ISO 6346 Container Code Prefix List

Modified on: Thu, 15 Dec, 2022 at 2:07 PM

ISO Agreement
First Character
Second Character
Third & Fourth Character

ISO Agreement

In 1995, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published an agreement concerning container marking codes to provide a standardized way of identifying the length, height, and type of container. This agreement established a four-letter or digit code that is used to identify the specific characteristics of a container, such as its length, height, and type. This code is typically located underneath the container identification sequence, which is a unique serial number assigned to each container. The ISO container marking code allows for easy identification and classification of containers, facilitating the efficient handling and transportation of cargo.

e.g.

Container ISO code example 22G1

First character (e.g. 2), representing the length (e.g. 20 ft (6.1 m) of the container
Second character (e.g. 2), representing the width (e.g. 8.6") and height (e.g. 8") of the container
Third (e.g. G) & fourth (e.g. 1) character, representing the container type (e.g. General) and the Principle Characteristics (e.g. Passive Vents in upper part of cargo space) of the container

First Character

Code	Container Length FT	Container Length Meters
1	10"	2.991
2	20"	6.068
3	30"	9.125
4	40"	12.192
A	-	7.150
B	24"	7.315
C	24.6"	7.430
D	-	7.450
E	-	7.820
F	-	8.100
G	41"	12.500
H	43"	13.106
K	-	13.600
L	45"	13.716
M	48"	14.630
N	49"	14.935
P	53"	16.154

Second Character

Code	Container Height Feet	Container Height Meter	Container Width Feet	Container Width Meter
0	8"	2.438	8"	2.438
2	8.6"	2.591	8"	2.438
5	9.6"	2.985	8"	2.438
6	> 9.6"	> 2.985	8"	2.438
8	4.3"	1.295"	8"	2.438
C	8.6"	2.591	-	> 2.438 < 2.500
D	9.4"	2.743	-	> 2.438 < 2.500
E	9.6"	2.985	-	> 2.438 < 2.500
F	> 9.6"	> 2.985	-	> 2.438 < 2.500
L	8.6"	2.591	-	> 2.500
M	9.4"	2.743	-	> 2.500
N	9.6"	2.985	-	> 2.500
P	> 9.6"	> 2.985	-	> 2.500

Third & Fourth Character

Air Surface Container

Code	Type Code	Principle Characteristics	Container Type
A	0		Air/surface container

Bulk Container

Code	Type Code	Principle Characteristics	Container Type
B	0	Closed	Dry bulk container, non-pressure-resistant
	1	Airtight	Dry bulk container, non-pressure-resistant
	2	-
	3	Horizontal discharge. Test pressure 150 kPa / 1.50 bar.	Pressurized bulk container
	4	Horizontal discharge. Test pressure 266 kPa / 2.65 bar.
	5	Tipping discharge. Test pressure 150 kPa / 1.50 bar.
	6	Tipping discharge. Test pressure 266 kPa / 2.65 bar.
	7	-
	8	-
	9	Side discharge

General Purpose Container

Code	Type Code	Principle Characteristics	Container Type
G	0	Opening at one or both ends	General purpose container
	1	Passive vents in upper part of cargo space
	2	Openings at one or both end(s), plus "full" openings at one or both sides
	3	Openings at one or both end(s), plus "partial" openings at one or both sides
	4	-
	5	-
	6	-
	7	-
	8	-
	9	-

Insulated Container

Code	Type Code	Principle Characteristics	Container Type
H	0	Refrigerated and/or heated with removable equipment located externally, coefficient of heat transfer K=0.4 W/(m2.K)	Thermal container refrigerated and/or heated with removable equipment
	1	Refrigerated and/or heated with removable equipment located internally
	2	Refrigerated and/or heated with removable equipment located externally, coefficient of heat transfer K=0.7 W/(m2.K)
	3	-
	4	-
	5	Insulated, coefficient of heat transfer K=0.4 W/(m2.K)	Thermal container refrigerated and/or heated with removable equipment
	6	Insulated, coefficient of heat transfer K=0.7 W/(m2.K)
	7	-
	8	-
	9	-

Liquid Tank Container

Code	Type Code	Principle Characteristics	Container Type
K	0	Liquid tank non-regulated goods.	Pressurized tank container liquids gases
	1	Liquid tank dangerous goods < 265 kPa / 2,65 bar pressure.
	2	Liquid tank dangerous goods > 265 kPa /2,65 bar pressure and < 100 kPa /10.00 bar pressure.
	3	Liquid tank dangerous goods < 100 kPa /10.00 bar pressure.
	4	Liquid tank non-regulated goods requiring power supply.
	5	Liquid tank dangerous goods < 100 kPa /10.00 bar requiring power supply.
	6	Liquid tank dangerous goods >100 kPa /10.00 bar requiring power supply.
	7	Cryogenic tank
	8	Gas tank
	9	-

Pressurized / non Pressurized Container

Code	Type Code	Principle Characteristics	Container Type
N	0	Hopper type vertical discharge.	Tank container (dry) container
	1	Hopper type rear discharge.	Tank container (dry) container
	2	-
	3	Non pressurized rear discharge.	Non pressurized tank container
	4	Non pressurized side discharge.
	5	Non pressurized tipping discharge.
	6	-
	7	Pressurized rear discharge.	Pressurized tank container
	8	Pressurized side discharge.
	9	Pressurized tipping discharge.

Platform Container

Code	Type Code	Principle Characteristics	Container Type
P	0	Platform	Platform (container) platform based on containers with incomplete superstructure fixed folding platform based containers with complete superstructure
	1	Platform with two complete, fixed end walls
	2	Platform with fixed posts, either freestanding or with removable top members
	3	Platform with folding complete end walls
	4	Platform with folding posts, either freestanding or with removable top members
	5	Platform, open at the top and ends (skeletal)
	6	-
	7	-
	8	-
	9	-

Reefer Container

Code	Type Code	Principle Characteristics	Container Type
R	0	Mechanically refrigerated	Thermal container refrigerated refrigerated and heated self powered refrigerated/heated
	1	Mechanically refrigerated and heated
	2	Self powered mechanically refrigerated
	3	Self powered mechanically refrigerated and heated
	4	-
	5	-
	6	-
	7	-
	8	-
	9	-

Named Cargo Container

Code	Type Code	Principle Characteristics	Container Type
S	0	Livestock container	Named cargo container
	1	Automobile container
	2	Living fish container
	3	-
	4	-
	5	-
	6	-
	7	-
	8	-
	9	-

Tank Container

Code	Type Code	Principle Characteristics	Container Type
T	0	Minimum pressure 45 kPa / 0.45 bar	Tank container for non- dangerous liquids
	1	Minimum pressure 150 kPa / 1.50 bar
	2	Minimum pressure 265 kPa / 2.65 bar
	3	Minimum pressure 150 kPa / 1.50 bar	Tank container for dangerous liquids
	4	Minimum pressure 265 kPa / 2.65 bar
	5	Minimum pressure 400 kPa / 4.00 bar
	6	Minimum pressure 600 kPa / 6.00 bar
	7	Minimum pressure 910 kPa / 9.10 bar	Tank container for gasses
	8	Minimum pressure 2200 kPa / 22.00 bar
	9	Minimum pressure to be decided

Open-Top Container

Code	Type Code	Principle Characteristics	Container Type
U	0	Opening(s) at one or both end(s)	Open-top container
	1	Opening(s) at one or both end(s) plus removable roof in end frame
	2	Opening(s) at one of both end(s) plus opening(s) on one or both sides
	3	Opening(s) at one or both end(s) plus opening(s) on one or both sides plus removable top members
	4	Opening(s) at one or both end(s) plus opening(s) on one side plus full openings on the other side
	5	Full, solid side and end walls (no doors)
	6	-
	7	-
	8	-
	9	-

Ventilated Container

Code	Type Code	Principle Characteristics	Container Type
V	0	Non-mechanical ventilation at the lower and upper parts of the cargo space	General purpose container with ventilation
	1	-
	2	Mechanical ventilation installed in the container	General purpose container with ventilation
	3	-
	4	Mechanical ventilation installed outside the container	General purpose container with ventilation
	5	-
	6	-
	7	-
	8	-
	9	-

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