Container dimensions
External dimensions are the ISO 668 standard values; internal dimensions come from shipping lines’ technical sheets (Hapag-Lloyd) and may vary by a few millimetres between manufacturers.
| Type | External (length × width × height) | Internal (length × width × height) |
|---|---|---|
| 20 ft | 6.06 × 2.44 × 2.59 m | 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.40 m |
| 40 ft | 12.19 × 2.44 × 2.59 m | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.40 m |
| 40 ft High Cube | 12.19 × 2.44 × 2.90 m | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.70 m |
A container converted into a home gets insulation and lining inside, so the inner width and height shrink by their thickness. In our plans we took the wall as 10 cm (steel sheet, insulation and lining together); with this thickness the inner width drops to 2.24 m. For your own project, ask your builder about the insulation thickness.
20 ft: one room and a bathroom
40 ft: living, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom
- Circulation runs in a single line. The rooms are lined up end to end, so you pass through each one; put the bathroom at the far end and the bedroom just before it.
- Push furniture against the long walls. Keep the middle clear; in a narrow body the walkway matters more than anything else.
- Balance doors and windows between the front and back faces. The long walls are steel sheet; every opening cut into them needs reinforcement.
More space: containers side by side
If two containers are placed side by side, removing the long wall between them gives a space about 4.7 m wide. That means cutting the load-bearing steel, so the structural calculation must be done by an engineer. With Nodaform’s container tool (Plus) you can place containers side by side and try out the plan.
The plans and dimensions in this post are layout ideas. A building permit, structural design or construction project requires a design by, and approval from, a licensed architect and engineer; ask your municipality about the details of the regulations.