Shipping container

FCL = Full Container Load
This an international term is commonly known and used by shipping companies, brokers and forwarders to define the service where one importing or exporting his goods has the exclusive use of a container. (usually sole use of a 20ft or 40ft container service). The metal chest is usually loaded full and sealed at your home or at the port of departure, then shipped to the port of entry and delivered to your new home. The advantage of shipping a full sole use container is first and foremost the safety.

LCL = Less than Container Load
When the volume of your cargo does not require a full container (FCL) there is a solution for your requirement. You can use the LCL (less than container load) service. This is option is also known as a groupage, shared or part load international container transport. What you need to know is that your cargo will be still shipped in a 40ft or 20ft unit but the rest of the space will be filled up with the boxes and furniture of a number of other senders to make a full container. The shipping costs are shared proportionally to the space your cargo takes. LCL is one of the best options for getting your possession delivered to New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, Australia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, USA, Indonesia to to anywhere in Europe - Germany, France, The Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden just to name a few.

What size of container will you need?

To find out what size of the container your move will require you will have to measure up all your furniture, boxes and other belongings and calculate the cubic volume. The cubic volume tells how much space your goods would take when packed tightly all together. Based on the cubic volume we know what size of the container is required. If you find it too complicated or simply you do not have time to calculate and work out the cubic volume of your things we will be happy to assist you. Please contact us for some advise. Our representative can visit you free of charge at your home to take the exact inventory and check what can be done to reduce the volume of your cargo. Once the survey has been completed we will provide you with our best offer based on the accurate size required. If you decide to assess the volume on your own please contact us for some tips. We can also email you our cubic volume calculator spreadsheet. Contact us today! We offer some of the lowest, most competitive rates for shipping container to Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, USA and more.

20ft and 40ft container dimensions

The containers come in different sizes and with many unique features. Below you can see the dimensions of most popular and most commonly used ISO standard units used by major sea lines:

• 20ft container dimensions and internal volume:

Type	Length	Width	Height	Cubic Volume
Standard ISO 20 foot	20ft	8ft	8ft 6ins	1100 cubic feet
High cube ISO 20 foot	20ft	8ft	9ft 6ins	1250 cubic feet

• 40ft container dimensions and internal volume:

Type	Length	Width	Height	Internal Volume
Standard ISO 40 foot	40ft	8ft	8ft 6ins	2200 cubic feet
High cube ISO 40 foot	40ft	8ft	9ft 6ins	2500 cubic feet

Real internal capacity

OK, you know now the dimensions and the internal volume of the most often used units. There is one more important thing you should take in to account. Unfortunately it is not possible to utilize the total internal space when loading the container with furniture and other items that are not square or rectangular. On average you will be able to fill it up, up to 85% maybe 90% and it depends on the nature, shape, size and the configuration of your load.  As you can see when shipping a container it is very important to establish the exact cubic volume of your shipment so you can get an estimate for the service you require. You may be also interested in container rental. It takes a lot of experience and expertise to pack your belongings in such a manner that the entire space of the metal box is used. The better you utilize the space the less you will pay. Always try to pack and load everything very tightly and as compact as possible. If you can dismantle tables, wardrobes, beds you should do it. This would minimize the size and first and foremost the cubic volume or your possessions and consequently the space in the container you will have to pay for.

Australian Container Examination Facilities

Customs and Border Protection Container and Cargo Examination Facilities (CEFs) are purpose-built integrated examination buildings where your consignment will be properly checked by using range of x-ray systems and other technology, including x-ray machines. If the x-ray image reveals that your shipping container contains suspicious cargo it will be unloaded for detailed physical examination.

It will be unpacked and repacked if the physical examination by custom officers is required. Unloaded goods are checked for fumigants and are de-fumigated if required. If there are any restricted or prohibited cargo in your load further investigation and inspection will be done at your charge. Please remember that it is against the law to import prohibited cargo. You may even get an on the spot fine of $220 and a further investigation will begin. In worst cases your visa for Australia may be cancelled and you will have to return to the UK. You can also be sent to prison.

Read more:

1. Storage containers - buy or hire a wooden or metal 20 ft or 40 ft container.

Part load shipping - one-third, half and a quarter of a container moves

What happens if you have just a few items of furniture or just a small amount of boxes that will not fill a full container? Can you ship a partly loaded container or share the remaining space with other people? Yes, our movers also offer a groupage shipping services which allows you to use and pay just for the exact amount of space that you need.

For example according to your requirements you can ship just one item, quoter, one-third, a half or even three-fourths of a container or as much or as little as you want. The groupage transport is also called a part load or a sheared container delivery. This option allows us to offer to our clients a half, one-third, a quarter or a bit more than a half or a bit less then a full international container transport overseas. The shared service means that we will very carefully calculate the cubic volume of your goods to find out how much space they would take. Next we would choose the right mean of the delivery and offer you a few options to choose from.

The part load container means you will be charged only for the space that you are actually using. The rest of the space will be filled up with the cargo that belongs to other clients. Consequently we are getting paid for the full load anyway but at the same time can be more flexible and offer the tailored made shared service to our customer in the UK. Thanks to the part load moving solution you can ship as little as you want getting more competitive container shipping prices from UK to USA, Canada, Australia, UAE, New Zealand and South Africa. We also cover small cities in the OZ, so if you need UK to Albury removals or removals to Coffs Harbour from UK then our offer might be right for you.

Groupage shipping options

• quarter and one-third container shipping (1/4th - one-fourth and 1/3rd) - about 250 and 350 cubic feet ( about 7 and 10 cubic metres )
• half of a 20ft container - about 500 cubic feet ( 18 cubic metres)
• groupage shipping / shared container / part load delivery - any size that you want - 50 ft3, 100 ft3, 150 cubic feet, 200 cubic ft, 300 ft3, 400 cubic foot and any other option you want
• 5ft and 10 foot - this type of services can be provided on a request. The 5 foot and 10ft container can be designed to your needs and build by our carpenters and are made of wood. Such wooden crates are put inside of the 20ft or 40ft chests. The advantage is this type of service is that your goods can be locked up and sealed in a single wooden box and still shipped as a shard service which is always cheaper than using sole container option.

Full, part or shared container shipping costs depend on quite a few factors: the total volume, sometimes the weight, the collection address, the delivery address, the moving date and the distance to and from the port. Unfortunately there is not average cost for shipping a small or a part load shipment however as a starting point you can assume that to ship a full container from the United Kingdom to Australia would cost you between £2500 and £3500 including packing and loading it. For smaller loads but still bigger than 100 cubic feet you could assume you would be charged approximately £3,5 / £4 per cubic foot.

We know how to send a container oversea and make it affordable for our customers. It is the cheapest and the safest way of getting your items wherever you want. Just give us a quick call and we will tell you how log it takes to deliver your metal crate , what the procedures are, how and when we collect and drop it off. We will tell you how many items you can put inside and how much space you will have left. Apart from full loads our forwarders also send partly loaded ISO standard units so you can save some money.

Standard ISO 20 foot container

ISO 20 foot containers are the most popular metal boxes used for intercontinental deliveries.The entire world utilize them in the trade and transport industry as multiple use steal cargo holders.

The 20ft cargo transit units have been specially designed so that the door can be open very wide which enables to load and unload, in a very easy manner, different types of things: cars, household furniture or heavy machinery.

Its external and internal dimensions have been set by ISO standards so all companies from all around the world can make their lorries, trains or vessels to accommodate them in the most economical way to make their services more affordable for their clients and more profitable for themselves.

The conveniences - standard size, features, dimensions

With standard dimensions, very solid and durable design the modern containers safeguard against burglary. Their main features include anti-corrosion and sealing protecting steel, painting and sprays (the outer coating must be resistant to the sea water). Thanks to the ingenious design they can be also used for many other purposes like storage, portable homes and offices. The 20 ft shipping containers are also equipped in forklift pockets, spreaders and fittings with hooks, shackles or twist locks for lifting, bottom corner fittings and slings with terminal fittings at the bottom.

The usage of 20 ft containers

Very often they are used as a long term storage by international moving companies. This is due to many people when living their houses and their home country for a year or two rent out they properties. As it is much easier to rent out an unfurnished house they arrange for the furniture to be taken to a storage facility. Most producers manufacturing metal cargo transit units can make them purpose-built for outdoor storage of various goods. They can be also used for UK to Australia 20 ft container shipping as well as USA, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. All standard 20ft crates are designed and constructed for the easy, cheap and flexible shipment of commercial and household equipment by sea freight forwarders on the outside or below deck of the container vessel, by road trucks and by railway throughout the world.

Customizing 20 foot for shipping non-standard loads

Most companies shipping 20 ft container to Australia redesign its internal part by adding special dividers, strap handles, platforms, ramps or shelves to its original design. This is to improve the safety of the imported cargo. Such redesigned and improved cargo transit units can be used combined loads for example shipping a car, industrial machinery and other enormous products in the same unit. For more information you can to the part load section.

Standard features and requirements of the container construction

• All materials used for building a 20 foot container should be resistant to the temperature ranging from -40 to +80 degrees centigrade without affecting the strength of the whole design so your household furniture can be delivered without a scratch.

  All wooden elements used in the construction have to be specially treated to meet the conditions set by Commonwealth Department of Health in OZ. They have to be strong enough to be lifted by marine cranes and to be stacked in 7 high one on the other.

  20ft container external dimensions

  Length 6,058 + 0mm - 6mm

  Width 2,438 + 0mm - 5mm

  Height 2,591 + 0mm - 5mm

  20ft container internal dimensions

  Length 5,898 mm

  Width 2,350 mm

  Height 2,390 mm

  The width and height of the door – 2 meters,34 centimetres and 3 millimetres | 2 meters and 80 centimetres

• The internal loading volume - 33.1 cubic metres / 1,170 cubic feet

Parts and components of 20 foot container

• Protrusion • Internal and external welding • Gaps between adjacent elements • Chloroprene sealant • Internal bend • Wooden floor • Corner fittings • Base frame • Forklift pockets • Self-tapping screw • Door sill • Rear corner post • Door • Roof • Top side rail • Side wall • Front structure

Solidly constructed floor (thick plywood attached to a solid steel frame) makes the steel box good solution for storing and transporting heavy cargo up to 40 000 kg.

Double doors (different designs are available - 2 or even 3 pairs of doors, side doors, roof doors) strongly facilitate loading / unloading of irregular shaped cargo - the wide opening doors make the 20ft container one of the most useful and convenient solution for transporting different items by land / rail or sea.

20ft container size

Dimensions:	Length	Width	Height
External	20 '= 6096 mm	7 '9.25 "= 2370 mm	8'6 "= 2591 mm
Internal	19 '5.75 "= 5935 mm	7 '8 "= 2335 mm	7 '9.75 "= 2383 mm
Doors		7 '8 "= 2335 mm	7 '6.25 "= 2292 mm
Weight:
Max. Gross	52,910 lbs = 24000 kg
Tara	4585 lbs = 2080 kg
Max. Download	48,325 lbs = 21920 kg
Cargo capacity (volume):	1197.25 Cu. ft. = 33.9 cub. m

 

Shipping 40ft container from UK

40ft shipping container has been designed to carry any loads. In the United Kingdom they are most often used for cheap furniture removals to USA, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. 40 feet “metal boxes” can be also used for smaller moves where a few people share the space in a container and consequently it's shipping costs too.

What's the cubic volume of 40 foot container?

To calculate the cubic volume you need to multiply the internal dimensions - width, length and height of the 40 footer.

Standard 40ft ISO shipping container:
Dimensions: Length 12.20 m Width 2.44 m height 2.60 m

12.032 mm * 2.350 mm * 2.390 mm = 67.577728 m³ cubic meters = 2386.5 ft³ (cubic feet)

Unfortunately you will not be able to utilize the entire space as it is not possible to load very tightly household goods, furniture and other equipment to the 40 ft box from the bottom to the top. It could be possible though with the flat pack furniture and boxes only.

Usually the score of 85% / 95% of the total volume is a good achievement.

So when you are planning to ship a 40ft container to USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Qatar or UAE you need to assume that you will be able to fit in about` 2000 cubic feet worth of tables, chairs, fridge, freezer, boxes, bicycles, 2-seater, 3-seater sofa, couch, cooker and other household items or a few

Can I send a car in a container together with household goods and furniture?

Of course you can! Below is a list of things that would fill a forty foot container. The inventory was taken for shipping to Sydney in October 2014. Including the full packing service and door to door delivery it would be about £4,700.

Items to be shipped	Cu ft	qty	Items to be shipped	Cu ft	qty
Piano - upright	40	1	King size Bed	60	2
Piano stool	5	1	Triple Wardrobe	70	1
Armchair	25	2	Bureau/Dresser	20	1
2 seater sofa	30	1	Tallboy	30	1
3 seater sofa	45	2	T V - Small	5	1
4 seater sofa	60	1	Med Box 18" x 18" x 18"	4	20
Welsh Dresser	50	1	Large Box	8	10
Dining Table 6	50	1	Suitcase	5	5
Wine Table	5	1	Golf Club Set/Trolley	10	1
Bureau Desk	20	2	Garden Table	20	1
Bookcase 6 x 3	27	1	Large Umbrella/Parasol	10	1
Lamp	2	4	Child's Swing	25	1
Washing Machine	15	1	Lawn Mower	10	1
Tumble Dryer	15	1	Ladders - Extending	20	1
Fridge	10	1	Adult Bicycle	15	2
Cooker	15	1	Child's Bicycle	10	3
Freezer	15	1	Tool Cabinet	10	1
Single Bed	30	1
Double Bed	50	1	BMW 3 SERIES 325i M Sport 2dr Step Auto Convertible 3.0	670
		Number of items			79
		Total cubic volume in feet		1870
		Total cubic volume in metres		53

To the list above you could add a few more items to use the entire space and make the shipment of your 40 footer more economical. Please remember that the inside volume that you will be able to use is about 2000 cubic feet.

How many standard Euro pallets fit in a 40 foot container?

The 40ft unit can hold 25 Euro pallets 800x1200 or 21 pallets 1000x1200.

What is the size and internal (inside) dimensions of forty foot container?

40 x 8 x 86 "Standard ISO  - 40 foot Unit

Universal 40ft cargo transit chest can be used for shipping to Canada, USA, New Zealand, South Africa as well as for the long term and short term storage purposes. Popular design for quick and inexpensive moves or to increase a business or domestic storage space.

Technical Information of 40 foot container
Type:	Universal Marine
Application:	storage, transport, shipping, living
Materials:	Cornet steel type
Floors:	Wood on steel stiffening
Approvals:	Certified safe container CSC
Classification:	Bureau Veritas, Germanischer Lloyd, American Bureau of Shipping
Storage:	Up to 7 levels high  – the boxes can be stored up to 7 units one on the another
Max. Gross Weight:	30.480 kg
Nett Weight:	3.740 kg
Max. Payload:	26.740 kg
Capacity:	67.6 m3

40ft container dimensions	External	internal
Length:	12.192 mm	12.032 mm
Width:	2438 mm	2.350 mm
Height:	2591 mm	2.390 mm
Dimensions of the door opening
Width:	2.340 mm
Height:	2.280 mm

The units are available to rent and for sale. As a company with a rich experience in this area, we try to create the comprehensive range of services in the handling of forty foot .

We offer:

• 40ft Container pickup, drop off, transport and delivery by land across England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland
• UK to Australia shipping of 40 ft container and to all geographical directions
• Full containerized cargo forwarding services - export and import
• Transportation of oversized and heavy goods and machinery
• professional furniture shipping to Wollongong or any other location you choose

After a quick modification 40 footer can be also used for transporting bulk cargo, both loose and liquid. Dry and loose goods are shipped in one big bag loaded pneumatically and filling the interior of the 40-ft container. To unload the bag a pneumatic device or a semi-trailer is needed. Neutral liquids are usually carried out so-called Flex-tanks, which very often are less expensive than transport in 40ft-tank .

The load capacity is 21.8 tons. The strongest parts of 40 ft tanks are corner posts with the lower and upper corner-handles, which are used for fastening, lifting and placing. The weakest part is the roof and it is not allowed to load or store anything on it.

If you would like to find out how much it is to ship a 40 feet container from UK to OZ, USA, New Zealand, Canada, UAE or South Africa please contact us at any time. We will be happy to help.

You may be also interested in: Immigration to Australia , Moving pets

What's the capacity - cubic volume of 40ft container?

40 foot container is one of the biggest standardised metal boxes used for transferring almost anything you want by land and by sea. It's capacity is about 2400 cubic feet which would hold a car and a full 3 bedroom house furniture. If you do not have the need to use its full capacity you could sell the rest of the space to others and get some money back which you would have to pay to international movers for the full load. It is not very common that a family relocating overseas have enough goods to load the 40ft unit in full. Self pack would result in cancellation of the shipping insurance.

Do you want to know where you container is in a particular time, how long it will take for it to arrive? There are many container tracking methods. As your service provide if such a facility will be made accessible to you.