In brief:
TEU and FEU are international units of measurement for containers. They indicate how many 20-foot or 40-foot containers a ship, terminal, or warehouse can accommodate.
TEU stands for "Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit." One TEU corresponds to one 20-foot container. FEU stands for "Forty-foot Equivalent Unit" and refers to a 40-foot container.
The following applies:
These units simplify planning and analysis in container logistics. For example, TEU is used to specify the capacity of a container ship or the throughput of a port.
Freight forwarders, shipping lines, and terminal operators also use TEU to make different container sizes comparable. This allows them to better plan storage space, transport, and handling volumes.
For example: If five 20-foot containers and three 40-foot containers are being transported, that is a total of eleven TEU.
The calculation is:
5 × 1 TEU + 3 × 2 TEU = 11 TEU
The difference lies in the underlying container length. A TEU is based on a 20-foot container. An FEU is based on a 40-foot container.
An FEU requires approximately the same amount of space as two TEU. Therefore:
1 FEU = 2 TEU
In practice, TEU is used more frequently for calculations. This allows shipments with different container sizes to be represented in a single, common unit.
A standard 20-foot container is approximately 6.06 meters long, 2.44 meters wide, and 2.59 meters high on the outside. A standard 40-foot container is approximately 12.19 meters long.
Actual internal dimensions and loading volume may vary depending on the design, manufacturer, and specifications. You can find further sizes in our overview of container dimensions.
No. The height does not change the TEU count. A 20-foot High Cube container still counts as 1 TEU. A 40-foot High Cube container still corresponds to 2 TEU or 1 FEU.
TEU and FEU primarily refer to length and the required footprint. Therefore, they do not indicate the exact loading volume or the potential payload.
TEU and FEU measure container capacity, not the weight of the cargo. Two containers with the same TEU count can be loaded with different weights.
For transport planning, the tare weight, payload, and maximum gross weight of the respective container must therefore also be checked.
Whether 20 or 40 feet: the right size depends on the goods, the required volume, and the conditions at the installation site. m³ offers new and used shipping containers in various sizes and designs.
We can advise you on the right container size and, upon request, also organize transport, crane unloading, and installation.
TEU stands for "Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit." One TEU corresponds to one 20-foot container.
A 40-foot container is equivalent to two TEUs. At the same time, it is referred to as an FEU.
Yes. A 40-foot high-cube container also corresponds to one FEU or two TEUs. The increased height does not change this classification.
Not precisely. TEU is a unit of count, not a fixed unit of volume. The usable internal volume depends on the design and internal dimensions of the container.
TEU is primarily used in ocean freight, port handling, rail transport, and container terminal planning. The capacity of container ships is also usually stated in TEUs.