Used 40ft Shipping Container

Naturally, the Used 40ft Container stands as the giant of the container fleet—offering double the capacity of a standard 20ft container. Because of its impressive size and versatility, it remains one of the most popular choices for large-scale storage, transportation, and residential or commercial moves.

📏 40ft Shipping Container Dimensions

Before deciding on the right container, it’s important to understand the available space. A typical 40ft shipping container offers:

• 12.05 metres long

• 2.35 metres wide

• 2.36 metres high

• Approximately 66 cubic metres of internal storage capacity

This substantial volume provides more than enough room for bulky items that simply won’t fit inside a traditional 20ft container.

🚚 Why Choose a 40ft Container Instead of Two 20ft Containers?

In many cases, a 20ft container is sufficient. However, if you need to store or transport a larger load, a 40ft container is often more cost-effective. Rather than paying for two separate 20ft units, one 40ft container reduces logistical costs and simplifies transportation.

📦 Ideal for Lightweight, High-Volume Goods

Because of its generous internal space, the 40ft container is frequently used to transport lightweight but bulky goods. For example:

• Cotton

• Electronics

• Bulky furniture

• Reams of cardboard

• Plastic bottles

• And more…

These materials don’t weigh much but occupy a significant amount of space—making the 40ft container the perfect solution.

🏠 Perfect for Large Household Moves

If you’re relocating from a fully furnished 4–5 bedroom home, a standard 20ft container typically won’t be enough. In contrast, a 40ft container offers the additional room required to move:

• Beds and large furniture

• Appliances

• Outdoor equipment

• Boxes and personal belongings

For major relocations, the 40ft is the ideal choice.

📌 Plan Ahead When Packing

Because of how spacious a 40ft container is, planning your layout is essential. If you need access to certain items before shipping, make sure they’re placed near the doors. Otherwise, you could end up unloading the entire container just to reach something at the far end.

Proper organisation is always important—but it becomes absolutely crucial when loading the largest container available.

🚛 What Can Fit Inside a 40ft Shipping Container?

When it comes to capacity, the possibilities are impressive. A 40ft can hold:

• Large machinery such as a front-end loader or small excavator (partial disassembly may be required)

• 2 to 4 cars, depending on their size

• 20 standard pallets

• Bulk furniture items

• Warehouse inventory and more

In essence, you can store nearly twice everything you could place in a 20ft container.

📦 Need Extra Height? Choose a 40ft High Cube 

If you need to transport taller items—such as wardrobes, equipment, or oversized furniture—a  High Cube container provides an extra foot of height. This added space is extremely useful when a standard 20ft container is just slightly too small.

Moreover, if you’re close to filling a 20ft container but need just a bit more room, upgrading to a  High Cube may be more cost-efficient than renting multiple containers.

“Used 40ft Containers.”

• Learn more about ISO container standards at the International Organization for Standardization (ISO):
  https://www.iso.org/standard/31932.html

• Explore global shipping container specifications from the Container Traders Association:
  https://www.containertraders.org/specifications

• Review intermodal freight guidelines from the World Shipping Council:
  https://www.worldshipping.org

• Understand container safety regulations from the International Maritime Organization (IMO):
  https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Safety/Pages/ContainerSafety.aspx

• Check CSC safety requirements from the Bureau International des Containers (BIC):
  https://www.bic-code.org

• Learn about proper container loading practices from the Global Shippers Forum:
  https://globalshippersforum.com/resources