Size and Type Code
The letters and numerals of the owner code, equipment category identifier, serial number and check digit shall be not less than 100 mm (4 in) high.
All characters shall be of proportionate width and thickness, they shall be durable and in a colour contrasting with that of the container.
Size and Type Lookup Tool
- Standard dry van
- High cube dry van
- Reefer
- Open top
- Flat rack
- Tank
This information is mandatory.
When displayed on the container, the size and type codes shall be used as a whole.
WHAT ARE THE ISO CONTAINER SIZE AND TYPE CODES?
In 1995 there was an ISO agreement concerning container marking codes to depict the length, height and type of container in an easy to read sequence. This sequence is composed of four letters or digits that commonly appear right under the container identification sequence.
- The first character is related to the length of the container
- The second character is relative to its height.
- The remaining two elements of the sequence identify the container type and characteristics
DIFFERENT TYPES AND SIZES OF CONTAINERS
| Length | Height | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 – 20 Feet | 2 – 8 Feet 6 Inches | G1 – General Purpose Container | |
| 4 – 40 Feet | 5 – 9 Feet 6 Inches “High Cube” | R1 – Refrigerated Container | |
| L – 45 Feet | U1 – Open Top Container | ||
| M – 48 Feet | P1 – Platform Container | ||
| T1 – Tank Container |
Container Size code designation
The two alphanumeric characters used to designate the size code of the container are chosen as follows:
- First character, representing the length, see link to table 1;
- Second character, representing the width and height, see link to table 2
Container Type code designation (ISO 6346 AMENDMENT 3)
The third characters gives the codes to identify the container type and other characteristics related to its type.
Warning: new container type code using an alpha character in the 4th position of the size-type code indicates a container of reduced strength. (See detailed type code ‘b’). see link to table 3
You can also access the container size and type code information via an API ( for direct system integration) using BIC’s BoxTech – Global Container Database.
