20' DV
20-foot Dry Van container
Also known as: 20DV · 20' DC · 20DC · 20' GP · 20GP · 20' ST · 20' STD · 20' Standard · 20' Dry · 22G1
A 20' DV is the standard 20-foot closed steel container for general dry cargo. It is the smallest common ocean container.
Specifications
Typical figures — exact figures vary by shipping line and manufacturer.
| ISO size-type code | 22G1 |
|---|---|
| Internal length | 5,898 mm |
| Internal width | 2,352 mm |
| Internal height | 2,393 mm |
| Door opening width | 2,340 mm |
| Door opening height | 2,280 mm |
| Tare weight | 2,230 kg |
| Max payload | 28,250 kg |
| Capacity | 33.2 m³ |
| Euro pallets (1200 × 800 mm) | 11 |
| Standard pallets (1200 × 1000 mm) | 10 |
Typical cargo
Heavy, dense goods: tiles, stone, metal parts, machinery parts, bagged goods such as sugar or cement, and drums.
In plain words
“Dry van” (DV) means a normal closed box, without cooling or special openings. Inside, it is about 5.9 m long, 2.35 m wide, and 2.39 m high, with about 33 m³ of space. One 20' container equals 1 TEU.
The 20' is good for heavy cargo, like tiles, stone, metal parts, or bagged goods. It often reaches its weight limit before it is full. The maximum weight depends on the container and on road rules in each country, so check the limits with your forwarder before loading.
Example from real shipping
An exporter ships 22 tonnes of ceramic tiles. The tiles take only about half of the space in a 20' DV, but the weight is close to the limit. A 40' would cost more and could not carry more weight, so the exporter books a 20' DV.
Codes used by shipping lines
Examples only. Codes differ between lines and booking systems, so always check the ISO size-type code on your booking.
| Code | Often seen with |
|---|---|
| 20GP | COSCO, OOCL |
| 20DV | MSC |
| 20ST | CMA CGM |
| 20' STD | Hapag-Lloyd |
| 20' Dry | Maersk |
Related terms
- 40' DVA 40' DV is the standard 40-foot closed steel container for general dry cargo. It has about twice the space of a 20' container, but not twice the weight limit.
- 40' HCA 40' HC is a 40-foot container that is about 30 cm (one foot) taller than a standard 40'. It gives more space for light, bulky cargo.
- TEUTEU is the standard unit for counting containers. One 20-foot container is 1 TEU, and one 40-foot container is 2 TEU.
- FCLFCL means you book a whole container only for your cargo. Nobody else's goods are inside, even if your cargo does not fill it.
- Container typesA side-by-side comparison of the common shipping container types: sizes, weights, capacity, pallet places, and typical cargo.
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Request a QuoteThis glossary is general information, not legal or customs advice. Rules, fees, and practice can differ by carrier, port, and country.