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Shipping container (40 ft)

A standard ISO series 1 freight container.

259.1 cm (8'6")

Measured
External height of 1AA/1CC-type containers: 2 591 mm (8 ft 6 in); nominal length 12.2 m (40 ft) for 1AA (ISO 668:2020, clause 4 and Table 1). High-cube containers are 2 896 mm (9 ft 6 in).
Source
ISO 668:2020, Series 1 freight containers — Classification, dimensions and ratings · checked 19 September 2026

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Size comparison: Shipping container (40 ft)

Size comparison: Shipping container (40 ft)Height comparison of 4 subjects in centimetres: Average US adult man, 175 cm; Shipping container (40 ft), 259.1 cm; American football goal post, 304.8 cm; Basketball hoop, 304.8 cm.175 cm5'9"Average US adult manAverage US…259.1 cm8'6"Shipping container (40 ft)304.8 cm10'0"American football goal post304.8 cm10'0"Basketball hoop
vs

84.1 cm difference (2 ft 9.1 in). Shipping container (40 ft) is taller than Average US adult man.

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    On the board (4)
    1. Average US adult manPerson
      175 cm (5'9")
    2. Shipping container (40 ft)Object
      259.1 cm (8'6")
    3. American football goal postObject
      304.8 cm (10'0")
    4. Basketball hoopObject
      304.8 cm (10'0")
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    About Shipping container (40 ft)

    Shipping container (40 ft): A standard ISO series 1 freight container.

    ISO 668:2020, Series 1 freight containers — Classification, dimensions and ratings gives 259.1 cm (8'6") (External height of 1AA/1CC-type containers: 2 591 mm (8 ft 6 in); nominal length 12.2 m (40 ft) for 1AA (ISO 668:2020, clause 4 and Table 1). High-cube containers are 2 896 mm (9 ft 6 in)).

    Next to the average US adult man (175 cm (5'9"), CDC), shipping container (40 ft) is 1.48 times as tall: a difference of 84.1 cm (2'9").

    On this page you can put shipping container (40 ft) beside american football goal post, basketball hoop, bowling pin or anything else in the catalog, all on one scale.

    Comparisons

    No dedicated comparison page yet. Use the board above to compare Shipping container (40 ft) with anything in the catalog.

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    Frequently asked questions

    How tall is a shipping container (40 ft)?

    259.1 cm (8'6") (External height of 1AA/1CC-type containers: 2 591 mm (8 ft 6 in); nominal length 12.2 m (40 ft) for 1AA (ISO 668:2020, clause 4 and Table 1). High-cube containers are 2 896 mm (9 ft 6 in)), according to ISO 668:2020, Series 1 freight containers — Classification, dimensions and ratings.

    Is a shipping container (40 ft) taller than a person?

    Yes. The average US adult man is 175 cm (5'9") (CDC), so a shipping container (40 ft) at 259.1 cm (8'6") is 84.1 cm taller.

    Source

    Measurement read from ISO 668:2020, Series 1 freight containers — Classification, dimensions and ratings on 19 September 2026. External height of 1AA/1CC-type containers: 2 591 mm (8 ft 6 in); nominal length 12.2 m (40 ft) for 1AA (ISO 668:2020, clause 4 and Table 1). High-cube containers are 2 896 mm (9 ft 6 in). HeightViz draws the figure the source gives and does not measure anything itself; if the source changes, this page is updated from it.

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