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ACETrading & Supply

Container types

Shipping container types & sizes, with real numbers

Every type we trade, with external dimensions, payload and capacity. Specifications are typical for the type — the exact unit is confirmed on quotation.

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In short

ACE Trading supplies six main shipping container types in Saudi Arabia: 20FT and 40FT standard dry containers, the 40FT high cube (30 cm taller), refrigerated reefers holding −25 °C to +25 °C, open tops for crane loading and flat racks for out-of-gauge cargo — new and used, delivered from Dammam across the Kingdom.

Updated

Yellow and red 20FT and 40FT standard dry general-purpose shipping containers stacked against a blue sky
01The workhorse of global trade

20FT Standard Container

The most traded container in the world. Compact enough for tight yards, strong enough for a 28-tonne payload.

External
6.06 × 2.44 × 2.59 m
Capacity
33.2 CBM
Payload
28,200 kg
Tare
2,200 kg
Multi-coloured 20FT and 40FT shipping containers stacked at a port container terminal
02Double the floor, same handling

40FT Standard Container

Twice the floor area of a 20FT at a lower cost per cubic metre — the default choice for volume storage and logistics.

External
12.19 × 2.44 × 2.59 m
Capacity
67.7 CBM
Payload
28,800 kg
Tare
3,800 kg
Green, blue and red shipping containers stacked high in a storage yard under a clear sky
03One extra foot that changes everything

40FT High Cube Container

An additional 30 cm of internal height — 76 CBM of capacity and the preferred shell for conversions and site offices.

External
12.19 × 2.44 × 2.89 m
Capacity
76.3 CBM
Payload
28,600 kg
Tare
3,900 kg
Stacked white 40FT refrigerated reefer shipping containers for temperature-controlled cold storage and transportPhoto: Andrea Puggioni, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
04Cold chain, anywhere you need it

Refrigerated (Reefer) Container

Integral refrigeration holding −25 °C to +25 °C. Available as 20FT and 40FT, running or for static cold storage.

External
12.19 × 2.44 × 2.89 m
Capacity
67 CBM
Payload
29,000 kg
Temperature
-25 to +25 °C
Gantry cranes over stacked 20FT and 40FT shipping containers at a port container terminal
05Load from above

Open Top Container

Removable tarpaulin roof and swing-out door header for cargo that will not go through a door.

External
6.06 × 2.44 × 2.59 m
Capacity
32.5 CBM
Payload
28,150 kg
Tare
2,350 kg
Flat rack container carrying wrapped out-of-gauge industrial cargoPhoto: 世界巡礼船長, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
06For cargo that does not fit in a box

Flat Rack Container

No sides, no roof, collapsible end walls and a reinforced deck rated for heavy point loads.

External
12.19 × 2.44 × 2.59 m
Capacity
—
Payload
40,000 kg
Tare
5,000 kg

20FT vs 40FT vs high cube: side by side

Every standard container is 2.44 m wide. Length decides floor space, height decides volume, and payload is similar across sizes — so a 40FT gives twice the space of a 20FT, not twice the weight.

Shipping container sizes and specifications compared
TypeExternal (L × W × H)Internal (L × W × H)CapacityTareMax payloadBest for
20FT Standard6.06 × 2.44 × 2.59 m5.9 × 2.35 × 2.39 m33.2 CBM2,200 kg28,200 kgSite storage, General cargo transport
40FT Standard12.19 × 2.44 × 2.59 m12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m67.7 CBM3,800 kg28,800 kgWarehouse overflow, Industrial storage
40FT High Cube12.19 × 2.44 × 2.89 m12.03 × 2.35 × 2.69 m76.3 CBM3,900 kg28,600 kgConversions & site offices, High-volume storage
Reefer12.19 × 2.44 × 2.89 m11.57 × 2.29 × 2.5 m67 CBM4,600 kg29,000 kgFood & produce, Pharmaceuticals
Open Top6.06 × 2.44 × 2.59 m5.89 × 2.34 × 2.35 m32.5 CBM2,350 kg28,150 kgMachinery, Over-height cargo
Flat Rack12.19 × 2.44 × 2.59 m12.06 × 2.4 m—5,000 kg40,000 kgHeavy machinery, Steel & pipes
Not sure which size? Use the container calculator →Container terms explained →Spec data (JSON)Spec data (CSV)

Container buying guides

All guides →

Prices, delivery and buying help

Want indicative figures first? Our Saudi Arabia container price list gives starting prices by size and grade, or browse live stock in the shop. Not sure which type fits your project? Compare options by use case in our container solutions hub. We deliver across the Kingdom — buy a container in Riyadh, Jeddah or Dammam. Still have questions? Start with the FAQ hub.

FAQ

Buying a shipping container in Saudi Arabia — FAQ

The questions we hear most from buyers across the Kingdom.

Where can I buy a shipping container in Saudi Arabia?
From ACE Trading, direct. We are a container trading and supply company based in Dammam, Eastern Province, and we deliver new and used shipping containers across Saudi Arabia — including Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar, Dhahran and Jubail.
How much does a shipping container cost in Saudi Arabia?
It depends on size, grade and quantity. A used 20FT container costs less than a new (one-trip) 40FT high cube, and pricing improves with volume. Tell us the size, grade and quantity and we will confirm availability and send a written quote the same working day.
What container sizes and types do you supply?
20FT and 40FT standard, 40FT high cube, refrigerated reefers (20FT and 40FT), open top, flat rack, and modified units such as site offices and storage conversions. Full dimensions and payload for each are on our container types page.
What is the difference between a new and a used shipping container?
New (one-trip) containers have carried a single cargo load and are in the best cosmetic and structural condition. Used containers are graded Cargo Worthy (CW) — certified fit for shipping — or Wind & Watertight (WWT), sealed against weather but not certified for shipping lines. WWT is usually the better value for a container that will stay on the ground.
Do you sell refrigerated (reefer) containers in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Our reefer containers hold −25°C to +25°C, are available in 20FT and 40FT, and are PTI-tested before handover — for cold-chain logistics or as a static cold room on site.
Can a shipping container be converted into a site office or storage unit?
Yes. We supply modified containers as site offices, storage units, workshops and accommodation units, and can also modify a standard unit for contractors and industrial sites.
Do you deliver containers to Riyadh, Jeddah and other Saudi cities?
Yes. We deliver across the Kingdom — Dammam, Khobar, Dhahran, Jubail, Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca, Medina, Yanbu and beyond — and into the wider GCC. Delivery is quoted separately by distance and site access.
Can I buy a single container, or only in bulk?
Both. We supply single units for site storage and bulk orders for projects and traders, and we will always tell you where the volume pricing breaks improve.
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