What is the difference between 20ft and 40ft?

A 40ft is twice the length of a 20ft (12.0m vs 5.9m) and roughly doubles the cargo capacity. A 40ft is more cost-efficient per cubic metre but only makes sense if you can fill the extra space - otherwise share a 40ft with other shippers.

Is sole use 20ft worth the cost vs shared?

Sole-use makes sense for high-value, classic or modified vehicles where you want full control of loading and no third-party cargo in the box. For a standard daily driver, a shared container at £950 is excellent value.

How long does a 20ft container take to Japan?

30 to 38 days door-to-port from a UK loading warehouse to a Japanese arrival port via the Suez Canal routing.

20ft Container Shipping from UK to Japan

Sole-use and shared 20ft container shipping from Tilbury, Southampton and Felixstowe direct to Yokohama, Tokyo and Osaka.

Get a Free Quote Call +44 01495 320540 View Sailing Schedule

What Fits in a 20ft Container?

A standard 20ft dry container offers internal dimensions of 5.90m long, 2.35m wide and 2.39m high - roughly 33 cubic metres of usable cube. In real-world terms that means one large SUV (Range Rover, Land Cruiser, Lexus LX) loaded centrally with room around the perimeter for a few crates of personal effects; two compact saloons loaded nose-to-tail (Mini, Fiesta, Yaris); or a single classic sports car wrapped, chocked and lashed for absolute protection. A 20ft high-cube unit adds 30cm of internal height - useful for vehicles like the VW Crafter or Mercedes Sprinter. Choose sole-use if you want every centimetre of the box and total control of loading; choose shared if you only need one vehicle space and want to halve the cost.

20ft Container Costs UK to Japan 2026

Sole-use 20ft to Yokohama starts at £1,400, all-in for ocean freight, UK export customs and standard lashing. Shared 20ft (one vehicle, the box shared with one other customer's cargo) starts at £950. Both prices include collection at our consolidation warehouse, secure loading using soft straps and wheel chocks, a full photographic condition report, and the original bill of lading. They exclude Japanese consumption tax (10%), Japanese terminal handling, and any onward delivery from the arrival port.

Loading and Lashing Process

Vehicles are reversed into the container on steel ramps, parked centrally with handbrake on and in first gear, and chocked at all four wheels with timber blocks bolted to the floor. Twelve soft polyester lashing straps connect from the chassis recovery points to the container's D-rings, applying tension fore and aft to absorb sea motion. Battery is disconnected, fuel is drained to a maximum of one-quarter tank, and any loose interior items are secured. A photographic condition report is taken at four angles before the doors are sealed, and a unique container seal number is recorded on the bill of lading.

Ports and Transit

UK loading is at Tilbury (London), Southampton or Felixstowe. Japanese arrival is at Yokohama, Tokyo, Osaka or Nagoya. The route runs via the Suez Canal and takes 30 to 38 days. Bi-weekly sailings keep waiting times short - most bookings sail within ten days of confirmation.

20ft Container for Classic Cars to Japan

Classic and collector cars destined for the Japanese market - Aston Martin DB6, Jaguar E-Type, Lotus Elan, Mini Cooper S, Range Rover Classic - almost always travel in a sole-use 20ft container. The closed box protects original paintwork from salt spray and dock handling, the controlled loading process avoids the driven-off-a-ramp scuffs sometimes seen on RORO, and an additional fitted cover or wrap can be added on request. Insurance premiums are also lower for container shipments than for RORO because the loss ratios are materially better.

20ft Container Internal Dimensions in Detail

Knowing the exact internal cube of a 20ft container is the difference between a smooth load and an embarrassing reshuffle on the warehouse floor. Internal length is 5.90 metres, internal width is 2.35 metres, internal height is 2.39 metres on a standard unit and 2.69 metres on a high-cube. Door opening width is 2.34 metres and door opening height is 2.28 metres standard or 2.58 metres high-cube. The threshold to the container floor is 13 centimetres, so very low cars need ramps with a shallow approach angle. A standard saloon fits diagonally with several feet of perimeter space; two compact hatchbacks fit nose-to-tail with around fifteen centimetres of clearance at each end.

What You Cannot Load in a 20ft Container to Japan

International maritime regulation and Japanese customs both restrict what may be loaded inside a container. Hazardous goods such as paint thinner, propane cylinders or jerry cans of fuel are forbidden. Loose lithium-ion batteries above a threshold capacity require a dangerous goods declaration. Foodstuffs, plant material and animal products are barred at Japanese import. Firearms, replicas and any ammunition are prohibited. Cash above the customs reporting threshold must be declared. Personal effects inside the vehicle should be limited to bagged household items, properly listed - random loose items in the cabin slow Japanese clearance and may trigger a physical inspection.

20ft Container Insurance and Liability

The carrier bill of lading limits liability to a token figure per package under the Hague-Visby Rules - typically a few hundred pounds, irrespective of vehicle value. Marine all-risks cover at 1.5 per cent of declared value is the standard remedy and is non-negotiable for any vehicle worth more than ten thousand pounds. Our policy form covers physical loss or damage from collection to unloading at Yokohama, Tokyo, Osaka or Nagoya, with a 100 GBP excess and no deduction for depreciation.

Choosing a Japanese Arrival Port for 20ft Cargo

Yokohama is the default and serves Tokyo, Saitama and Kanagawa with the fastest customs clearance lanes. Tokyo Ohi handles 20ft units bound for inner-city Tokyo and Chiba. Osaka is the right port for buyers in Kyoto, Kobe and the wider Kansai region. Nagoya serves Aichi, Gifu and the Toyota industrial corridor. We recommend Yokohama unless the final destination is closer to one of the other terminals by more than 200 kilometres, because Yokohama container handling charges are typically the lowest and the sailing frequency is the highest.

After Arrival - Japan Customs and Delivery

After the vessel berths at Yokohama, Tokyo, Osaka or Nagoya, your nominated Japanese clearing agent collects the bill of lading from us and files the import declaration with Japan Customs. Consumption tax of 10 per cent on the CIF value is paid at clearance. The container is then released to a bonded yard for unstuffing, the vehicle is rolled off the chocks, the lashing straps are removed and a four-angle arrival condition report is taken for comparison with the loading photographs. Onward inland delivery to a final address in Japan is arranged through our partner network, typically the next working day for greater Tokyo and two to three working days for Osaka and Nagoya. If the vehicle is being prepared for road use, your shaken inspection workshop collects directly from the bonded yard.

Ready to ship to or from Japan?

Speak to a Japan trade specialist for live sailing schedules and a fixed all-in price.

Request a Quote RORO Schedule Email info@shipcars.co.uk

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, two small to mid-size saloons (under 4.5m long each) can fit in a single 20ft container loaded nose-to-tail. Larger SUVs, pickups or estates will need a 40ft.