20' Reefer container internal dimensions
20' Reefer container: internal size 5,444 × 2,294 × 2,276 mm, internal volume 28.4 m³, maximum payload 27,400 kg. Its floor takes 10 Euro pallets or 9 industrial pallets in a single layer.
- Length
- 5,444 mm
- Width
- 2,294 mm
- Height
- 2,276 mm
- Volume
- 28.4 m³
- Floor area
- 12.5 m²
- Max payload
- 27,400 kg
Dimension drawing
What fits
- Euro pallets · 1200 × 800
- 10
- Industrial pallets · 1200 × 1000
- 9
- Cartons · 600 × 400 × 400
- 262
20 ft refrigerated container. For food, pharmaceuticals and heavy temperature-sensitive cargo; the cooling unit shortens the internal length.
The engine's layout
How it was calculated
Pallet and carton counts were calculated with the StowCargo packing engine: pallets in a single layer on the floor (not stacked), cartons in any orientation and weightless (dimensions only). No gap is left between pallets; in practice one row may be planned less to allow for forklift and securing clearance. Internal dimensions are typical values and can differ by a few centimetres between manufacturers and vehicles.
Calculated on 2026-10-27
Compare with similar vehicles
| Vehicle | Internal size (mm) | Volume | Euro pallets | Cartons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20' Reefer | 5,444 × 2,294 × 2,276 | 28.4 m³ | 10 | 262 |
| 20' Dry Container | 5,898 × 2,352 × 2,393 | 33.2 m³ difference: (+4.8 m³) | 11 difference: (+1) | 282 difference: (+20) |
| 40' Dry Container | 12,032 × 2,352 × 2,393 | 67.7 m³ difference: (+39.3 m³) | 25 difference: (+15) | 590 difference: (+328) |
| 40' High Cube | 12,032 × 2,352 × 2,698 | 76.4 m³ difference: (+47.9 m³) | 25 difference: (+15) | 700 difference: (+438) |
| 45' High Cube | 13,556 × 2,352 × 2,698 | 86.0 m³ difference: (+57.6 m³) | 27 difference: (+17) | 778 difference: (+516) |
| 20' Open Top | 5,894 × 2,347 × 2,348 | 32.5 m³ difference: (+4.1 m³) | 11 difference: (+1) | 282 difference: (+20) |
| 40' Open Top | 12,029 × 2,342 × 2,347 | 66.1 m³ difference: (+37.7 m³) | 25 difference: (+15) | 590 difference: (+328) |
| 40' Reefer HC | 11,583 × 2,294 × 2,554 | 67.9 m³ difference: (+39.4 m³) | 23 difference: (+13) | 626 difference: (+364) |
Frequently asked questions
What are the internal dimensions of a 20' Reefer container?
Internal length 5,444 mm, width 2,294 mm, height 2,276 mm. Internal volume 28.4 m³, floor area 12.5 m².
How many Euro pallets fit in a 20' Reefer container?
10 Euro pallets (1200 × 800 mm) or 9 industrial pallets (1200 × 1000 mm) fit in a single layer on the floor. The calculation leaves no gap between pallets.
What is the maximum payload of a 20' Reefer container?
Typical maximum payload is 27,400 kg. With the floor full of 10 Euro pallets, that is at most about 2,740 kg per pallet on average.
How many loading metres (LDM) is a 20' Reefer container?
Container freight is usually charged per container; LDM is mostly used on the road. For comparison: internal length 5,444 mm, and its 10 Euro pallets at 0.4 LDM each come to 4.0 LDM.
How many cartons fit in a 20' Reefer container?
262 standard 600 × 400 × 400 mm cartons fit, a volume utilisation of 88.5%. With heavy cartons the limit is the payload rather than the volume.
Plan your load in this vehicle.
Paste your packing list; the engine places it in the 20' Reefer container and calculates axle loads and the loading sequence.