ISO Container Size and Type (ISO 6346)
ISO Container Size and Type (ISO 6346)
In 1995 the ISO reached an agreement on the marking codes that would depict Length, Height and type of container.
The following Chart shows how the coding is broken down.
ISO Codes
Container Dimensions
Before the ISO reached an agreement on the marking codes in 1995, the markings were not set in stone so there were a lot more codes than necessary.
The following chart depicts the new specific codes.
The second chart shows the markings of 1984 compared to those of 1995.
Chart one
| Code | |||||
| Type designation | |||||
| Main charateristics | |||||
| G | General purpose container without ventilation | ||||
| Opening(s) at one end or both ends | G0 | ||||
| Passive vents at upper part of cargo space | Gl | ||||
| Opening(s) at one or both ends plus “full” opening(s) on one or both sides | G2 | ||||
| Opening(s) at one or both ends plus “partial” opening(s) on one or both sides | G3 | ||||
| V | General purpose container with ventilation | ||||
| Nonmechanical system, vents at lower and upper parts of cargo space | V0 | ||||
| Mechanical ventilation system, located internally | V2 | ||||
| Mechanical ventilation system, located externally | V4 | ||||
| B | Dry bulk container | ||||
| Nonpresurized, box type, closed | B0 | ||||
| Nonpresurized, box type, airtight | B1 | ||||
| Pressurized, horizontal discharge, test pressure 150kPa1) | B3 | ||||
| Pressurized, horizontal discharge, test pressure 265kPa | B4 | ||||
| Pressurized, tipping discharge, test pressure 150 kPa | B5 | ||||
| Pressurized, tipping discharge, test pressure 265kPa | B6 | ||||
| S | Named cargo container | ||||
| Livestock carrier | S0 | ||||
| Automobile carrier | S1 | ||||
| Live fish carrier | S2 | ||||
| R | Thermal container | ||||
| Refrigerated, mechanically refrigerated | R0 | ||||
| Refrigerated and heated, mechanically refrigerated and heated | RI | ||||
| Self-powered refrigerated/heated, mechanically refrigerated | R2 | ||||
| Mechanically refrigerated and heated | R3 | ||||
| H | Thermal container | ||||
| Refrigerated and/or heated, with removable equipment located externally; heat transfer coefficient K=0,4W/(m2*K) | HO | ||||
| Refrigerated and/or heated with removable equipment located internally | HI | ||||
| Refrigerated and/or heated with removable equipment located externally; heat transfer coefficient K =0,7W/(m2*K) | H2 | ||||
| Insulated; heat transfer coefficient K= 0,4W/(m2*K) | H5 | ||||
| Insulated; heat transfer coefficient K= 0,7W/(m2*K) | H6 | ||||
| U | Open-top container | ||||
| Opening(s) at one or both ends | U0 | ||||
| Opening(s) at one or both ends, plus removable top member(s) in end frame(s) | U1 | ||||
| Opening(s) at one or both ends, plus opening(s) on one or both sides | U2 | ||||
| Opening(s) at one or both ends, plus opening(s) on one or both sides plus removable top member(s) in end frame(s) | U3 | ||||
| Opening(s) at one or both ends, plus partial opening on one side and full opening on the other side | U4 | ||||
| Complete, fixed side and end walls (no doors) | U5 | ||||
| P | Platform (container) | ||||
| Platform (container) | P0 | ||||
| Platform-based containers with in complete superstructure: | |||||
| Fixed, two complete and fixed ends | P1 | ||||
| Fixed, fixed posts, either free-standing or with removable top member | P2 | ||||
| Folding (collapsible), folding complete end structure | P3 | ||||
| Folding (collapsible), Folding posts, either free-standing or with removable top member | P4 | ||||
| Platform-based containers with complete super structure | |||||
| Open top, open ends (skeletal) | P5 | ||||
| T | Tank container | ||||
| For non dangerous liquids, minimum pressure 45kPa | T0 | ||||
| For non dangerous liquids, minimum pressure 150kPa | Tl | ||||
| For non dangerous liquids, minimum pressure 265kPa | T2 | ||||
| For dangerous liquids, minimum pressure 150kPa | T3 | ||||
| For dangerous liquids, minimum pressure 265kPa | T4 | ||||
| For dangerous liquids, minimum pressure 40kPa | T5 | ||||
| For dangerous liquids, minimum pressure 60kPa | T6 | ||||
| For gases, minimum pressure 910kPa | T7 | ||||
| For gases, minimum pressure 220 kPa | T8 | ||||
| For gases, minimum pressure (to be decided) | T9 | ||||
| A | Air/surface container | ||||
| A0 | |||||
| ISO Codes for container Size and Type
Comparison between the 1984 codes and the current 1995 codes |
|||||
| 1984 | 1995 | Length (ft) | height (ft) | Group | Characteristics |
| 2000 | 20G0 | 20 | 8 | G0 | Opening(s) at one end or both ends |
| 2020 | 20 | 8 | Insulated/Vented | ||
| 2030 | 20R0 | 20 | 8 | R0 | Refrigerated, mechanically refrigerated |
| 2032 | 20 | 8 | Reefer/heated | ||
| 2050 | 20U0 | 20 | 8 | U0 | Opening(s) at one or both ends |
| 2052 | 20 | 8 | Open Top, Open Side | ||
| 2054 | 20G2 | 20 | 8 | G2 | Opening(s) at one or both ends plus “full” opening(s) on one or both sides |
| 2060 | 20P0 | 20 | 8 | P0 | Platform (container) |
| 2063 | 20P1 | 20 | 8 | P1 | Fixed, two complete and fixed ends |
| 2070 | 20T0 | 20 | 8 | T0 | For non dangerous liquids, minimum pressure 45kPa |
| 2080 | 20B0 | 20 | 8 | B0 | Nonpresurized, box type, closed |
| 2150 | 20 | 8 | Open Top | ||
| 2160 | 20 | 8 | Flat | ||
| 2163 | 20 | 8 | Flat, Collapsible | ||
| 2200 | 22G0 | 20 | 8.6 | G0 | Opening(s) at one end or both ends |
| 2210 | 22G1 | 20 | 8.6 | G1 | Passive vents at upper part of cargo space |
| 2213 | 20 | 8.6 | Dry Van | ||
| 2215 | 22V1 | 20 | 8.6 | V1 | Mechanical ventilation system, located internally |
| 2220 | 20 | 8.6 | Insulated/vented | ||
| 2230 | 22R0 | 20 | 8.6 | R0 | Refrigerated, mechanically refrigerated |
| 2232 | 22R1 | 20 | 8.6 | R1 | Refrigerated and heated, mechanically refrigerated and heated |
| 2250 | 22U0 | 20 | 8.6 | U0 | Opening(s) at one or both ends |
| 2251 | 22U1 | 20 | 8.6 | U1 | Opening(s) at one or both ends, plus removable top member(s) in end frame(s) |
| 2252 | 20 | 8.6 | Open Top, Open Side | ||
| 2253 | 20 | 8.6 | Open Top, Open Side/remv. member | ||
| 2254 | 22G2 | 20 | 8.6 | G2 | Opening(s) at one or both ends plus “full” opening(s) on one or both sides |
| 2260 | 22P0 | 20 | 8.6 | P0 | Platform (container) |
| 2261 | 22P1 | 20 | 8.6 | P1 | Fixed, two complete and fixed ends |
| 2263 | 22P3 | 20 | 8.6 | P3 | Folding (collapsible), folding complete end structure |
| 2270 | 22T0 | 20 | 8.6 | T0 | For non dangerous liquids, minimum pressure 45kPa |
| 2275 | 22T5 | 20 | 8.6 | T5 | For dangerous liquids, minimum pressure 40kPa |
| 2280 | 22B0 | 20 | 8.6 | B0 | Nonpresurized, box type, closed |
| 2432 | 25R1 | 20 | 9 | R1 | Refrigerated and heated, mechanically refrigerated and heated |
| 2500 | 25G0 | 20 | 9.6 | G0 | Opening(s) at one end or both ends |
| 2510 | 25G1 | 20 | 9.6 | G1 | Passive vents at upper part of cargo space |
| 2530 | 25R0 | 20 | 9.6 | R0 | Refrigerated, mechanically refrigerated |
| 2550 | 25U0 | 20 | 9.6 | U0 | Opening(s) at one or both ends |
| 2554 | 25G2 | 20 | 9.6 | G2 | Opening(s) at one or both ends plus “full” opening(s) on one or both sides |
| 2560 | 25P0 | 20 | 9.6 | P0 | Platform (container) |
| 2563 | 25P3 | 20 | 9.6 | P3 | Folding (collapsible), folding complete end structure |
| 2570 | 25T0 | 20 | 9.6 | T0 | For non dangerous liquids, minimum pressure 45kPa |
| 2580 | 25B0 | 20 | 9.6 | B0 | Nonpresurized, box type, closed |
| 2600 | 20 | >9.6 | Dry Van | ||
| 4000 | 40G0 | 40 | 8 | G0 | Opening(s) at one end or both ends |
| 4020 | 40 | 8 | Insulated/vented | ||
| 4030 | 40R0 | 40 | 8 | R0 | Refrigerated, mechanically refrigerated |
| 4050 | 40U0 | 40 | 8 | U0 | Opening(s) at one or both ends |
| 4054 | 40G2 | 40 | 8 | G2 | Opening(s) at one or both ends plus “full” opening(s) on one or both sides |
| 4060 | 40P0 | 40 | 8 | P0 | Platform (container) |
| 4063 | 40P3 | 40 | 8 | P3 | Folding (collapsible), folding complete end structure |
| 4070 | 40T0 | 40 | 8 | T0 | For non dangerous liquids, minimum pressure 45kPa |
| 4080 | 40B0 | 40 | 8 | B3 | Nonpresurized, box type, closed |
| 4132 | 40 | 8 | Reefer/heated | ||
| 4170 | 40 | 8 | Tank | ||
| 4260 | 40 | 8.6 | Flat | ||
| 4263 | 40 | 8.6 | Flat, Collapsible | ||
| 4300 | 42G0 | 40 | 8.6 | G0 | Opening(s) at one end or both ends |
| 4301 | 40 | 8.6 | Dry Van | ||
| 4305 | 40 | 8.6 | Dry Van | ||
| 4310 | 42G1 | 40 | 8.6 | G1 | Passive vents at upper part of cargo space |
| 4315 | 42V1 | 40 | 8.6 | V1 | Mechanical ventilation system, located internally |
| 4320 | 40 | 8.6 | Insulated/vented | ||
| 4330 | 42R0 | 40 | 8.6 | R2 | Self-powered refrigerated/heated, mechanically refrigerated |
| 4332 | 42R1 | 40 | 8.6 | R1 | Refrigerated and heated, mechanically refrigerated and heated |
| 4350 | 42U0 | 40 | 8.6 | U0 | Opening(s) at one or both ends |
| 4351 | 42U1 | 40 | 8.6 | U1 | Opening(s) at one or both ends, plus removable top member(s) in end frame(s) |
| 4354 | 42G2 | 40 | 8.6 | G2 | Opening(s) at one or both ends plus “full” opening(s) on one or both sides |
| 4360 | 42P0 | 40 | 8.6 | P0 | Platform (container) |
| 4361 | 42P1 | 40 | 8.6 | P1 | Fixed, two complete and fixed ends |
| 4363 | 42P3 | 40 | 8.6 | P3 | Folding (collapsible), folding complete end structure |
| 4370 | 42T0 | 40 | 8.6 | T0 | For non dangerous liquids, minimum pressure 45kPa |
| 4380 | 42B0 | 40 | 8.6 | B0 | Nonpresurized, box type, closed |
| 4400 | 40 | 9 | Dry Van | ||
| 4420 | 40 | 9 | Insulated/vented | ||
| 4426 | 40 | 9 | Insulated/vented | ||
| 4432 | 40 | 9 | Reefer/heated | ||
| 4500 | 45G0 | 40 | 9.6 | G0 | Opening(s) at one end or both ends |
| 4510 | 45G1 | 40 | 9.6 | G1 | Passive vents at upper part of cargo space |
| 4511 | 40 | 9.6 | Dry Van | ||
| 4530 | 45R0 | 40 | 9.6 | R0 | Refrigerated, mechanically refrigerated |
| 4531 | 40 | 9.6 | Reefer | ||
| 4532 | 45R1 | 40 | 9.6 | R1 | Refrigerated and heated, mechanically refrigerated and heated |
| 4550 | 45U0 | 40 | 9.6 | U0 | Opening(s) at one or both ends |
| 4554 | 45G2 | 40 | 9.6 | G2 | Opening(s) at one or both ends plus “full” opening(s) on one or both sides |
| 4560 | 45P0 | 40 | 9.6 | P0 | Platform (container) |
| 4563 | 45P3 | 40 | 9.6 | P3 | Folding (collapsible), folding complete end structure |
| 4570 | 45T0 | 40 | 9.6 | Tank | |
| 4580 | 45B0 | 40 | 9.6 | Dry Bulk, clossed | |
| 4599 | 40 | 9 | Special | ||
| 4650 | 40 | 4.3 | Open Top | ||
| 4699 | 40 | 4.3 | Special | ||
| 4960 | 40 | 4 | Platform | ||
| 8500 | 35 | 8.6 | Dry van | ||
| 8520 | 35 | 8.6 | Insulated/vented | ||
| 8532 | 35 | 8.6 | Reefer/heated | ||
| 8550 | 35 | 8.6 | Open Top | ||
| 8599 | 35 | 8.6 | Special | ||
| 8770 | 35 | 4.3 | Tank | ||
| 9200 | 45 | 8.6 | Dry Van | ||
| 9400 | 45 | 9.6 | Dry Van | ||
| 9500 | L5G0 | 45 | 9.6 | Dry Van | |
| 9510 | 45 | 9.6 | Dry Van | ||
| 9530 | L5R0 | 45 | 9.6 | Refrigerated, mechanically refrigerated | |
| 9532 | 45 | 9.6 | Reefer/heated | ||
| 9550 | L5U0 | 45 | 9.6 | Open Top | |
| 9554 | L5G2 | 45 | 9.6 | Dry Van | |
| 9560 | L5P0 | 45 | 9.6 | Flat | |
| 9563 | L5P3 | 45 | 9.6 | Flat, Collapsible | |
| 9570 | L5T0 | 45 | 9.6 | Tank | |
| 9580 | L5B0 | 45 | 9.6 | Dry Bulk, clossed | |
