What are the internal dimensions of a 20ft reefer?

545.1 × 229 × 216.7 cm (length × width × height), about 27.1 m³ — meaningfully smaller than a dry 20ft, because of insulation and the refrigeration unit.

Why is a reefer smaller inside than a dry container?

The insulated walls, floor and the refrigeration machinery all take internal space. Reefer dimensions also vary far more between carriers than dry boxes do.

20ft Reefer (Refrigerated) Container

Q: How many pallets fit in a 20ft reefer?

10 EUR pallets or 9 industrial pallets on the floor, computed with our loading engine — fewer than a dry 20ft.

Dimensions, capacity, payload and real pallet counts — computed with our loading engine.

Length

545.1 cm

17.9 ft

Width

229 cm

7.5 ft

Height

216.7 cm

7.1 ft

Volume

27.1 m³

957 ft³

Payload

27,490 kg

60,604 lb

EUR pallets

on the floor

Typical figures for a Maersk reefer 20 std. Every carrier differs — see the comparison table below.

A 20ft reefer trades internal space for insulation and a refrigeration unit. Expect noticeably less length, width and height than a dry 20ft — planning a reefer load against dry-container dimensions is one of the most common and most expensive mistakes in cold chain.

How many pallets fit in a 20ft reefer (refrigerated) container?

These are not rules of thumb. Each number is the result of running our bin-packing engine — the same one behind the product — against the real internal dimensions, with the pallet free to turn in plan but not to tip.

Pallet	Footprint	Fits on floor
EUR / EPAL	120 × 80 cm	10pallets
Industrial / ISO	120 × 100 cm	9pallets

Floor positions, single layer. Stackable cargo multiplies this — how far depends on your cargo height and stack weight. Not shipping standard pallets? Drop your own cargo list into the free Excel loading calculator and the same engine will work it out for your boxes.

Internal dimensions

Internal length	545.1 cm
Internal width	229 cm
Internal height	216.7 cm
Internal volume	27.1 m³
Door width	229 cm
Door height	216 cm
Tare weight	2,990 kg
Max payload	27,490 kg

The door opening is smaller than the internal cross-section. Cargo that fits inside does not automatically fit through.

Reefer internal dimensions vary far more between carriers than dry boxes do — the insulation and machinery are not standardised. Always plan against the actual unit you are booking.

Airflow matters: cargo must not block the floor T-bars, and stacking to the ceiling can choke the return air. The usable volume is smaller than the geometric volume.

Specifications by carrier

"A 20ft reefer container" is not one box. Across the 6 carriers below, payload ranges from 20,800 kg to 27,550 kg — a spread of 6,750 kg. If you plan a heavy load against the wrong figure, you find out at the weighbridge.

Carrier / type	L × W × H (cm)	Door W × H	Volume	Tare	Payload	EUR / EPAL	Industrial / ISO
Cosco 20' reefer	549.5 × 229 × 223.1	229 × 223	28.1 m³	2,990 kg	27,490 kg	10	9
Hanjin 20ft Reefer	545.6 × 229 × 226.2	229 × 225.1	28.3 m³	2,930 kg	27,550 kg	10	9
Maersk reefer 20 std	545.1 × 229 × 216.7	229 × 216	27.1 m³	2,990 kg	27,490 kg	10	9
MOL 20ft Reefer	548.6 × 227 × 223.4	227 × 219.8	27.8 m³	2,750 kg	21,250 kg	10	9
MSC Reefer 20'	542.5 × 227.5 × 226	225.8 × 221.6	27.9 m³	3,200 kg	20,800 kg	10	9
NYK 20' Reefer Container	544.6 × 226.8 × 226	226 × 226	27.9 m³	2,860 kg	27,380 kg	10	9

Pallet columns are floor positions computed by the LoadCargo.in bin-packing engine (best of its packing modes), not estimates. Data generated 2026-07-14.

Frequently asked

Stop guessing what fits

Enter your cargo, pick a 20ft reefer container, and get a real 3D loading plan — with fill rate, weight check and container count — in seconds.

Get Started Free