19 Types of Containers | General and Special Uses

In addition to traditional dry containers, new types of containers with functions such as refrigeration have emerged in recent years. A range of special containers can not only further reduce cargo loss but also expand the range of cargo transported.

You've come to the right place. This is a handy list of the 14 most common types of shipping containers and another 5 types of special-purpose containers. You'll see different types of containers, including their construction materials, features, and the types of cargo they're suitable for.

Quick list

The 14 most common types of containers

GP – General Purpose/Standard/Dry Container (DC) (20ft, 40ft, 40HC, 45HC)
ISO RF – Refrigerated container (20 feet, 40 feet)
OT – Open Top Container (20ft, 40ft)
FT – Flat Frame (20ft, 40ft) (FR vs OT)
OS – Open-sided containers (containers with side doors) (20 feet, 40 feet)
DD – Double door container (tunnel containers) (20 feet, 40 feet)
HH – Half-height container (20 feet, 40 feet)
ISO TK – Tank container (20 feet)
PW – Wide Pallet Container (20ft, 40ft, 45ft)
PC – Flatbed container (20ft, 40ft)
VC – Ventilated container (20 feet)
IC – Insulated container (20 feet, 40 feet)
HT – Rigid Roof Container (20ft, 40ft, 40HC)
Swap body (swap container/swap unit) (20ft, 40ft)

5 additional special containers
BC – Bulk container (free-flowing bulk material container)
PC – Pen container
HT – Hangar-type tank container
CC – Vehicle Transporters
OTC – Single Trip Container
4 Important Factors to Consider When Renting or Buying Shipping Containers

Types of containers classified by manufacturing materials/structure/total weight

Observation

In general, the 14 most commonly used container types in logistics, listed below, come in sizes such as 20-foot, 40-foot, 45-foot, and large-capacity containers (HC). The common sizes for each container type listed here are listed in parentheses.

You can refer to the shipping container dimensions guide to gain an intuitive understanding of the container's specific CBM, sizes in feet and meters, as well as container types and capacity in pounds, kg, and tons.

GP - General Purpose/Standard/Dry Container (DC) (20ft, 40ft, 40HC, 45HC)

General-purpose containers are abbreviated as GP, also known as standard containers or dry storage containers (DS). They are made of COR-TEN (corrosion- and tensile-resistant steel), which is resistant to atmospheric corrosion and offers high strength. We often see 20GP and 40GP, which are container type codes for 20-foot and 40-foot containers.

The most widely used type of container, the GP container, accounts for almost 70-80% of the market. It is used to transport general cargo, including cultural goods, essential items, medicines, textiles, handicrafts, chemicals, hardware and electrical goods, electronic machinery, instruments, and machine parts. However, keep in mind that frozen products, live animals, and plants are excluded.

ISO RF - Refrigerated container (20 feet, 40 feet)
The RF is designed to transport perishable cargo such as meat, fruits, and vegetables at a controlled temperature. It is well suited for shipping butter, chocolate, frozen fish, condensed milk, margarine, and other products in summer. It can maintain temperatures to your liking (from -60°C to +30°C).

In addition to the commonly used COR-TEN weather-resistant steel, the RF is also made of MGSS (silencer-grade stainless steel), HGSS (high-grade stainless steel), AL, and polyurethane (the insulating material).

There are two types: external and integrated. Integrated refrigerators can operate the refrigerator at will during transport to maintain the container at the specified temperature. However, the external type depends on the refrigerator equipped on the special container vehicle, ship, special storage yard, or station.

OT - Open Top Container (20ft, 40ft)
The OT is specifically designed for loading goods from above. It features a roof made of canvas, plastic fabric, or plastic-coated fabric, supported by folding roof arches; it has no fixed roof for containers.

It is suitable for high-rise cargo or heavy goods (e.g., machinery, steel, cement pipes, glass sheets, etc.). Cranes can load and unload these cargoes onto the container roof. During the shipping process, the container roof is covered with a waterproof fabric, the waterproofing requirements of which are the same as those of the GP.

FT - Flat Frame (20ft, 40ft) (FR vs OT)
FR breaks with the sealing of traditional containers. The roof and side walls are removed, leaving only the floor and four corner posts. Some even eliminate the end walls. With a metal frame around the container, the FR base is made of super-thick steel that can withstand bulky and heavy loads. FR also makes it easier to load livestock and bare cargo than steel.

FR containers are used for materials that are wide, long, or tall, or for loads that cannot be top-loaded. FR container sizes are the same as standard containers: they are available in 20 and 40 feet.

FR VS OT: OT and FR are similar in many ways. Both are excellent options for shipping heavy or high-volume cargo. Which one suits your needs? It depends on your requirements.

OS - Open-sided containers (container with side door) (20 feet, 40 feet)
Like GP containers, open-sided (OS) containers feature a fully opening door design. Therefore, the construction materials are similar.

These containers are suitable for extra-large loads that cannot be loaded or unloaded through normal doors.

DD - Double door container (tunnel containers) (20 feet, 40 feet)
The DD container is distinguished by its cargo doors at both ends. It is also known as a "Tunnel Container."

It is built the same as standard containers, using steel as the manufacturing material.

Double-door containers can only be installed in new or single-trip environments. The most common sizes are 20 and 40 feet.

HH - Half-height container (20 feet, 40 feet)
It is designed to transport heavy loads in low volumes, with extensive use in the mining and heavy-duty industries, such as mineral shipping.

20- and 40-foot sizes are available. For example, 40-foot half-height containers are the same size as 40 GP containers, making them suitable for ocean transport. The eight-corner post design gives the containers greater security for lifting heavy loads, compared to 40 GP containers. A 40-foot half-height container can hold 36.75 tons of cargo. When configured correctly, the vehicle plate load loss can be zero when stacked.

ISO TK - Tank container (20 feet)
TK, also known as liquid container, is manufactured to ship food, medicine, chemicals and other liquid products.

Structurally, the liquid tank is secured to a metal frame. The ISO tank, as one of the ISO container types, is a stainless steel pressure vessel mounted on a fixed external frame. Specifically, the tank's lining is typically made of 316 stainless steel.

Most tanks have steam or electric heating equipment, inert gas protection devices, pressure reducing devices, and other optional equipment necessary for the transport, loading, and unloading of fluids.

PW - Wide Pallet Container (20ft, 40ft, 45ft)
PW is specifically designed for transporting wooden Euro pallets. These pallets are typically used within Europe and measure 1200x800x144 (mm).

A PW is about 5 m wider than standard containers (on the inside). A 20-foot PW can carry 15 Euro pallets, 4 more than a 20GP. A 40-foot PW can carry 30 Euro pallets, 5 more than a 40GP. A 45-foot PW can carry 34 Euro pallets, 7 more than a standard 45-foot container.

PC - Flatbed Container (20ft, 40ft)
Similar in appearance to a railway platform, a flatbed container is constructed with a floor that has a large load capacity, without a superstructure.

It is suitable for overweight (maximum 40 tons) and long loads (LxWxH: 6x4x4.5 m). A container with two connected platforms can hold 80 tons of cargo. It is also very suitable for transporting automobiles.