The 20' General Purpose Container (GP) is most in demand given that it is very versatile and easy to handle. It is also known as standard container, dry cargo container or box container.

High Cube Containers are specially designed for light, voluminous and extra high cargo.

In practice, the expression is now used only for containers that have an external height of 9' 6". Particular attention needs to be given to possible height restrictions when these containers are carried by road and rail. It may be necessary to use special chassis or carrying cars.

Open-top containers have a removable tarpaulin and are built for specially heavy or unusual high cargoes, i.e. machine tools. These types of containers are loadable from the top or side door with the cross-bar swung out

Passively ventilated containers, also known as ventilated containers, hardly differ from standard containers in external appearance. For the most part, they are used to transport organic cargoes with high moisture contents, such as coffee and cocoa beans. Special equipment is intended to ensure that, as far as possible, sweat is prevented from forming.

There are two basic types of ventilated containers:

 

a. Containers with natural ventilation use pressure differences between the internal and external air for air exchange purposes.

b. Forced ventilation containers use fans and air ducts and/or ventilation flaps to achieve the necessary air exchange.

Bulk containers or dry bulk containers may be used to transport loose, free-flowing goods such as malt or grain.

Some special dry bulk containers resemble tank containers. They may be emptied by gravity or by means of compressed air.

Refrigerated or heated containers allow goods to be transported irrespective of ambient temperature. Reefer containers are mostly used to carry heat-sensitive cargoes.

They resemble standard containers externally, but they have a heat-insulating lining inside. Compared to normal containers, they have a little less stowage space because of their wall thickness of 50 - 100 mm. The insulation is intended to protect the cargo from over-rapid temperature variations.

With the built-in reefer unit, constant above- or below-zero temperatures can be sustained without direct external supply of heat or cold. This makes reefers very attractive to transport sensitive goods such as foodstuffs.

Platform containers consist of reinforced container floors with sheet steel or planking. They are specially designed for heavy or extra wide cargoes. Therefore, platforms are not suited for inland transportation. Attached to the outsides of the side rails, a large number of lashing points are provided for cargo securing.

Flats, also known as flat racks, are specially designed for heavy or extra wide cargoes. They consist of container floor and end walls. Collapsible flat racks have folding or collapsible end walls or end frames. Therefore, several unloaded flats can be stacked on top of one another to save space during transportation.

Tank containers are designed to transport liquids and gases. The characteristics of the substances to be carried determine the material of which the tank is made, while the pressure under which the cargo has to be transported influences its construction. Temperature-controlled tank containers have special heating or cooling devices. This is especially important for the transport of foodstuff.