–6,500, before delivery (add 15–40%).