How Many Cars Fit in a Shipping Container? (20ft vs 40ft Explained)

A standard 20ft container usually fits one car, sometimes two small cars with a racking system. A 40ft container typically fits two to three cars, or up to four with racking, depending on the car sizes. A 40ft high cube offers extra height, which makes racking more practical. Shared containers use this space to split costs between several customers.

20ft standard: about 5.9m long, 2.35m wide and 2.39m high inside, with a door opening of about 2.34m wide.

40ft standard: about 12.0m long, 2.35m wide and 2.39m high inside.

40ft high cube: the same length and width but about 2.70m high inside — roughly 30cm taller.

The door width is the limiting factor for wide cars. Most cars fit comfortably, but large pick-ups and some American SUVs can be tight.

Small hatchback (e.g. Ford Fiesta, VW Polo): about 4.0m long.

Family saloon or estate (e.g. BMW 3 Series): about 4.7m.

Large SUV (e.g. Range Rover): about 5.0m.

Pick-up truck (e.g. Toyota Hilux): about 5.3m.

So a single 20ft container takes one car comfortably, with space for a few boxes or spare wheels. A 40ft container takes two large cars nose to tail, or three smaller cars.

Racking systems lift one car at an angle or on a raised platform so another can sit partly underneath. With racking, a 40ft high cube can often hold four cars. Racking is common for trade shipments to West Africa and the Middle East, where traders send several cars at once. It requires professional loading and careful weight distribution.

For a single car, RoRo is often the cheapest option. For containers, the cost per car falls as more cars share the box. A 40ft container with three or four cars is usually much cheaper per vehicle than a sole 20ft container. Our official price list includes 20ft and 40ft container rates for many destinations — for example, a 20ft to Thailand is from £895, and a shared container to Malaysia starts from £760 for a 20ft share.

Containers have maximum payloads (roughly 28 tonnes for a 20ft and 26–28 tonnes for a 40ft), but cars rarely reach them. The more important limits are road weight rules for the truck carrying the container, and the even spread of weight inside it.

Unlike RoRo, containers can usually carry personal items and spares, as long as they are listed on the packing list and allowed by destination customs. This is a big reason families moving abroad choose containers.

Divide the container rate by the number of cars it carries. A 40ft container holding three cars costs each owner roughly a third of the box price, plus their share of loading and paperwork. That is why traders fill containers wherever they can, and why shared services are popular with private customers. Add destination charges and local taxes to get the full landed cost, and ask us to compare RoRo for the same route before you decide, as a single car can sometimes travel more cheaply by RoRo.

Flat-rack containers have no sides or roof and suit wide or tall vehicles such as large pick-ups, vans, tractors and boats on trailers. Open-top containers allow loading from above by crane for tall cargo. High cube containers give extra height for racking or taller vans. Refrigerated containers are not used for cars. If your vehicle is larger than a standard car, send us its dimensions and weight and we will recommend the right container type and the most economical loading plan.

Shared containers sail once enough cars are booked, which usually happens within a few weeks on busy routes. We keep you updated on the expected loading date and sailing, and you can choose a sole container if a fixed date matters more than cost.

One family SUV plus boxes of household items in a 20ft container: a popular choice for families relocating.

Two saloons nose to tail in a 40ft container: ideal for couples moving with two cars.

Three hatchbacks in a 40ft container: common for traders sending cars to West Africa.

Four cars with racking in a 40ft high cube: used for larger trade shipments.

A classic car alone in a 20ft container with padding and moisture absorbers: the safest way to ship a valuable car.

A car plus a motorcycle or jet ski in a 20ft or 40ft container: often possible if dimensions allow.

Measure the overall length, width including mirrors (fold them if possible), and height, including any roof rails or roof box. Tell us about lowered suspension, spoilers or tow bars, because these affect loading. For racked loads, the weight and wheelbase of each car matter too. With accurate measurements we can confirm how many cars fit and give you a fixed price.

Documents checklist: your V5C registration document (or proof of ownership), passport or photo ID, a commercial invoice or bill of sale showing the value, and the booking confirmation we send you. We prepare the UK export declaration on the Customs Declaration Service and give you the bill of lading once the vehicle has sailed. Keep digital copies of everything, because the destination customs broker will ask for the same documents again.

Tell us the make and model of each vehicle and anything else you want to ship. We check dimensions, choose the right container and loading method, and give you a fixed price. If you only have one car, we can place it in a shared container to cut the cost.

The Ship Cars works with Ascope Shipping Services LTD, our official vehicle shipping agent in Hull, rated 4.7/5 from 710 Trustpilot reviews. You get one point of contact for UK collection, export paperwork, RoRo or container freight and advice for arrival. Every quote is fixed and based on our published country rates where they apply, so there are no surprises on the port-to-port price. Send us your vehicle list and destination for a fixed sole or shared container price.