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40 Foot Container – For All Your Container Needs

Ocean freight is still the most efficient way to ship large, heavy items. Typically, you will find companies use the 20 foot and 40 foot container to house their largest items, while the 8.5 foot variety are referred to as standard. While these are general, common terms, there are many more kinds of shipping containers used by international companies.

For instance, high cube containers are becoming more and more popular. Also known as hicube, these cubic receptacles stand at 9.5 foot dimensions on all three axes. Whether they are insulated containers, or refrigerated containers, or a general ISO container, these different styles and sizes serve to accommodate many different shipping needs.

The 20 and 40 foot container regulations require that they are rated according to the maximum gross mass or total permissible weight, which includes the container and its contents.  The rating for a 20 foot container is 24,000 kg or 52,900 lbs.  The rating for a 40 foot container is 30,480 kg or 67,200 lbs.

They are also rated by tare mass, which is what static weight of the 40 foot container by itself.  While this designation could describe any empty ISO container, the resulting weight can vary because of manufacturing practices and construction techniques.  For example a 8.5 X 20 foot dry box could weigh between 1,800 and 2,400 kgs.  A 9.5 X 40 foot container could potentially weigh anywhere between 3,900 and 4,200 kgs.

Finally, the payload is the maximum amount of weight that is permitted by shipping regulators after the 40 foot container is full.  Specifics aside, the average maximum payload for a 20 foot container is 17,500 kgs while the average payload for a 40 foot container is 24,000.

Most regulations on gross mass, tare mass, and payload are determined by the International Organization for Standardization.  This is where the term ISO container comes from, as it is a hicube, 20 foot, or 40 foot container that has been produced to fit their standards.  This can also include office containers, refrigerated containers, and insulated containers too.

40 Foot Container and Other Large Containers

Aside from the standard 20 and 40 foot container lengths, the ISO also permits 45, 48, and 53 foot boxes too.  These are the standard shipping container sizes for domestic transport.  Air freight, on the other hand is regulated by the IATA, International Air Transport Association.  These are usually much larger than your average 40 foot container, with the standard height reaching 64 feet.

An ISO container is designed to be able to handle all forms of transport so that it can survive international travel.  From a manufacturer to a warehouse, it will likely travel by van, ship, and plane, depending on its size and weight.  All containers of this classification receive a container safety certificate, which is issued by the manufacturer.  The manufacturer needs to renew the safety certificate every 30 months with an approval from a certified inspector.

There are several different kinds of ISO container:

  • Obviously, the 40 foot container is pretty standard, but there are also dry, or cube containers, which load from the front.
  • There are also insulated containers that are suitable for transporting both chilled and frozen goods, and other products that could be considered temperature sensitive.  While the walls are insulated, these units are not refrigerated, but you can also use a refrigerated 40 foot container if you believe you need to ensure a stable temperature for an extremely delicate product.
  • The flat rack is a special kind of ISO container that companies used when they need to move heavy machinery.  It allows you to roll wheeled equipment into a cage-like structure that keeps them secure.  Unlike a 40 foot container, there are no walls, but they are still quite effective and since they are also often collapsible, they are also very convenient.
  • An open top container is another specialty ISO container that is often used to carry tall or hard-to-load materials, like sand, grain, or coal.  They are usually shaped like a box, which seems somewhat obvious

If you need to buy a 40 foot container or another form of ISO container, you could consider used shipping containers depending on your particular storage or transporting needs.  Like many other manufactured products, there is often no recognizable difference between older and newer models of hi-cubes and shipping containers.

40 Foot Container Cost Savings

In fact, unless you plan to make continuous use of a new 40 foot container, it is usually more cost-effective to go with a used one.  Since the cost of a new container can range between $1000 and $4000, it is probably wise to consider many of these alternatives before finalizing any purchases.

It is likely that you will save a significant amount of money this way, reducing your overhead, and hopefully maximizing your profits.  The average savings of used to new can be as high as 50%, even if there is no debilitating damage to the old container.  Sometimes they are just discarded simply because their job is over.

Some vendors will actually purchase old ones and repair broken or damaged parts until they are as good as new.  Since they are made from resilient metals like steel, they can last for many years before they need actual replacement.  You can also simply cover them with paint and you may not even be able to recognize them!  If you need a 40 foot container for a quick job, you could also consider leasing one for up to years at around $150 a month.

Finally, the office container is a unique type of 40 foot container that is solely used for portable or temporary office housing.  These can be used in place of a modular trailer on a construction or shipping site, or simply when a static location is being remodeled, cleaned, or fumigated.  You can also find them in smaller 10 foot lengths, as well as of varying dimensions for overseas shipping of farm equipment or automobiles.  Obviously, these do not necessarily need to serve the same functions as a 40 foot container.