Whether you are looking to rent or buy a sea container, knowing how its weight affects shipping is important. Weight affects shipping costs, logistics planning, and equipment needed for moving, handling and lifting. The following is a detailed breakdown of shipping container weights and what that means.
Basic Fundamental of Shipping Container Weigh
Tare Weight:
It refers to the weight of the empty container, that is, without any cargo. This weight is the baseline weight of the container itself which is made up of its steel structure, floor, and doors.
ISO reports that a standard 20ft dry container will have a tare weight of around 2,200 kg (4,850 lbs). The tare weight helps shippers and transporters calculate the net weight of cargo, making sure the limit is not modified.
Payload Weight:
Payload weight is the maximum weight of cargo it is designed to carry. Exceeding the payload weight can jeopardise container integrity, becoming subject to fines and complications during transit.
According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a 20ft standard container has a nominal payload of 28,200 kg (62,170 lbs); this is dependent on container type and regulations of the shipping line.
Gross Weight:
It is the total weight of the container plus its cargo (Tare Weight + Payload Weight). This total weight is used for establishing shipping costs, determining required lifting equipment, and if the container serves legal road transport limits.
According to the World Shipping Council data, a 20ft container has an overall limit of 30,480 kg (67,200 lbs). This is a global standard which is followed by almost all shipping lines.
Types of Containers & Their Weights
Standard containers for sale are the most well-known and commonly used in shipping and storage. They do come in various sizes, with the 20-foot and 40-foot standard containers being the most common containers available for purchase. They can be found in many places too which is why people and businesses typically use them when looking to buy a standard container for sale.
Container Type | Tare Weight (kg/lbs) | Payload Capacity (kg/lbs) | Gross Weight (kg/lbs) |
20ft Standard | 2,280 kg / 5,030 lbs | 28,200 kg / 62,170 lbs | 30,480 kg / 67,200 lbs |
40ft Standard | 3,750 kg / 8,267 lbs | 26,730 kg / 58,933 lbs | 30,480 kg / 67,200 lbs |
40ft High Cube | 3,900 kg / 8,598 lbs | 28,600 kg / 63,052 lbs | 32,500 kg / 71,650 lbs |
1. How Much Does a 20ft Shipping Container Weigh?
20ft shipping containers for sale have a tare weight of about 2,280 kg (5,030 lbs). It can carry a maximum payload of about 28,200 kg (62,170 lbs) giving it a gross weight of about 30,480 kg (67,200 lbs). These values align with the specifications shared by large shipping companies such as Maersk.
2. How Much Does a 40 Ft Shipping Container Weigh?
A standard 40-foot shipping container has a tare weight of around 3,750 kg (8,267 lbs), a maximum payload of approximately 26,730 kg (58,933 lbs), and gross weight of approximately 30,480 kg (67,200 lbs). These specifications can be found in various industry references, including the IMO.
3. How Much Does a 40ft High Cube Shipping Container Weigh?
The 40-foot high cube container is one foot taller than the standard 40-foot container. It has a tare weight of approximately 3,900 kg (8,598 lbs), a maximum payload of about 28,600 kg (63,052 lbs), and a gross weight of approximately 32,500 kg (71,650 lbs) as per IMO.
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Why Are Gross Weight of 20ft and 40ft Same?
It may seem strange, but the maximum gross weight of both the 20-foot and 40-foot containers are typically the same at 30,480 kg (67,200 lbs). Here is why this is the norm in the global shipping industry:
Road and bridge regulations: Many countries, especially in the United States, have regulations (sometimes through agencies like the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration – FMCSA) that limit the amount of total weight that can be transported via trucks. The gross weight standardisation allows containers to be transported legally on public roads.
Crane and terminal limitations: Port and container facilities worldwide have cranes with capabilities to lift containers based on standardisation of gross weight. If these weight limits were to be exceeded, they would need special lifting equipment, and that slows down operations.
Vessel load planning: Ships can carry thousands of containers, and having the same consistent weight standardization makes load planning easier for logistics managers, weight distribution, and adherence to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention to prevent deaths from accidents at sea.
Stacking limits: While loaded or empty, containers are often stacked on top of and adjacent to each other on vessels and at ports. Container weight standardisation provides predictable stacking limits across the global shipping chain, for safety and efficiency.
These weight limits make global shipping easier, more predictable and more regulated and safe, especially when shipping goods in multiple ways.
Special Container Types & Their Weights
In addition to standard containers, there are specialized types of containers that are used to transport temperature-sensitive or oversized goods. Reefer containers are one of the most common types.
Reefer Containers: Reefer containers are refrigerated containers that transport perishable goods like seafood and produce, and even pharmaceuticals. They have a refrigeration unit built into the container, which makes the tare weight slightly heavier than standard containers. For example, here are the specifications for a 40-foot high cube reefer based on international freight specifications.
Tare weight: ~4800 kg (10,582 lbs)
Payload capacity: ~27,700 kg (61,067 lbs)
Gross weight: ~32,500 kg (71,650 lbs)
Of course, there can be slight variations to these weights, but they conform to the international standards required for cold chain logistics.
Container Type | Tare Weight (kg/lbs) | Payload Capacity (kg/lbs) | Gross Weight (kg/lbs) | Notes |
20ft Open Top | 2,350 kg / 5,181 lbs | 28,150 kg / 62,080 lbs | 30,500 kg / 67,261 lbs | Ideal for top-loaded cargo |
40ft Flat Rack | ~5,000 kg / 11,025 lbs | ~40,000 kg / 88,200 lbs | ~45,000 kg / 99,225 lbs | Used for oversized machinery |
40ft Refrigerated (Reefer) | ~4,800 kg / 10,582 lbs | ~27,700 kg / 61,067 lbs | ~32,500 kg / 71,650 lbs | Includes insulation & cooling unit |
How Container Weight Affects Shipping Costs
The weight of the container can substantially increase or decrease the total cost of shipping your cargo, especially over long distances. Here are the most influential factors:
Freight charges: The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) suggests that transportation resource provider policies may have sufficiency on variable pricing due to the total weight of the container for added fuel and limited capacity costs. For instance, the Benefit-Cost Analysis Guidance for Discretionary Grant Programs outlines how the DOT evaluates the economic efficiency of projects, which indirectly relates to pricing strategies.
Permits & Surcharges (USA): Special transportation permits may be required for overweight containers being moved via road in the USA by individual state DOT. For example, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) identifies established guidelines on weights and prohibits certain overweight loads treated by permits when they exceed 80,000 lbs on interstate highways.
Handling costs: Ports and intermodal terminals use cranes and forklifts with specific lift capacities. Heavier containers may require special, higher capacity handling equipment which increases terminal handling charges (THC). These costs and terminal charges or fees are dictated by the established operational standards of the port authority and the guidelines established by organizations like the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA).
Route restriction: Heavier containers are restricted for movement on certain highways, bridges, and tunnels that have posted weight restrictions. This results in a need to detour or proactively divert container logistics, with an increased, costly and time-consuming transit times. State infrastructure regulation guidelines, as stipulated by the USDOT would dictate or govern a movement restriction for overweight freight.
Factors Affecting Shipping Container Weight
Shipping container weight is not exactly just a matter of the steel walls. There are a number of design and environmental factors that can all have an effect on how heavy a container is:
Materials: Tare weight can be affected by the high-strength corten steel and reinforced floor trachea used in containers, particularly for refrigerated or specialty types of containers. These standards are defined in ISO 668.
Additional Modifications: Ventilation hatches or panels, as well as locks, inserts or additions, insulation, and solar panels, all increase the tare weight of the container. Since a shipped container is usually upgraded through conversion or customization, it is common to find these other features on containers.
Environmental Exposure: Older containers are subject to rust, accumulated moisture, or corrosion over time, and this can add a bit to the weight of the container. ISO acknowledges that rust, moisture and weather exposure, as well as age, are risks to containers in their inspection recommendations for maintenance.
Internal Linings or Cargo Control Systems: Internal lashing rings, wooden flooring, shelves, or insulation for thermal control, can all increase the weight of the interior.
Why is Container Weight Important?
The weight of the container is not simply a number printed on a piece of paper; container weight affects safety, cost, and legalities throughout all aspects of your global logistics practices. And here is what makes the accuracy of declaring weight important:
- Avoid fines for overweight containers (common on U.S. roads)
- Ensure the right equipment is utilized (trucks, cranes, forklifts)
- Legal road and maritime weight limits (FHWA & IMO)
- Emphasis port safety protocols
- Cargo insurance requirements
Under the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) mandates that all loaded containers have a verified declared weight (verified gross mass (VGM)) before being permitted aboard a vessel. Non-compliance may cause delays, returned cargo, and possible legal consequences.
How to Weigh Shipping Containers
Weighing containers accurately is essential to meet The IMO guidelines and requirements set for the Verified Gross Mass (VGM) of containers under the SOLAS convention. Below are the approved methods:
Weighbridge method: A vehicle is loaded with a container and weighed on a proper calibrated weighbridge truck or scale. The tare weight of the truck is subtracted to obtain the gross weight of the container. This is the most frequent method in the U.S. and the scale must be compliant with NIST Handbook 44 and considered legal for trade purposes.
Crane or load cell method: Cranes or lifting devices with certified load cells weigh the container when the lifting begins. Systems must be calibrated according to ISO 830 guidelines or national measurement/standards institutions.
New weighing systems: Modern shipping trucks, containers, and trailers are equipped with onboard weight load sensors that automatically save the weight without being touched. In the U.S., these systems must comply with the National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP).
Conclusion
Tare weight, net weight and gross weight all help you to understand your shipping container’s total costs, as well as logistics in general and compliance with international norms. Complying with international weight standards falls under the jurisdiction of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and other global authorities, including the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Each has strict standards with credible penalties for compliance. Container weight specifications guide businesses to optimize logistics, minimize fines, and deliver on time with adherence to previous, clearly outlined legal formations such as SOLAS VGM and NTEP compliance. Whether transporting perishables with reefer containers, or handling large cargo in containers, an increase of knowledge on container weights aid in the seamless contact of logistics and global trade.
FAQs About Shipping Container Weigh
1. Can container weights vary by manufacturer?
Yes, but only by a small difference. All containers are built to the ISO specifications for standardization. But with brand features like floor type, lock quality, etc, can cause some changes.
2. How do container weights affect shipping rates?
Shipping lines charge per ton or per container. Exceeding the set limits according to different criteria however can incur additional fees.
3. Are container weights different for land vs. sea transport?
The weight of the container does not change, but the allowable gross weight is dependent upon the mode of transport (e.g. truck vs cargo ship).
4. What’s the difference between Tare and Gross Weight?
Tare refers to the weight of the empty container. When you add cargo and then measure the weight, it is called gross weight.
