TEU VS FEU:
WHAT DO THEY MEAN IN SHIPPING?
TEU and FEU are two of the most common capacity terms in container shipping. This guide explains what they mean, how 20-foot and 40-foot containers compare, how 40HQ fits into the system, and what importers should actually look at when choosing a container.
GET A CONTAINER SHIPPING QUOTEWHAT IS TEU? WHAT IS FEU?
TWENTY-FOOT EQUIVALENT UNIT
TEU is a standardized capacity unit based on one 20-foot container.
1 × 20FT CONTAINER = 1 TEUFORTY-FOOT EQUIVALENT UNIT
FEU refers to the nominal capacity of one 40-foot container.
1 × 40FT CONTAINER = 1 FEU = 2 TEUA 40-foot container counts as 2 TEU for capacity reporting, but its physical internal volume and payload are determined by the actual container type and equipment specifications.
A COMMON LANGUAGE FOR CONTAINER CAPACITY
Container ships, ports, terminals and trade statistics handle a mix of 20-foot, 40-foot and high-cube containers. TEU converts those different lengths into one common measurement.
A vessel described as having 12,000 TEU capacity is being measured in 20-foot-equivalent units.
Ports often report the number of containers handled in TEU so 20-foot and 40-foot boxes can be compared consistently.
TEU provides a standardized way to discuss containerized cargo volume across routes and markets.
Carriers use TEU when discussing nominal vessel and network container capacity.
HOW TEU AND FEU RELATE
A 40-foot high-cube container has more internal volume than a standard 40-foot container because it is taller, but for TEU accounting it is still a 40-foot unit and therefore counts as 2 TEU.
If a shipment uses three 20-foot containers and four 40-foot containers, the total nominal capacity is 3 + (4 × 2) = 11 TEU.
20GP VS 40GP VS 40HQ
The dimensions below use current Hapag-Lloyd equipment specifications as practical examples. Actual dimensions, tare weight and payload can vary by container manufacturer and fleet.
| Container | TEU Value | Example Internal Dimensions | Example Capacity | Example Max Payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20GP / 20' Standard | 1 TEU | 5.900 × 2.352 × 2.395 m | 33.2 CBM | 28,130 kg |
| 40GP / 40' Standard | 2 TEU / 1 FEU | 12.032 × 2.352 × 2.395 m | 67.7 CBM | 28,750 kg |
| 40HQ / 40' High Cube | 2 TEU | 12.032 × 2.350 × 2.700 m | 76.3 CBM | 28,600 kg |
TEU is based mainly on nominal container length. High-cube height gives a 40HQ more cubic space, but it does not change its 40-foot-equivalent length.
TEU IS NOT THE SAME AS CBM
This is one of the easiest container-shipping terms to misunderstand.
STANDARDIZED CAPACITY UNIT
Used to describe the nominal container capacity of ships, ports and container fleets.
BASED ON 20-FOOT-EQUIVALENT LENGTHCUBIC METERS
Measures the physical volume occupied by cargo or the approximate internal volume of a container.
LENGTH × WIDTH × HEIGHTFor example, a standard 20-foot container is 1 TEU and may have around 33 CBM of internal volume. A 40HQ is still 2 TEU, but may have more than 76 CBM of internal volume. That is why TEU cannot be converted into one universal CBM figure.
LEARN HOW CBM WORKS →THE MAIN DIFFERENCES
| Factor | TEU / 20FT Reference | FEU / 40FT Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit | Forty-foot Equivalent Unit |
| Nominal length | 20 ft | 40 ft |
| TEU accounting value | 1 TEU | 2 TEU |
| Typical standard dry-box volume | About 33 CBM | About 68 CBM |
| Common use | Smaller / denser FCL cargo | Larger-volume FCL cargo |
| Freight quotation | Often quoted as 20GP | Often quoted as 40GP or 40HQ |
DON'T CHOOSE A CONTAINER BY VOLUME ALONE
A common mistake is to assume that a 40-foot container can carry exactly twice the cargo weight of a 20-foot container. It usually cannot.
Current example specifications show a 20-foot standard container with a maximum payload around 28.1 metric tons and a 40-foot standard container around 28.75 metric tons. The 40-foot box gives roughly twice the internal volume, but not twice the payload.
Volume may be the limiting factor, so a 40HQ can be attractive.
Payload and road-weight restrictions can become the limiting factor before the container is full.
Equipment, loading method, center of gravity and route restrictions may affect the container choice.
THREE WEIGHT TERMS TO KNOW
The empty weight of the container itself.
The maximum cargo weight permitted by the container specification, subject to route and legal restrictions.
The maximum combined weight of the container plus its cargo.
The real loaded container weight used operationally and for verified gross mass requirements.
Truck, rail, bridge, terminal and destination-country weight rules may create a lower practical limit than the container's technical maximum payload.
HOW MANY PALLETS FIT IN A TEU OR FEU?
There is no single pallet count that applies to every shipment. Pallet dimensions, loading orientation, overhang, carton shape and whether pallets can be stacked all change the result.
Instead of choosing a container from an internet pallet count alone, send the pallet size, total pallet quantity, height and gross weight to the freight forwarder. A loading plan can then confirm whether 20GP, 40GP or 40HQ is more suitable.
Two shipments with the same number of pallets can need different container sizes because their pallet heights and weights are different.
WHICH CONTAINER SHOULD AN IMPORTER CHOOSE?
Useful when cargo volume does not justify a 40-foot box or when dense cargo reaches practical weight limits quickly.
Provides roughly double the floor length and substantially more cubic capacity.
The extra height increases cubic capacity without changing the 2-TEU accounting value.
DO CARRIERS CHARGE “PER TEU”?
Industry statistics and vessel capacity are commonly expressed in TEU, but an importer usually receives an actual freight quotation for the equipment requested — for example 20GP, 40GP or 40HQ — plus applicable origin, ocean, customs and destination charges.
A 40-foot rate is therefore not automatically exactly twice a 20-foot rate. Market demand, equipment availability, route, season, carrier and destination all affect pricing.
Do not estimate freight by simply multiplying a “TEU rate” unless the quote specifically uses that pricing basis.
DO TEU AND FEU MATTER FOR LCL?
TEU and FEU are most intuitive when discussing full containers and industry capacity. An LCL customer, however, usually pays for shared container space based mainly on cargo volume or chargeable measurement rather than booking one full TEU or FEU.
If your shipment grows, compare the total LCL cost with a full 20GP or 40GP container. At some point, FCL may become operationally or economically more attractive.
READ LCL VS FCL SHIPPING →HOW TEU IS CALCULATED
| Container Mix | TEU Calculation | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 × 20GP | 1 × 1 TEU | 1 TEU |
| 1 × 40GP | 1 × 2 TEU | 2 TEU |
| 1 × 40HQ | 1 × 2 TEU | 2 TEU |
| 3 × 20GP + 2 × 40HQ | 3 + (2 × 2) | 7 TEU |
| 10 × 40GP | 10 × 2 | 20 TEU |
TEU / FEU TERMS IMPORTERS OFTEN MIX UP
No. TEU is an equivalent-capacity unit; actual container cubic capacity varies by equipment.
No. A 40-foot container has roughly double the volume, but payload is not twice a 20-foot payload.
No. It has more cubic space, but its nominal length still makes it 2 TEU.
Not exactly. FEU means a 40-foot-equivalent unit; 40HQ specifically describes a high-cube 40-foot container.
WHAT SHOULD YOU SEND FOR A QUOTE?
What product is being shipped?
How many handling units?
Length × width × height.
Total cargo weight.
Supplier location in China.
Port, warehouse or delivery address.
When can the supplier load?
Batteries, DG, oversized or other restrictions.
TEU VS FEU FAQ
What does TEU stand for?+
TEU stands for Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit, a standardized unit based on the nominal capacity of one 20-foot container.
What does FEU stand for?+
FEU stands for Forty-foot Equivalent Unit and refers to one 40-foot-equivalent container unit.
How many TEU is one FEU?+
One FEU equals two TEU because a 40-foot container has twice the nominal length of a 20-foot container.
Is a 40HQ also 2 TEU?+
Yes. A 40HQ has more internal volume because it is taller, but its nominal length remains 40 feet, so it is counted as 2 TEU.
How many CBM is one TEU?+
There is no universal TEU-to-CBM conversion. A standard 20-foot dry container may have about 33.2 CBM of internal capacity, but TEU itself is not a cubic-volume unit.
Can a 40-foot container carry twice the weight of a 20-foot container?+
No. Example carrier specifications show similar maximum payload ranges for standard 20-foot and 40-foot containers even though the 40-foot unit has much more internal volume.
Should I choose 20GP, 40GP or 40HQ?+
Choose based on cargo CBM, gross weight, carton or pallet dimensions, loading method, route and freight rate. Dense cargo can favor 20GP, while bulky cargo often benefits from 40GP or 40HQ.
Does ChengYu Ship handle FCL container shipping?+
Yes. ChengYu Ship can coordinate FCL sea freight, supplier pickup, China warehouse services, customs and final delivery for supported routes.
SEND THE CBM AND WEIGHT.
WE'LL COMPARE THE OPTIONS.
ChengYu Ship can review the cargo and compare 20GP, 40GP, 40HQ or LCL based on the actual shipment.
GET A SHIPPING QUOTE