So, you’ve ordered a 20ft container—but how much will actually fit inside?
20ft shipping container capacity: You’ve picked the perfect-size steel box—20ft shipping container20ft long, trusty and compact. But now comes the million-pound question (well, maybe a few hundred): “What actually fits inside?” Is it enough space for that spare bedroom’s worth of stuff? Your shed clearance sale haul? Or maybe your startup’s warehouse overflow?
Understanding real-world capacity doesn’t just help you avoid ordering a lonely oversized container—it can save you money (no extra hire or delivery costs) and cut out the guesswork when fitting it onto your site. In this article, we’ll break down:
- The true internal volume and how it compares with everyday items
- A helpful guide to how many boxes, sofas, bikes, appliances or even a car can go in
- Packing tips to maximise space and avoid container-shaped Tetris nightmares
Expect data, real-life examples and practical advice to help both buyers and hirers in the UK make the most of their 20ft containers. Whether you’re clearing out, building a workshop, or storing stock, we’ll help you visualise capacity—and save you from the disaster of under/over-ordering.
Grab a tape measure and a cuppa. Let’s fill that steel box wisely.
1. What’s the Internal Volume (in Plain English)?
- Dimensions: approx 5.9m × 2.35m × 2.39m = ~33 m³ usable space
- If you stacked full-height, that’s 146 ft² floor space
- High‑cube adds extra height (+0.3 m), increasing volume to ~37 m³
Explain TEU equivalence and how 20ft = 1 TEU
2. Real‑World Capacity Examples
Boxes
Furniture & Appliances
Fun Stats
Vehicles
- One small car, possibly two—but tricky and not usually recommended
3. How to Visualise It Properly
- Use floorplans or scaled drawings
- Insert everyday items as visual markers (e.g., 2m‑sofa = 15% of the floor)
Include an annotated illustration or photo (like our image carousel above) for clarity.
4. Tips for Smart Packing
- Disassemble items
- Box vulnerable bits, stack properly
- Remember weight constraints: max payload ~21 tonnes
- Leave ~10–15% empty to not exceed 85% utilisiation
5. Alternatives: Euro‑pallet and High‑cube Options
- Standard Euro-pallets: around 11 fit in a 20ft container
- Pallet‑wide containers (2.5m wide) can take 15 Euro-pallets
6. Are You Better Off Hiring or Moving Up a Size?
Weigh capacity needs against costs:
- Under‑utilising? You might downgrade
- Over‑stretching? 40ft or hi‑cube might serve better
- Quick cost comparison and delivery impact
7. Practical UK Use-Cases
- Home moves (2-bed → fits)
- Garden storage (bikes, tools, shed contents)
- Small business inventory overflow
- Event setups (chairs, tech)
8. Avoiding Common Mistakes
- Assuming linear stacking equals volume (not always stable)
- Ignoring floor loading limits
- Forgetting floor-to-ceiling spacing for tall items
9. Why Cubus Can Help
- We offer hi-cube or pallet‑wide containers plus expert packing advice
- Optional packing services, shelving add-ons and accurate quotes based on your load
Case Study
“From Chaos to Calm: How Tom’s Startup Stored 2,000 Archive Boxes in One 20ft Container”
Illustrate a SME needing off-site storage. They squeezed in 933 archive boxes by using crates and shelving. After utilising a pallet‑wide unit, capacity improved even more. End result: safe, secure, on‑site storage with visibility and TBV benefits.
“It’s not just about volume—it’s about packing smart. A 20ft container is like Ikea flat‑pack: what you do matters more than what it is.”
Need help figuring out what fits in your container?
✅ Free load‑planning session
✅ Options for hi‑cube & pallet‑wide
✅ Clear quotes, no guesswork
👉 [Contact our team for capacity advice]
