What is Forty-foot Equivalent Unit?
A Forty-foot Equivalent Unit (FEU) is a unit of cargo capacity equal to one 40-foot ISO container, and equal to two TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units). It is used to express ocean freight rates, contract volumes, vessel and terminal capacity and market indices. The underlying containers are ISO 668 Series 1 types: the 1AA (40 ft long, 8 ft wide, 8 ft 6 in high) and the 1AAA high cube (9 ft 6 in high), both 12,192 mm long and 2,438 mm wide. ISO 6346 size and type codes identify the box, for example 42G1 for a standard 40-foot general purpose container and 45G1 for a 40-foot high cube. Ocean contracts typically quote rates per 40-foot standard and per 40-foot high cube separately, though many carriers price them the same or with a small premium.
Why it matters for forwarders
Freight rates, allocations and surcharges are commonly quoted per FEU, while volume statistics and vessel sizes are in TEU, so forwarders must be careful when comparing figures. A 40-foot container rarely offers twice the payload of a 20-foot one: it doubles the volume but road weight limits and the container's own rating usually cap heavy cargo first. Dense cargo such as tiles, metals or liquids in drums is often better shipped in 20-foot containers, while light, bulky cargo suits 40-foot standard or high cube boxes. Always check the maximum gross mass on the container's CSC plate and the road limits at both ends before planning a heavy load. Verify whether a contract's FEU rate covers high cube equipment or whether a separate rate or surcharge applies.