Hawaii Equipment
Dimensions are approximate and will vary slightly depending on the specific container received.
CALL HAWAIIAN MOVERS: 800-671-0924
Which Container Size Do You Need
Container size is the single biggest factor in what a Hawaii shipment costs, so getting it right matters more than almost any other decision. As a rough guide:
- 20ft standard. A studio or one bedroom apartment, or a single vehicle, or a vehicle plus a modest amount of household goods.
- 40ft standard. A two to three bedroom house. The most common household size for a mainland to Hawaii move.
- 40ft high-cube. A three to four bedroom house, or a household plus a vehicle. The extra foot of height matters more than people expect.
- 45ft high-cube. A large household, or a household plus a vehicle and bulky items such as a workshop or gym equipment.
If you are between two sizes, price both. An underfilled 40ft container is the most expensive shipping there is per item, while a 20ft container you cannot close costs you a second booking.
Standard Dry Container Dimensions
Approximate internal dimensions and capacity. Exact figures vary slightly by manufacturer and by the specific unit assigned to your booking.
| Container | Internal length | Internal width | Internal height | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft standard | 19 ft 4 in | 7 ft 8 in | 7 ft 10 in | about 1,170 cu ft |
| 40ft standard | 39 ft 5 in | 7 ft 8 in | 7 ft 10 in | about 2,390 cu ft |
| 40ft high-cube | 39 ft 5 in | 7 ft 8 in | 8 ft 10 in | about 2,694 cu ft |
| 45ft high-cube | 44 ft 5 in | 7 ft 8 in | 8 ft 10 in | about 3,043 cu ft |
A high-cube container is the same footprint as a standard, just one foot taller inside. That extra height is what allows tall furniture, stacked boxes and some vehicles to fit where a standard container will not.
Open Top, Flat Rack and Refrigerated Equipment
Not everything fits through container doors. For cargo that is oversized, oddly shaped or temperature sensitive, different equipment applies.
- Flat rack. Collapsible ends and no side walls, for machinery, boats, oversized vehicles and anything wider or taller than a standard container opening. Available in 40ft and 45ft high-cube.
- Open top. A removable roof so cargo can be craned in from above. Useful for tall items that will not clear the door frame.
- Refrigerated, or reefer. A 40ft high-cube with active temperature control, for perishables and temperature sensitive goods. Requires power at origin, on the vessel and at destination.
If your cargo needs any of these, get the exact dimensions and weight measured before requesting a quote. Oversized cargo is priced on real measurements, and an estimate that turns out to be wrong at the port changes the price.
Weight Limits and Loading Considerations
Volume usually fills before weight does on a household move, but weight becomes the binding constraint on dense cargo such as tile, machinery, books or building materials.
- Every container has a maximum payload stamped on the door, and road weight limits between the port and your address can be lower than the container’s own rating.
- Distribute weight evenly. A container loaded heavy at one end can be refused at the terminal and is more likely to shift in transit.
- Brace the load. Ocean transport moves in ways road transport does not. Cargo that is not secured will move.
- Leave the doors clear. Anything you may need on arrival should be loaded last.
If you are shipping dense material, tell us the weight as well as the volume. It changes which size is correct.
Can I Ship a Vehicle in the Same Container
Yes, and it is usually cheaper than booking the vehicle separately. A car can travel inside a container alongside household goods, secured and braced so it cannot move.
Practical notes: a standard sedan fits comfortably in a 20ft container, while taller vehicles and trucks often need a high-cube. Lifted trucks, vans and RVs frequently exceed container height entirely and travel on roll-on roll-off service or a flat rack instead.
Full detail on documentation and preparation is in our guide to auto transport to Hawaii.
Still Not Sure Which Size to Book
Tell us what you are shipping and we will tell you which container it actually needs, including whether shared space would cost you less than a full container. There is no advantage to us in selling you more space than your goods require.
See Hawaii container routes for how the service works, or compare methods on price in our guide to the lowest-cost ways to ship to Hawaii. Call 800-671-0924 for a quote.
Dry Containers
Open Equipment
Dry Containers
20' Dry Standard
| Inside Length | 19'4" |
| Inside Width | 7'8" |
| Inside Height | 7'10" |
| Door Opening | 7'8"W x 7'5"H |
| Empty Weight | 4,870 lbs. |
| Cubic Capacity | 1,170 ft. |
| Outside Length | 20' |
| Outside Width | 8' |
| Outside Height | 8'6" |
Dry Containers
40' Dry Standard
| Inside Length | 39'5" |
| Inside Width | 7'8" |
| Inside Height | 7'10" |
| Door Opening | 7'8"W x 7'5"H |
| Empty Weight | 7,800 lbs. |
| Cubic Capacity | 2,390 ft. |
| Outside Length | 40' |
| Outside Width | 8' |
| Outside Height | 8'6" |
Dry Containers
40' Dry High-Cube
| Inside Length | 39'5" |
| Inside Width | 7'8" |
| Inside Height | 8'10" |
| Door Opening | 7'8"W x 8'5"H |
| Empty Weight | 8,110 lbs. |
| Cubic Capacity | 2,700 ft. |
| Outside Length | 40' |
| Outside Width | 8' |
| Outside Height | 9'6" |
Dry Containers
40' Refrigerated High Cube
| Inside Length | 38' |
| Inside Width | 7'6" |
| Inside Height | 8'3" |
| Door Opening | 7'8"W x 8'H |
| Empty Weight | 10,400 lbs. |
| Payload | 47,773 lbs |
| Outside Length | 40' |
| Outside Width | 8' |
| Outside Height | 9'6" |
Dry Containers
45' Dry High-Cube
| Inside Length | 44'5" |
| Inside Width | 7'8" |
| Inside Height | 8'10" |
| Door Opening | 7'8"W x 8'5"H |
| Empty Weight | 10,000 lbs. |
| Cubic Capacity | 3,040 ft. |
| Outside Length | 45' |
| Outside Width | 8' |
| Outside Height | 9'6" |
Open Equipment
40' Flatrack
| Inside Length | 38'4" |
| Inside Width | 7'6" - 7'11" |
| Inside Height | 6'6" |
| Tare Weight | 10,250 lbs. |
| Payload | 47,773 lbs |
| Outside Length | 40' |
| Outside Width | 8' |
| Outside Height | 8'6" |
Open Equipment
40' Flatrack High-Cube
| Inside Length | 38'5" |
| Inside Width | 7'8" |
| Inside Height | 7'6" |
| Empty Weight | 8,000 lbs. |
| Cubic Capacity | 2,209 ft. |
| Outside Length | 40' |
| Outside Width | 8' |
| Outside Height | 9'6" |
Open Equipment
45' Flatrack High-Cube
| Inside Length | 43'5" |
| Inside Width | 7'8" |
| Inside Height | 7'6" |
| Empty Weight | 12,120 lbs. |
| Payload | 47,773 lbs |
| Outside Length | 45' |
| Outside Width | 8' |
| Outside Height | 9'6" |