New 20ft Standard Shipping Container: The Industry Standard for Storage and Shipping
The 20ft standard shipping container is the most widely used container size in the world, and for good reason. With approximately 1,360 cubic feet of internal space, it is large enough to hold the contents of a small apartment, a full set of construction materials, or several hundred boxes of commercial inventory, while still fitting on a standard flatbed truck and in most residential or commercial locations.
Built from high-tensile Corten steel with a marine-grade plywood floor, this container is designed to survive decades of harsh ocean transport. That same durability makes it an exceptional choice for on-site storage, permanent installations, and custom conversion projects. Every 20ft container we sell is ISO certified and CSC plated, meaning it meets the international standards required for safe lifting, stacking, and transport.
How a 20ft Shipping Container is Built
The structure begins with a heavy-duty steel frame made from high-tensile structural steel. Corrugated Corten steel panels are welded to the frame to form the walls and roof. The corrugation pattern is not decorative; it provides critical rigidity that allows the container to be stacked up to nine units high when fully loaded, and to withstand the forces of ocean transport without deforming.
The floor is constructed from 1-1/8 inch marine-grade tropical hardwood plywood, laid over steel cross members spaced at regular intervals. This flooring is designed to resist moisture, fungal growth, and the concentrated weight of heavy machinery and forklift wheels. The double swing doors at one end feature four cam locking bars (two per door), rubber weather gaskets, and a welded lockbox for padlock security.
Corner castings at all eight corners of the container allow for standardized lifting by crane, stacking in storage yards, and securing on truck chassis and ship decks. Forklift pockets on the bottom allow for easy repositioning on site.
What Does “New” Mean?
A “new” shipping container, also referred to as a one-trip container, has been manufactured at a factory overseas (typically in China) and shipped to the United States loaded with cargo for its first and only voyage. Upon arrival, it is offloaded and made available for sale. This means the container is in near-pristine condition: factory-applied paint with minimal touch-up, clean interior surfaces, new plywood flooring, and all hardware in perfect working order. One-trip containers are the preferred choice for custom conversions, client-facing installations, and any application where appearance matters.
Specifications
| External Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 20 ft (240 in / 6.06 m) |
| Width | 8 ft (96 in / 2.44 m) |
| Height | 8 ft 6 in (102 in / 2.59 m) |
| Internal Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 19 ft 4 in (232 in / 5.90 m) |
| Width | 7 ft 8 in (92 in / 2.35 m) |
| Height | 7 ft 10 in (94 in / 2.39 m) |
| Door Opening | |
|---|---|
| Width | 7 ft 8 in (92 in / 2.34 m) |
| Height | 7 ft 6 in (90 in / 2.28 m) |
| Area and Volume | |
|---|---|
| Interior Floor Space | 148.5 sq ft |
| Volume | 1,360 cu ft |
| Weight | |
|---|---|
| Tare Weight (Empty) | 5,071 lbs (2,300 kg) |
| Max Gross Weight | 67,200 lbs (30,480 kg) |
| Max Payload | 62,129 lbs (28,180 kg) |
Common Uses
- General storage for homes, businesses, and institutions
- Construction site tool, material, and equipment lockup
- Small office or studio conversion with insulation and power
- Pop-up retail space, coffee shop, or food service build
- International and domestic freight shipping
- Agricultural storage for feed, seed, fertilizer, and equipment
- Emergency and disaster relief storage deployment
- Archive and records storage for offices and government agencies
Purchase a 20ft Container from Shipping Delight Inc.
When you purchase a 20ft shipping container from Shipping Delight Inc., you are investing in a unit that has been individually inspected and verified for structural integrity, weather tightness, and operational hardware function. We do not sell containers with hidden damage, undisclosed repairs, or misrepresented conditions.
- Every unit inspected and certified before delivery
- Available in New (one-trip), Used, and refurbished conditions
- Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
- Nationwide delivery across all 50 states with experienced logistics partners
- Secure bank transfer checkout with confirmation at every step
- Dedicated support from first inquiry through delivery and placement
Not sure if a 20ft is the right size? Check our Buyer’s Guide for a detailed comparison of all available sizes, or request a free consultation and our team will help you find the perfect fit.
Verified Buyer –
Excellent quality container, exactly as described. Delivery was smooth and the team was professional throughout.