A twenty-foot equivalent unit, or TEU, is a standardized measure used to express container capacity. One nominal 20-foot container counts as one TEU, while one nominal 40-foot container generally counts as two TEU. TEU measures container units, not cargo weight or usable volume.
How is TEU calculated?
For common equipment, total TEU = number of 20-foot containers + 2 × number of 40-foot containers. Other equipment may require a stated convention.
Illustrative TEU calculation
| Container type | Count | TEU contribution |
|---|---|---|
| 20-foot containers | 6 | 6 × 1 = 6 TEU |
| 40-foot containers | 4 | 4 × 2 = 8 TEU |
| Total | 10 containers | 14 TEU |
The example describes nominal container capacity. It does not mean the shipment has 14 units of identical weight or cubic volume.
Where is TEU used?
Ports, carriers and analysts use it to describe vessel, terminal and traffic capacity and to summarize mixed container fleets.
TEU versus FEU
FEU refers to a forty-foot equivalent unit. A 40-foot container is one FEU and generally two TEU.
What are the limitations?
Container heights and specialized types vary, and payload limits remain separate. Do not use TEU alone to plan cargo volume, weight or freight cost.
