20FT STANDARD

The 20ft standard shipping container.

160 square feet of secure, dry space in the most widely available container size. This page gives you the exact dimensions, the condition grades you will be quoted and what each one is warrantied for, and the delivery space a truck needs at your placement point — so the conversation with a specialist starts from facts.

Square feet

160 sq ft

External size

20' × 8' × 8' 6"

Weight

4,500 lb

Straight delivery space

110 ft

COMPARE ALL SIZES

20FT STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS

Exterior size decides where it fits on your property. Interior size and the door opening decide what fits inside it.

EXTERNAL DIMENSIONS

Length: 20'
Width: 8'
Height: 8' 6"

INTERIOR DIMENSIONS

Length: 19' 5"
Width: 7' 8-1/8"
Height: 7' 9-5/8"

DOOR OPENING

Width: 7' 8-1/2"
Height: 7' 5-3/4"

Measure your largest item against the door opening, not the interior.

WEIGHT & AREA

Reference weight: 4,500 lb
Square feet: 160 sq ft

The ground and the approach need to carry this weight on a truck.

CONDITION OPTIONS & WARRANTIES

Grade describes what the container is built to do, not how it looks. Used grades — Cargo Worthy, Wind & Water Tight and Economy — can show visible signs of prior service. Warranty terms sit with each grade below.

NEW / 1-TRIP

As new as it gets; used only once from the factory to the U.S.

10-year structural warranty
10-year no-leak warranty

CARGO WORTHY (CW)

Used containers that can pass a marine survey for shipping.

5-year structural warranty
5-year no-leak warranty

WIND & WATER TIGHT (WWT)

Mid-grade container that will be structurally sound and does not leak.

5-year structural warranty
5-year no-leak warranty

ECONOMY

Most affordable storage grade. Focuses on reliable function and protection rather than appearance.

No structural warranty specified
1-year roof no-leak warranty only

Warranty terms shown apply to containers fulfilled by Container One.

Full explanation: Conditions & Warranties

DELIVERY SPACE FOR A 20FT

Measurements start at the intended placement point and extend straight forward. The driver cannot turn within the required 110-foot delivery space.

110 ft

of straight, unobstructed space for a 20ft container

15 ft

minimum overhead clearance while the truck is driving

22 ft

minimum overhead clearance along the entire unloading path

10 ft

minimum width along the delivery path

Measure the delivery path from the exact placement point before ordering.
Check the full route for trees, wires, rooflines, gates, slopes and other obstacles — not just the final placement area.
The truck needs a long, straight approach so the container can be safely unloaded.

Full requirements: the delivery guide

BEFORE YOU BUY A 20FT

GET IT IN WRITING

Ask for the container grade, price, delivery terms and warranty in writing, and keep the invoices, written quotes and communication records.

UNDERSTAND THE QUOTE

A container quote should be easy to understand: the grade, the delivery location, what is included in the quoted price, and whether any payment or delivery-related fees apply before you commit.

DUAL INSPECTION PROCESS

A dual inspection process gives buyers an additional quality-control checkpoint before delivery — helping confirm that the container being delivered matches the condition and functional grade that was ordered.

Also worth reading: the container scam guide and how pricing works.

20FT QUESTIONS, ANSWERED

How much space do I need for delivery?

110 feet of straight, unobstructed space for a 20ft container, measured from the intended placement point and extending straight forward. You also need 15 feet of driving height, 22 feet of unloading height along the entire path, and 10 feet of width.

Can the truck turn once it is on my property?

No. The driver cannot turn within the required 110-foot delivery space. The approach has to be straight from the placement point forward.

Which condition should I choose?

Start with function. New / 1-Trip carries a 10-year structural and 10-year no-leak warranty; Cargo Worthy and Wind & Water Tight each carry 5-year structural and 5-year no-leak warranties; Economy is the most affordable storage grade with a 1-year roof no-leak warranty only. Used grades can show visible signs of prior service.

Will a 20ft or a 40ft suit my project better?

A 20ft gives 160 square feet and needs 110 feet of straight delivery space; both 40ft options give 320 square feet and need 130 feet. If access is tight, the 20ft is usually the realistic choice. Compare all three sizes.