53ft Domestic
The biggest single box you can buy: 428 sq ft — a genuine studio apartment in one piece of steel.
| EXTERNAL L×W×H | 53' 0" × 8' 6" × 9' 6" | 16.154 × 2.591 × 2.896 m |
|---|---|---|
| INTERNAL L×W×H | 52' 5" × 8' 2" × 8' 10" | 15.977 × 2.489 × 2.698 m |
| DOOR OPENING W×H | 8' 2" × 8' 6" | 2.489 × 2.585 m |
| TARE WEIGHT | 11,110 lb | 5,040 kg |
| MAX PAYLOAD | 56,090 lb | 25,440 kg |
| MAX GROSS | 67,200 lb | 30,480 kg |
| CAPACITY | 3,830 cu ft | 108.4 cbm |
| FLOOR AREA | 428 sq ft | 39.8 m² |
| PALLETS (GMA / EURO) | 30 / 34 |
The numbers that matter
A 53ft domestic gives you 428 sq ft of floor and 3,830 cubic feet (108.4 cbm) of space inside external dimensions of 53' 0" × 8' 6" × 9' 6". Empty it weighs 11,110 lb; loaded it may gross 67,200 lb. In cargo terms that is 30 US pallets or 34 Euro pallets in a single layer.
One 53ft domestic container holds the cargo of roughly 3.3 TEU — the most space per crane lift in North America.
What it costs
Used, cargo-worthy units currently trade at $3,500–6,000 in the US; new one-trip units at $6,000–9,500. Delivery adds 15–40% depending on distance — always compare delivered prices, not yard prices.
Quick answers
What are the exact dimensions of a 53ft domestic container?
External: 53' 0" × 8' 6" × 9' 6" (16.154 × 2.591 × 2.896 m). Internal: 52' 5" × 8' 2" × 8' 10".
How much does a 53ft domestic weigh?
Empty (tare) it weighs 11,110 lb (5,040 kg) and is rated to a max gross of 67,200 lb, leaving 56,090 lb of payload.
How much does a 53ft domestic cost?
In the US in 2026, used units run $3,500–6,000 and new (one-trip) units $6,000–9,500, before delivery (add 15–40%).