A simple guide to shipping container sizes, dimensions, and capacities to help you choose the right option for your international move.

Choosing the right container size is one of the most important steps in planning an international move. Whether you’re relocating a full household or only a few personal items, this guide explains the different container types, their dimensions, and what typically fits inside each one.

Full Container Options

At Crown Relocations UAE, we provide three full-container options:

• 20 ft standard shipping container
• 40 ft standard shipping container
• 40 ft High Cube shipping container

We also offer a Shared Container Service for customer who don’t require a full container.

20 ft Standard Shipping Container

A 20 ft container is the smallest international container with external measurements of 5.898m long x 2.44m wide and 2.394m high. Its cubic capacity is approximately 30 cubic meters.

What fits in 20 ft container?

A 20 ft container is ideal for:

• The typical contents of a 2‑bedroom apartment or townhouse
• Furniture, appliances, boxes, and personal effects
• Small families or individuals with moderate household goods

If a 20 ft container is too small, the next step up is a 40 ft container.

40 ft Standard Shipping Container

The 40ft container has external measurements of 12m long x 2.44m wide and 2.394m high. Its cubic capacity is approximately 60 cubic meters.

What fits in 40 ft container?

A 40 ft container is ideal for:

• The contents of a typical 4‑bedroom home
• Larger furniture, outdoor items, and more boxes
• Families relocating with most or all household belongings

40 ft High Cube Shipping Container

The 40ft High Cube container has external measurements of 12m long x 2.44m wide and 2.99m high (hence its name, High Cube!) Its cubic capacity is approximately 70 cubic meters.

What fits in 40 ft High Cube container?

A High Cube container offers extra vertical space, making it ideal for:

• The contents of a 5‑bedroom home
• A 3‑bedroom home plus a vehicle
• Bulky or tall items that require additional height

Shared Container Services (For Smaller Shipments)

Many customers don’t need a full container — and that’s where Crown’s Shared Container Service becomes the perfect solution.

Why choose a shared container?

• Cost‑effective for smaller shipments
• Pay only for the volume you use
• Same premium Crown‑to‑Crown service
• Ideal for partial moves, students, or temporary relocations

Need further advice?

Whether you choose a 20 ft, 40 ft, or 40 ft High Cube container — or our Shared Container Service — all options are safe and secure ways to ship your belongings to your new home.

If you have any questions about the right option for your move, our team is here to help.

Telephone: +971 800 27696

Email: [email protected]