Topics Covered
Understanding the Different Types of Shipping Containers
Shipping containers come in many designs to suit different types of cargo and industry needs. The most common types include general purpose (dry containers), flat rack, open top, double door, high cube, open side, refrigerated (reefer), insulated, tank, half-height, and pallet-wide containers.
What is a Shipping Container?
A shipping container is a large, standardized metal box used for transporting and storing goods. Built to endure harsh conditions, it allows safe, efficient movement of cargo across ships, trains, and trucks.
Uses of Shipping Containers
Benefits of Shipping Containers
Almost 90% of the world’s cargo moves by sea. With such a vast amount of goods being transported every day, the shipping industry relies on a variety of container types and sizes — each designed to meet specific cargo requirements.
Choosing the right container ensures your goods are transported safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively. Here’s Adnovs Global’s comprehensive guide to help you select the ideal freight shipping container for your needs.
Types of Shipping Containers
1. Dry Containers (DC)
The most common and widely used type of shipping container, dry containers are designed to carry general cargo that does not require temperature control. They are used for transporting goods such as electronics, textiles, machinery, and furniture — accounting for nearly 90% of all sea freight shipments worldwide.
Common Types:
A popular choice for heavy cargo, including metals, machinery, sugar, cement, and steel coils. Compact yet strong, it’s built to handle substantial weight.
Suitable for lightweight, voluminous goods such as furniture, paper scrap, or steel pipes. Offers double the space of a 20ft container, ideal for larger loads.
Designed for high-volume, lighter goods, offering extra height and storage space. Perfect for materials that occupy more volume than weight.
2. Temperature Controlled Containers
These are built to protect goods that need specific temperatures during transit, ensuring they stay safe and fresh all the way.
Common Types:
Refrigerated containers maintain controlled temperatures, making them ideal for perishable goods such as fruits, vegetables, pharmaceuticals, and flowers. These containers are available in 20ft, 40ft, 40HC, and 45HC variants to suit various cargo needs.
Controlled Atmosphere (CA) Containers:
These advanced reefers regulate not only temperature but also oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, slowing ripening and preserving freshness during long-distance transport.
Like the Reefer container, an insulated or thermal container has a regulated temperature control that allows it to withstand higher temperatures. They are equipped with electrical compliance (mechanical compressor) to cool or heat the air within the container. Insulated containers are typically constructed of a vacuum flask, similar to a “thermos” bottle. As such, they are most suitable for long-distance transportation of products such as foods, pharmaceuticals, organs, blood, biological materials and chemicals.
3. Special-Dimension Containers
For cargo that doesn’t fit standard sizes, specialized containers provide customized solutions for unique or oversized shipments.
Common Types:
An open-top container has a removable roof, making it suitable for over-height or bulky cargo that cannot be loaded through standard doors. These containers are ideal for tall machinery or heavy equipment that requires crane or bridge loading. Lashing rings are provided on the upper and lower rails for securing the cargo, and they are available in 20-foot and 40-foot sizes.
Flat rack containers are steel containers designed for transporting oversized or heavy cargo that cannot fit inside standard containers. They typically have collapsible or fixed end walls and no side walls, allowing for cargo loading from the top or sides.
The two most common sizes are 20-foot and 40-foot flat racks. Ideal for oversized or heavy loads such as construction materials, vehicles, and industrial equipment.
With doors on both ends of the shipping container, this container type is also known as a “tunnel container”.
Double-door containers are extremely helpful for quickly loading and unloading goods, and they make an even wider room for goods such as steel and iron. Both sets of doors have the same locking assembling and weather tight seals to keep the cargo protected .
Half-height shipping containers are designed for transporting bulk cargo that is heavy and dense. These are good for transporting goods such as coal and stones, so they are perfect for use in the mining industry.
Half-height containers have a low center of gravity, so they can better handle heavier loads than taller containers, making them versatile and robust enough to withstand the rough industrial environment. Half-height containers are also easy to load and unload.
High Cube containers are similar in design to standard dry containers but are taller by approximately one foot, providing extra vertical space for cargo. They are commonly available in 40-foot and occasionally 45-foot sizes.
This additional height makes them ideal when a larger internal volume is needed — for example, for transporting lightweight, bulky cargo that occupies more space than weight.
Tank containers, or tankers, are made of strong steel or other anti-corrosive materials for the transportation and long-life protection of liquid materials.
A tank container must be at least 80% full to prevent dangerous surging of liquids in transit, but it must also not be over 95% full, or there would not be sufficient room for thermal expansion.
How to Choose the Right Container?
Selecting the correct shipping container depends on three main factors:
- Cargo Type: Perishable, heavy, or irregularly shaped goods each have unique requirements.
- Weight and Volume: Heavy cargo often fits best in smaller containers; lightweight goods may need larger or high-cube options.
- Shipping Route: For long distances or sensitive items, choose containers with temperature control or assured protection.
Conclusion
Choosing the right container is fundamental to ensuring safe, efficient, and timely cargo movement. At Adnovs Global, we go beyond logistics — providing expert guidance to match every shipment with the ideal container, ensuring maximum protection, efficiency, and compliance across all routes.
Driven by precision and backed by global expertise, our team manages each stage with care and control — from selection and handling to final delivery. With Adnovs Global, every shipment reflects our promise of reliability, excellence, and seamless delivery.