Container Sizes Guide: 20ft vs 40ft for Your Move to Europe
Choosing between a 20ft and 40ft container for your sea freight move to Europe? Learn the capacities, dimensions, and which size fits your home.
If you're planning to move from Turkey to Europe by sea, one of the most practical decisions you'll face is choosing the right container size. Picking too small means overflow and extra costs; picking too large means paying for empty space. At Avrupaya, we help you size your container correctly as part of our door-to-door, fully insured, customs-included sea freight service.
20-foot container: the mid-size standard
A standard 20-foot container offers approximately 33 m³ of usable internal space. Internal dimensions run roughly 5.9 m long, 2.35 m wide, and 2.39 m high. This is a comfortable fit for the contents of a 2–3 room apartment — living room furniture, a bedroom set, white goods, and a reasonable number of boxes. For studio or single-room moves, a shared LCL shipment is often the more economical route.
40-foot container: for larger homes
The 40-foot container provides around 67 m³ of internal capacity — roughly double the 20-foot. Internal dimensions are approximately 12.03 m long, 2.35 m wide, and 2.39 m high. The High Cube variant adds extra interior height (2.69 m) and is worth considering if you have tall wardrobes, large artwork, or an unusually high volume of items. A 40-foot container suits 4–5+ room apartments and houses comfortably.
Matching container size to your home
- Studio or 1-room apartment → LCL (shared container): most economical
- 2–3 room apartment (~33 m³) → 20ft container: the natural fit
- 4–5 room apartment or smaller house → 40ft container: room to breathe
- Large villa, office contents, or vehicle alongside → 40ft High Cube worth exploring
- All options: door-to-door, 100% insured, full customs handling by Avrupaya
Sea freight timing and logistics
Sea freight from Turkey to Europe typically takes 12–22 days. Avrupaya manages the full chain — collection from your door, loading, customs clearance at both ends, and final delivery to your new home. Our free pre-move survey lets us calculate your exact volume and recommend the right container before you commit to anything.
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Frequently asked questions
How many rooms fit in a 20-foot container?
A 20-foot container holds roughly 33 m³ — typically enough for a 2–3 room apartment with standard furniture.
Is a 40-foot container always more expensive?
It offers about double the volume, so yes — but the cost difference per m³ can be smaller than you'd expect. A free quote will give you exact numbers for your route.
What is LCL and when should I use it?
LCL (Less than Container Load) means your goods share a container with other customers' shipments. You pay only for the space you use — ideal for smaller volumes.
What is a High Cube container?
A High Cube container has an internal height of 2.69 m rather than the standard 2.39 m — useful for tall furniture, large artworks, or anything that needs extra vertical clearance.
How do I know which size I need?
Avrupaya offers a free pre-move survey. Our team calculates your volume and recommends the right container size before any commitment is made.