International Shipping Containers Explained

Updated March 2026
How much cargo will you be able to fit into your shipping container when you relocate? Which size shipping container will be the right one for your move?

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The Intermodal Shipping Container Explained

The intermodal shipping container is the unsung hero of modern logistics. It enables the efficient movement of cargo from one side of the earth to the other at a reasonable cost. Today, these containers are ubiquitous. Near any port, you will find high stacks of them, ready to be loaded or unloaded and shipped anywhere within hours.

The container as we know it today was introduced in the 1950s and has since transformed global trade. In the years that followed, ports were rebuilt to accommodate them, as were the tributary and distributary industries that depend on them.

Modern technology has allowed shipping companies to build larger ships with smaller crews. To accommodate these ships, harbors have been deepened, and even the Panama Canal was widened, all thanks to these simple yet ingenious metal boxes.

You have seen them on trucks, trains, and ships. This is the meaning of the word intermodal: the same container can be used across different modes of transportation and vessel types. Almost all dry goods shipped throughout the world travel in shipping containers, including your household goods when you move internationally with a door-to-door international shipping company.

Shipping Containers for International Relocations

There are many types of containers developed for domestic and land shipping, but only a few are used for international relocations. As you drive along highways, you may notice 8-foot or 10-foot containers often used in the USA for domestic shipping. For international relocations, the only containers used are 20-foot, 40-foot, and 40-foot high cube containers. Other container types are occasionally used for commercial cargo but not for household goods.

There are also containers with doors at either end, those that open along the length of the container, and those without a roof used for bulk cargo like coal. None of these are used for international shipments of household goods.

All containers used for household goods moves have a single set of doors that are sealed by SDC International Shipping’s movers. That seal typically remains intact until your container is delivered to your destination. It may be broken if your container is selected for a manual customs inspection. Some countries require that goods be transferred to local moving vans for final delivery, in which case you may not see the original container at the destination end.

Any container that goes on a ship must be certified as seaworthy. This means it has been inspected to confirm it can be properly sealed against seawater and that its structural integrity allows fully packed containers to be stacked on top of it at sea.

Shipping Container Dimensions

There are three container sizes SDC International Shipping uses for sending household goods and personal effects from the USA to your new home.

The 20-Foot Container

The 20-foot container is 20 feet long, 7 feet 8 inches wide, and 7 feet 6 inches tall internally. The doors open to the full width of the container, meaning anything that fits inside can be moved through the door. Internal dimensions give an exact capacity of 1,160 cubic feet.

In practice, you will not be able to use all 1,160 cubic feet. Irregularly shaped items leave gaps, and cartons themselves take up space. On a self-loaded container, 950 cubic feet of usable cargo space is a realistic expectation. When SDC’s team handles both professional packing and loading, you can typically fit around 1,100 cubic feet of cargo, as experienced packers know how to maximize every available space.

The contents of a typical three-bedroom house usually fit into a 20-foot container. Our movers also disassemble many furniture pieces such as dining room tables and bedroom sets, which significantly reduces the space they occupy. Note that flat-pack or knock-down furniture is not disassembled, as it does not withstand repeated assembly and disassembly well.

If you are considering loading your own container, keep in mind that when a container is delivered to your home, it sits on the chassis of a truck with the floor approximately five feet off the ground. Unless you are loading from a facility with a loading dock designed for containers, containers should be loaded by professionals only.

Many countries allow the import of an automobile as part of household goods. Depending on your origin and destination, it often makes logistical and financial sense to ship the car inside your container. One of the most common vehicles we are asked to ship is the Toyota RAV4, which at 73 inches wide and 69 inches tall fits comfortably inside the container. At 182 inches long, it takes up roughly two-thirds of the 20-foot container’s length. If you want to bring both your car and your full household contents, the 40-foot container is the right choice.

The 40-Foot Container

The 40-foot container is the same height and width as the 20-foot container but twice as long, giving it just over 2,300 cubic feet of cargo space. This is sufficient for most households, including larger ones, and provides enough room to accommodate both household goods and an automobile in the same container.

Note that while popular full-size pickup trucks like the Ford F-150 will physically fit inside a container, destination country customs regulations vary on whether they are classified as personal household goods or commercial vehicles. Your coordinator will confirm the classification rules for your specific destination before booking.

The 40-foot container is also the right choice for clients who want to bring items that are only available in the USA or are difficult to source abroad, such as outdoor grills, sports equipment, bicycles, playground equipment, kayaks, or hobby gear. When you have the space, there is no reason to leave behind items you use regularly.

The total cost of a 40-foot container is typically about 50% more than a 20-foot container. If you are uncertain whether everything will fit in a 20-foot container, upgrading to a 40-foot container is often the more practical and cost-effective decision when you factor in the stress and replacement cost of leaving things behind.

The 40-Foot High Cube Container

The 40-foot high cube container is the same length and width as the standard 40-foot container, but one foot taller at 8 feet 6 inches internally. This adds approximately 13% to the container’s capacity, bringing it to nearly 2,700 cubic feet. Most clients will not require this much space. The high cube is typically used for very large households, or for households shipping both a car and a motorcycle alongside their household goods.

One important caution: customs regulations in most countries do not allow unlimited duty-free importation simply because you have space available. Filling extra container space with new goods intended as gifts for family or friends at the destination is a common mistake that triggers costly manual inspections and potential duties on the entire shipment. A few boxes of hard-to-find American products are reasonable. Twelve boxes of new items purchased specifically to bring to others is the kind of thing that flags a shipment for inspection.

How Much Cargo Fits In a Shipping Container

Which size container will be the best for your move? The following table offers preliminary guidance:

Container Type	Suitable For
20-foot container	Most families; fits the contents of a typical three-bedroom house when packed professionally
40-foot container	Larger households, or a full household move combined with an automobile
40-foot high cube	Very large households, or a large household move with both a car and a motorcycle

The typical cost of a 40-foot container is about 50% more than a 20-foot container. High cube containers cost slightly more than that. For most destinations, it makes financial sense to book a full container load if you are shipping 500 cubic feet or more. For smaller volumes, consolidation (LCL) shipping combines your shipment with others heading to the same port, reducing cost per cubic foot significantly.

If you are unsure which container size best suits your move, ask your SDC International Shipping coordinator to arrange an on-site survey. A survey gives you an accurate volume estimate and helps identify items that may be better left behind or sold before the move.

To Europe, Australia and the UK, You Don’t Need To Choose

If you are moving to Europe, Australia, or the UK, you won’t have to decide between container sizes. For these destinations, SDC International Shipping offers groupage consolidation. Because we have a high volume of cargo to these destinations, we fill and send our own containers continuously, at volume discounts we pass along to our clients.

Rather than choosing between a 20-foot and a 40-foot container, you ship exactly the volume you have, whether that is 800 cubic feet or 1,400 cubic feet, and pay accordingly. We deconsolidate at the destination and deliver to your door.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pack my own items and have SDC load the container?

Yes, though we recommend professional packing for fragile and high-value items regardless of who packs the rest. Items that are not professionally packed may not be covered under your marine insurance policy if damaged in transit. Your coordinator can discuss a hybrid packing arrangement where SDC handles fragile items and you manage the rest.

What happens if my container is inspected at customs?

If customs authorities at the destination select your container for a manual inspection, the seal will be broken. In most cases this adds a few days to the clearance timeline. Having an accurate, complete packing list and inventory is the most important factor in keeping inspections brief and uneventful. Containers with vague or incomplete inventories are more likely to be held for extended review.

How far in advance should I book my shipping container?

For most international moves, four to eight weeks of lead time is the practical minimum. Peak summer moving season and high-demand routes to Europe and Australia can book up quickly. The earlier you confirm your container booking, the more flexibility you have on packing dates and vessel departures.

Is it cheaper to ship a partial container or a full container?

For volumes above approximately 500 cubic feet, a full container load (FCL) is typically more cost-effective than a less-than-container-load (LCL) consolidation shipment on a per-cubic-foot basis. Below that threshold, LCL consolidation is usually the better value. Your coordinator will recommend the right option based on your actual inventory volume and destination.

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