Modes and equipment
20GP / 40GP / 40HQ containers
The three standard dry shipping containers: 20 ft general purpose, 40 ft general purpose and 40 ft high cube, which is about 30 cm taller.
In four languages
These are the boxes most China to Gulf cargo travels in. A 20GP measures about 5.90 x 2.35 x 2.39 m inside and holds about 25 to 28 CBM of cartons in practice. A 40GP is twice as long, about 12.03 m inside, with about 55 to 58 CBM usable. A 40HQ (also written 40HC) has the same footprint but is 2.69 m high inside, giving about 65 to 68 CBM usable. A 20 ft container counts as 1 TEU and a 40 ft as 2 TEU. Usable volume is always lower than nominal because cartons never fit perfectly, and payload is limited by road weight rules. Example: heavy ceramic tiles usually reach the weight limit before a 20GP is full, while light furniture or plastic goods fill the volume of a 40HQ first.
Questions
How many CBM fit in a 40HQ?
Nominal volume is about 76 CBM, but about 65 to 68 CBM of cartons is a realistic usable figure, depending on carton sizes and how they are stacked.
What does TEU mean?
TEU means twenty-foot equivalent unit. One 20 ft container is 1 TEU and one 40 ft container is 2 TEU.