Container Specifications: Sea Freight
DETERMINE YOUR CHARGEABLE SEA FREIGHT WEIGHT
For sea freight shipments that are Less than a Container Load (LCL), cargo is shipped in groupage (Freight All Kinds – FAK) containers. Freight charges are based on a Chargeable Weight or Measure (W/M) unit.
The W/M is determined by comparing:
- Actual Weight of the cargo, and
- Cubic Measurement (CBM) of the cargo
The greater of the two becomes the chargeable unit.
For LCL shipments, the industry conversion is: 1CBM (m³) = 1,000kg
Step 1 – Calculate CBM (volume):
Length × Width × Height = CBM 1.20m × 1.30m × 1.40m = 2.184m³
Step 2 – Convert Actual Weight to CBM equivalent:
Actual Weight ÷ 1,000 = W/M in CBM 950 kg ÷ 1,000 = 0.950m³
Step 3 – Compare and Apply:
CBM = 2.184
Weight equivalent = 0.950
Chargeable W/M = 2.184 (greater value), therefore freight charges will be based on 2.184 CBM


STANDARD 20'
| INSIDE LENGTH | INSIDE WIDTH | INSIDE HEIGHT | DOOR WIDTH | DOOR HEIGHT | CAPACITY | TARE WEIGHT | MAX CARGO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19' 4" | 7’ 8” | D | 7’ 8” | 7’ 6” | 1,172 cft | 4,916 lb | 47,900 lb |
| 5.900 m | 2.350 m | 2.393 m | 2.342 m | 2.280 m | 33.2 cbm | 2,230 kg | 21,770 kg |
STANDARD 40'
| INSIDE LENGTH | INSIDE WIDTH | INSIDE HEIGHT | DOOR WIDTH | DOOR HEIGHT | CAPACITY | TARE WEIGHT | MAX CARGO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39’ 5” | 7’ 8” | 7’ 10” | 7’ 8” | 7’ 6” | 2,360 cft | 8,160 lb | 59,040 lb |
| 12.036 m | 2.350 m | 2.392 m | 2.340 m | 2.280 m | 66.7 cbm | 3,700 kg | 26,780 kg |

UPGRADED 20'
| INSIDE LENGTH | INSIDE WIDTH | INSIDE HEIGHT | DOOR WIDTH | DOOR HEIGHT | CAPACITY | TARE WEIGHT | MAX CARGO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19’ 4” | 7’ 7” | 7’ 10” | 7’ 6” | 7’ 6” | 1,152 cft | 5,060 lb | 61,996 lb |
| 5.900 m | 2.311 m | 2.390 m | 2.286 m | 2.280 m | 33.63 cbm | 2,300 kg | 28,180 kg |
HIGH CUBE 40'
| INSIDE LENGTH | INSIDE WIDTH | INSIDE HEIGHT | DOOR WIDTH | DOOR HEIGHT | CAPACITY | TARE WEIGHT | MAX CARGO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39’ 5” | 7’ 8” | 8’ 10” | 7’ 8” | 8’ 5” | 2,694 cft | 8,750 lb | 58,450 lb |
| 12.036 m | 2.350 m | 2.697 m | 2.338 m | 2.585 m | 76.3 cbm | 3,970 kg | 26,510 kg |

REEFER 20'
| INSIDE LENGTH | INSIDE WIDTH | INSIDE HEIGHT | DOOR WIDTH | DOOR HEIGHT | CAPACITY | TARE WEIGHT | MAX CARGO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17’ 8” | 7’ 5” | 7’ 5” | 7’ 5” | 7’ 3” | 1,000 cft | 7,040 lb | 45,760 lb |
| 5.425 m | 2.275 m | 2.260 m | 2.258 m | 2.216 m | 28.3 cbm | 3,200 kg | 20,800 kg |
REEFER 40'
| INSIDE LENGTH | INSIDE WIDTH | INSIDE HEIGHT | DOOR WIDTH | DOOR HEIGHT | CAPACITY | TARE WEIGHT | MAX CARGO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37’ 8” | 7’ 5” | 7’ 2” | 7’ 5” | 7’ 0” | 2,040 cft | 10,780 lb | 56,276 lb |
| 11.493 m | 2.270 m | 2.197 m | 2.282 m | 2.155 m | 57.8 cbm | 4,900 kg | 25,580 kg |
REEFER 40' HIGH CUBE
| INSIDE LENGTH | INSIDE WIDTH | INSIDE HEIGHT | DOOR WIDTH | DOOR HEIGHT | CAPACITY | TARE WEIGHT | MAX CARGO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37’ 11” | 7’ 6” | 8’ 2” | 7’ 6” | 8’ 0” | 2,344 cft | 9,900 lb | 57,561 lb |
| 11.557 m | 2.294 m | 2.500 m | 2.294 m | 2.440 m | 66.60 cbm | 4,500 kg | 25,980 kg |

OPEN TOP 20’ (UPGRADE ALSO AVAILABLE)
| INSIDE LENGTH | INSIDE WIDTH | INSIDE HEIGHT | DOOR WIDTH | DOOR HEIGHT | CAPACITY | TARE WEIGHT | MAX CARGO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19’ 4” | 7’ 7” | 7’ 8” | 7’ 6” | 7’ 2” | 1,136 cft | 5,280 lb | 47,620 lb |
| 5.894 m | 2.311 m | 2.354 m | 2.286 m | 2.184 m | 32.23 cbm | 2,400 kg | 21,600 kg |
OPEN TOP 40’
| INSIDE LENGTH | INSIDE WIDTH | INSIDE HEIGHT | DOOR WIDTH | DOOR HEIGHT | CAPACITY | TARE WEIGHT | MAX CARGO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39’ 5” | 7’ 8” | 7’ 8” | 7’ 8” | 7’ 5” | 2,350 cft | 8,490 lb | 58,710 lb |
| 12.028 m | 2.350 m | 2.345 m | 2.341 m | 2.274 m | 65.5 cbm | 3,850 kg | 26,630 kg |

FLAT RACK 20’
| INSIDE LENGTH | INSIDE WIDTH | INSIDE HEIGHT | DOOR WIDTH | DOOR HEIGHT | CAPACITY | TARE WEIGHT | MAX CARGO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18’ 5” | 7’ 3” | 7’ 4” | - | - | - | 5,578 lb | 47,333 lb |
| 5.620 m | 2.200 m | 2.233 m | - | - | - | 2,350 kg | 21,470 kg |
FLAT RACK 40’
| INSIDE LENGTH | INSIDE WIDTH | INSIDE HEIGHT | DOOR WIDTH | DOOR HEIGHT | CAPACITY | TARE WEIGHT | MAX CARGO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39’ 7” | 6’ 10” | 6’ 5” | - | - | - | 12,081 lb | 85,800 lb |
| 12.080 m | 2.438 m | 2.103 m | - | - | - | 5,480 kg | 39,000 kg |

PLATFORM 20’
| INSIDE LENGTH | INSIDE WIDTH | INSIDE HEIGHT | DOOR WIDTH | DOOR HEIGHT | CAPACITY | TARE WEIGHT | MAX CARGO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19’ 11” | 8’ 0” | 7’ 04” | - | - | - | 6,061 lb | 52,896 lb |
| 6.058 m | 2.438 m | 2.233 m | - | - | - | 2,750 kg | 24,000 kg |
PLATFORM 40’
| INSIDE LENGTH | INSIDE WIDTH | INSIDE HEIGHT | DOOR WIDTH | DOOR HEIGHT | CAPACITY | TARE WEIGHT | MAX CARGO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40’ 0” | 8’ 0” | 6’ 5” | - | - | - | 12,783 lb | 86,397 lb |
| 12.180 m | 2.400 m | 1.950 m | - | - | - | 5,800 kg | 39,200 kg |

FLAT RACK COLLAPSIBLE 20’
| INSIDE LENGTH | INSIDE WIDTH | INSIDE HEIGHT | DOOR WIDTH | DOOR HEIGHT | CAPACITY | TARE WEIGHT | MAX CARGO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18’ 6” | 7’ 3” | 7’ 4” | - | - | - | 6,061 lb | 61,117 lb |
| 5.618 m | 2.208 m | 2.233 m | - | - | - | 2,750 kg | 27,730 kg |
FLAT RACK COLLAPSIBLE 40’ (STAK BED)
| INSIDE LENGTH | INSIDE WIDTH | INSIDE HEIGHT | DOOR WIDTH | DOOR HEIGHT | CAPACITY | TARE WEIGHT | MAX CARGO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39’ 7” | 6’ 10” | 6’ 5” | - | - | - | 12,787 lb | 85,800 lb |
| 12.080 m | 2.126 m | 2.604 m | - | - | - | 5,800 kg | 39,000 kg |
BE SURE TO CHECK
AIR IMPORT/EXPORT DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS
- Commercial Invoice
- Packing List
- Packing Declaration
- Manufacturer Declaration
- Certificate of Origin (if applicable)
- Express Master Bill/ AWB/HBL
- Any additional documents required based on commodity will be requested/provided
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