Shipping Container Weights & Specs: Tare, Payload and Max Gross

An empty 20ft shipping container weighs about 4,900 lb, and an empty 40ft about 8,300 lb — a 40ft high cube runs slightly heavier at roughly 8,750 lb. Loaded, 20ft and 40ft containers share the same ISO maximum gross weight of 67,200 lb, which means the shorter 20ft can legally carry more weight per foot of length. Here are the full specifications and why they matter when you buy.

Tare, payload and max gross

Three numbers define a container. Tare is the empty weight of the box itself. Max gross is the heaviest the container may be when fully loaded. Payload is the difference — the cargo it can legally hold. Because 20ft and 40ft units share the same max gross rating, the 20ft is the dense-cargo workhorse while the 40ft wins on volume. Our container sizes guide covers interior dimensions and door openings in detail.

Full specification table

Size	External dimensions	Capacity	Tare (approx.)	Max gross	Payload (approx.)
10ft	10 ft x 8 ft x 8 ft 6 in	~560 cu ft	~2,900 lb	~22,400 lb	~19,500 lb
20ft standard	20 ft x 8 ft x 8 ft 6 in	~1,170 cu ft	~4,900 lb	67,200 lb	~62,300 lb
40ft standard	40 ft x 8 ft x 8 ft 6 in	~2,390 cu ft	~8,300 lb	67,200 lb	~58,900 lb
40ft high cube	40 ft x 8 ft x 9 ft 6 in	~2,700 cu ft	~8,750 lb	67,200 lb	~58,450 lb

Exact tare varies slightly by manufacturer and build year, so treat these as standard industry figures rather than guarantees for a specific unit.

The CSC plate: your container's spec sheet

Every container built for ocean service carries a CSC plate (Convention for Safe Containers) riveted to the left door. It states that unit's actual tare, max gross, and allowable stacking and racking loads, plus its inspection history. On a used container, the CSC plate is the authoritative record — read it rather than assuming averages.

Why weight matters on delivery day and after

Tare weight decides what truck can carry your container: a 20ft rides a smaller tilt-bed than a 40ft, which also needs about 60 feet of straight clearance to slide off. After placement, remember the load path runs through the four corner castings — a level gravel pad or piers under the corners handles even a heavily loaded unit. Delivery is priced by distance, so the depot network matters more than the box weight for your final cost.

The short version

A 20ft container weighs about 4,900 lb empty and a 40ft about 8,300 lb, with both rated to the same 67,200 lb maximum gross — so the 20ft carries denser loads, the 40ft carries bulkier ones. The CSC plate on the door gives the exact figures for any specific unit. Weight drives the truck size and clearance you need, not usually the foundation, which only has to support four corners. Get a free guaranteed-lowest-price quote — buy, rent or rent-to-own, delivered in 3–7 business days.