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45G1, 22G1, 42R1: reading the size and type code

Four characters on the container door that tell you the dimensions, the shape and what it was built to carry.

Aron Mayer · 3 min read

Quick take

  • First character is length, second is height and width.
  • Third and fourth describe the type, for example G for general and R for reefer.
  • This code is separate from the eleven character container number.

People memorise the container number and ignore the four characters underneath it. Those four tell you what the container actually is.

How to read it

  • First character is length. 2 is twenty foot, 4 is forty foot.
  • Second character is height and width. 2 is standard height, 5 is high cube.
  • Third and fourth describe the type. G1 is general purpose, R1 is refrigerated, U1 is open top, P1 is flat rack, T1 is tank.

The codes you will actually meet

CodeTrade name
22G120ft standard
42G140ft standard
45G140ft high cube
42R140ft reefer
45R140ft high cube reefer

See it on your own shipment

Paste a container number, bill of lading or booking reference. We detect the carrier across 170+ shipping lines, and when the data does not line up, a person checks it.

Why it matters

Warehouse door heights, chassis selection and stuffing plans all depend on this code, not on the container number. A high cube arriving where a standard was expected is a wasted delivery slot, and the information was printed on the door the whole time.

Questions people ask

Where is this code printed?

On the container door, usually under or beside the eleven character number.

Is 40HC the same as 45G1?

Yes in practice. 40HC is the trade term, 45G1 is the ISO code for a forty foot high cube general purpose container.

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