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 reefer container measures 11.60 × 2.28 × 2.23 m inside (38 ft 1 in × 7 ft 6 in × 7 ft 4 in), carries up to 26,130 kg and holds 23 Euro pallets in one layer.
vs 40 ft high cube reefer container: +33.1 cm height, −0.02 m length, +9.2 m³ volume, +3,130 kg payload. Open the comparison unit
Inside, a 40 ft reefer container is 11.60 m long, 2.28 m wide and 2.23 m high. The rear door opening is 2.28 m wide and 2.23 m high.
| 40 ft reefer container | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Inner length | 11,602 mm | 38 ft 1 in |
| Inner width | 2,276 mm | 7 ft 6 in |
| Inner height | 2,226 mm | 7 ft 4 in |
| Door width | 2,276 mm | 7 ft 6 in |
| Door height | 2,226 mm | 7 ft 4 in |
| Floor area | 26.4 m² | 284 ft² |
| Volume | 58.8 m³ | 2,076 ft³ |
Empty, a 40 ft reefer container weighs 4,350 kg (9,590 lb). Its payload is 26,130 kg (57,607 lb). Builders publish slightly different figures, so check the plate on your own unit.
| 40 ft reefer container | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Payload | 26,130 kg | 57,607 lb |
| Empty weight | 4,350 kg | 9,590 lb |
A 40 ft reefer container holds 23 Euro pallets. Stacking adds none: two pallets of 1.20 m need 2.40 m, and the inside is 2.23 m high.
| Pallet or carton | One layer | Stacked two high |
|---|---|---|
| Euro pallet 1,200 × 800 mm | 23 | 23 |
| Industrial pallet 1,200 × 1,000 mm | 20 | 20 |
| Half pallet 800 × 600 mm | 52 | 104 |
| GMA pallet 1,219 × 1,016 mm | 20 | 20 |
| Carton 600 × 400 × 400 mm | 530Stacked to the roof | |
Assumptions
11.60 × 2.28 × 2.23 m inside (38 ft 1 in × 7 ft 6 in × 7 ft 4 in). The rear door opening is 2.28 × 2.23 m.
23 Euro pallets (1,200 × 800 mm) and 20 industrial pallets (1,200 × 1,000 mm) in one layer. Stacked two high: 23 and 20, at 1.20 m a pallet.
Up to 530 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.