Sea container
A reefer is an insulated container with a refrigeration unit at the front wall. The unit and the T-floor take space, so it holds less than a dry container of the same length.
A 40 ft high cube reefer container measures 11.58 × 2.29 × 2.56 m inside (38 ft 0 in × 7 ft 6 in × 8 ft 5 in), carries up to 29,260 kg and holds 23 Euro pallets in one layer.
vs 40 ft high cube container: +14.1 cm height, +0.45 m length, +8.4 m³ volume, −2,680 kg payload. Open the comparison unit
Inside, a 40 ft high cube reefer container is 11.58 m long, 2.29 m wide and 2.56 m high. The rear door opening is 2.29 m wide and 2.56 m high.
| 40 ft high cube reefer container | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Inner length | 11,584 mm | 38 ft 0 in |
| Inner width | 2,294 mm | 7 ft 6 in |
| Inner height | 2,557 mm | 8 ft 5 in |
| Door width | 2,290 mm | 7 ft 6 in |
| Door height | 2,557 mm | 8 ft 5 in |
| Floor area | 26.6 m² | 286 ft² |
| Volume | 67.9 m³ | 2,400 ft³ |
Empty, a 40 ft high cube reefer container weighs 4,740 kg (10,450 lb). Its payload is 29,260 kg (64,507 lb). Builders publish slightly different figures, so check the plate on your own unit.
| 40 ft high cube reefer container | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Payload | 29,260 kg | 64,507 lb |
| Empty weight | 4,740 kg | 10,450 lb |
A 40 ft high cube reefer container holds 23 Euro pallets in one layer and 46 stacked two high.
| Pallet or carton | One layer | Stacked two high |
|---|---|---|
| Euro pallet 1,200 × 800 mm | 23 | 46 |
| Industrial pallet 1,200 × 1,000 mm | 20 | 40 |
| Half pallet 800 × 600 mm | 52 | 104 |
| GMA pallet 1,219 × 1,016 mm | 20 | 40 |
| Carton 600 × 400 × 400 mm | 618Stacked to the roof | |
Assumptions
11.58 × 2.29 × 2.56 m inside (38 ft 0 in × 7 ft 6 in × 8 ft 5 in). The rear door opening is 2.29 × 2.56 m.
23 Euro pallets (1,200 × 800 mm) and 20 industrial pallets (1,200 × 1,000 mm) in one layer. Stacked two high: 46 and 40, at 1.20 m a pallet.
Up to 618 cartons of 600 × 400 × 400 mm at 15 kg each, stacked to the roof.
They are typical values. Builders differ by a few millimetres and kilograms. In Cargo Marshal you can add your own equipment type with your exact numbers and use it in a load plan like a built-in one.
Yes. Pick it in a load plan, add your cargo and press Calculate. Cargo Marshal places every piece, checks the payload and gives the warehouse a loading checklist. The 14-day trial needs no card.
Sources, as of October 2026:
Paste your packing list, press Calculate and see how every piece goes in.