Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU)

A Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU) is a standardized measurement used in the shipping and logistics industry to quantify the cargo capacity of container ships and terminals, based on the dimensions of a standard 20-foot long intermodal container.
The TEU is a critical unit of measure in maritime transport, representing the capacity of a standard 20-foot container, which is 20 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 8.5 feet high. This standardization allows for consistent and efficient planning, loading, and tracking of containers across different transportation modes and global trade routes. Larger containers, such as 40-foot containers, are typically considered as 2 TEUs. The use of TEUs simplifies the logistics process, enabling shipping companies, ports, and logistics providers to manage space, calculate freight rates, and plan shipments more effectively. Understanding TEUs is essential for optimizing container usage, ensuring accurate capacity management, and facilitating international trade.