Are you planning to use a shipping container for your upcoming project but are not sure about its weight? Shipping containers have become a popular choice for various purposes such as storage, transportation, and even as a foundation for building homes.
However, before you start using a shipping container, it’s essential to know its weight limitations. In this blog post, we’ll focus on one of the most common container sizes – the 40ft shipping container – and explore its weight capacity.
So, let’s dive in and find out what a 40 ft shipping container weighs.
Why is Container Weighing Required?
Container weighing is critical for many reasons. It ensures safety standards and legal compliance with other nations’ restrictions. It also leads to cost savings in the long run.
The International Maritime Organisation requires containers to be weighed before they are loaded onto export vessels.
This weighing system is called the Verified Gross Mass (VGM). Weighing the container ensures accuracy. In some cases, it can also lead to cost savings. This is because it assures the most efficient shipping route possible.
3 Kinds of Weights of a 40ft Shipping Container:
Tare Weight of a 40 ft shipping container
The tare weight is another name for the unladen weight of a shipping container. This is the weight of the container when it does not contain any goods or cargo.
It is the weight of the empty container. The weight of a 40ft shipping container varies by maker and type of materials used.
It usually varies from 3,750 kg to 4,500 kg (8,268 lbs to 9,920 lbs). This weight is a vital factor in determining the maximum weight of cargo that can be loaded into the container.
Gross Weight a 40 ft shipping container
The gross weight of a shipping container includes the empty weight of the container, cargo, and any packaging materials.
Examples of packaging materials are pallets and crates. The maximum permitted gross weight of a 40ft shipping container is around 30,480 kg (67,200 lbs) in most countries globally.
The gross weight limit includes the weight of the container, cargo, and any packaging materials or securing devices. This is to secure the safe transportation of goods.
Payload Weight of a 40 ft Shipping Container
The maximum payload weight of a 40 ft shipping container is played by several factors to determine the weight.
These include the type and number of items stored in the container and the materials used to construct it. In general, It usually varies from 28,800 kg to 29,700 kg (63,493 lbs to 65,477 lbs).
For example, a 40 ft Corten Steel container can hold a maximum gross weight of 36 tonnes. A 40 ft high cube shipping container weight has a lower total payload weight because it is taller.
It is important to note that legal restrictions on payload weights may vary. This depends on the jurisdiction per country and the type of goods being transported.
This is an Overview of the Weight of a 40 ft Shipping container:
Conclusion
We are confident that this article has provided a constructive answer to your question regarding the weight of a 40 ft shipping Container.
It’s important to note that when transporting goods with shipping containers, it is vital to know the various weights associated with the container and the cargo you’re filling it with.
Knowing these weights helps ensure compliance with local and international regulations as well as providing an understanding of the capacity of a shipping container.
In summary, a 40 ft shipping container tare weight is around 9,920 lbs. The maximum payload capacity is 65,477 pounds and the gross weight should not exceed 67,200 pounds.
About On-Site Storage Solutions
If you’re looking for a shipping container to fit your needs, On-Site Storage Solutions has got you covered. Our expansive inventory includes 40 ft and other sizes of containers that can be delivered right to you in no time! With over sixty locations across the US & Canada, we are perfectly equipped to make sure your shipment arrives safely & promptly. For any questions or help with acquiring containers, please don’t hesitate to reach out at (888) 405-8772. Our team is always happy and ready to assist!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The width of a standard 40-foot shipping container is approximately 8 feet or 2.44 meters. This measurement represents the exterior width of the container.
The volume of a 40-foot standard container provides approximately 2,350 cubic feet (33 cubic meters) of storage space. This ample volume allows for the efficient transportation and storage of various goods and materials.
On average, a ship can fit 12 to 16 rows of 40-foot containers, with 8 to 10 containers vertically per row. This equates to approximately 96 to 160 containers.
The weight of an empty 40 foot cargo container is approximately 8,400 lbs (4.2 tons). However, this can vary depending on factors such as the specific container and its manufacturer. To find precise details about the container’s weight, including the Tare weight, Max Gross weight, and Max Payload weight, you can refer to the information provided on the container doors.
