Container codes

Code	Called	Meaning
22G1	20 ft dry / 20 standard (20DV, 20GP)	20 ft long, 8 ft 6 in high, general purpose box with passive vents in the upper part
42G1	40 ft dry / 40 standard (40DV, 40GP)	40 ft long, 8 ft 6 in high, general purpose box with passive upper vents
45G1	40 ft high cube (40HC, 40HQ)	40 ft long, 9 ft 6 in high, general purpose box with passive upper vents. The 4 is the length (40 ft) and the 5 is the height (9 ft 6 in); it is not a 45 ft box
L5G1	45 ft high cube (45HC)	45 ft long (L), 9 ft 6 in high, general purpose box with passive upper vents. The ISO 6346:2022 edition moves 45 ft to the length character 5, so new boxes may show 55G1
22R1	20 ft reefer (20RF)	20 ft, 8 ft 6 in high, mechanically refrigerated and heated container
42R1	40 ft standard reefer (40RF)	40 ft, 8 ft 6 in high, mechanically refrigerated and heated container (standard-height reefer, uncommon today)
45R1	40 ft high cube reefer (40RH, 40RQ)	40 ft, 9 ft 6 in high, mechanically refrigerated and heated container; the most common reefer code
22U1	20 ft open top (20OT)	20 ft, 8 ft 6 in high, open top with end openings and removable top members in the end frames
42U1	40 ft open top (40OT)	40 ft, 8 ft 6 in high, open top with removable top members in the end frames
45U1	40 ft high cube open top	40 ft, 9 ft 6 in high, open top with removable top members in the end frames
22P1	20 ft flat rack, fixed ends (20FR)	20 ft platform-based container with two complete, fixed ends
42P1	40 ft flat rack, fixed ends (40FR)	40 ft platform-based container with two complete, fixed ends
22P3	20 ft collapsible flat rack	20 ft platform-based container with folding complete end structures (the code appears on Triton's 20 ft flush folding flat rack spec sheet)
45P3	40 ft high cube collapsible flat rack	40 ft, 9 ft 6 in high, platform-based container with folding complete end structures
42P0	40 ft platform / flat	40 ft plain platform with no end walls or posts
22T1	20 ft ISO tank	20 ft tank container for non-dangerous liquids (ISO 6346 lists a 1.50 bar test pressure for type T1)
22T6	20 ft hazmat ISO tank	20 ft tank container for dangerous liquids, 6.00 bar test pressure
22V0	20 ft ventilated	20 ft ventilated container with non-mechanical vents at the top and bottom

Type	Used for	Tare	Max gross
20 ft dry (standard)	General dry freight, especially heavy, dense cargo that reaches the weight limit before the box is full (paper, metals, tiles, stone).	2,180 kg	30,480 kg
40 ft dry (standard)	General dry freight of medium density.	3,630 kg	32,500 kg
40 ft high cube	Light, bulky retail and e-commerce freight; the most common import box in US drayage.	3,810 kg	32,500 kg
45 ft high cube	Extra-volume ocean box for light cargo, used on some transpacific and intra-Americas services.	4,850 kg	32,500 kg
20 ft reefer	Dense temperature-controlled cargo: frozen meat, fish and similar.	2,710 kg	30,480 kg
40 ft high cube reefer	Most refrigerated cargo: produce, meat, seafood, pharma.	4,330 kg	34,000 kg
20 ft open top	Tall cargo or cargo loaded by crane from above: machinery, logs, stone blocks.	2,170 kg	30,480 kg
40 ft high cube open top	Long or tall cargo loaded from above.	3,940 kg	32,500 kg
20 ft flat rack (flush folding)	Heavy or oversized cargo: steel, pipe, drums, machinery.	3,000 kg	45,000 kg
40 ft high flat rack (collapsible)	Long, heavy or oversized cargo: vehicles, machinery, project cargo.	5,200 kg	52,500 kg
Platform (plain flat, ISO type P0)	A bare deck with no end walls, for very large items or as a base for break-bulk loads.
20 ft ISO tank (T11)	Bulk liquids: food-grade oils, chemicals, and hazmat liquids when rated for them.	3,710 kg	36,000 kg
Ventilated container (ISO type V)	Cargo that needs airflow to control moisture, such as coffee or cocoa beans.
53 ft domestic container (EMP / UMAX)	Domestic intermodal rail freight in North America; does not go on ocean ships.	10,200 lb (aluminum) / 10,300 lb (steel)	67,200 lb