ISO 10G1 · 0.5 TEU
10 ft Container Dimensions
The 10 ft container is the smallest standard ISO shipping container in regular use. At just under 3 metres long, it occupies half the footprint of a 20 ft unit and counts as 0.5 TEU. It shares the same 8 ft (2.438 m) width and 8′6″ (2.591 m) height as its larger siblings, so it stacks and locks into the same corner castings.
The end doors open to 2.336 m wide × 2.280 m high — essentially the same clear opening as a 20 ft box — so pallet jacks, ride-on mowers and standard shelving all pass through without trouble. Inside, the usable envelope is 2.831 × 2.352 × 2.393 m.
In ocean freight, 10 ft boxes are rare — carriers price slots by TEU, so shipping one is seldom economical, and many lines will only carry them paired into a 20 ft slot. Where they shine is on land: site storage, tool cribs, market stalls, and tight urban plots where a 20 ft unit will not fit. Because production volumes are low, a new 10 ft unit can cost nearly as much as a much larger 20 ft box — you pay for scarcity, not steel.
Many 10 ft containers on the market are not factory-built at all but cut-downs: a 20 ft or 40 ft unit sectioned and re-welded with a new end wall. Done well they are perfectly serviceable for storage; just check the CSC plate if you ever intend to ship one, because a cut-down loses its certification.
| Metric | Imperial | |
|---|---|---|
| External dimensions | ||
| Length | 2.991 m | 9′10″ |
| Width | 2.438 m | 8′ |
| Height | 2.591 m | 8′6″ |
| Internal dimensions | ||
| Length | 2.831 m | 9′3″ |
| Width | 2.352 m | 7′9″ |
| Height | 2.393 m | 7′10″ |
| Door opening | ||
| Width | 2.336 m | 7′8″ |
| Height | 2.280 m | 7′6″ |
| Specification | ||
| Tare weight * | 1,300 kg | 2,866 lb |
| Max gross weight | 10,160 kg | 22,399 lb |
| Max payload * | 8,860 kg | 19,533 lb |
| Capacity (volume) | 15.9 m³ | 562 ft³ |
| Pallets (one tier) | 4 EUR pallets | 2 US pallets |
| TEU | 0.5 | — |
* Typical value — varies by manufacturer
What fits in a 10 ft container
The interior gives you 15.9 m³ (561 ft³) of space on a 6.7 m² floor — roughly the contents of a studio apartment or a single room. Floor-loaded, it takes 4 EUR pallets or 2 US pallets in a single tier.
Maximum payload is about 8,860 kg, limited by the 10,160 kg max gross rating rather than floor space — for dense cargo like tiles or paper you will hit the weight ceiling long before the walls.
Common uses. The 10 ft size earns its keep where footprint is the constraint: secure site storage on urban builds, a lockable tool crib beside a workshop, a kiosk or ticket booth shell, a generator or pump enclosure, bicycle parking, and back-of-house storage for shops and restaurants. It fits on a single parking space with room to open the doors.
Delivery is another quiet advantage: at under 3 m and 1.3 t empty, a 10 ft box travels on a flatbed truck or trailer and can be placed by a HIAB crane arm in spots a 20 ft delivery vehicle cannot reach.
10 ft vs 20 ft container
| 10 ft container | 20 ft container | |
|---|---|---|
| ISO type code | 10G1 | 22G1 |
| External dimensions — Length | 2.991 m9′10″ | 6.058 m19′11″ |
| External dimensions — Width | 2.438 m8′ | 2.438 m8′ |
| External dimensions — Height | 2.591 m8′6″ | 2.591 m8′6″ |
| Internal dimensions — Length | 2.831 m9′3″ | 5.898 m19′4″ |
| Internal dimensions — Width | 2.352 m7′9″ | 2.352 m7′9″ |
| Internal dimensions — Height | 2.393 m7′10″ | 2.393 m7′10″ |
| Tare weight | 1,300 kg2,866 lb | 2,230 kg4,916 lb |
| Max gross weight | 10,160 kg22,399 lb | 30,480 kg67,197 lb |
| Max payload | 8,860 kg19,533 lb | 28,250 kg62,281 lb |
| Capacity (volume) | 15.9 m³562 ft³ | 33.2 m³1,172 ft³ |
| EUR pallets | 4 | 11 |
| TEU | 0.5 | 1 |
Frequently asked questions
How big is a 10 ft shipping container?
Externally a 10 ft container measures 2.991 m long × 2.438 m wide × 2.591 m high (9′10″ × 8′ × 8′6″). Inside, usable space is 2.831 × 2.352 × 2.393 m, giving 15.9 m³ of capacity.
How much does a 10 ft container weigh?
An empty 10 ft container weighs about 1,300 kg (2,870 lb). Its maximum gross weight is 10,160 kg, leaving a payload of roughly 8,860 kg.
How much does a 10 ft container cost?
In 2025–26, used 10 ft containers typically sell for $1,500–2,500 and new (one-trip or factory-built) units for about $3,000–4,500. Because few are made, they cost nearly as much as a 20 ft box. Prices vary significantly by market, location and condition.
How many square feet is a 10 ft container?
The internal floor area is about 72 ft² (6.7 m²) — a floor of 2.831 × 2.352 m. That is roughly the size of a small garden shed or half a parking space.
Can 10 ft containers be shipped by sea?
Yes, but rarely. Carriers price capacity per TEU, and a 10 ft box uses a slot inefficiently, so per-cubic-metre rates are high. Most 10 ft units are used for static storage on land.
Will a 10 ft container fit in a parking space?
Yes. At 2.991 × 2.438 m it fits comfortably within a standard parking bay (about 5 × 2.5 m), leaving room in front to swing both doors open.