When importing and exporting, it is important to understand the dimensions of a shipping container. The last thing a busy retailer needs is to book a container that is either too big (wasting money) or too small, which will add to your timelines and cost extra money.
In this blog, WTA will shed some light on dimensions of shipping containers to make the process far more understandable and less intimidating.
Two Kinds of Containers
Some may be surprised to learn that the shipping container is a relatively recent invention. Developed by Malcolm McLean and Keith Tantlinger, the first, modern shipping container sprung into existence in 1956.
The idea behind the shipping container was to develop a standard unit that would work well across sea and land, allowing the shipping process to be more streamlined.
Today, the two container sizes often used are either 20 or 40 feet. Due to the vast disparity in sizes, you must understand what size you will need when transporting your goods across the seas.
20 Foot Container
While it isn't the largest container available, the 20-foot container can still fit a great deal of cargo. Generally, it’s said that a 20ft container can fit the contents of a three-bedroom house.
The following items should easily be able to fit inside a 20ft container:
- 200 king-sized mattresses
- Almost 50,000 bananas
- 60 fridges
- 400-500 TVs
For this reason, the 20-foot container is the most popular choice, as it offers a vast amount of space for less cost than the 40-foot container.
40 Foot Container
While the 20-foot container will generally be enough to transport your cargo, this won't always be the case; it will be cheaper to transport a single 40-foot container over two 20-foot containers.
Due to their size, 40-foot containers are generally used to carry light-weight, but bulky items. The general rule for 40-foot containers is the container should have enough space to accommodate the contents of a five-bedroom house.
Now that the differences between the two shipping container sizes have been explored, you should be able to confidently choose the perfect shipping container for your cargo. Explore 10 quick tips for exporting goods from the UK below.
WTA UK has helped countless businesses transport their goods across the globe. If you want to learn more about containers and international shipping, you can explore the many services that WTA UK has on offer here.
