Logistics & shipping
TEU / shipping container
A twenty-foot equivalent unit — the standard measure of container ship capacity, equal to one 20-foot container.TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) standardizes container volumes: a 40-foot container counts as two TEU. Intermodal containers move most manufactured trade, and container counts and TEU capacity are core metrics of maritime logistics and port throughput.
Frequently asked questions
- What does TEU stand for?
- TEU means twenty-foot equivalent unit — a 20-foot container is one TEU and a 40-foot container is two TEU.
- How much can a shipping container hold?
- A standard 20-foot container holds around 33 cubic metres and up to roughly 28 tonnes of cargo, depending on the goods.