From smaller door-to-door groupage shipments to dedicated 20ft, 40ft, and 40ft High Cube containers, iLines International helps you choose a practical ocean shipping solution for your household goods and personal effects.
The best option depends on the volume of your belongings, where you are moving, and how much space you need. A dedicated container and groupage service are two different ways to ship overseas.
Full Container Load (FCL) gives your shipment dedicated use of a 20ft, 40ft or, where available, 40ft High Cube container. A good choice for larger household moves and some moves that include a vehicle. The container is planned around your shipment's dimensions, access and loading requirements.
Groupage / Less than Container Load (LCL) lets a smaller household shipment share container space with other shipments. You pay for the space and services specified in your quote rather than booking an entire container. It is typically suitable for moving boxes, bins or totes, suitcases and similar personal belongings. Very small furniture items may also be accepted if they can be safely packed. A typical smaller Groupage shipment may use 2–3 standard-size pallets (48 × 40 in or 48 × 48 in), often totaling around 200–300 cubic feet after palletizing, or a lift van for a smaller crate-sized load (approximately 195 cubic feet of nominal lift-van volume). For both Groupage and standard LCL shipments, any pallets used must be plastic or heat-treated wood; untreated wooden pallets are not accepted.
Use these approximate interior measurements and cubic-foot capacities to get a sense of how much each container can hold. Home-size examples are planning guides—not guarantees of fit.
20-foot dry freight container
Approx. 33.2 cubic meters (CBM)
Typical household: Often suitable for the contents of an average 1–2 bedroom home, depending on furniture size and quantity.
40-foot dry freight container
Approx. 67.7 cubic meters (CBM)
Typical household: Often accommodates the contents of an average 3–4 bedroom home, or potentially a 1–2 bedroom home plus one vehicle with a suitable loading plan.
Same length as 40ft, about 1 foot taller
Approx. 76.3 cubic meters (CBM)
Typical household: Well suited for larger or bulkier moves that need extra height for tall furnishings, bulky pieces and additional properly secured cartons.
| Container Type | Interior Size — L × W × H | Approx. Capacity | Common Household Planning Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft Standard | 19'4" × 7'8" × 7'10" | 1,172 cu ft / 33.2 CBM | Average 1–2 bedrooms |
| 40ft Standard | 39'5" × 7'8" × 7'10" | 2,390 cu ft / 67.7 CBM | Average 3–4 bedrooms; or 1–2 bedrooms + a vehicle, where feasible |
| 40ft High Cube | 39'5" × 7'8" × 8'10" | 2,694 cu ft / 76.3 CBM | Larger or taller household goods; extra stacking height |
All interior measurements are rounded for readability. High Cube provides roughly 13% more internal cubic volume than a regular 40ft container while maintaining approximately the same floor footprint. Standard 20ft/40ft door opening heights are around 7'6"; 40ft High Cube doors are around 8'6".
Bedroom counts are helpful starting points, but an inventory survey provides the best way to choose. Two homes with the same number of rooms can have very different shipping volumes.
A 40ft container can sometimes combine a vehicle with the contents of a 1–2 bedroom home. However, this must be checked against the vehicle's length, width and height, the remaining furniture inventory, safe loading and securement requirements, and import regulations.
Vehicle loading is not guaranteed by bedroom count alone. Contact our team for an inventory-based loading plan and to confirm whether combining a vehicle and household goods is permitted on your route.
Learn more about international vehicle container shipping →If you are shipping a smaller quantity of boxes, bins/totes, suitcases, similar personal belongings or a few very small furniture pieces that can be safely packed, our consolidated groupage service may be more practical than booking an entire container. We combine compatible shipments for efficient ocean transport and arrange delivery services according to your quote.
Moving boxes, bins, suitcases and similar belongings are stacked onto a pallet, protected with wrap or suitable securing materials, and prepared for forklift handling and loading into a shared container.
For both Groupage and standard LCL shipments, untreated wood pallets are not permitted. Heat-treated wooden pallets must meet applicable export/import marking requirements. The photographed shipment is an example of the packing method; accepted dimensions and treatments are verified separately.
A lift van is a sturdy, enclosed plywood export shipping crate built on skids for forklift handling—not a road vehicle or van. It holds safely packed moving boxes, suitcases, totes and other personal effects during international shipping.
The 84¾ × 45 × 87-inch exterior dimensions are published for a typical Type II lift van. The 82 × 43 × 83-inch inside dimensions are an illustrative planning estimate, not a manufacturer-certified specification; wall panels, framing, floor, roof and door opening can reduce clearance. The approximately 170 cu ft of usable inside space is a general industry guideline, not the same as the nominal 195 cu ft crate volume. Exact internal measurements and door clearance must be confirmed before loading, especially for small furniture. The 72-inch recommended loaded height applies to pallets, not to a separately constructed lift van.
Book the space your belongings require rather than paying for exclusive use of a full 20ft or 40ft container.
Ask about collection, packing, consolidation, export, customs coordination and destination delivery options.
Our qualifying door-to-door groupage quotations include destination port and terminal handling charges (DTHC); confirm all included services and exclusions in writing.
iLines International offers consolidated groupage solutions on qualifying services to the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates and South Africa. Available routes, collection areas, sailing schedules and destination charges depend on your shipment and the written quote.
Where applicable, our groupage pricing includes destination port / terminal handling (DTHC) fees to reduce surprises. Customs duties, taxes, inspections, storage and special delivery services are separate unless specifically stated in your estimate.
A standard 20ft dry container has approximately 1,172 cubic feet (33.2 CBM) of total interior space. The amount of packed household goods you can load will generally be less due to safe stacking and packing requirements.
A 40ft dry container provides a little more than twice the internal volume of a 20ft container (about 2,390 vs. 1,172 cubic feet). Actual usable capacity depends on how your furniture and boxes are arranged.
A High Cube is approximately one foot taller inside and has a taller door opening, while the interior length and floor area are approximately the same. This adds about 304 cubic feet (around 13%) of gross internal volume.
Potentially. A 40ft container can sometimes accommodate a vehicle and the contents of a 1–2 bedroom home, provided dimensions, approved loading/securement methods and destination customs rules permit it. Ask us to assess your inventory and vehicle.
No. Groupage lets multiple shippers share the space of one container. A Full Container Load (FCL) provides dedicated use of a container. We can advise which service fits your move.
Tell us your origin, destination, household inventory, preferred shipping date and whether you are including a vehicle. We'll help you compare a dedicated container with groupage based on your needs.
866-898-1841