Specify cold storage · Canada guide
Refrigerated container dimensions: usable cold space
Insulation, machinery and the floor system change a reefer’s usable interior. Obtain the model drawing and loading instructions.
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Use the exact model specification
Request external and clear internal dimensions, door opening, floor height and equipment position. Confirm standard height or High Cube. Dry-container reference dimensions are not a reefer specification.
Compare pallets using their loaded footprint. A 48 × 40 in pallet is common in Canada, but confirm the actual base, overhang and handling equipment. The pallet size does not establish its load rating.
Compare two identified reefer references
Compare physical dimensions, the opening and the loading limit separately. These Hapag-Lloyd fleet series are examples; they do not identify a unit for sale or rental in Canada.
| Measurement | A: 20ft reefer | B: 40ft high-cube reefer |
|---|---|---|
| Outside (L × W × H) | 19 ft 10.5 in × 8 ft × 8 ft 6 in | 40 ft × 8 ft × 9 ft 6 in |
| Physical interior (L × W × H) | 17 ft 10.6 in × 7 ft 5.8 in × 7 ft 4.9 in | 38 ft 0.7 in × 7 ft 6.2 in × 8 ft 4.2 in |
| Door opening (W × H) | 7 ft 6.2 in × 7 ft 5.1 in | 7 ft 6.2 in × 8 ft 4.7 in |
| Maximum stowage height to load line | 7 ft 1 in | 7 ft 11.5 in |
| Physical interior floor area | 133.8 sq ft | 285.9 sq ft |
| Series capacity stated by manufacturer | 992.3 cu ft | 2,387.3 cu ft |
| Reference tare | 6,305.2 lb | 9,744.4 lb |
| Reference maximum gross mass | 70,547.9 lb | 74,957.2 lb |
| Reference payload | 64,242.7 lb | 65,212.7 lb |
A: Hapag-Lloyd HLXU 374050–375049. B: Hapag-Lloyd HLXU 877530–880529. Physical ceiling height and door height do not replace the load line. Published capacity is not guaranteed cargo volume; preserve the model's airflow paths.
The link opens an editable brief with size undecided. It sends no request and makes no reservation.
Keep four different limits on the drawing
Ask the supplier to identify the proposed model and mark its usable loading envelope. Physical space above a load line is not spare storage capacity. A drawing should also show the refrigeration equipment and the clearances needed to operate and service it.
| Dimension | What it helps check | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| External dimensions | Delivery, final position and surrounding space | Usable cold-storage volume |
| Clear internal dimensions | Potential positions for goods and shelving | A permitted loading arrangement |
| Clear door opening | Packed load and equipment entry | Maximum loading height or airflow |
| Manufacturer's loading limits | Usable height and required airflow paths | Cooling performance for an unspecified duty |
Compare physical height with the load line
These two identified Hapag-Lloyd series illustrate the distinction. Dimensions vary across a fleet; confirm the offered unit and its loading instructions. The interactive comparison also shows their exterior dimensions and reference masses, without treating them as Canadian stock.
| Reference series | Physical interior (L × W × H) | Door (W × H) | Maximum stowage height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hapag-Lloyd HLXU 374050–375049 | 17 ft 10.6 in × 7 ft 5.8 in × 7 ft 4.9 in | 7 ft 6.2 in × 7 ft 5.1 in | 7 ft 1 in |
| Hapag-Lloyd HLXU 877530–880529 | 38 ft 0.7 in × 7 ft 6.2 in × 8 ft 4.2 in | 7 ft 6.2 in × 8 ft 4.7 in | 7 ft 11.5 in |
Keep the airflow route usable
Follow the manufacturer’s load-height limits and airflow instructions. Shelving and dense packaging can alter circulation. A geometric maximum pallet count is not a temperature-controlled loading plan.
State product type, incoming temperature, target range, loading frequency and ambient conditions. Holding chilled goods and cooling a warm load are different duties.
Passing the door is not the final test
In an illustrative example, a loaded pallet is 7 ft 4.6 in high, the opening is 7 ft 6.6 in high and the permitted loading height is 7 ft 0.6 in. The load clears the opening by 2 in before handling allowances but exceeds the loading limit by 3.9 in. It is not an acceptable arrangement on those assumptions. These are example figures, not a model specification.
Include the pallet and packaging in the measured load. Confirm wheel loads and the proposed pallet jack or forklift with the supplier: a reefer floor and its airflow channels need the right handling arrangement. Check the threshold, ramp, turning space and ability to retrieve goods without blocking the air path.
Check power and commissioning
Obtain voltage, frequency, phases, current, connector and protection requirements from the actual specification and nameplate. Have a qualified electrician confirm compatibility with the site supply. Do not adapt a connector based only on advertised size. Confirm that the equipment approval and electrical permits or inspections required in the jurisdiction are addressed; an international refrigeration specification alone does not establish acceptance for a Canadian stationary installation.
Include ground support, access, commissioning, alarm monitoring and breakdown response in the written scope. Preserve the manufacturer’s access and ventilation clearances.
Send dimensions with the operating brief
Give suppliers the same packed-load schedule and proposed layout, then ask them to confirm the model for that duty. Use the refrigerated-container brief to keep unresolved points visible; a dry-container dimension result should not be carried over to a reefer.
- Model reference, clear dimensions, opening and marked loading limits.
- Loaded pallet sizes, overhang, quantities and retrieval routine.
- Goods, incoming temperature, target range in Celsius and loading frequency.
- Available supply details, installation boundary and commissioning responsibility.
- Alarm response, maintenance access and breakdown arrangements.
Questions before you choose
Is the interior the same as a dry container?
No. Insulation, refrigeration equipment, floor construction and model details change the clear space and usable loading capacity.
Can I calculate a pallet count from floor dimensions alone?
That is only a geometric starting point. The loaded footprint, handling equipment, airflow paths, loading limits and access routine still need a model-specific arrangement.
Does a taller door permit a taller stack?
Not by itself. The manufacturer's loading-height and airflow requirements can be more restrictive than the physical opening.