Most sea freight travels in standard containers, but not all containers are the same. Choosing the right type affects how much you can load, how safely your goods travel and what you pay. Here is a practical guide to the main types.
All figures below are approximate. Sizes and maximum payloads vary between shipping lines, container builders and years of manufacture. Road weight limits in the countries of origin and destination can also lower the weight you may load. Always check the exact figures for your booking.
Dry containers: 20-foot, 40-foot and high cube
Dry containers, also called general purpose or dry vans, are closed steel boxes with doors at one end. They carry most of the world’s packed goods: boxes, pallets, bags, drums and machinery that fits through the doors.
- 20-foot (20′ DV): best for heavy, dense cargo such as stone, tiles, metal parts or liquids in drums. It reaches its weight limit before it is full.
- 40-foot (40′ DV): twice the length, but not twice the payload. Good for larger volumes of medium-weight goods.
- 40-foot high cube (40′ HC): about 30 cm taller than a standard 40-foot. Ideal for light, bulky cargo such as furniture, textiles, foam or packaging.
| Type | Inside length | Inside width | Inside height | Volume | Typical max payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20′ dry | approx. 5.9 m | approx. 2.35 m | approx. 2.39 m | approx. 33 m³ | approx. 25–28 t |
| 40′ dry | approx. 12.0 m | approx. 2.35 m | approx. 2.39 m | approx. 67 m³ | approx. 26–27 t |
| 40′ high cube | approx. 12.0 m | approx. 2.35 m | approx. 2.69 m | approx. 76 m³ | approx. 26–27 t |
In practice, you cannot fill every cubic metre. Gaps between packages and the space needed to secure the cargo mean the usable volume is lower. As a rough guide, a 20-foot container takes about 11 Euro pallets or 9 to 10 ISO pallets in one layer. A 40-foot takes about 23 to 25 Euro pallets or 20 to 21 ISO pallets.
Reefer containers
Refrigerated containers, or reefers, have an insulated body and a built-in cooling unit that is plugged into power on the ship, at the terminal and on the truck. They keep a set temperature across a wide range, from deep frozen to chilled and cool. They are used for fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, dairy, medicines and some chemicals.
Because of the insulation and the machinery, a reefer has a little less inside space than a dry container of the same size. Cargo must be pre-cooled to the right temperature before loading, because a reefer is designed to maintain temperature, not to cool warm goods quickly. Leave space for air to circulate and do not load above the red line.
Open top and flat rack containers
- Open top: a container with no solid roof. It is covered with a removable tarpaulin. Cargo can be loaded from above by crane, which suits tall machinery, heavy pieces or goods that cannot pass through the doors.
- Flat rack: a strong floor with end walls, and no side walls or roof. Some have folding ends. Flat racks carry oversized and heavy cargo such as vehicles, boats, generators and steel structures. Cargo that is wider or taller than the rack is called “out of gauge” and needs special planning and approval from the carrier.
Both types are less common than dry containers, so book them early, especially at busy times.
Tank containers and flexitanks
For bulk liquids there are two main choices:
- ISO tank containers: a stainless steel tank inside a 20-foot frame, typically holding somewhere around 20,000 to 26,000 litres. They are reusable and suitable for food-grade liquids and, with the right approvals, for chemicals and dangerous goods. Many have heating or insulation.
- Flexitanks: a single-use bag fitted inside a standard 20-foot dry container, typically holding around 16,000 to 24,000 litres. They are cost-effective for non-hazardous liquids such as edible oils, wine or some industrial liquids.
Tanks should never be loaded only partly. A half-empty tank lets the liquid move during transport, which can damage the equipment and affect stability. Your forwarder or the tank operator will advise on the minimum and maximum fill levels.
How to choose
- Heavy and dense: usually a 20-foot dry container.
- Light and bulky: a 40-foot high cube.
- Temperature-sensitive: a reefer.
- Too tall or too wide for the doors: open top or flat rack.
- Bulk liquids: ISO tank or flexitank.
- Too small to fill a container: shared container space (LCL) or road groupage.
Kyranis Logistics arranges ocean freight from Tunisia in full containers (FCL) and shared loads (LCL). Send us the weight, dimensions and nature of your goods, and we will suggest the container type and the loading plan that fit best.
Planning a shipment? Request a quote with every fee included upfront, or talk to our team in Tunisia: +216 70 295 255, info@kyranislogistics.com.
